Geraldton vs Mount Tarcoola

Mount Tarcoola is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 47 in Geraldton. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Geraldton, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. In Mount Tarcoola, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Mount Tarcoola: a median of $600,000, against $548,000 in Geraldton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Geraldton tends to suit renters, people living alone, and older residents, while Mount Tarcoola 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

Mount Tarcoola

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 97/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 37%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (95% vs 64%)
  • But Geraldton has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Tarcoola

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper land ($190,000 vs $230,000)
  • has cheaper units ($285,000 vs $322,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Geraldton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($220/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Geraldton is more walkable (88/100 vs 56/100)
  • Mount Tarcoola sits closer to the CBD (411.9 km vs 414.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Geraldton

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (36% vs 5%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 17%)
  • But Mount Tarcoola carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 97/100)

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

Investors

Mount Tarcoola

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 4.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
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.

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Walkability 88 / 56
Geraldton — Walkability: 88/100 Mount Tarcoola — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 3 / 46
Geraldton — Safety: 3/100 Mount Tarcoola — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Geraldton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Tarcoola — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Geraldton — Low flood risk: 100/100 Mount Tarcoola — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mount Tarcoola has higher household incomes ($93,184 vs $59,384); Mount Tarcoola rents higher ($300/wk vs $220/wk).

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Population 3,246 3,257
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.1% +1.9%
Median age 47 39
Median household income $59,384/yr $93,184/yr
+57% vs other
Median weekly rent $220/wk $300/wk
+36% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
0-4 4.4% / 5.9%
Geraldton — 0-4: 4.4% Mount Tarcoola — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 9.7% / 14.6%
Geraldton — 5-14: 9.7% Mount Tarcoola — 5-14: 14.6%
15-19 5.6% / 6.7%
Geraldton — 15-19: 5.6% Mount Tarcoola — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 5.8% / 5.5%
Geraldton — 20-24: 5.8% Mount Tarcoola — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 10.9% / 12.0%
Geraldton — 25-34: 10.9% Mount Tarcoola — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 11.2% / 12.2%
Geraldton — 35-44: 11.2% Mount Tarcoola — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 11.0% / 13.8%
Geraldton — 45-54: 11.0% Mount Tarcoola — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 13.5% / 12.3%
Geraldton — 55-64: 13.5% Mount Tarcoola — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 10.8% / 10.3%
Geraldton — 65-74: 10.8% Mount Tarcoola — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 9.9% / 5.1%
Geraldton — 75-84: 9.9% Mount Tarcoola — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 7.1% / 1.6%
Geraldton — 85+: 7.1% Mount Tarcoola — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Geraldton 56.2% lone person
Geraldton — Lone Person: 56.2% Geraldton — Couple Families: 21.9% Geraldton — One Parent Families: 14.9% Geraldton — Group Household: 5.0% Geraldton — Other Families: 2.0%
Mount Tarcoola 33.4% lone person
Mount Tarcoola — Lone Person: 33.4% Mount Tarcoola — Couple Families: 42.3% Mount Tarcoola — One Parent Families: 19.1% Mount Tarcoola — Group Household: 3.9% Mount Tarcoola — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Geraldton 45.3% renting
Geraldton — Owned Outright: 32.2% Geraldton — Mortgage: 22.5% Geraldton — Renting: 45.3%
Mount Tarcoola 25.7% renting
Mount Tarcoola — Owned Outright: 31.8% Mount Tarcoola — Mortgage: 42.5% Mount Tarcoola — Renting: 25.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
England 3.8% / 2.8%
Geraldton — England: 3.8% Mount Tarcoola — England: 2.8%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.7%
Geraldton — New Zealand: 1.9% Mount Tarcoola — New Zealand: 1.7%
Philippines 1.6% / 1.9%
Geraldton — Philippines: 1.6% Mount Tarcoola — Philippines: 1.9%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.5%
Geraldton — South Africa: 1.2% Mount Tarcoola — South Africa: 1.5%
India 1.4% / 0.8%
Geraldton — India: 1.4% Mount Tarcoola — India: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

