Newtown
With 10,445 residents across 5.81 square kilometres, Newtown combines established housing with above-average social and educational advantage. University-qualified residents account for 50.5%, which is 20.4 percentage points above the national comparison, while household income sits at the 79.2nd percentile. The housing stock is mainly detached, with 77.0% separate houses, and the median age of 40 matches the national figure. For buyers comparing Newtown with nearby Geelong West or Highton, the main distinction is its mature, owner-oriented character and slower 0.46% annual growth trend. Safety needs careful consideration because the recorded crime rate is 3,037.0 per 1,000 people.
Population
10,445
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,092/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Newtown suits buyers seeking established streets and larger homes, although a current median house price is not available. Separate houses make up 77.0% of dwellings, compared with 20.6% semi-detached homes and 2.2% apartments, so the market is more detached than apartment-led. Three-bedroom homes account for 41.4% and four-bedroom-plus homes for 33.3%, supporting family demand. The listed mortgage figure is $2,167 per month, while rent is $360 per week; mortgage costs equal 23.9% of household income and rent equals 17.2%. Because 37.8% of homes are owned outright, established owners may compete strongly for well-maintained properties. Buyers comparing Newtown with Geelong West or Highton should check renovation condition, heritage controls and the exact street setting.
For Buyers
Newtown suits buyers seeking established streets and larger homes, although a current median house price is not available. Separate houses make up 77.0% of dwellings, compared with 20.6% semi-detached homes and 2.2% apartments, so the market is more detached than apartment-led. Three-bedroom homes account for 41.4% and four-bedroom-plus homes for 33.3%, supporting family demand. The listed mortgage figure is $2,167 per month, while rent is $360 per week; mortgage costs equal 23.9% of household income and rent equals 17.2%. Because 37.8% of homes are owned outright, established owners may compete strongly for well-maintained properties. Buyers comparing Newtown with Geelong West or Highton should check renovation condition, heritage controls and the exact street setting.
For Investors
Newtown has a more owner-led tenure profile than a renter-dominated suburb: 37.8% of dwellings are owned outright, 31.8% have a mortgage and 29.4% are rented. Weekly rent is $360 and the vacancy rate is 8.2%, so rental income potential needs to be weighed against a relatively visible supply buffer. Rents have grown by 31.4%, higher than the 0.46% annual population trend, which suggests recent rental pressure has not been matched by rapid resident growth. Only 3 development applications were recorded over 12 months, all involving existing dwellings, so major new supply is not evident. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support tenant demand, while the established forecast and 0 gentrification score point to a slower, less speculative investment profile.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$510K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Newtown
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
The Geelong College
Chilwell Primary School
Fyans Park Primary School
Newtown Primary School
St Robert's School
Demographics
Newtown has a median age of 40, equal to the national comparison, and a relatively highly educated population: 50.5% have university qualifications, 20.4 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 15.0%, 6.6 points below the national comparison, while English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 4,221, 1,912 and 1,528 respectively. Christianity is recorded for 5,159 residents and no religion for 4,354, indicating two large identity groups rather than one dominant social outlook. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison, with couples with children forming 47.2% of families and couples without children 39.2%. Compared with nearby Geelong West or Highton, households considering Newtown should focus on dwelling size, school access and the established owner profile rather than assuming a highly transient population, since 75.2% stayed at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.0%
Houses
20.6%
Townhouse
2.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Newtown's housing is predominantly detached and established, with separate houses at 77.0%, semi-detached dwellings at 20.6% and apartments at 2.2%. Four-bedroom-plus homes represent 33.3%, while three-bedroom homes make up 41.4%, so the stock leans toward family-sized accommodation rather than compact units. Tenure is split between 37.8% outright ownership, 31.8% mortgage ownership and 29.4% renting; ownership with or without a mortgage is therefore higher than renting. Mortgage costs are listed at $2,167 per month, equal to 23.9% of household income, while rent is $360 per week or 17.2% of income. A current median house price and price-to-income ratio are not available, so buyers should rely on comparable sales and property-level assessment. Heritage overlays and the 3 recent dwelling alteration applications may constrain redevelopment compared with newer housing areas.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $360.
