Geelong West vs Manifold Heights

Geelong West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 39 in Manifold Heights. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Geelong West, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Manifold Heights tends to suit 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

Geelong West

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Manifold Heights carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 84/100)

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

First-home buyers

Geelong West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($430,000 vs $485,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Manifold Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Geelong West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (73.4 km vs 76.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Manifold Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 84/100)

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

Investors

Manifold Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Geelong West and Manifold Heights 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 West Manifold Heights
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 West Manifold Heights
Walkability 93 / 89
Geelong West — Walkability: 93/100 Manifold Heights — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 16 / 39
Geelong West — Safety: 16/100 Manifold Heights — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Geelong West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Manifold Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 62 / 85
Geelong West — Low flood risk: 62/100 Manifold Heights — Low flood risk: 85/100

Demographics

Geelong West has more residents (7,345 vs 2,681); Geelong West rents higher ($350/wk vs $310/wk).

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Population 7,345
+63% vs other
 2,681
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% +1.2%
Median age 36 39
Median household income $93,444/yr $94,640/yr
+1% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+11% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Geelong West Manifold Heights
0-4 6.8% / 6.1%
Geelong West — 0-4: 6.8% Manifold Heights — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 10.3% / 15.1%
Geelong West — 5-14: 10.3% Manifold Heights — 5-14: 15.1%
15-19 4.1% / 5.6%
Geelong West — 15-19: 4.1% Manifold Heights — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 6.8% / 4.8%
Geelong West — 20-24: 6.8% Manifold Heights — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 18.1% / 12.6%
Geelong West — 25-34: 18.1% Manifold Heights — 25-34: 12.6%
35-44 16.0% / 14.8%
Geelong West — 35-44: 16.0% Manifold Heights — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 13.1% / 13.1%
Geelong West — 45-54: 13.1% Manifold Heights — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 10.8% / 13.2%
Geelong West — 55-64: 10.8% Manifold Heights — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 8.6% / 8.8%
Geelong West — 65-74: 8.6% Manifold Heights — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 3.9% / 4.3%
Geelong West — 75-84: 3.9% Manifold Heights — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.3% / 1.6%
Geelong West — 85+: 1.3% Manifold Heights — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Geelong West 45.5% lone person
Geelong West — Lone Person: 45.5% Geelong West — Couple Families: 32.3% Geelong West — One Parent Families: 12.9% Geelong West — Group Household: 7.9% Geelong West — Other Families: 1.4%
Manifold Heights 40.9% lone person
Manifold Heights — Lone Person: 40.9% Manifold Heights — Couple Families: 43.1% Manifold Heights — One Parent Families: 11.1% Manifold Heights — Group Household: 3.7% Manifold Heights — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Geelong West 41.2% renting
Geelong West — Owned Outright: 28.1% Geelong West — Mortgage: 30.6% Geelong West — Renting: 41.2%
Manifold Heights 32.1% renting
Manifold Heights — Owned Outright: 32.7% Manifold Heights — Mortgage: 35.2% Manifold Heights — Renting: 32.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Bachelor Degree 19.1% / 18.9%
Geelong West — Bachelor Degree: 19.1% Manifold Heights — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Certificate III & IV 11.9% / 12.0%
Geelong West — Certificate III & IV: 11.9% Manifold Heights — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.8%
Geelong West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Manifold Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 8.1% / 6.2%
Geelong West — Postgraduate Degree: 8.1% Manifold Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 3.4%
Geelong West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Manifold Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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 West Manifold Heights
England 3.0% / 2.2%
Geelong West — England: 3.0% Manifold Heights — England: 2.2%
India 2.0% / 1.7%
Geelong West — India: 2.0% Manifold Heights — India: 1.7%
Italy 1.5% / 0.7%
Geelong West — Italy: 1.5% Manifold Heights — Italy: 0.7%
New Zealand 1.3% / 0.9%
Geelong West — New Zealand: 1.3% Manifold Heights — New Zealand: 0.9%
China 1.5% / —
Geelong West — China: 1.5% Manifold Heights — China: not among its largest
Nepal — / 0.6%
Geelong West — Nepal: not among its largest Manifold Heights — Nepal: 0.6%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Geelong West 73.7% houses
Geelong West — Houses: 73.7% Geelong West — Flats / Apartments: 17.2% Geelong West — Townhouses: 9.0%
Manifold Heights 74.6% houses
Manifold Heights — Houses: 74.6% Manifold Heights — Flats / Apartments: 11.7% Manifold Heights — Townhouses: 13.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Median house price $860,000 $890,000
Median unit price $430,000 $485,000
Median land price $725,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 71 sales
 30 days
from 10 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 West Manifold Heights
3 bed $860K / $868K
Geelong West — 3 bed: $860K (86 sales) Manifold Heights — 3 bed: $868K (22 sales)

