Belmont vs Highton

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Highton, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Highton: a median of $900,000, against $740,000 in Belmont. On these figures, Belmont tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Highton 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

Highton

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 79/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 46%)
  • But Belmont has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Belmont

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($740,000 vs $900,000)

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

Renters

They split

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

  • Belmont has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 22%)
  • Highton leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 23%)

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

Commuting to the city

Belmont

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 76/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (78.4 km vs 82.2 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

  • Belmont is more walkable (88/100 vs 76/100)
  • Highton carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Belmont

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Belmont Highton
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.

Belmont Highton
Walkability 88 / 76
Belmont — Walkability: 88/100 Highton — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 21 / 73
Belmont — Safety: 21/100 Highton — Safety: 73/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Belmont — Low fire risk: 100/100 Highton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 13 / 42
Belmont — Low flood risk: 13/100 Highton — Low flood risk: 42/100

Demographics

Highton has more residents (20,736 vs 15,066); Highton has higher household incomes ($106,808 vs $78,884).

Belmont Highton
Population 15,066 20,736
+38% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.2% +9.4%
Median age 37 39
Median household income $78,884/yr $106,808/yr
+35% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $360/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belmont Highton
0-4 6.3% / 5.3%
Belmont — 0-4: 6.3% Highton — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 10.9% / 13.5%
Belmont — 5-14: 10.9% Highton — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 4.9% / 6.1%
Belmont — 15-19: 4.9% Highton — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 7.1% / 7.3%
Belmont — 20-24: 7.1% Highton — 20-24: 7.3%
25-34 17.4% / 12.0%
Belmont — 25-34: 17.4% Highton — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 13.1% / 13.2%
Belmont — 35-44: 13.1% Highton — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 11.3% / 12.9%
Belmont — 45-54: 11.3% Highton — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 10.3% / 11.4%
Belmont — 55-64: 10.3% Highton — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 9.4% / 9.8%
Belmont — 65-74: 9.4% Highton — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 5.9% / 6.4%
Belmont — 75-84: 5.9% Highton — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 3.5% / 2.1%
Belmont — 85+: 3.5% Highton — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Belmont 32.8% couple families
Belmont — Couple Families: 32.8% Belmont — Lone Person: 44.5% Belmont — One Parent Families: 13.7% Belmont — Group Household: 7.1% Belmont — Other Families: 1.8%
Highton 50.6% couple families
Highton — Couple Families: 50.6% Highton — Lone Person: 32.2% Highton — One Parent Families: 11.2% Highton — Group Household: 5.1% Highton — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Belmont 35.9% renting
Belmont — Owned Outright: 32.3% Belmont — Mortgage: 31.8% Belmont — Renting: 35.9%
Highton 21.8% renting
Highton — Owned Outright: 39.3% Highton — Mortgage: 39.0% Highton — Renting: 21.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Belmont Highton
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 19.2%
Belmont — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Highton — Bachelor Degree: 19.2%
Certificate III & IV 14.7% / 11.4%
Belmont — Certificate III & IV: 14.7% Highton — Certificate III & IV: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 9.3%
Belmont — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Highton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 6.8%
Belmont — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Highton — Postgraduate Degree: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 3.2%
Belmont — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Highton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

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.

Belmont Highton
England 2.5% / 3.4%
Belmont — England: 2.5% Highton — England: 3.4%
India 2.8% / 2.4%
Belmont — India: 2.8% Highton — India: 2.4%
China 0.9% / 1.5%
Belmont — China: 0.9% Highton — China: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Belmont — New Zealand: 1.1% Highton — New Zealand: 1.1%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.5%
Belmont — Scotland: 0.6% Highton — Scotland: 0.5%
South Africa — / 0.8%
Belmont — South Africa: not among its largest Highton — South Africa: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Belmont 77.7% houses
Belmont — Houses: 77.7% Belmont — Townhouses: 18.1% Belmont — Flats / Apartments: 4.2%
Highton 87.3% houses
Highton — Houses: 87.3% Highton — Townhouses: 12.4% Highton — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Belmont Highton
Median house price $740,000 $900,000
Median unit price $503,000 $500,000
Median land price $520,000 $456,250
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 176 sales
 25 days
from 218 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.

