Geelong vs South Geelong

South Geelong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Geelong. In Geelong, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In South Geelong, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. On these figures, Geelong tends to suit 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

Geelong

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 5)
  • But South Geelong is already more of a family suburb (45% vs 34%)

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 land ($730,000 vs $860,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

Geelong

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 51/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (74.3 km vs 76.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Geelong

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (15 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 51/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 32%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Geelong is growing faster (11.5% vs 2.1%)
  • South Geelong returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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.

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.

Geelong South Geelong
Walkability 90 / 51
Geelong — Walkability: 90/100 South Geelong — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 1 / 3
Geelong — Safety: 1/100 South Geelong — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 13
Geelong — Low flood risk: 63/100 South Geelong — Low flood risk: 13/100

Demographics

Geelong has more residents (5,811 vs 1,014); Geelong skews older (40 vs 37).

Geelong South Geelong
Population 5,811
+83% vs other
 1,014
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.5% +2.1%
Median age 40 37
Median household income $86,840/yr
+2% vs other
 $85,384/yr
Median weekly rent $370/wk
+5% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Geelong South Geelong
0-4 3.5% / 6.4%
Geelong — 0-4: 3.5% South Geelong — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 6.7% / 10.7%
Geelong — 5-14: 6.7% South Geelong — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 5.0% / 3.5%
Geelong — 15-19: 5.0% South Geelong — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 8.9% / 7.4%
Geelong — 20-24: 8.9% South Geelong — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 19.0% / 17.7%
Geelong — 25-34: 19.0% South Geelong — 25-34: 17.7%
35-44 10.6% / 15.1%
Geelong — 35-44: 10.6% South Geelong — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 11.5% / 12.3%
Geelong — 45-54: 11.5% South Geelong — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 13.9% / 12.3%
Geelong — 55-64: 13.9% South Geelong — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 12.5% / 9.4%
Geelong — 65-74: 12.5% South Geelong — 65-74: 9.4%
75-84 5.8% / 4.3%
Geelong — 75-84: 5.8% South Geelong — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 2.6% / 0.8%
Geelong — 85+: 2.6% South Geelong — 85+: 0.8%

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%
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.

Geelong 45.1% renting
Geelong — Owned Outright: 34.1% Geelong — Mortgage: 20.8% Geelong — Renting: 45.1%
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.

Geelong South Geelong
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 17.7%
Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% South Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 17.7%
Certificate III & IV 11.3% / 14.5%
Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 11.3% South Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 9.4%
Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% South Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 8.3%
Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% South Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 4.2%
Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% South Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

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.

Geelong South Geelong
England 3.1% / 3.0%
Geelong — England: 3.1% South Geelong — England: 3.0%
India 2.8% / 1.9%
Geelong — India: 2.8% South Geelong — India: 1.9%
China 1.8% / 0.6%
Geelong — China: 1.8% South Geelong — China: 0.6%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.2%
Geelong — New Zealand: 0.9% South Geelong — New Zealand: 1.2%
Italy 1.7% / —
Geelong — Italy: 1.7% South Geelong — Italy: not among its largest
Malaysia 1.1% / —
Geelong — Malaysia: 1.1% South Geelong — Malaysia: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 0.9%
Geelong — Vietnam: not among its largest South Geelong — Vietnam: 0.9%
South Africa — / 0.9%
Geelong — South Africa: not among its largest South Geelong — South Africa: 0.9%

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%
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

Geelong South Geelong
Median house price $895,750 $845,250
Median unit price $566,500 $596,475
Median land price $730,000 $860,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 59 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.

Geelong South Geelong
2 bed $665K / $721K
Geelong — 2 bed: $665K (23 sales) South Geelong — 2 bed: $721K (10 sales)

23 vs 10 sales

3 bed $905K / $830K
Geelong — 3 bed: $905K (48 sales) South Geelong — 3 bed: $830K (23 sales)

48 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

South Geelong has more industrially zoned land (52% vs 0%); Geelong has more commercially zoned land (38% vs 3%).

Geelong South Geelong
Industrial 0% 52%
Residential 41% 18%
Commercial 38% 3%
Parks and recreation 7% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 9%
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 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.

Geelong South Geelong
Houses 3.2%
$640/wk on $1.04M
 4.2%
$575/wk on $705K
Units 4.9%
$580/wk on $620K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Geelong South Geelong
House price Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
Income Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Schools Higher than 15% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 54% of VIC —

Liveability

Geelong is more walkable (90 vs 51); Geelong scores higher overall (51 vs 42).

Geelong South Geelong
Grade B C
Score 51/100 42/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

South Geelong carries more flood risk (87 vs 37).

Geelong South Geelong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
99/100
 High
97/100
Flood Low
37/100
 High
87/100
Coastal erosion High
78/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 14
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Geelong South Geelong
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 0.0 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.1% 3.0%

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 South Geelong

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

Amenities in the suburb

Geelong South Geelong
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 123 7
Parks & reserves 14 5
Childcare 4 1
GPs 15 0
Pharmacies 7 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 8 0
Fuel stations 2
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 1 0

Mobility

South Geelong sits further from the CBD (76.4 km vs 74.3 km).

Geelong South Geelong
Walkability score 90/100 51/100
Distance to Melbourne 74.3 km 76.4 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 64 min 67 min
Public transport score 89/100
Rail
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 318.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 95.0
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 South Geelong
Car (driver) 49.6% / 55.9%
Geelong — Car (driver): 49.6% South Geelong — Car (driver): 55.9%
Worked from Home 25.1% / 28.3%
Geelong — Worked from Home: 25.1% South Geelong — Worked from Home: 28.3%
Walked Only 16.5% / 8.6%
Geelong — Walked Only: 16.5% South Geelong — Walked Only: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.5%
Geelong — Car (passenger): 3.7% South Geelong — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Train 1.6% / 1.0%
Geelong — Train: 1.6% South Geelong — Train: 1.0%
Bus 1.7% / 0.8%
Geelong — Bus: 1.7% South Geelong — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.9%).

Setting

Geelong South Geelong
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 639 m
774 m to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Geelong South Geelong
Connectivity score 74/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
6,219 premises
 51%
1,246 premises

Climate

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)

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

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

Federal electorate

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

Geelong South Geelong
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

South Geelong

Coastal Parks River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Geelong

Geelong vs Newtown Geelong vs Geelong West Geelong vs East Geelong Geelong vs North Geelong Geelong vs Drumcondra

Other comparisons with South Geelong

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