Grovedale vs Charlemont

Charlemont is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 41 in Grovedale. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Grovedale: a median of $721,000, against $596,000 in Charlemont, though rent is higher in Charlemont. On these figures, Grovedale tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Charlemont suits young adults, families with children, 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

Grovedale

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 3)
  • But Charlemont has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 86%)

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

First-home buyers

Charlemont

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($345,000 vs $832,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper houses ($596,500 vs $721,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Grovedale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $415/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Grovedale is more walkable (79/100 vs 32/100)
  • Charlemont sits closer to the CBD (80.8 km vs 86.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Grovedale

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (14% vs 2%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 7%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Charlemont

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (617.6% vs 3.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Grovedale Charlemont
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.

Grovedale Charlemont
Walkability 79 / 32
Grovedale — Walkability: 79/100 Charlemont — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 26 / 19
Grovedale — Safety: 26/100 Charlemont — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Grovedale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Charlemont — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 64 / 8
Grovedale — Low flood risk: 64/100 Charlemont — Low flood risk: 8/100

Demographics

Grovedale has more residents (14,869 vs 2,612); Charlemont has higher household incomes ($109,304 vs $76,804).

Grovedale Charlemont
Population 14,869
+82% vs other
 2,612
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +617.6%
Median age 41 29
Median household income $76,804/yr $109,304/yr
+42% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $415/wk
+19% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Grovedale Charlemont
0-4 5.1% / 10.0%
Grovedale — 0-4: 5.1% Charlemont — 0-4: 10.0%
5-14 10.3% / 9.6%
Grovedale — 5-14: 10.3% Charlemont — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.6% / 3.9%
Grovedale — 15-19: 5.6% Charlemont — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 7.2% / 12.0%
Grovedale — 20-24: 7.2% Charlemont — 20-24: 12.0%
25-34 14.3% / 29.8%
Grovedale — 25-34: 14.3% Charlemont — 25-34: 29.8%
35-44 12.0% / 14.4%
Grovedale — 35-44: 12.0% Charlemont — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 11.1% / 6.5%
Grovedale — 45-54: 11.1% Charlemont — 45-54: 6.5%
55-64 10.9% / 6.7%
Grovedale — 55-64: 10.9% Charlemont — 55-64: 6.7%
65-74 10.9% / 3.1%
Grovedale — 65-74: 10.9% Charlemont — 65-74: 3.1%
75-84 7.5% / 2.1%
Grovedale — 75-84: 7.5% Charlemont — 75-84: 2.1%
85+ 4.9% / 1.6%
Grovedale — 85+: 4.9% Charlemont — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Grovedale 37.2% couple families
Grovedale — Couple Families: 37.2% Grovedale — Lone Person: 38.9% Grovedale — One Parent Families: 16.3% Grovedale — Group Household: 5.9% Grovedale — Other Families: 1.6%
Charlemont 42.6% couple families
Charlemont — Couple Families: 42.6% Charlemont — Lone Person: 29.9% Charlemont — One Parent Families: 14.2% Charlemont — Group Household: 11.0% Charlemont — Other Families: 2.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Grovedale 27.4% renting
Grovedale — Owned Outright: 36.6% Grovedale — Mortgage: 35.9% Grovedale — Renting: 27.4%
Charlemont 28.7% renting
Charlemont — Owned Outright: 10.5% Charlemont — Mortgage: 60.8% Charlemont — Renting: 28.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Grovedale Charlemont
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 17.1%
Grovedale — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Charlemont — Certificate III & IV: 17.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 16.1%
Grovedale — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Charlemont — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 9.7%
Grovedale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Charlemont — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 4.2%
Grovedale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Charlemont — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.4%
Grovedale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Charlemont — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

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.

Grovedale Charlemont
India 2.5% / 5.6%
Grovedale — India: 2.5% Charlemont — India: 5.6%
England 3.2% / 1.5%
Grovedale — England: 3.2% Charlemont — England: 1.5%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.1%
Grovedale — Philippines: 0.8% Charlemont — Philippines: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.9%
Grovedale — New Zealand: 1.0% Charlemont — New Zealand: 0.9%
China 1.0% / —
Grovedale — China: 1.0% Charlemont — China: not among its largest
Nepal — / 0.7%
Grovedale — Nepal: not among its largest Charlemont — Nepal: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Grovedale 85.9% houses
Grovedale — Houses: 85.9% Grovedale — Townhouses: 13.5% Grovedale — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Charlemont 97.8% houses
Charlemont — Houses: 97.8% Charlemont — Townhouses: 1.8% Charlemont — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Grovedale Charlemont
Median house price $721,000 $596,500
Median unit price $525,000 —
Median land price $832,000 $345,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 152 sales
 26 days
from 165 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.

