Barwon Heads vs Connewarre

Barwon Heads is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 50 in Connewarre. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Barwon Heads, about half of households are couple families. In Connewarre, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Connewarre: a median of $1.78 million, against $1.19 million in Barwon Heads, though rent is higher in Barwon Heads. On these figures, Barwon Heads tends to suit people living alone, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Connewarre suits couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Barwon Heads has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)
  • Connewarre is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 61%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Barwon Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,190,000 vs $1,783,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Connewarre

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $450/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Connewarre

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (89.5 km vs 95.3 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (82 min vs 87 min)
  • But Barwon Heads is more walkable (69/100 vs 14/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Barwon Heads

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 14/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Connewarre

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.9% vs 12.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Barwon Heads and Connewarre drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Walkability 69 / 14
Barwon Heads — Walkability: 69/100 Connewarre — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 59 / 59
Barwon Heads — Safety: 59/100 Connewarre — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 100 / 65
Barwon Heads — Low fire risk: 100/100 Connewarre — Low fire risk: 65/100
Low flood risk 17 / 5
Barwon Heads — Low flood risk: 17/100 Connewarre — Low flood risk: 5/100

Demographics

Barwon Heads has more residents (4,353 vs 953); Barwon Heads rents higher ($450/wk vs $365/wk).

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Population 4,353
+78% vs other
 953
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.3% +20.9%
Median age 46 50
Median household income $115,752/yr $121,056/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+19% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Barwon Heads Connewarre
0-4 3.7% / 2.9%
Barwon Heads — 0-4: 3.7% Connewarre — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 16.3% / 13.0%
Barwon Heads — 5-14: 16.3% Connewarre — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 6.4% / 4.1%
Barwon Heads — 15-19: 6.4% Connewarre — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 3.2% / 4.8%
Barwon Heads — 20-24: 3.2% Connewarre — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 5.5% / 4.3%
Barwon Heads — 25-34: 5.5% Connewarre — 25-34: 4.3%
35-44 12.2% / 9.4%
Barwon Heads — 35-44: 12.2% Connewarre — 35-44: 9.4%
45-54 15.2% / 17.7%
Barwon Heads — 45-54: 15.2% Connewarre — 45-54: 17.7%
55-64 13.9% / 17.8%
Barwon Heads — 55-64: 13.9% Connewarre — 55-64: 17.8%
65-74 14.9% / 18.8%
Barwon Heads — 65-74: 14.9% Connewarre — 65-74: 18.8%
75-84 6.5% / 5.1%
Barwon Heads — 75-84: 6.5% Connewarre — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 2.2% / 0.8%
Barwon Heads — 85+: 2.2% Connewarre — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Barwon Heads 48.5% couple families
Barwon Heads — Couple Families: 48.5% Barwon Heads — Lone Person: 35.3% Barwon Heads — One Parent Families: 12.6% Barwon Heads — Group Household: 2.3% Barwon Heads — Other Families: 1.3%
Connewarre 62.3% couple families
Connewarre — Couple Families: 62.3% Connewarre — Lone Person: 22.0% Connewarre — One Parent Families: 11.5% Connewarre — Group Household: 2.6% Connewarre — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Barwon Heads 16.0% renting
Barwon Heads — Owned Outright: 49.0% Barwon Heads — Mortgage: 35.0% Barwon Heads — Renting: 16.0%
Connewarre 8.7% renting
Connewarre — Owned Outright: 50.6% Connewarre — Mortgage: 40.7% Connewarre — Renting: 8.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 20.0%
Barwon Heads — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% Connewarre — Bachelor Degree: 20.0%
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 11.0%
Barwon Heads — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% Connewarre — Certificate III & IV: 11.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 10.6%
Barwon Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Connewarre — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 5.0%
Barwon Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% Connewarre — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 2.3%
Barwon Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Connewarre — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Barwon Heads Connewarre
England 4.2% / 4.1%
Barwon Heads — England: 4.2% Connewarre — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.3%
Barwon Heads — New Zealand: 0.7% Connewarre — New Zealand: 1.3%
Scotland 0.5% / 1.2%
Barwon Heads — Scotland: 0.5% Connewarre — Scotland: 1.2%
Netherlands 0.4% / 0.5%
Barwon Heads — Netherlands: 0.4% Connewarre — Netherlands: 0.5%
Fiji — / 0.9%
Barwon Heads — Fiji: not among its largest Connewarre — Fiji: 0.9%
South Africa 0.4% / —
Barwon Heads — South Africa: 0.4% Connewarre — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Barwon Heads 91.2% houses
Barwon Heads — Houses: 91.2% Barwon Heads — Townhouses: 6.1% Barwon Heads — Flats / Apartments: 2.8%
Connewarre 88.8% houses
Connewarre — Houses: 88.8% Connewarre — Townhouses: 6.8% Connewarre — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Median house price $1,190,000 $1,783,500
Median unit price $782,500 —
Median land price — $1,175,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 61 days
from 17 sales
 23 days
from 6 sales

Zoning mix

Connewarre has more rural and farming land (51% vs 20%).

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Rural and farming 20% 51%
Parks and recreation 31% 36%
Residential 33% 2%
Other and special use 11% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 5%
Environmental 3% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Barwon Heads Connewarre
New dwellings approved 3,468
across Greater Geelong
same for both
Approvals change year on year +56%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Houses 3.0%
$950/wk on $1.62M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Barwon Heads Connewarre
House price Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 15% of VIC —

Liveability

Barwon Heads is more walkable (69 vs 14); Barwon Heads scores higher overall (67 vs 49).

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Grade B C
Score 67/100 49/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Connewarre carries more bushfire risk (35 vs 0); Connewarre carries more flood risk (95 vs 83).

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
35/100
Crime Moderate
41/100
same for both
Flood High
83/100
 High
95/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
47/100
 Low
39/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Barwon Heads

  • Barwon Heads Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Connewarre

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 6 3
Childcare 2 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 6

Mobility

Barwon Heads sits further from the CBD (95.3 km vs 89.5 km).

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Walkability score 69/100 14/100
Distance to Melbourne 95.3 km
+6% vs other
 89.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 87 min 82 min
Public transport score 67/100 35/100
Peak arrivals per hour 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 5.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 3227
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3227
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Car (driver) 56.2% / 55.2%
Barwon Heads — Car (driver): 56.2% Connewarre — Car (driver): 55.2%
Worked from Home 36.1% / 37.6%
Barwon Heads — Worked from Home: 36.1% Connewarre — Worked from Home: 37.6%
Walked Only 2.5% / 4.1%
Barwon Heads — Walked Only: 2.5% Connewarre — Walked Only: 4.1%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 3.1%
Barwon Heads — Car (passenger): 2.6% Connewarre — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Bicycle 1.9% / —
Barwon Heads — Bicycle: 1.9% Connewarre — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.2%).

Setting

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 876 m
1.4 km to a named beach
 2.7 km
4.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Connectivity score 70/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
2,500 premises
 39%
577 premises

Climate

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Annual rainfall —
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 22.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Barwon Heads Connewarre
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Division Corangamite
same for both
Member Libby Coker
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Barwon Heads Connewarre
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Barwon Heads

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Professionals Village Feel

Connewarre

Coastal Premium Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Barwon Heads

Barwon Heads vs Ocean Grove Barwon Heads vs Wallington

Other comparisons with Connewarre

Connewarre vs Torquay Connewarre vs Leopold Connewarre vs Armstrong Creek Connewarre vs Mount Duneed Connewarre vs Moolap Connewarre vs Wallington
Full data on Barwon Heads Full data on Connewarre
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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