North Geelong
North Geelong's housing profile is more detached than its renter share might suggest: 82.0% of dwellings are separate houses, while 41.2% of households rent. The suburb has 3,225 residents, a median age of 40 and density of 653.8 people per square kilometre. The overseas-born share is 28.0%, or 6.4 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with nearby Geelong West, North Geelong is better approached as a house-led market, with street-level housing condition and access important to the final decision.
Population
3,225
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,490/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$711K
October to December 2025
Mortgage repayments are listed at $1,625 per month, with mortgage costs at 25.2% of household income, above the 21.1% rent-to-income figure. The 82.0% separate-house share supports family buyers, while 49.2% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 22.1% have 4 or more.
For Buyers
Mortgage repayments are listed at $1,625 per month, with mortgage costs at 25.2% of household income, above the 21.1% rent-to-income figure. The 82.0% separate-house share supports family buyers, while 49.2% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 22.1% have 4 or more.
For Investors
North Geelong has a substantial tenant base, with 41.2% of households renting at a median $315 per week. The 6.9% vacancy rate is a key counterweight to the suburb's 36.0% forecast rent growth, because stronger rents do not remove the risk of longer letting periods. Eight development matters were recorded over 12 months, indicating some ongoing supply activity without the volume associated with a major development pipeline. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver, which may support demand across different rental household types.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Geelong
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
North Geelong Secondary College
Demographics
North Geelong has 3,225 residents, a median age of 40 and an average household size of 2.3 people. The age result is the same as the national comparison, while household size is 0.2 people below the national figure. University participation is 29.6%, or 0.5 percentage points below the national level, whereas the overseas-born share of 28.0% is 6.4 points above it. English ancestry is most common at 925 people, followed by Irish at 319 and Scottish at 277. Christianity accounts for 1,490 people and no religion for 1,257. Residential stability is relatively strong, with 74.6% staying at the same address and a 25.4% turnover rate. Compared with nearby Geelong West, households should assess each pocket individually because North Geelong's smaller 2.3-person household average can produce a different demand mix from street to street.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.0%
Houses
18.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is divided between 26.1% owned outright, 31.5% with a mortgage and 41.2% renting. Housing is predominantly separate houses at 82.0%, with semi-detached homes at 18.0%. Three-bedroom properties make up 49.2% of homes, while 22.1% have 4 or more bedrooms.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $315.
$480
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $495 · units $420
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$730
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
84
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.2%
Couples with children
35.4%
Couples, no children
20.7%
Single parent
721
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is North Geelong's largest industry, representing 21.1% of employed residents or 198 people, followed by education at 10.5% and 98 people, construction at 9.6% and 90, retail at 8.4% and 79, and professional and technical services at 8.2% and 77. The occupation mix is led by 297 professionals, 180 clerical and administrative workers, 178 trades workers, 173 community and personal service workers, and 168 labourers. Participation is 55.1%, full-time employment is 57.4% and unemployment is 6.3%. Household income sits at the 46.6th percentile nationally, close to the middle rather than the upper range. SEIFA results are below the midpoint in several measures, with IEO decile 4, IER decile 3, IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 4. The combination of care, education, trades and labour roles helps explain why employment is spread across both professional and practical sectors.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
1,486
Unemployed
94
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
55.1%
Employed
1,392
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.6%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
28.0%
Dwellings
1,138
Transport to Work
Daily travel in North Geelong is strongly car-oriented: 65.8% of residents drive to work, compared with 2.2% using public transport, while 22.6% work from home. Walking and cycling account for 4.2%, so households without a car should check the exact distance to services and transport connections. North Geelong Secondary College provides one local government secondary option. Families should confirm enrolment zones and nearby primary choices by address, since school boundaries can cross suburb lines and location alone does not indicate performance. Safety needs active consideration, with 670 recorded offences and a rate of 207.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 399 incidents, above the 94 justice procedure offences and 79 crimes against the person. Compared with the suburb's SEIFA IRSAD decile 4, the crime rate is a more prominent practical issue to investigate before choosing a street.
Drive
65.8%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
4.2%
Work from Home
22.6%
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+83 people/yr)
EstablishedNorth Geelong is classified as established, with forecast growth of 0.61% a year and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 12.0% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 3.7 percentage point increase in the senior share and a 1.9 point decline in the young share. The forecast affordability trend is Improving, with affordability moving from 42.7 in 2011 to 40.3 in 2021 and real income growth of 17.2%. Gentrification signals are mixed: the gentrification indicator has a score of 13 and stage Not gentrifying, while the shift profile records a score of 36 and stage Early signs. Compared with a high-growth fringe market, the 0.61% annual trend points to gradual change shaped more by ageing, migration and established housing than rapid expansion.
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
670
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
207.8
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 North Geelong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Geelong a good suburb to live in?
North Geelong can suit buyers who value established detached housing and work-from-home flexibility. Separate houses account for 82.0% of dwellings and 22.6% work from home, but 65.8% drive to work and the crime rate is 207.8 per 1,000. Compared with a transit-led suburb, car access and street selection matter more.
What schools are in North Geelong?
North Geelong Secondary College is listed as a government secondary school. Families should check enrolment zones and nearby primary options against the exact address, because school access can cross suburb boundaries. The suburb has a median age of 40 and 22.1% of homes contain 4 or more bedrooms, compared with 49.2% with 3 bedrooms.
Is North Geelong safe?
Safety deserves specific checking before purchase or renting. North Geelong recorded 670 offences at a rate of 207.8 per 1,000 residents, with 399 property and deception offences, 94 justice procedure offences and 79 crimes against the person. Compared with the IRSAD decile 4 position, crime is a more important consideration than the socioeconomic ranking alone suggests.
How is North Geelong's population changing?
North Geelong has 3,225 residents today. Across the wider area, forecast population change is 12.0% over 10 years and annual growth is 0.61%, with overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging, including a 3.7 percentage point rise in the senior share and a 1.9 point decline in the young share, compared with a younger-growth profile.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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