Drumcondra vs Geelong

Geelong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 50 in Drumcondra. In Drumcondra, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In Geelong, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Drumcondra: a median of $1.6 million, against $896,000 in Geelong, though rent is higher in Geelong. On these figures, Drumcondra tends to suit couples, while Geelong suits renters, young adults, and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Drumcondra is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 34%)
  • Geelong has more parks and reserves (14 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($895,750 vs $1,600,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Drumcondra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($331/wk vs $370/wk)
  • But Geelong has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Drumcondra sits closer to the CBD (72.1 km vs 74.3 km)
  • Geelong is more walkable (90/100 vs 81/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Geelong

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (15 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 11%)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Drumcondra carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 99/100)

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

Investors

Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.5% vs 2.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Drumcondra Geelong
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.

Drumcondra Geelong
Walkability 81 / 90
Drumcondra — Walkability: 81/100 Geelong — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 41 / 1
Drumcondra — Safety: 41/100 Geelong — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Drumcondra — Low fire risk: 100/100 Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 63
Drumcondra — Low flood risk: 100/100 Geelong — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Geelong has more residents (5,811 vs 571); Drumcondra skews older (50 vs 40).

Drumcondra Geelong
Population 571 5,811
+918% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% +11.5%
Median age 50 40
Median household income $105,144/yr
+17% vs other
 $86,840/yr
Median weekly rent $331/wk $370/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Drumcondra Geelong
0-4 3.9% / 3.5%
Drumcondra — 0-4: 3.9% Geelong — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 8.8% / 6.7%
Drumcondra — 5-14: 8.8% Geelong — 5-14: 6.7%
15-19 5.1% / 5.0%
Drumcondra — 15-19: 5.1% Geelong — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 5.6% / 8.9%
Drumcondra — 20-24: 5.6% Geelong — 20-24: 8.9%
25-34 8.6% / 19.0%
Drumcondra — 25-34: 8.6% Geelong — 25-34: 19.0%
35-44 10.5% / 10.6%
Drumcondra — 35-44: 10.5% Geelong — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 13.8% / 11.5%
Drumcondra — 45-54: 13.8% Geelong — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 15.1% / 13.9%
Drumcondra — 55-64: 15.1% Geelong — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 17.5% / 12.5%
Drumcondra — 65-74: 17.5% Geelong — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 8.4% / 5.8%
Drumcondra — 75-84: 8.4% Geelong — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 2.3% / 2.6%
Drumcondra — 85+: 2.3% Geelong — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Drumcondra 34.3% lone person
Drumcondra — Lone Person: 34.3% Drumcondra — Couple Families: 55.7% Drumcondra — One Parent Families: 7.9% Drumcondra — Group Household: 2.1% Drumcondra — Other Families: 0.0%
Geelong 54.7% lone person
Geelong — Lone Person: 54.7% Geelong — Couple Families: 24.9% Geelong — One Parent Families: 8.6% Geelong — Group Household: 10.3% Geelong — 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.

Drumcondra 24.4% renting
Drumcondra — Owned Outright: 50.7% Drumcondra — Mortgage: 24.9% Drumcondra — Renting: 24.4%
Geelong 45.1% renting
Geelong — Owned Outright: 34.1% Geelong — Mortgage: 20.8% Geelong — Renting: 45.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Drumcondra Geelong
Bachelor Degree 20.0% / 21.1%
Drumcondra — Bachelor Degree: 20.0% Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 21.1%
Certificate III & IV 8.9% / 11.3%
Drumcondra — Certificate III & IV: 8.9% Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.0% / 8.5%
Drumcondra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.0% Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 8.5%
Drumcondra — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.1% / 3.6%
Drumcondra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.1% Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Drumcondra Geelong
England 3.7% / 3.1%
Drumcondra — England: 3.7% Geelong — England: 3.1%
India 0.7% / 2.8%
Drumcondra — India: 0.7% Geelong — India: 2.8%
Italy 0.9% / 1.7%
Drumcondra — Italy: 0.9% Geelong — Italy: 1.7%
Scotland 1.8% / —
Drumcondra — Scotland: 1.8% Geelong — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines 1.1% / 0.7%
Drumcondra — Philippines: 1.1% Geelong — Philippines: 0.7%
China — / 1.8%
Drumcondra — China: not among its largest Geelong — China: 1.8%
Netherlands 1.2% / —
Drumcondra — Netherlands: 1.2% Geelong — Netherlands: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 1.1%
Drumcondra — Malaysia: not among its largest Geelong — Malaysia: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Drumcondra 88.8% houses
Drumcondra — Houses: 88.8% Drumcondra — Flats / Apartments: 4.5% Drumcondra — Townhouses: 6.7%
Geelong 51.8% houses
Geelong — Houses: 51.8% Geelong — Flats / Apartments: 26.8% Geelong — Townhouses: 21.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Drumcondra Geelong
Median house price $1,600,000 $895,750
Median unit price — $566,500
Median land price — $730,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 4 sales
 33 days
from 59 sales

