East Geelong vs South Geelong

South Geelong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in East Geelong. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses.

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

East Geelong

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 97/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 68%)

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

First-home buyers

East Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($450,000 vs $596,475)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

East Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 51/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

East Geelong

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 51/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 97/100)
  • But South Geelong has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 15%)

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

Investors

South Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

East Geelong and South 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.

East Geelong South 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.

East Geelong South Geelong
Walkability 77 / 51
East Geelong — Walkability: 77/100 South Geelong — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 34 / 3
East Geelong — Safety: 34/100 South Geelong — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
East Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 51 / 13
East Geelong — Low flood risk: 51/100 South Geelong — Low flood risk: 13/100

Demographics

East Geelong has more residents (4,012 vs 1,014); East Geelong skews older (40 vs 37).

East Geelong South Geelong
Population 4,012
+75% vs other
 1,014
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +2.1%
Median age 40 37
Median household income $92,664/yr
+8% vs other
 $85,384/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Geelong South Geelong
0-4 5.7% / 6.4%
East Geelong — 0-4: 5.7% South Geelong — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 9.8% / 10.7%
East Geelong — 5-14: 9.8% South Geelong — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 5.2% / 3.5%
East Geelong — 15-19: 5.2% South Geelong — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 6.5% / 7.4%
East Geelong — 20-24: 6.5% South Geelong — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 14.9% / 17.7%
East Geelong — 25-34: 14.9% South Geelong — 25-34: 17.7%
35-44 12.4% / 15.1%
East Geelong — 35-44: 12.4% South Geelong — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 14.3% / 12.3%
East Geelong — 45-54: 14.3% South Geelong — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 14.4% / 12.3%
East Geelong — 55-64: 14.4% South Geelong — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 11.0% / 9.4%
East Geelong — 65-74: 11.0% South Geelong — 65-74: 9.4%
75-84 4.5% / 4.3%
East Geelong — 75-84: 4.5% South Geelong — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.6% / 0.8%
East Geelong — 85+: 1.6% South Geelong — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Geelong 42.8% lone person
East Geelong — Lone Person: 42.8% East Geelong — Couple Families: 35.9% East Geelong — One Parent Families: 12.5% East Geelong — Group Household: 7.5% East Geelong — Other Families: 1.3%
South Geelong 43.5% lone person
South Geelong — Lone Person: 43.5% South Geelong — Couple Families: 30.7% South Geelong — One Parent Families: 14.3% South Geelong — Group Household: 9.6% South Geelong — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

East Geelong 31.4% renting
East Geelong — Owned Outright: 33.4% East Geelong — Mortgage: 35.2% East Geelong — Renting: 31.4%
South Geelong 38.3% renting
South Geelong — Owned Outright: 30.1% South Geelong — Mortgage: 31.6% South Geelong — Renting: 38.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

East Geelong South Geelong
Bachelor Degree 20.2% / 17.7%
East Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 20.2% South Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 17.7%
Certificate III & IV 12.1% / 14.5%
East Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 12.1% South Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 9.4%
East Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% South Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 8.3%
East Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% South Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 4.2%
East Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% South Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

East Geelong South Geelong
England 3.0% / 3.0%
East Geelong — England: 3.0% South Geelong — England: 3.0%
India 1.3% / 1.9%
East Geelong — India: 1.3% South Geelong — India: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.2%
East Geelong — New Zealand: 1.0% South Geelong — New Zealand: 1.2%
Greece 0.7% / 0.5%
East Geelong — Greece: 0.7% South Geelong — Greece: 0.5%
Vietnam — / 0.9%
East Geelong — Vietnam: not among its largest South Geelong — Vietnam: 0.9%
South Africa — / 0.9%
East Geelong — South Africa: not among its largest South Geelong — South Africa: 0.9%
Italy 0.7% / —
East Geelong — Italy: 0.7% South Geelong — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

East Geelong 85.2% houses
East Geelong — Houses: 85.2% East Geelong — Townhouses: 14.5% East Geelong — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
South Geelong 68.1% houses
South Geelong — Houses: 68.1% South Geelong — Townhouses: 30.2% South Geelong — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

East Geelong South Geelong
Median house price $826,250 $845,250
Median unit price $450,000 $596,475
Median land price — $860,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 23 sales
 16 days
from 4 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.

East Geelong South Geelong
2 bed $668K / $721K
East Geelong — 2 bed: $668K (21 sales) South Geelong — 2 bed: $721K (10 sales)

21 vs 10 sales

3 bed $808K / $830K
East Geelong — 3 bed: $808K (78 sales) South Geelong — 3 bed: $830K (23 sales)

78 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

South Geelong has more industrially zoned land (52% vs 0%).

East Geelong South Geelong
Industrial 0% 52%
Residential 40% 18%
Parks and recreation 36% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 9%
Other and special use 11% 0%
Commercial 0% 3%
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

East Geelong South 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.

East Geelong South Geelong
Houses 3.6%
$548/wk on $800K
 4.2%
$575/wk on $705K
Units 6.0%
$380/wk on $330K
 —

Ranking within VIC

East Geelong South Geelong
House price Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
Income Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 43% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 92% of VIC —

Liveability

East Geelong scores higher overall (64 vs 42); East Geelong is more walkable (77 vs 51).

East Geelong South Geelong
Grade B C
Score 64/100 42/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Geelong carries more flood risk (87 vs 49); South Geelong carries more crime risk (97 vs 66).

East Geelong South Geelong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
66/100
 High
97/100
Flood Moderate
49/100
 High
87/100
Coastal erosion Low
16/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

East Geelong South Geelong
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, 1.7 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 3.0%

Schools in East Geelong

  • Geelong High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in South Geelong

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

Amenities in the suburb

East Geelong South Geelong
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 7
Parks & reserves 7 5
Childcare 3 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

East Geelong South Geelong
Walkability score 77/100 51/100
Distance to Melbourne 76 km 76.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 67 min
same for both
Public transport score 75/100 89/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 99.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 95.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3219
 1.9%
postcode 3220
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3219
 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.

East Geelong South Geelong
Car (driver) 58.8% / 55.9%
East Geelong — Car (driver): 58.8% South Geelong — Car (driver): 55.9%
Worked from Home 27.4% / 28.3%
East Geelong — Worked from Home: 27.4% South Geelong — Worked from Home: 28.3%
Walked Only 5.2% / 8.6%
East Geelong — Walked Only: 5.2% South Geelong — Walked Only: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.5%
East Geelong — Car (passenger): 3.7% South Geelong — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bicycle 2.2% / 0.8%
East Geelong — Bicycle: 2.2% South Geelong — Bicycle: 0.8%
Train 1.6% / 1.0%
East Geelong — Train: 1.6% South Geelong — Train: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.8%).

Setting

East Geelong South Geelong
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.1 km
1.1 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

East Geelong South Geelong
Connectivity score 76/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
2,106 premises
 51%
1,246 premises

Climate

East Geelong South Geelong
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

East Geelong

Beach Coastal Gentrifying Large Blocks Parks Professionals

South Geelong

Coastal Parks River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Geelong

East Geelong vs Geelong East Geelong vs Newcomb East Geelong vs Thomson East Geelong vs Breakwater

Other comparisons with South Geelong

South Geelong vs Belmont South Geelong vs Newtown South Geelong vs Geelong South Geelong vs Thomson South Geelong vs Breakwater
Full data on East Geelong Full data on South 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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