East Geelong vs Thomson

In both, most homes are detached houses. In East Geelong, most households own their home. In Thomson, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in East Geelong: a median of $826,000, against $591,000 in Thomson, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Thomson tends to suit renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 32%)
  • carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 88/100)
  • But Thomson has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

East Geelong

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper units ($450,000 vs $515,000)
  • But Thomson has cheaper houses ($591,000 vs $826,250)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Thomson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($295/wk vs $350/wk)
  • But East Geelong leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

East Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (76 km vs 78.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • East Geelong carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 88/100)
  • Thomson has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% vs 15%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

East Geelong and Thomson 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 Thomson
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 Thomson
Walkability 77 / 77
East Geelong — Walkability: 77/100 Thomson — Walkability: 77/100
Safety 34 / 12
East Geelong — Safety: 34/100 Thomson — Safety: 12/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
East Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100 Thomson — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 51 / 88
East Geelong — Low flood risk: 51/100 Thomson — Low flood risk: 88/100

Demographics

East Geelong has more residents (4,012 vs 1,606); East Geelong has higher household incomes ($92,664 vs $58,552).

East Geelong Thomson
Population 4,012
+60% vs other
 1,606
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% -0.1%
Median age 40 38
Median household income $92,664/yr
+37% vs other
 $58,552/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+16% vs other
 $295/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Geelong Thomson
0-4 5.7% / 4.2%
East Geelong — 0-4: 5.7% Thomson — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 9.8% / 8.4%
East Geelong — 5-14: 9.8% Thomson — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 5.2% / 3.5%
East Geelong — 15-19: 5.2% Thomson — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 6.5% / 9.8%
East Geelong — 20-24: 6.5% Thomson — 20-24: 9.8%
25-34 14.9% / 19.3%
East Geelong — 25-34: 14.9% Thomson — 25-34: 19.3%
35-44 12.4% / 14.6%
East Geelong — 35-44: 12.4% Thomson — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 14.3% / 10.2%
East Geelong — 45-54: 14.3% Thomson — 45-54: 10.2%
55-64 14.4% / 12.8%
East Geelong — 55-64: 14.4% Thomson — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 11.0% / 9.0%
East Geelong — 65-74: 11.0% Thomson — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 4.5% / 6.0%
East Geelong — 75-84: 4.5% Thomson — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 1.6% / 1.9%
East Geelong — 85+: 1.6% Thomson — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

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%
Thomson 57.1% lone person
Thomson — Lone Person: 57.1% Thomson — Couple Families: 18.0% Thomson — One Parent Families: 14.1% Thomson — Group Household: 8.8% Thomson — Other Families: 2.0%
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%
Thomson 53.6% renting
Thomson — Owned Outright: 21.4% Thomson — Mortgage: 25.0% Thomson — Renting: 53.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

East Geelong Thomson
Certificate III & IV 12.1% / 18.5%
East Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 12.1% Thomson — Certificate III & IV: 18.5%
Bachelor Degree 20.2% / 10.3%
East Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 20.2% Thomson — Bachelor Degree: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 7.8%
East Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Thomson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 3.7%
East Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Thomson — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 1.9%
East Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Thomson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

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 Thomson
England 3.0% / 3.4%
East Geelong — England: 3.0% Thomson — England: 3.4%
India 1.3% / 2.1%
East Geelong — India: 1.3% Thomson — India: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.2%
East Geelong — New Zealand: 1.0% Thomson — New Zealand: 1.2%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.7%
East Geelong — Scotland: 0.6% Thomson — Scotland: 0.7%
Italy 0.7% / 0.4%
East Geelong — Italy: 0.7% Thomson — Italy: 0.4%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.6%
East Geelong — Philippines: 0.5% Thomson — Philippines: 0.6%
Greece 0.7% / —
East Geelong — Greece: 0.7% Thomson — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

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%
Thomson 69.3% houses
Thomson — Houses: 69.3% Thomson — Townhouses: 27.2% Thomson — Flats / Apartments: 3.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

East Geelong Thomson
Median house price $826,250 $591,000
Median unit price $450,000 $515,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 23 sales
 8 days
from 7 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 Thomson
2 bed $668K / $482K
East Geelong — 2 bed: $668K (21 sales) Thomson — 2 bed: $482K (6 sales)

21 vs 6 sales

3 bed $808K / $596K
East Geelong — 3 bed: $808K (78 sales) Thomson — 3 bed: $596K (52 sales)

78 vs 52 sales

Zoning mix

East Geelong Thomson
Residential 40% 77%
Parks and recreation 36% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 6%
Other and special use 11% 0%
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 Thomson
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 Thomson
Houses 3.6%
$548/wk on $800K
 3.7%
$450/wk on $627K
Units 6.0%
$380/wk on $330K
 —

Ranking within VIC

East Geelong Thomson
House price Higher than 60% of VIC —
Income Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 71% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 48% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 43% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 92% of VIC —

Liveability

East Geelong scores higher overall (64 vs 56).

East Geelong Thomson
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100 56/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

East Geelong carries more flood risk (49 vs 12); Thomson carries more crime risk (88 vs 66).

East Geelong Thomson
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
66/100
 High
88/100
Flood Moderate
49/100
 Low
12/100
Coastal erosion Low
16/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

East Geelong Thomson
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 1.7 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 2.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 1.4%

Schools in East Geelong

  • Geelong High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Thomson

  • Tate Street Primary School Geelong Government · Primary above peers
  • Geelong East Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Margaret's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

East Geelong Thomson
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 1
Parks & reserves 7 3
Childcare 3 5
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Thomson sits further from the CBD (78.2 km vs 76 km).

East Geelong Thomson
Walkability score 77/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 76 km 78.2 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 67 min 68 min
Public transport score 75/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 99.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 40.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3219
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3219
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.

East Geelong Thomson
Car (driver) 58.8% / 72.7%
East Geelong — Car (driver): 58.8% Thomson — Car (driver): 72.7%
Worked from Home 27.4% / 17.9%
East Geelong — Worked from Home: 27.4% Thomson — Worked from Home: 17.9%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.2%
East Geelong — Car (passenger): 3.7% Thomson — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 5.2% / 1.4%
East Geelong — Walked Only: 5.2% Thomson — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bicycle 2.2% / 1.4%
East Geelong — Bicycle: 2.2% Thomson — Bicycle: 1.4%
Bus 1.2% / 2.0%
East Geelong — Bus: 1.2% Thomson — Bus: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.7%).

Setting

East Geelong Thomson
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.1 km
1.1 km to a named beach
 2.5 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

East Geelong Thomson
Connectivity score 76/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
2,106 premises
 51%
1,033 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

East Geelong Thomson
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

Thomson

Coastal Parks Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Geelong

East Geelong vs Geelong East Geelong vs Newcomb East Geelong vs Breakwater East Geelong vs South Geelong

Other comparisons with Thomson

Thomson vs St Albans Park Thomson vs Newcomb Thomson vs Whittington Thomson vs Breakwater Thomson vs South Geelong
Full data on East Geelong Full data on Thomson
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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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