Bell Park vs Hamlyn Heights

Hamlyn Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Bell Park. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bell Park, about half of households are people living alone.

Hamlyn Heights has a notably higher median household income at $85,436 compared to Bell Park's $63,648, and sits in a higher socio-economic decile (6 versus 3). However, Bell Park scores better on liveability (60 versus 52) and walkability (76 versus 71), and carries lower crime risk (68 versus 41). Flood risk is considerably higher in Hamlyn Heights at 45 compared to Bell Park's 14. Both suburbs are similarly close to the CBD and equally safe from bushfire, making the choice largely dependent on whether you prioritise income levels and socio-economic profile or prefer a more walkable neighbourhood with lower crime and flood exposure.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

  • Bell Park has more childcare (8 vs 2)
  • Hamlyn Heights has more parks and reserves (8 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hamlyn Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bell Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (72.3 km vs 74.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bell Park has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 18%)
  • Hamlyn Heights carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Bell Park is growing faster (11.8% vs 3.6%)
  • Hamlyn Heights returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Bell Park and Hamlyn Heights drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
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.

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Walkability 76 / 71
Bell Park — Walkability: 76/100 Hamlyn Heights — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 32 / 59
Bell Park — Safety: 32/100 Hamlyn Heights — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bell Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hamlyn Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 86 / 55
Bell Park — Low flood risk: 86/100 Hamlyn Heights — Low flood risk: 55/100

Demographics

Hamlyn Heights has higher household incomes ($85,436 vs $63,648); Bell Park skews older (41 vs 38).

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Population 5,602 6,518
+16% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.8% +3.6%
Median age 41 38
Median household income $63,648/yr $85,436/yr
+34% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk $345/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
0-4 4.9% / 5.8%
Bell Park — 0-4: 4.9% Hamlyn Heights — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 10.5% / 11.3%
Bell Park — 5-14: 10.5% Hamlyn Heights — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 5.0% / 5.4%
Bell Park — 15-19: 5.0% Hamlyn Heights — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 6.1% / 6.3%
Bell Park — 20-24: 6.1% Hamlyn Heights — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 15.5% / 16.3%
Bell Park — 25-34: 15.5% Hamlyn Heights — 25-34: 16.3%
35-44 11.7% / 12.9%
Bell Park — 35-44: 11.7% Hamlyn Heights — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 11.4% / 12.0%
Bell Park — 45-54: 11.4% Hamlyn Heights — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 11.3% / 11.9%
Bell Park — 55-64: 11.3% Hamlyn Heights — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 11.7% / 9.0%
Bell Park — 65-74: 11.7% Hamlyn Heights — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 8.6% / 5.5%
Bell Park — 75-84: 8.6% Hamlyn Heights — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 3.2% / 3.7%
Bell Park — 85+: 3.2% Hamlyn Heights — 85+: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bell Park 46.2% lone person
Bell Park — Lone Person: 46.2% Bell Park — Couple Families: 31.2% Bell Park — One Parent Families: 16.2% Bell Park — Group Household: 4.7% Bell Park — Other Families: 1.8%
Hamlyn Heights 42.9% lone person
Hamlyn Heights — Lone Person: 42.9% Hamlyn Heights — Couple Families: 35.7% Hamlyn Heights — One Parent Families: 14.3% Hamlyn Heights — Group Household: 5.6% Hamlyn Heights — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bell Park 32.3% renting
Bell Park — Owned Outright: 42.2% Bell Park — Mortgage: 25.6% Bell Park — Renting: 32.3%
Hamlyn Heights 30.1% renting
Hamlyn Heights — Owned Outright: 35.4% Hamlyn Heights — Mortgage: 34.5% Hamlyn Heights — Renting: 30.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Certificate III & IV 15.5% / 16.2%
Bell Park — Certificate III & IV: 15.5% Hamlyn Heights — Certificate III & IV: 16.2%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 14.2%
Bell Park — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Hamlyn Heights — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 8.8%
Bell Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Hamlyn Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 4.0%
Bell Park — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Hamlyn Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 2.6%
Bell Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Hamlyn Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

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.

