Drysdale vs Wallington

Wallington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 52 in Drysdale. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wallington, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wallington: a median of $1.74 million, against $745,000 in Drysdale. On these figures, Drysdale tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Wallington 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

Drysdale

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 61/100)
  • But Wallington is already more of a family suburb (77% vs 54%)

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

First-home buyers

Drysdale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($745,000 vs $1,735,000)
  • has cheaper land ($1,175,000 vs $2,070,000)
  • But Wallington leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 31%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wallington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wallington

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (91.8 km vs 96.5 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Drysdale

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 61/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 27%)
  • But Wallington is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Drysdale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.4% vs 11.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Drysdale Wallington
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.

Drysdale Wallington
Walkability 0 / 13
Drysdale — Walkability: 0/100 Wallington — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 56 / 39
Drysdale — Safety: 56/100 Wallington — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 100 / 68
Drysdale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wallington — Low fire risk: 68/100
Low flood risk 100 / 12
Drysdale — Low flood risk: 100/100 Wallington — Low flood risk: 12/100

Demographics

Drysdale has more residents (4,976 vs 1,515); Wallington has higher household incomes ($125,320 vs $66,196).

Drysdale Wallington
Population 4,976
+70% vs other
 1,515
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.4% +11.1%
Median age 52 48
Median household income $66,196/yr $125,320/yr
+89% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk
+4% vs other
 $325/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Drysdale Wallington
0-4 3.4% / 3.4%
Drysdale — 0-4: 3.4% Wallington — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 11.6% / 13.0%
Drysdale — 5-14: 11.6% Wallington — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.6% / 7.0%
Drysdale — 15-19: 5.6% Wallington — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 4.3% / 5.3%
Drysdale — 20-24: 4.3% Wallington — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 7.2% / 5.7%
Drysdale — 25-34: 7.2% Wallington — 25-34: 5.7%
35-44 9.2% / 9.6%
Drysdale — 35-44: 9.2% Wallington — 35-44: 9.6%
45-54 11.4% / 14.8%
Drysdale — 45-54: 11.4% Wallington — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 14.0% / 14.3%
Drysdale — 55-64: 14.0% Wallington — 55-64: 14.3%
65-74 17.1% / 14.0%
Drysdale — 65-74: 17.1% Wallington — 65-74: 14.0%
75-84 10.9% / 7.5%
Drysdale — 75-84: 10.9% Wallington — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 5.1% / 5.8%
Drysdale — 85+: 5.1% Wallington — 85+: 5.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Wallington 66.0% couple families
Wallington — Couple Families: 66.0% Wallington — Lone Person: 19.9% Wallington — One Parent Families: 11.1% Wallington — Group Household: 2.9% Wallington — 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.

Drysdale 17.0% renting
Drysdale — Owned Outright: 50.7% Drysdale — Mortgage: 32.4% Drysdale — Renting: 17.0%
Wallington 7.5% renting
Wallington — Owned Outright: 50.1% Wallington — Mortgage: 42.4% Wallington — Renting: 7.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Drysdale Wallington
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 14.2%
Drysdale — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Wallington — Certificate III & IV: 14.2%
Bachelor Degree 10.4% / 12.2%
Drysdale — Bachelor Degree: 10.4% Wallington — Bachelor Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 9.3%
Drysdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Wallington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 4.5%
Drysdale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Wallington — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.6%
Drysdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Wallington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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.

Drysdale Wallington
England 6.1% / 5.5%
Drysdale — England: 6.1% Wallington — England: 5.5%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.6%
Drysdale — New Zealand: 1.2% Wallington — New Zealand: 0.6%
Germany 0.6% / 0.9%
Drysdale — Germany: 0.6% Wallington — Germany: 0.9%
Netherlands 0.7% / 0.5%
Drysdale — Netherlands: 0.7% Wallington — Netherlands: 0.5%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.5%
Drysdale — Scotland: 0.7% Wallington — Scotland: 0.5%
Italy — / 0.8%
Drysdale — Italy: not among its largest Wallington — Italy: 0.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Drysdale 88.7% houses
Drysdale — Houses: 88.7% Drysdale — Townhouses: 9.7% Drysdale — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Wallington 100.5% houses
Wallington — Houses: 100.5% Wallington — Townhouses: 0.0% Wallington — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Drysdale Wallington
Median house price $745,000 $1,735,000
Median unit price $540,000 —
Median land price $1,175,000 $2,070,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 59 sales
 85 days
from 5 sales

Zoning mix

Drysdale Wallington
Rural and farming 87% 77%
Parks and recreation 2% 14%
Residential 8% 0%
Environmental 0% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 3%
Other and special use 0% 2%
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

Drysdale Wallington
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.

Drysdale Wallington
Houses 3.7%
$590/wk on $830K
 —
Units 4.3%
$450/wk on $550K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Drysdale Wallington
House price Higher than 44% of VIC —
Income Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 32% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 33% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 61% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 46% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 18% of VIC —

Liveability

Wallington is more walkable (13 vs 0); Drysdale scores higher overall (53 vs 42).

Drysdale Wallington
Grade B C
Score 53/100 42/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Wallington carries more flood risk (88 vs 0); Wallington carries more bushfire risk (32 vs 0).

Drysdale Wallington
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
32/100
Crime Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
61/100
Flood None
0/100
 High
88/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
63/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Drysdale

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

Schools in Wallington

  • Wallington Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Drysdale sits further from the CBD (96.5 km vs 91.8 km).

Drysdale Wallington
Walkability score 0/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 96.5 km
+5% vs other
 91.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 83 min
Public transport score 76/100 44/100
Peak arrivals per hour 32.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.8
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.

Drysdale Wallington
Car (driver) 71.9% / 59.3%
Drysdale — Car (driver): 71.9% Wallington — Car (driver): 59.3%
Worked from Home 20.1% / 31.6%
Drysdale — Worked from Home: 20.1% Wallington — Worked from Home: 31.6%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 4.5%
Drysdale — Car (passenger): 4.0% Wallington — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 2.8% / 2.9%
Drysdale — Walked Only: 2.8% Wallington — Walked Only: 2.9%
Train 0.7% / 1.0%
Drysdale — Train: 0.7% Wallington — Train: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.9%).

Setting

Drysdale Wallington
Elevation 99 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km 5.1 km

NBN connectivity

Drysdale Wallington
Connectivity score 68/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
2,672 premises
 0%
446 premises

Climate

Drysdale Wallington
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Drysdale

Acreage Retirees

Wallington

Acreage Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Drysdale

Drysdale vs Clifton Springs Drysdale vs Portarlington Drysdale vs Curlewis Drysdale vs St Leonards Drysdale vs Bellarine Drysdale vs Mannerim

Other comparisons with Wallington

Wallington vs Ocean Grove Wallington vs Leopold Wallington vs Barwon Heads Wallington vs Curlewis Wallington vs Connewarre Wallington vs Marcus Hill
Full data on Drysdale Full data on Wallington
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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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