Geelong vs Newtown

In Geelong, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Newtown, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Newtown: a median of $1.1 million, against $896,000 in Geelong. On these figures, Geelong tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Newtown suits families with children.

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

Newtown

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 4)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 99/100)

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 $1,100,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Geelong has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 30%)
  • Newtown leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Geelong

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 81/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (74.3 km vs 77.8 km)

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 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 23%)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Newtown carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 99/100)

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

Investors

Geelong

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (11.5% vs 2.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.9% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Geelong Newtown
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.

Geelong Newtown
Walkability 90 / 81
Geelong — Walkability: 90/100 Newtown — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 1 / 51
Geelong — Safety: 1/100 Newtown — Safety: 51/100
Low fire risk 100 / 16
Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100 Newtown — Low fire risk: 16/100
Low flood risk 63 / 21
Geelong — Low flood risk: 63/100 Newtown — Low flood risk: 21/100

Demographics

Newtown has more residents (10,445 vs 5,811); Newtown has higher household incomes ($108,784 vs $86,840).

Geelong Newtown
Population 5,811 10,445
+80% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.5% +2.9%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $86,840/yr $108,784/yr
+25% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk
+3% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Geelong Newtown
0-4 3.5% / 5.0%
Geelong — 0-4: 3.5% Newtown — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 6.7% / 14.2%
Geelong — 5-14: 6.7% Newtown — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 5.0% / 6.5%
Geelong — 15-19: 5.0% Newtown — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 8.9% / 5.9%
Geelong — 20-24: 8.9% Newtown — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 19.0% / 11.0%
Geelong — 25-34: 19.0% Newtown — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 10.6% / 12.9%
Geelong — 35-44: 10.6% Newtown — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 11.5% / 14.0%
Geelong — 45-54: 11.5% Newtown — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 13.9% / 12.9%
Geelong — 55-64: 13.9% Newtown — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 12.5% / 10.1%
Geelong — 65-74: 12.5% Newtown — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 5.8% / 5.6%
Geelong — 75-84: 5.8% Newtown — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 2.6% / 1.9%
Geelong — 85+: 2.6% Newtown — 85+: 1.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Newtown 38.7% lone person
Newtown — Lone Person: 38.7% Newtown — Couple Families: 44.0% Newtown — One Parent Families: 11.7% Newtown — Group Household: 4.9% Newtown — Other Families: 0.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Geelong 45.1% renting
Geelong — Owned Outright: 34.1% Geelong — Mortgage: 20.8% Geelong — Renting: 45.1%
Newtown 29.7% renting
Newtown — Owned Outright: 38.1% Newtown — Mortgage: 32.1% Newtown — Renting: 29.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Geelong Newtown
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 21.3%
Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% Newtown — Bachelor Degree: 21.3%
Certificate III & IV 11.3% / 9.7%
Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 11.3% Newtown — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.6%
Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Newtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 7.7%
Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% Newtown — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.8%
Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Newtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.3%).

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.

Geelong Newtown
England 3.1% / 2.8%
Geelong — England: 3.1% Newtown — England: 2.8%
India 2.8% / 1.3%
Geelong — India: 2.8% Newtown — India: 1.3%
China 1.8% / 1.1%
Geelong — China: 1.8% Newtown — China: 1.1%
Italy 1.7% / 0.5%
Geelong — Italy: 1.7% Newtown — Italy: 0.5%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.9%
Geelong — New Zealand: 0.9% Newtown — New Zealand: 0.9%
Malaysia 1.1% / —
Geelong — Malaysia: 1.1% Newtown — Malaysia: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.5%
Geelong — Netherlands: not among its largest Newtown — Netherlands: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Geelong 51.8% houses
Geelong — Houses: 51.8% Geelong — Townhouses: 21.5% Geelong — Flats / Apartments: 26.8%
Newtown 77.0% houses
Newtown — Houses: 77.0% Newtown — Townhouses: 20.5% Newtown — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Geelong Newtown
Median house price $895,750 $1,100,000
Median unit price $566,500 $552,500
Median land price $730,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 59 sales
 31 days
from 93 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Geelong Newtown
1 bed $430K / $360K
Geelong — 1 bed: $430K (23 sales) Newtown — 1 bed: $360K (9 sales)

23 vs 9 sales

2 bed $591K / $560K
Geelong — 2 bed: $591K (65 sales) Newtown — 2 bed: $560K (37 sales)

65 vs 37 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.