86 vs 22 sales

4 bed $1.05M / $1.16M
Geelong West — 4 bed: $1.05M (34 sales) Manifold Heights — 4 bed: $1.16M (7 sales)

34 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Geelong West has more commercially zoned land (12% vs 2%).

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Residential 78% 94%
Commercial 12% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 3%
Parks and recreation 3% 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 West Manifold Heights
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 West Manifold Heights
Houses 3.1%
$558/wk on $925K
 4.3%
$660/wk on $800K
Units 5.1%
$460/wk on $472K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Geelong West Manifold Heights
House price Higher than 61% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 84% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 66% of VIC —

Liveability

Manifold Heights scores higher overall (78 vs 66).

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Grade B A
Score 66/100 78/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Geelong West carries more flood risk (38 vs 15); Geelong West carries more crime risk (84 vs 61).

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
84/100
 Moderate
61/100
Flood Low
38/100
 Low
15/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 14
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 1.9 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 1.9%

Schools in Geelong West

  • St Patrick's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Ashby Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Manifold Heights

  • Manifold Heights Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 41 2
Parks & reserves 6 2
Childcare 5 2
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 5 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 2
same for both

Mobility

Manifold Heights sits further from the CBD (76.2 km vs 73.4 km).

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Walkability score 93/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 73.4 km 76.2 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 63 min
same for both
Public transport score 76/100 75/100
Peak arrivals per hour 129.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 39.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 3218
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 3218
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 West Manifold Heights
Car (driver) 56.8% / 62.6%
Geelong West — Car (driver): 56.8% Manifold Heights — Car (driver): 62.6%
Worked from Home 30.1% / 26.5%
Geelong West — Worked from Home: 30.1% Manifold Heights — Worked from Home: 26.5%
Walked Only 5.4% / 3.4%
Geelong West — Walked Only: 5.4% Manifold Heights — Walked Only: 3.4%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 4.2%
Geelong West — Car (passenger): 3.6% Manifold Heights — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Bicycle 1.6% / 1.1%
Geelong West — Bicycle: 1.6% Manifold Heights — Bicycle: 1.1%
Bus 1.4% / 1.1%
Geelong West — Bus: 1.4% Manifold Heights — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.6%).

Setting

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 996 m
2.3 km to a named beach
 1.9 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Connectivity score 78/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
4,462 premises
 50%
1,290 premises

Climate

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Annual rainfall 454 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Geelong West Manifold Heights
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Geelong West Manifold Heights
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Geelong West

Cafe Culture Coastal Parks Professionals Urban Village Feel

Manifold Heights

Coastal Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Geelong West

Geelong West vs Newtown Geelong West vs Hamlyn Heights Geelong West vs Geelong Geelong West vs North Geelong Geelong West vs Drumcondra

Other comparisons with Manifold Heights

Manifold Heights vs Newtown Manifold Heights vs Hamlyn Heights Manifold Heights vs Herne Hill
Full data on Geelong West Full data on Manifold Heights
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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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