Newtown
Half the adult residents hold university qualifications, 50.5% compared to a national figure roughly 30 points lower, yet Newtown sits on a SEIFA IRSD decile of just 6, suggesting education is not translating uniformly into wealth outcomes. The suburb runs at 1,798 people per km2 across 5.81 km2 in the Geelong LGA, with a median age of 40 that matches the national average. Household income places residents in the 79.2nd percentile nationally, above most suburbs, but the 8.2% rental vacancy rate is notable and the aging trajectory signals a suburb whose senior share has grown 3.7 points over the decade.
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
14
Median house price data is not available for Newtown in this dataset, limiting direct price comparison. What the brief does show: 77% of dwellings are separate houses, well above the metropolitan average for a suburb of this density, and 3-bedroom homes account for 41.4% of stock while 4-plus bedroom homes reach 33.3%, skewing toward family-sized properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 38.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 32.1%, pointing to a mature, settled ownership base with household incomes in the 79.2nd national percentile.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for Newtown in this dataset, limiting direct price comparison. What the brief does show: 77% of dwellings are separate houses, well above the metropolitan average for a suburb of this density, and 3-bedroom homes account for 41.4% of stock while 4-plus bedroom homes reach 33.3%, skewing toward family-sized properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 38.1% outnumber mortgage holders at 32.1%, pointing to a mature, settled ownership base with household incomes in the 79.2nd national percentile.
For Investors
Renters make up 29.7% of residents, providing a reasonable tenant base. Weekly rent averages $360, and rent-to-income at 17.2% indicates tenants are not under financial stress, which supports rent-roll stability. The rental vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated and warrants attention, suggesting supply may be outpacing demand at current rent levels. Population growth runs at 0.61% annually, adding roughly 83 persons per year. Migration dynamics are split: overseas arrivals add 217 net residents per year while internal outflow removes 179. With 12 development applications in the past 12 months and a gentrification score of 36 at the early signs stage, the suburb offers incremental rather than rapid upside.
Development Activity
Total DAs
14
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$351K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Newtown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
The Geelong College
Prep-12 · 1573 students
Chilwell Primary School
Prep-6 · 408 students
Fyans Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 405 students
Sacred Heart College
7-12 · 1450 students
St Robert's School
Prep-6 · 261 students
Demographics
The median age is 40, equal to the national median, but the trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.7 points and the young share down 1.9 points over the decade. University qualifications at 50.5% run 20.4 points above the national figure, the single most distinguishing characteristic in the comparisons data. Overseas-born residents account for 15%, which is 6.6 points below the national average, making this a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, with English (4,221), Irish (1,912) and Scottish (1,528) the top three groups. Volunteering participation stands at 20.4%, and average household size of 2.5 is consistent with the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.0%
Houses
20.6%
Townhouse
2.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split leans toward ownership: 38.1% own outright, 32.1% carry a mortgage and 29.7% rent. Outright owners outnumbering renters reflects the settled, long-held character of the suburb compared with higher-turnover urban markets. Separate houses dominate at 77%, apartments are rare at 2.2% and semi-detached dwellings account for 20.6%. The bedroom profile skews large, with 3-bedroom homes at 41.4% and 4-plus at 33.3%, versus only 5.2% in the 0-1 bedroom category. Monthly mortgage costs average $2,167, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, repayments remain comfortable relative to household incomes that sit in the 79.2nd national income percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$360
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
26.6%
Couples, no children
8,102
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employment sector at 23.1% of workers (928 people), followed by Education at 14.9% (596) and Professional and Technical services at 11%, reflecting the suburb's high university qualification rate of 50.5%. Construction accounts for 9.3% and Retail for 6.9%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 1,811 workers, Managers follow at 919, and Clerical and Admin roles add 588. The unemployment rate is low at 3.8% and the full-time employment rate is 59.2%. Weekly household income of $2,092 sits in the 79.2nd percentile nationally. SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 is moderate, below what the education profile might suggest, reflecting some internal variation in economic outcomes across the suburb.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
8,221
Unemployed
420
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
62.5%
Employed
5,075
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.5%
Postgraduate
13.4%
Born Overseas
15.0%
Dwellings
4,013
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 83.2% of residents commuting by car, while public transport usage sits at just 1.8%, below most urban benchmarks. Walking and cycling account for 9.3%, reasonable for a suburb at this density of 1,798 per km2. The IRSAD decile of 6 places Newtown in the middle tier nationally for relative advantage and disadvantage. The crime rate of 3,037 incidents per 1,000 people is elevated, with property and deception offences accounting for 408 of 574 recorded incidents. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby institutions. The need-for-assistance rate is 4.1%, moderate and consistent with the aging trajectory as the senior share has risen 3.7 points over the decade.
Drive
83.2%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
9.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+83 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is growing at 0.61% per year, adding around 83 persons annually, and medium forecasts project growth from 13,719 in 2025 to 14,290 by 2031, above many comparable regional suburbs that have stagnated. The 10-year population change of 12% is solid for an established area. Overseas arrivals add a net 217 per year, partly offset by internal outflow of 179. Rent has grown 36% over the period and real income growth reached 17.2%. Affordability improved from 42.7% in 2011 to 40.3% in 2021, and the gentrification stage is early signs with a score of 36.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+217
Net Internal / yr
-179
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011, Net internal outflow -179/yr, Strong overseas inflow +217/yr
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 has genuine strengths: household income in the 79.2nd percentile nationally, a 50.5% university qualification rate that is 20.4 points above the national figure, and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The main considerations are a crime rate of 3,037 per 1,000 people and an 8.2% rental vacancy rate indicating current oversupply.
What is the median house price in Newtown?
Median house price data is not available for Newtown 3220 in this dataset. What is recorded: weekly rent averages $360, monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 23.9%. The suburb has 77% separate houses and 38.1% of residents own their home outright, above the national benchmark.
What schools are in Newtown?
No schools are recorded inside the Newtown 3220 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in nearby Geelong suburbs. Despite this, 50.5% of adult residents hold university qualifications, which is 20.4 percentage points above the national average, indicating strong educational attainment among the existing population.
Is Newtown safe?
The recorded crime rate is 3,037 incidents per 1,000 people, which is elevated. The largest category is property and deception offences at 408 of 574 total incidents, followed by justice procedures offences at 62 and crimes against the person at 51. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 is moderate, placing Newtown in the middle tier nationally.
Is Newtown good for property investment?
The renter share of 29.7% supports a steady tenant pool and weekly rent of $360 is sustainable at a rent-to-income ratio of 17.2%. However, the 8.2% vacancy rate is elevated, pointing to current oversupply. Population grows at 0.61% per year with overseas migration of 217 net per year as the primary demand driver and 36% rent growth recorded over the decade.
How is Newtown's population changing?
Population grew 12% over the past decade and is forecast to rise from 13,719 in 2025 to around 14,290 by 2031 under the medium scenario, adding about 83 people per year. Overseas migration of 217 net arrivals per year is the main driver, partially offset by net internal outflow of 179 per year. The senior share has risen 3.7 points over the decade, confirming an aging trajectory.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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