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
India 2.9% / 1.6%
Bell Park — India: 2.9% Hamlyn Heights — India: 1.6%
England 1.3% / 1.8%
Bell Park — England: 1.3% Hamlyn Heights — England: 1.8%
Italy 1.9% / 1.0%
Bell Park — Italy: 1.9% Hamlyn Heights — Italy: 1.0%
Philippines 1.6% / —
Bell Park — Philippines: 1.6% Hamlyn Heights — Philippines: not among its largest
China 1.0% / —
Bell Park — China: 1.0% Hamlyn Heights — China: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.8%
Bell Park — New Zealand: not among its largest Hamlyn Heights — New Zealand: 0.8%
Germany — / 0.8%
Bell Park — Germany: not among its largest Hamlyn Heights — Germany: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bell Park 80.7% houses
Bell Park — Houses: 80.7% Bell Park — Townhouses: 13.3% Bell Park — Flats / Apartments: 6.0%
Hamlyn Heights 83.9% houses
Hamlyn Heights — Houses: 83.9% Hamlyn Heights — Townhouses: 15.5% Hamlyn Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Median house price $691,400 $750,000
Median unit price $550,000 $525,000
Median land price $580,000 $645,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 52 sales
 20 days
from 55 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
2 bed $542K / $548K
Bell Park — 2 bed: $542K (28 sales) Hamlyn Heights — 2 bed: $548K (16 sales)

28 vs 16 sales

3 bed $615K / $682K
Bell Park — 3 bed: $615K (17 sales) Hamlyn Heights — 3 bed: $682K (6 sales)

17 vs 6 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
2 bed $570K / $655K
Bell Park — 2 bed: $570K (13 sales) Hamlyn Heights — 2 bed: $655K (19 sales)

13 vs 19 sales

3 bed $672K / $750K
Bell Park — 3 bed: $672K (94 sales) Hamlyn Heights — 3 bed: $750K (78 sales)

94 vs 78 sales

4 bed $810K / $850K
Bell Park — 4 bed: $810K (28 sales) Hamlyn Heights — 4 bed: $850K (31 sales)

28 vs 31 sales

Zoning mix

Bell Park has more industrially zoned land (14% vs 0%).

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Residential 71% 87%
Industrial 14% 0%
Parks and recreation 7%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 6%
same for both
Commercial 2% 0%
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

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
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.

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Houses 4.0%
$550/wk on $724K
 3.7%
$550/wk on $765K
Units 4.0%
$460/wk on $595K
 5.1%
$515/wk on $530K

Ranking within VIC

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
House price Higher than 41% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Income Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Schools Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 85% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC

Liveability

Bell Park scores higher overall (60 vs 52).

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 52/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Hamlyn Heights carries more flood risk (45 vs 14); Bell Park carries more crime risk (68 vs 41).

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood Low
14/100
 Moderate
45/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 14
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Inside the suburb 6 5
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 5.4 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 4.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 2.2%

Schools in Bell Park

  • Holy Family School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • North Geelong Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Bell Park North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Bell Park North Primary School-Geelong English Language Program Government · Primary
  • Geelong English Language School (interim name)-North Geelong Campus Government · Combined
  • Nelson Park School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Hamlyn Heights

  • Hamlyn Banks Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Herne Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Western Heights Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Western Heights Secondary College-Quamby Campus Government · Secondary
  • Hamlyn Views School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 3
Parks & reserves 2 8
Childcare 8 2
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 3 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Hamlyn Heights sits further from the CBD (74.3 km vs 72.3 km).

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Walkability score 76/100 71/100
Distance to Melbourne 72.3 km 74.3 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 60 min 61 min
Public transport score 75/100 76/100
Peak arrivals per hour 82.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 76.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 3215
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 3215
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.

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Car (driver) 73.6% / 68.5%
Bell Park — Car (driver): 73.6% Hamlyn Heights — Car (driver): 68.5%
Worked from Home 15.1% / 22.0%
Bell Park — Worked from Home: 15.1% Hamlyn Heights — Worked from Home: 22.0%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 4.7%
Bell Park — Car (passenger): 6.6% Hamlyn Heights — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Walked Only 1.5% / 1.6%
Bell Park — Walked Only: 1.5% Hamlyn Heights — Walked Only: 1.6%
Bus 1.4% / 1.1%
Bell Park — Bus: 1.4% Hamlyn Heights — Bus: 1.1%
Train 0.9% / 1.1%
Bell Park — Train: 0.9% Hamlyn Heights — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.6%).

Setting

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 64 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km 3.0 km
4.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Connectivity score 83/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
3,086 premises
 65%
3,213 premises

Climate

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Annual rainfall 454 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bell Park Hamlyn Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bell Park

Coastal Multicultural

Hamlyn Heights

Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bell Park

Bell Park vs Norlane Bell Park vs Bell Post Hill Bell Park vs North Geelong

Other comparisons with Hamlyn Heights

Hamlyn Heights vs Geelong West Hamlyn Heights vs Bell Post Hill Hamlyn Heights vs Herne Hill Hamlyn Heights vs North Geelong Hamlyn Heights vs Manifold Heights Hamlyn Heights vs Fyansford
Full data on Bell Park Full data on Hamlyn Heights
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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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