Zoning mix

Geelong has more commercially zoned land (38% vs 2%).

Drumcondra Geelong
Residential 83% 41%
Commercial 2% 38%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 14%
Parks and recreation 8% 7%
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

Drumcondra Geelong
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.

Drumcondra Geelong
Houses — 3.2%
$640/wk on $1.04M
Units — 4.9%
$580/wk on $620K

Ranking within VIC

Drumcondra Geelong
House price — Higher than 59% of VIC
Income Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 15% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 44% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 21% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 54% of VIC

Liveability

Drumcondra scores higher overall (84 vs 51); Geelong is more walkable (90 vs 81).

Drumcondra Geelong
Grade A+ B
Score 84/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Geelong carries more flood risk (37 vs 0); Geelong carries more crime risk (99 vs 59).

Drumcondra Geelong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
59/100
 High
99/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
78/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 17
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Drumcondra Geelong
Inside the suburb 0 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 2.3 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 6.1%

Schools in Drumcondra

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

Schools in Geelong

  • Geelong South Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Newcomb Secondary College-Victorian Sailing Water Safety School Government · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - AFL- Geelong Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Drumcondra Geelong
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 123
Parks & reserves 1 14
Childcare 0 4
GPs 0 15
Pharmacies 0 7
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 8
Fuel stations 0 2
Beaches 0 1

Mobility

Geelong sits further from the CBD (74.3 km vs 72.1 km).

Drumcondra Geelong
Walkability score 81/100 90/100
Distance to Melbourne 72.1 km 74.3 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 61 min 64 min
Public transport score 45/100 89/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 10.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 318.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 3215
 1.9%
postcode 3220
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 3215
 24
postcode 3220

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.

Drumcondra Geelong
Car (driver) 55.3% / 49.6%
Drumcondra — Car (driver): 55.3% Geelong — Car (driver): 49.6%
Worked from Home 34.5% / 25.1%
Drumcondra — Worked from Home: 34.5% Geelong — Worked from Home: 25.1%
Walked Only 3.4% / 16.5%
Drumcondra — Walked Only: 3.4% Geelong — Walked Only: 16.5%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.7%
Drumcondra — Car (passenger): 3.0% Geelong — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Bicycle 1.5% / 1.6%
Drumcondra — Bicycle: 1.5% Geelong — Bicycle: 1.6%
Bus 1.1% / 1.7%
Drumcondra — Bus: 1.1% Geelong — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.3%).

Setting

Drumcondra Geelong
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 251 m
2.2 km to a named beach
 639 m
774 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Drumcondra Geelong
Connectivity score 80/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 61%
283 premises
 35%
6,219 premises

Climate

Drumcondra Geelong
Annual rainfall 454 mm —
Summer max (Jan) 26.1°C 22.8°C
Winter min (Jul) 5.5°C 7.8°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Drumcondra Geelong
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Drumcondra Geelong
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Drumcondra Geelong
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Drumcondra

Coastal Parks Premium Professionals Retirees

Geelong

Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Drumcondra

Drumcondra vs Geelong West Drumcondra vs North Geelong Drumcondra vs Rippleside

Other comparisons with Geelong

Geelong vs Newtown Geelong vs Geelong West Geelong vs East Geelong Geelong vs North Geelong Geelong vs South Geelong
Full data on Drumcondra Full data on Geelong
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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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