Geelong Newtown
2 bed $665K / $685K
Geelong — 2 bed: $665K (23 sales) Newtown — 2 bed: $685K (24 sales)

23 vs 24 sales

3 bed $905K / $995K
Geelong — 3 bed: $905K (48 sales) Newtown — 3 bed: $995K (93 sales)

48 vs 93 sales

4 bed $1.12M / $1.4M
Geelong — 4 bed: $1.12M (30 sales) Newtown — 4 bed: $1.4M (62 sales)

30 vs 62 sales

Zoning mix

Geelong has more commercially zoned land (38% vs 3%).

Geelong Newtown
Residential 41% 71%
Commercial 38% 3%
Parks and recreation 7% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 6%
Industrial 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

Geelong Newtown
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.

Geelong Newtown
Houses 3.2%
$640/wk on $1.04M
 2.4%
$625/wk on $1.33M
Units 4.9%
$580/wk on $620K
 3.9%
$435/wk on $585K

Ranking within VIC

Geelong Newtown
House price Higher than 59% of VIC —
Income Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools Higher than 15% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 44% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC

Liveability

Geelong is more walkable (90 vs 81).

Geelong Newtown
Grade B
same for both
Score 51/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Newtown carries more bushfire risk (84 vs 0); Newtown carries more flood risk (79 vs 37).

Geelong Newtown
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
84/100
Crime High
99/100
 Moderate
49/100
Flood Low
37/100
 High
79/100
Coastal erosion High
78/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 14
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Geelong Newtown
Inside the suburb 5 10
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 1 3
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 0.0 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.1% 2.9%

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

Schools in Newtown

  • Fyans Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Robert's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Chilwell Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Newtown Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Sacred Heart College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • St Joseph's College Geelong Catholic · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Geelong Newtown
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 123 19
Parks & reserves 14 18
Childcare 4 15
GPs 15 2
Pharmacies 7 1
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 8 2
Fuel stations 2 1
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Newtown sits further from the CBD (77.8 km vs 74.3 km).

Geelong Newtown
Walkability score 90/100 81/100
Distance to Melbourne 74.3 km 77.8 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 64 min 66 min
Public transport score 89/100
Rail
 75/100
Peak arrivals per hour 318.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 98.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 3220
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 3220
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.

Geelong Newtown
Car (driver) 49.6% / 58.6%
Geelong — Car (driver): 49.6% Newtown — Car (driver): 58.6%
Worked from Home 25.1% / 29.2%
Geelong — Worked from Home: 25.1% Newtown — Worked from Home: 29.2%
Walked Only 16.5% / 5.1%
Geelong — Walked Only: 16.5% Newtown — Walked Only: 5.1%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.0%
Geelong — Car (passenger): 3.7% Newtown — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Bicycle 1.6% / 1.4%
Geelong — Bicycle: 1.6% Newtown — Bicycle: 1.4%
Bus 1.7% / 0.8%
Geelong — Bus: 1.7% Newtown — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.6%).

Setting

Geelong Newtown
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 639 m
774 m to a named beach
 2.5 km
3.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Geelong Newtown
Connectivity score 74/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
6,219 premises
 53%
5,473 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Geelong

Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

Newtown

Coastal Parks Professionals Regional Centre Townhouses Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Geelong

Geelong vs Geelong West Geelong vs East Geelong Geelong vs North Geelong Geelong vs South Geelong Geelong vs Drumcondra

Other comparisons with Newtown

Newtown vs Highton Newtown vs Belmont Newtown vs Geelong West Newtown vs Herne Hill Newtown vs Manifold Heights Newtown vs Fyansford
Full data on Geelong Full data on Newtown
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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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