Curlewis vs Drysdale

Curlewis is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 52 in Drysdale. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Curlewis, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Curlewis tends to suit families with children and couples, while Drysdale 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

Curlewis

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 54%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 89%)
  • But Drysdale has more childcare (7 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Curlewis

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($600,000 vs $1,175,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 31%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Curlewis has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 17%)
  • Drysdale has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $405/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Curlewis

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (90.7 km vs 96.5 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (81 min vs 86 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Drysdale

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (11% vs 1%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 13%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)

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

Investors

Curlewis

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (169.2% vs 16.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Curlewis Drysdale
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.

Curlewis Drysdale
Walkability 6 / 0
Curlewis — Walkability: 6/100 Drysdale — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 57 / 56
Curlewis — Safety: 57/100 Drysdale — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Curlewis — Low fire risk: 100/100 Drysdale — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Curlewis — Low flood risk: 100/100 Drysdale — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Drysdale skews older (52 vs 34); Curlewis has higher household incomes ($95,160 vs $66,196).

Curlewis Drysdale
Population 4,175 4,976
+19% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +169.2% +16.4%
Median age 34 52
Median household income $95,160/yr
+30% vs other
 $66,196/yr
Median weekly rent $405/wk
+16% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Curlewis Drysdale
0-4 8.6% / 3.4%
Curlewis — 0-4: 8.6% Drysdale — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 15.2% / 11.6%
Curlewis — 5-14: 15.2% Drysdale — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.7% / 5.6%
Curlewis — 15-19: 5.7% Drysdale — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 4.8% / 4.3%
Curlewis — 20-24: 4.8% Drysdale — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 16.0% / 7.2%
Curlewis — 25-34: 16.0% Drysdale — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 15.1% / 9.2%
Curlewis — 35-44: 15.1% Drysdale — 35-44: 9.2%
45-54 10.7% / 11.4%
Curlewis — 45-54: 10.7% Drysdale — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 10.7% / 14.0%
Curlewis — 55-64: 10.7% Drysdale — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 9.0% / 17.1%
Curlewis — 65-74: 9.0% Drysdale — 65-74: 17.1%
75-84 3.5% / 10.9%
Curlewis — 75-84: 3.5% Drysdale — 75-84: 10.9%
85+ 0.6% / 5.1%
Curlewis — 85+: 0.6% Drysdale — 85+: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Curlewis 50.9% couple families
Curlewis — Couple Families: 50.9% Curlewis — Lone Person: 22.3% Curlewis — One Parent Families: 21.3% Curlewis — Group Household: 4.1% Curlewis — Other Families: 1.4%
Drysdale 40.0% couple families
Drysdale — Couple Families: 40.0% Drysdale — Lone Person: 42.5% Drysdale — One Parent Families: 13.8% Drysdale — Group Household: 2.4% Drysdale — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Curlewis 30.8% renting
Curlewis — Owned Outright: 25.7% Curlewis — Mortgage: 43.4% Curlewis — Renting: 30.8%
Drysdale 17.0% renting
Drysdale — Owned Outright: 50.7% Drysdale — Mortgage: 32.4% Drysdale — Renting: 17.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Curlewis Drysdale
Certificate III & IV 18.3% / 17.6%
Curlewis — Certificate III & IV: 18.3% Drysdale — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 11.2% / 10.4%
Curlewis — Bachelor Degree: 11.2% Drysdale — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 8.9%
Curlewis — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Drysdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 2.7%
Curlewis — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Drysdale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.8%
Curlewis — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Drysdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