Grovedale Charlemont
3 bed $700K / $595K
Grovedale — 3 bed: $700K (209 sales) Charlemont — 3 bed: $595K (149 sales)

209 vs 149 sales

4 bed $795K / $632K
Grovedale — 4 bed: $795K (113 sales) Charlemont — 4 bed: $632K (244 sales)

113 vs 244 sales

5 bed $870K / $423K
Grovedale — 5 bed: $870K (14 sales) Charlemont — 5 bed: $423K (12 sales)

14 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Charlemont has more rural and farming land (15% vs 0%).

Grovedale Charlemont
Residential 78% 61%
Parks and recreation 12% 22%
Rural and farming 0% 15%
Commercial 5% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 2%
Industrial 2% 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

Grovedale Charlemont
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.

Grovedale Charlemont
Houses 3.7%
$550/wk on $778K
 4.2%
$550/wk on $684K
Units 4.5%
$450/wk on $525K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Grovedale Charlemont
House price Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 31% of VIC
Income Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools Higher than 21% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 29% of VIC —

Liveability

Grovedale is more walkable (79 vs 32).

Grovedale Charlemont
Grade C
same for both
Score 46/100 43/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Charlemont carries more flood risk (92 vs 36).

Grovedale Charlemont
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 High
81/100
Flood Low
36/100
 High
92/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Grovedale Charlemont
Inside the suburb 7 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.5 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 3.5%

Schools in Grovedale

  • Grovedale Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Grovedale West Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Nazareth School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Grovedale College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Mandama Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Grovedale West Primary School-Grovedale West Deaf Facility Government · Primary

Schools in Charlemont

  • Iona College Geelong Catholic · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Grovedale Charlemont
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 13 1
Parks & reserves 10 3
Childcare 15 2
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 5 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 5 1
EV chargers 4 0
Waterways 6 1

Mobility

Grovedale sits further from the CBD (86.3 km vs 80.8 km).

Grovedale Charlemont
Walkability score 79/100 32/100
Distance to Melbourne 86.3 km
+6% vs other
 80.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 68 min 71 min
Public transport score 76/100 75/100
Peak arrivals per hour 205.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 34.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3216
 1.2%
postcode 3217
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3216
 53
postcode 3217

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.

Grovedale Charlemont
Car (driver) 73.5% / 74.7%
Grovedale — Car (driver): 73.5% Charlemont — Car (driver): 74.7%
Worked from Home 17.8% / 18.7%
Grovedale — Worked from Home: 17.8% Charlemont — Worked from Home: 18.7%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 5.1%
Grovedale — Car (passenger): 5.0% Charlemont — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Bus 1.2% / 0.6%
Grovedale — Bus: 1.2% Charlemont — Bus: 0.6%
Train 0.7% / 1.0%
Grovedale — Train: 0.7% Charlemont — Train: 1.0%
Walked Only 1.4% / —
Grovedale — Walked Only: 1.4% Charlemont — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.7%).

Setting

Grovedale Charlemont
Elevation 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.1 km 6.9 km

NBN connectivity

Grovedale Charlemont
Connectivity score 72/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
7,350 premises
 98%
2,681 premises

Climate

Grovedale Charlemont
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)

Grovedale Charlemont
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Grovedale Charlemont
Division Corangamite
same for both
Member Libby Coker
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Grovedale Charlemont
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Grovedale

Parks Regional Centre

Charlemont

Acreage Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Grovedale

Grovedale vs Highton Grovedale vs Belmont Grovedale vs Mount Duneed Grovedale vs Waurn Ponds Grovedale vs Marshall

Other comparisons with Charlemont

Charlemont vs Belmont Charlemont vs Armstrong Creek Charlemont vs Mount Duneed Charlemont vs St Albans Park Charlemont vs Marshall Charlemont vs Moolap
Full data on Grovedale Full data on Charlemont
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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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