Charlemont vs Breakwater

Charlemont is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 40 in Breakwater. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Breakwater, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Charlemont tends to suit young adults and families with children, while Breakwater suits people living alone.

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

Charlemont

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (57% vs 40%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 76%)

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

First-home buyers

Charlemont

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 26%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Breakwater

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $415/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 29%)
  • But Charlemont leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Breakwater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (48/100 vs 32/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Breakwater

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 2%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 7%)
  • is more walkable (48/100 vs 32/100)

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

Investors

Charlemont

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (617.6% vs 4.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Charlemont Breakwater
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.

Charlemont Breakwater
Walkability 32 / 48
Charlemont — Walkability: 32/100 Breakwater — Walkability: 48/100
Safety 19 / 10
Charlemont — Safety: 19/100 Breakwater — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Charlemont — Low fire risk: 100/100 Breakwater — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 8 / 15
Charlemont — Low flood risk: 8/100 Breakwater — Low flood risk: 15/100

Demographics

Charlemont has more residents (2,612 vs 1,060); Charlemont has higher household incomes ($109,304 vs $56,004).

Charlemont Breakwater
Population 2,612
+59% vs other
 1,060
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +617.6% +4.5%
Median age 29 40
Median household income $109,304/yr
+49% vs other
 $56,004/yr
Median weekly rent $415/wk
+28% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Charlemont Breakwater
0-4 10.0% / 4.1%
Charlemont — 0-4: 10.0% Breakwater — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 9.6% / 10.5%
Charlemont — 5-14: 9.6% Breakwater — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 3.9% / 3.3%
Charlemont — 15-19: 3.9% Breakwater — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 12.0% / 8.4%
Charlemont — 20-24: 12.0% Breakwater — 20-24: 8.4%
25-34 29.8% / 17.4%
Charlemont — 25-34: 29.8% Breakwater — 25-34: 17.4%
35-44 14.4% / 14.0%
Charlemont — 35-44: 14.4% Breakwater — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 6.5% / 11.1%
Charlemont — 45-54: 6.5% Breakwater — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 6.7% / 12.6%
Charlemont — 55-64: 6.7% Breakwater — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 3.1% / 9.7%
Charlemont — 65-74: 3.1% Breakwater — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 2.1% / 7.3%
Charlemont — 75-84: 2.1% Breakwater — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 1.6% / 2.1%
Charlemont — 85+: 1.6% Breakwater — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Charlemont 29.9% lone person
Charlemont — Lone Person: 29.9% Charlemont — Couple Families: 42.6% Charlemont — One Parent Families: 14.2% Charlemont — Group Household: 11.0% Charlemont — Other Families: 2.3%
Breakwater 49.7% lone person
Breakwater — Lone Person: 49.7% Breakwater — Couple Families: 20.6% Breakwater — One Parent Families: 19.4% Breakwater — Group Household: 7.7% Breakwater — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Charlemont 28.7% renting
Charlemont — Owned Outright: 10.5% Charlemont — Mortgage: 60.8% Charlemont — Renting: 28.7%
Breakwater 39.1% renting
Breakwater — Owned Outright: 30.1% Breakwater — Mortgage: 30.8% Breakwater — Renting: 39.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Charlemont Breakwater
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 20.5%
Charlemont — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Breakwater — Certificate III & IV: 20.5%
Bachelor Degree 16.1% / 7.1%
Charlemont — Bachelor Degree: 16.1% Breakwater — Bachelor Degree: 7.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 6.9%
Charlemont — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Breakwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 2.2%
Charlemont — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Breakwater — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 1.3%
Charlemont — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Breakwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

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.

Charlemont Breakwater
India 5.6% / 1.3%
Charlemont — India: 5.6% Breakwater — India: 1.3%
England 1.5% / 2.2%
Charlemont — England: 1.5% Breakwater — England: 2.2%
Philippines 1.1% / 0.8%
Charlemont — Philippines: 1.1% Breakwater — Philippines: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.9%
Charlemont — New Zealand: 0.9% Breakwater — New Zealand: 0.9%
Pakistan — / 0.8%
Charlemont — Pakistan: not among its largest Breakwater — Pakistan: 0.8%
Nepal 0.7% / —
Charlemont — Nepal: 0.7% Breakwater — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Charlemont 97.8% houses
Charlemont — Houses: 97.8% Charlemont — Flats / Apartments: 0.4% Charlemont — Townhouses: 1.8%
Breakwater 76.4% houses
Breakwater — Houses: 76.4% Breakwater — Flats / Apartments: 14.8% Breakwater — Townhouses: 8.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Charlemont Breakwater
Median house price $596,500 $565,000
Median unit price — $705,000
Median land price $345,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 165 sales
 25 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Breakwater has more industrially zoned land (33% vs 0%); Charlemont has more rural and farming land (15% vs 1%).

Charlemont Breakwater
Residential 61% 13%
Industrial 0% 33%
Parks and recreation 22% 26%
Other and special use 0% 22%
Rural and farming 15% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 5%
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

Charlemont Breakwater
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.

Charlemont Breakwater
Houses 4.2%
$550/wk on $684K
 4.0%
$478/wk on $622K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Charlemont Breakwater
House price Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 68% of VIC

Liveability

Charlemont scores higher overall (43 vs 24); Breakwater is more walkable (48 vs 32).

Charlemont Breakwater
Grade C D
Score 43/100 24/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Charlemont Breakwater
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
81/100
 High
90/100
Flood High
92/100
 High
85/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Charlemont Breakwater
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.7 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 3.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 0.9%

Schools in Charlemont

  • Iona College Geelong Catholic · Secondary below peers

Schools in Breakwater

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

Amenities in the suburb

Charlemont Breakwater
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Charlemont Breakwater
Walkability score 32/100 48/100
Distance to Melbourne 80.8 km 80.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 71 min 72 min
Public transport score 75/100 54/100
Peak arrivals per hour 34.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 19.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3217
 0.5%
postcode 3219
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 3217
 28
postcode 3219

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.

Charlemont Breakwater
Car (driver) 74.7% / 79.3%
Charlemont — Car (driver): 74.7% Breakwater — Car (driver): 79.3%
Worked from Home 18.7% / 10.8%
Charlemont — Worked from Home: 18.7% Breakwater — Worked from Home: 10.8%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 4.6%
Charlemont — Car (passenger): 5.1% Breakwater — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bus 0.6% / 2.4%
Charlemont — Bus: 0.6% Breakwater — Bus: 2.4%
Walked Only — / 2.2%
Charlemont — Walked Only: not among its largest Breakwater — Walked Only: 2.2%
Train 1.0% / —
Charlemont — Train: 1.0% Breakwater — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.3%).

Setting

Charlemont Breakwater
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.9 km 3.9 km
4.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Charlemont Breakwater
Connectivity score 98/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 98%
2,681 premises
 46%
1,052 premises

Climate

Charlemont Breakwater
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)

Charlemont Breakwater
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Charlemont Breakwater
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Charlemont Breakwater
Division Corangamite Corio
Member Libby Coker Richard Marles
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Charlemont Breakwater
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Charlemont

Acreage Young Families

Breakwater

Affordable Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Charlemont

Charlemont vs Belmont Charlemont vs Grovedale Charlemont vs Armstrong Creek Charlemont vs Mount Duneed Charlemont vs St Albans Park Charlemont vs Marshall

Other comparisons with Breakwater

Breakwater vs Belmont Breakwater vs St Albans Park Breakwater vs East Geelong Breakwater vs Whittington Breakwater vs Thomson Breakwater vs South Geelong
Full data on Charlemont Full data on Breakwater
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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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