Charlemont vs Moolap

Charlemont is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 59 in Moolap. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Moolap: a median of $975,000, against $596,000 in Charlemont, though rent is higher in Charlemont. On these figures, Charlemont tends to suit young adults, share households, and families with children, while Moolap suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

First-home buyers

Charlemont

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($345,000 vs $810,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper houses ($596,500 vs $975,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Charlemont has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 14%)
  • Moolap has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $415/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

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

Downsizers and retirees

Moolap

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (44% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Charlemont

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (617.6% vs 32.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 2.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Charlemont and Moolap 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 Moolap
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 Moolap
Walkability 32 / 25
Charlemont — Walkability: 32/100 Moolap — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 19 / 19
Charlemont — Safety: 19/100 Moolap — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 61
Charlemont — Low fire risk: 100/100 Moolap — Low fire risk: 61/100
Low flood risk 8 / 6
Charlemont — Low flood risk: 8/100 Moolap — Low flood risk: 6/100

Demographics

Moolap skews older (59 vs 29); Charlemont has higher household incomes ($109,304 vs $66,508).

Charlemont Moolap
Population 2,612
+30% vs other
 1,825
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +617.6% +32.9%
Median age 29 59
Median household income $109,304/yr
+39% vs other
 $66,508/yr
Median weekly rent $415/wk
+30% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Charlemont Moolap
0-4 10.0% / 3.5%
Charlemont — 0-4: 10.0% Moolap — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 9.6% / 8.5%
Charlemont — 5-14: 9.6% Moolap — 5-14: 8.5%
15-19 3.9% / 4.3%
Charlemont — 15-19: 3.9% Moolap — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 12.0% / 2.9%
Charlemont — 20-24: 12.0% Moolap — 20-24: 2.9%
25-34 29.8% / 7.9%
Charlemont — 25-34: 29.8% Moolap — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 14.4% / 7.6%
Charlemont — 35-44: 14.4% Moolap — 35-44: 7.6%
45-54 6.5% / 10.1%
Charlemont — 45-54: 6.5% Moolap — 45-54: 10.1%
55-64 6.7% / 11.1%
Charlemont — 55-64: 6.7% Moolap — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 3.1% / 21.0%
Charlemont — 65-74: 3.1% Moolap — 65-74: 21.0%
75-84 2.1% / 17.0%
Charlemont — 75-84: 2.1% Moolap — 75-84: 17.0%
85+ 1.6% / 6.4%
Charlemont — 85+: 1.6% Moolap — 85+: 6.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Charlemont 42.6% couple families
Charlemont — Couple Families: 42.6% Charlemont — Lone Person: 29.9% Charlemont — One Parent Families: 14.2% Charlemont — Group Household: 11.0% Charlemont — Other Families: 2.3%
Moolap 38.7% couple families
Moolap — Couple Families: 38.7% Moolap — Lone Person: 43.0% Moolap — One Parent Families: 14.9% Moolap — Group Household: 3.3% Moolap — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Moolap 14.0% renting
Moolap — Owned Outright: 53.5% Moolap — Mortgage: 32.5% Moolap — Renting: 14.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Charlemont Moolap
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 17.9%
Charlemont — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Moolap — Certificate III & IV: 17.9%
Bachelor Degree 16.1% / 8.1%
Charlemont — Bachelor Degree: 16.1% Moolap — Bachelor Degree: 8.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 8.7%
Charlemont — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Moolap — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 1.3%
Charlemont — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Moolap — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 1.8%
Charlemont — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Moolap — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

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 Moolap
India 5.6% / 0.4%
Charlemont — India: 5.6% Moolap — India: 0.4%
England 1.5% / 4.0%
Charlemont — England: 1.5% Moolap — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.4%
Charlemont — New Zealand: 0.9% Moolap — New Zealand: 1.4%
Philippines 1.1% / —
Charlemont — Philippines: 1.1% Moolap — Philippines: not among its largest
Italy — / 1.1%
Charlemont — Italy: not among its largest Moolap — Italy: 1.1%
Scotland — / 0.9%
Charlemont — Scotland: not among its largest Moolap — Scotland: 0.9%
Germany — / 0.9%
Charlemont — Germany: not among its largest Moolap — Germany: 0.9%
Nepal 0.7% / —
Charlemont — Nepal: 0.7% Moolap — 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%
Moolap 90.1% houses
Moolap — Houses: 90.1% Moolap — Flats / Apartments: 5.9% Moolap — Townhouses: 4.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Charlemont Moolap
Median house price $596,500 $975,000
Median unit price — $514,000
Median land price $345,000 $810,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 165 sales
 90 days
from 8 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.

Charlemont Moolap
3 bed $595K / $570K
Charlemont — 3 bed: $595K (149 sales) Moolap — 3 bed: $570K (11 sales)

149 vs 11 sales

4 bed $632K / $1.05M
Charlemont — 4 bed: $632K (244 sales) Moolap — 4 bed: $1.05M (6 sales)

244 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Moolap has more rural and farming land (44% vs 15%); Moolap has more industrially zoned land (12% vs 0%).

Charlemont Moolap
Residential 61% 3%
Rural and farming 15% 44%
Parks and recreation 22% 28%
Industrial 0% 12%
Other and special use 0% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 1%
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 Moolap
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 Moolap
Houses 4.2%
$550/wk on $684K
 2.2%
$600/wk on $1.41M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Charlemont Moolap
House price Higher than 31% of VIC —
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 94% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 54% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC

Liveability

Charlemont scores higher overall (43 vs 26).

Charlemont Moolap
Grade C D
Score 43/100 26/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Moolap carries more bushfire risk (39 vs 0).

Charlemont Moolap
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
39/100
Crime High
81/100
same for both
Flood High
92/100
 High
94/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
40/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Charlemont Moolap
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.7 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 0.5%

Schools in Charlemont

  • Iona College Geelong Catholic · Secondary below peers

Schools in Moolap

  • Moolap Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Charlemont Moolap
Walkability score 32/100 25/100
Distance to Melbourne 80.8 km 81.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 71 min 72 min
Public transport score 75/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 34.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 58.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3217
 0.6%
postcode 3224
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 3217
 40
postcode 3224

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 Moolap
Car (driver) 74.7% / 70.2%
Charlemont — Car (driver): 74.7% Moolap — Car (driver): 70.2%
Worked from Home 18.7% / 18.9%
Charlemont — Worked from Home: 18.7% Moolap — Worked from Home: 18.9%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 6.3%
Charlemont — Car (passenger): 5.1% Moolap — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only — / 3.4%
Charlemont — Walked Only: not among its largest Moolap — Walked Only: 3.4%
Train 1.0% / 0.6%
Charlemont — Train: 1.0% Moolap — Train: 0.6%
Bus 0.6% / —
Charlemont — Bus: 0.6% Moolap — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.7%).

Setting

Charlemont Moolap
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.9 km 2.8 km

NBN connectivity

Charlemont Moolap
Connectivity score 98/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 98%
2,681 premises
 36%
1,327 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Charlemont Moolap
Division Corangamite
same for both
Member Libby Coker
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Charlemont Moolap
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

Moolap

Acreage Coastal Retirees

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 Moolap

Moolap vs Leopold Moolap vs Armstrong Creek Moolap vs St Albans Park Moolap vs Newcomb Moolap vs Whittington Moolap vs Connewarre
Full data on Charlemont Full data on Moolap
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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