Belmont Highton
1 bed $345K / $335K
Belmont — 1 bed: $345K (15 sales) Highton — 1 bed: $335K (17 sales)

15 vs 17 sales

2 bed $506K / $504K
Belmont — 2 bed: $506K (54 sales) Highton — 2 bed: $504K (58 sales)

54 vs 58 sales

3 bed $640K / $635K
Belmont — 3 bed: $640K (14 sales) Highton — 3 bed: $635K (12 sales)

14 vs 12 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.

Belmont Highton
2 bed $628K / $634K
Belmont — 2 bed: $628K (50 sales) Highton — 2 bed: $634K (28 sales)

50 vs 28 sales

3 bed $732K / $811K
Belmont — 3 bed: $732K (257 sales) Highton — 3 bed: $811K (167 sales)

257 vs 167 sales

4 bed $805K / $1M
Belmont — 4 bed: $805K (70 sales) Highton — 4 bed: $1M (180 sales)

70 vs 180 sales

5 bed $940K / $1.23M
Belmont — 5 bed: $940K (11 sales) Highton — 5 bed: $1.23M (41 sales)

11 vs 41 sales

Zoning mix

Belmont Highton
Residential 63% 76%
Parks and recreation 24% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 12%
Industrial 2% 0%
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

Belmont Highton
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.

Belmont Highton
Houses 3.7%
$550/wk on $765K
 3.2%
$618/wk on $1M
Units 4.7%
$470/wk on $524K
 4.2%
$450/wk on $555K

Ranking within VIC

Belmont Highton
House price Higher than 41% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC
Income Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Schools Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 78% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC

Liveability

Belmont is more walkable (88 vs 76).

Belmont Highton
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 60/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Belmont carries more crime risk (79 vs 27); Belmont carries more flood risk (87 vs 58).

Belmont Highton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
79/100
 Low
27/100
Flood High
87/100
 Moderate
58/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Belmont Highton
Inside the suburb 8 5
Rated above peers 4 0
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 3.6 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 3.7%

Schools in Belmont

  • Belmont High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Clairvaux Catholic School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Oberon Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Wangala Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Belmont Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Roslyn Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Highton

  • Bellaire Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Highton Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Montpellier Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Christian College Geelong - Junior School – Belmont Independent · Combined
  • Christian College Geelong - Middle School – Highton Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Belmont Highton
Supermarkets 8 4
Cafes & restaurants 21 8
Parks & reserves 20 22
Childcare 13
same for both
GPs 7 6
Pharmacies 2 3
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 5 17

Mobility

Highton sits further from the CBD (82.2 km vs 78.4 km).

Belmont Highton
Walkability score 88/100 76/100
Distance to Melbourne 78.4 km 82.2 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 68 min 64 min
Public transport score 76/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 199.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 163.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3216
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3216
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.

Belmont Highton
Car (driver) 66.8% / 64.6%
Belmont — Car (driver): 66.8% Highton — Car (driver): 64.6%
Worked from Home 22.8% / 27.0%
Belmont — Worked from Home: 22.8% Highton — Worked from Home: 27.0%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.6%
Belmont — Car (passenger): 4.5% Highton — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 2.5% / 1.3%
Belmont — Walked Only: 2.5% Highton — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bus 1.8% / 1.0%
Belmont — Bus: 1.8% Highton — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.8%).

Setting

Belmont Highton
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.2 km
4.3 km to a named beach
 5.3 km

NBN connectivity

Belmont Highton
Connectivity score 68/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
7,991 premises
 56%
9,304 premises

Climate

Belmont Highton
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)

Belmont Highton
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Belmont Highton
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Belmont Highton
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Belmont Highton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Belmont

Parks Regional Centre

Highton

Parks Professionals Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belmont

Belmont vs Grovedale Belmont vs Newtown Belmont vs Charlemont Belmont vs Marshall Belmont vs Breakwater Belmont vs South Geelong

Other comparisons with Highton

Highton vs Grovedale Highton vs Newtown Highton vs Waurn Ponds Highton vs Wandana Heights Highton vs Fyansford Highton vs Ceres
Full data on Belmont Full data on Highton
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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