Qualifications

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

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Certificate III & IV 14.3% / 18.7%
Geraldton — Certificate III & IV: 14.3% Mount Tarcoola — Certificate III & IV: 18.7%
Bachelor Degree 8.4% / 8.5%
Geraldton — Bachelor Degree: 8.4% Mount Tarcoola — Bachelor Degree: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 7.0%
Geraldton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Mount Tarcoola — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 1.2%
Geraldton — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Mount Tarcoola — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.5%
Geraldton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Mount Tarcoola — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Geraldton 64.5% houses
Geraldton — Houses: 64.5% Geraldton — Townhouses: 30.5% Geraldton — Flats / Apartments: 5.1%
Mount Tarcoola 95.3% houses
Mount Tarcoola — Houses: 95.3% Mount Tarcoola — Townhouses: 4.8% Mount Tarcoola — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Median house price $547,500 $600,000
Median unit price $322,500 $285,000
Median land price $230,000 $190,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 73 sales
 36 days
from 42 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.

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
3 bed $568K / $580K
Geraldton — 3 bed: $568K (66 sales) Mount Tarcoola — 3 bed: $580K (53 sales)

66 vs 53 sales

4 bed $582K / $650K
Geraldton — 4 bed: $582K (21 sales) Mount Tarcoola — 4 bed: $650K (62 sales)

21 vs 62 sales

Development activity

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
New dwellings approved 183
across Greater Geraldton
same for both
Approvals change year on year -30%
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.

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Houses 4.0%
$520/wk on $677K
 5.0%
$655/wk on $688K
Units 3.5%
$340/wk on $499K
 —

Ranking within WA

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 17% of WA Higher than 57% of WA
Schools Higher than 40% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 98% of WA Higher than 84% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 9% of WA Higher than 8% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of WA Higher than 98% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of WA Higher than 81% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 5% of WA —

Liveability

Geraldton is more walkable (88 vs 56); Mount Tarcoola scores higher overall (58 vs 46).

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Grade C B
Score 46/100 58/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Geraldton carries more crime risk (97 vs 54).

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 Moderate
54/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
44/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Inside the suburb 6 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Geraldton

  • Geraldton Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Nagle Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Francis Xavier Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Geraldton Senior High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Geraldton Flexible School Catholic · Secondary · Special school
  • Holland Street School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Mount Tarcoola

  • Mount Tarcoola Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 24 0
Parks & reserves 9 7
Childcare 2
same for both
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 2 0
Beaches 1 0

Mobility

Geraldton sits further from the CBD (414.5 km vs 411.9 km).

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Walkability score 88/100 56/100
Distance to Perth 414.5 km 411.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 275 min 272 min
Public transport score 72/100
Bus
 34/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 30.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 8.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 6530
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 6530
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.

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Car (driver) 72.6% / 84.0%
Geraldton — Car (driver): 72.6% Mount Tarcoola — Car (driver): 84.0%
Car (passenger) 8.6% / 7.8%
Geraldton — Car (passenger): 8.6% Mount Tarcoola — Car (passenger): 7.8%
Walked Only 9.1% / 1.1%
Geraldton — Walked Only: 9.1% Mount Tarcoola — Walked Only: 1.1%
Worked from Home 5.3% / 4.3%
Geraldton — Worked from Home: 5.3% Mount Tarcoola — Worked from Home: 4.3%
Bus 2.4% / 1.9%
Geraldton — Bus: 2.4% Mount Tarcoola — Bus: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.0%).

Setting

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 874 m
1.0 km to a named beach
 936 m
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Connectivity score 99/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 98%
2,878 premises
 100%
1,462 premises

Climate

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Annual rainfall 353 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Average residential rate $3,162/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geraldton
same for both

Federal electorate

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Division Durack
same for both
Member Melissa Price
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Geraldton Mount Tarcoola
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Geraldton

Affordable Beach Coastal Nightlife Parks Retirees Townhouses

Mount Tarcoola

Affordable Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Geraldton

Geraldton vs Rangeway Geraldton vs Wonthella Geraldton vs Beresford Geraldton vs Beachlands Geraldton vs Mahomets Flats Geraldton vs West End

Other comparisons with Mount Tarcoola

Mount Tarcoola vs Wandina Mount Tarcoola vs Rangeway Mount Tarcoola vs Tarcoola Beach Mount Tarcoola vs Mahomets Flats Mount Tarcoola vs Karloo
Full data on Geraldton Full data on Mount Tarcoola
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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