$500
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $570 · units $440
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,001
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
360
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.2%
Couples with children
39.2%
Couples, no children
12.6%
Single parent
2,752
Total families
Economy & Employment
Newtown has a professional and service-based economy, led by healthcare at 23.1% or 928 workers, education at 14.9% or 596, professional and technical services at 11.0% or 443, construction at 9.3% or 373, and retail at 6.9% or 275. Professionals number 1,811 and managers 919, compared with 503 trades workers, helping explain the suburb's household income at the 79.2nd percentile. Labour-force participation is 66.0%, unemployment is 3.6%, and full-time employment is 55.9%, indicating a relatively strong connection to work. SEIFA reinforces that position: education and occupation sits in decile 9, relative disadvantage in decile 9, and relative advantage in decile 9, all above the middle national deciles. Economic resources are lower at decile 7, which is below the other three scores and may reflect the cost of maintaining established housing despite strong professional employment.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
5,573
Unemployed
198
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
66.0%
Employed
5,375
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.5%
Postgraduate
13.4%
Born Overseas
15.0%
Dwellings
4,013
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented, with 58.8% driving to work compared with 1.3% using public transport and 6.6% walking or cycling. Work from home is recorded for 29.3%, which may reduce commuting needs for professional households. Seven nearby schools provide a broad sector and age mix: four primary schools, two Catholic secondary colleges and one independent Pri/Sec school. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb streets. Safety is a notable consideration, with 574 recorded offences and a rate of 3,037.0 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences account for 408, higher than crimes against the person at 51, so property security deserves attention. Socioeconomic conditions are favourable, with IRSAD and IRSD both in decile 9, above the national middle range, but that advantage does not remove the need to compare individual streets and transport access.
Drive
58.8%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
6.6%
Work from Home
29.3%
Growth Outlook
Newtown's forecast is established rather than expansion-led. The annual growth trend is 0.46%, while population change across the wider area is 4.9% over 10 years, a gradual trajectory compared with rapid-growth locations. Overseas migration is the primary driver, and the shift profile is Mixed, so growth is likely to be shaped by changing household composition as well as new arrivals. Rent growth of 31.4% is higher than the annual population trend, pointing to housing demand pressure without a matching development surge. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, while affordability is classed as Stable, moving from 42.5 in 2011 to 42.0 in 2021. A senior-share increase of 2.2% and young-share decline of 0.9% support a mature demographic direction rather than a strong youth-led transformation.
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
574
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
3037.0
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Newtown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newtown a good suburb to live in?
Newtown can suit households wanting established homes, local schools and professional employment. It has 10,445 residents, 77.0% separate houses and 29.3% working from home. The 58.8% car-use rate supports driving households, while the recorded crime rate of 3,037.0 per 1,000 warrants careful street-level assessment.
What is the median house price in Newtown?
A reliable current median house price is not available for Newtown. Buyers should compare recent sales across postcode 3220 and assess each property's condition, size and heritage controls. Separate houses represent 77.0% of dwellings, while the listed rent is $360 per week, which is not a substitute for a sale-price estimate.
What schools are in Newtown?
Seven nearby schools cover primary and secondary years. They include 4 primary schools, 2 Catholic secondary colleges and 1 independent Pri/Sec school, including Newtown Primary School, Chilwell Primary School, Fyans Park Primary School, St Robert's School, Sacred Heart College, St Joseph's College Geelong and The Geelong College. Check the 3220 address against current enrolment zones.
Is Newtown safe?
Safety is mixed rather than uniform. There were 574 recorded offences and a reported rate of 3,037.0 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences numbered 408, higher than crimes against the person at 51. Buyers and renters should compare individual streets, lighting, parking and property security before committing.
Is Newtown good for property investment?
Newtown may suit a patient investor seeking established housing rather than rapid development exposure. Rent is $360 per week, the vacancy rate is 8.2% and renting accounts for 29.4% of dwellings. Rent growth of 31.4% is strong, but only 3 recent development applications were recorded and the gentrification score is 0.
How is Newtown's population changing?
Change is gradual and mature. The annual growth trend is 0.46%, with 4.9% population change across the wider area over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Mixed. The senior share rose by 2.2%, the young share fell by 0.9% and the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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