Curlewis Drysdale
England 4.2% / 6.1%
Curlewis — England: 4.2% Drysdale — England: 6.1%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.2%
Curlewis — New Zealand: 1.3% Drysdale — New Zealand: 1.2%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.4%
Curlewis — Philippines: 1.0% Drysdale — Philippines: 0.4%
India 0.8% / 0.4%
Curlewis — India: 0.8% Drysdale — India: 0.4%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.7%
Curlewis — Scotland: 0.4% Drysdale — Scotland: 0.7%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.5%
Curlewis — South Africa: 0.5% Drysdale — South Africa: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.3% / 0.7%
Curlewis — Netherlands: 0.3% Drysdale — Netherlands: 0.7%
Germany — / 0.6%
Curlewis — Germany: not among its largest Drysdale — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Curlewis 99.1% houses
Curlewis — Houses: 99.1% Curlewis — Townhouses: 1.1% Curlewis — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Drysdale 88.7% houses
Drysdale — Houses: 88.7% Drysdale — Townhouses: 9.7% Drysdale — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Curlewis Drysdale
Median house price $697,500 $745,000
Median unit price — $540,000
Median land price $600,000 $1,175,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 100 sales
 33 days
from 59 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.

Curlewis Drysdale
3 bed $645K / $670K
Curlewis — 3 bed: $645K (38 sales) Drysdale — 3 bed: $670K (51 sales)

38 vs 51 sales

4 bed $710K / $832K
Curlewis — 4 bed: $710K (116 sales) Drysdale — 4 bed: $832K (56 sales)

116 vs 56 sales

5 bed $1.02M / $1.05M
Curlewis — 5 bed: $1.02M (8 sales) Drysdale — 5 bed: $1.05M (8 sales)

8 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Drysdale has more rural and farming land (87% vs 75%).

Curlewis Drysdale
Rural and farming 75% 87%
Residential 15% 8%
Other and special use 6% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2%
same for both
Parks and recreation 2%
same for both
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

Curlewis Drysdale
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.

Curlewis Drysdale
Houses 4.0%
$560/wk on $730K
 3.7%
$590/wk on $830K
Units — 4.3%
$450/wk on $550K

Ranking within VIC

Curlewis Drysdale
House price Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Schools Higher than 25% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 68% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 61% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 68% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 18% of VIC

Liveability

Drysdale scores higher overall (53 vs 47).

Curlewis Drysdale
Grade C B
Score 47/100 53/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Curlewis Drysdale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
35/100
 Moderate
63/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Curlewis Drysdale
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Curlewis

  • Bellarine Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Saint Ignatius College Geelong Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Thomas Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Drysdale

  • Drysdale Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Christian College Geelong - Bellarine Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Curlewis Drysdale
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 4 6
Childcare 1 7
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Drysdale sits further from the CBD (96.5 km vs 90.7 km).

Curlewis Drysdale
Walkability score 6/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 90.7 km 96.5 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 86 min
Public transport score 72/100 76/100
Peak arrivals per hour 27.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 32.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3222
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 3222
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.

Curlewis Drysdale
Car (driver) 73.6% / 71.9%
Curlewis — Car (driver): 73.6% Drysdale — Car (driver): 71.9%
Worked from Home 19.3% / 20.1%
Curlewis — Worked from Home: 19.3% Drysdale — Worked from Home: 20.1%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.0%
Curlewis — Car (passenger): 4.5% Drysdale — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 0.9% / 2.8%
Curlewis — Walked Only: 0.9% Drysdale — Walked Only: 2.8%
Train 0.7% / 0.7%
Curlewis — Train: 0.7% Drysdale — Train: 0.7%
Bus 0.9% / 0.2%
Curlewis — Bus: 0.9% Drysdale — Bus: 0.2%

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

Setting

Curlewis Drysdale
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 99 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.9 km
3.9 km to a named beach
 4.0 km

NBN connectivity

Curlewis Drysdale
Connectivity score 79/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 74%
1,014 premises
 43%
2,672 premises

Climate

Curlewis Drysdale
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)

Curlewis Drysdale
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Curlewis Drysdale
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Curlewis Drysdale
Division Corangamite
same for both
Member Libby Coker
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Curlewis Drysdale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Curlewis

Acreage Coastal Family Young Families

Drysdale

Acreage Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Curlewis

Curlewis vs Leopold Curlewis vs Clifton Springs Curlewis vs Wallington

Other comparisons with Drysdale

Drysdale vs Clifton Springs Drysdale vs Portarlington Drysdale vs St Leonards Drysdale vs Wallington Drysdale vs Bellarine Drysdale vs Mannerim
Full data on Curlewis Full data on Drysdale
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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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