Grovedale vs Waurn Ponds

Waurn Ponds is the younger of the two, with a median age of 27 against 41 in Grovedale. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Waurn Ponds, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Waurn Ponds: a median of $790,000, against $721,000 in Grovedale, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Grovedale tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Waurn Ponds suits couples.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Grovedale has more childcare (15 vs 2)
  • Waurn Ponds is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 54%)

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

First-home buyers

Waurn Ponds

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper land ($638,000 vs $832,000)

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

Renters

Grovedale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Grovedale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 18/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Grovedale

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (14% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 18/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 10%)
  • But Waurn Ponds carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

Grovedale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.9% vs -1.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Grovedale and Waurn Ponds 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 Waurn Ponds
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 Waurn Ponds
Walkability 79 / 18
Grovedale — Walkability: 79/100 Waurn Ponds — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 26 / 42
Grovedale — Safety: 26/100 Waurn Ponds — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 69
Grovedale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Waurn Ponds — Low fire risk: 69/100
Low flood risk 64 / 67
Grovedale — Low flood risk: 64/100 Waurn Ponds — Low flood risk: 67/100

Demographics

Grovedale has more residents (14,869 vs 4,956); Waurn Ponds has higher household incomes ($118,872 vs $76,804).

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Population 14,869
+67% vs other
 4,956
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% -1.8%
Median age 41 27
Median household income $76,804/yr $118,872/yr
+55% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $430/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
0-4 5.1% / 3.9%
Grovedale — 0-4: 5.1% Waurn Ponds — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 10.3% / 12.2%
Grovedale — 5-14: 10.3% Waurn Ponds — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 5.6% / 13.0%
Grovedale — 15-19: 5.6% Waurn Ponds — 15-19: 13.0%
20-24 7.2% / 16.5%
Grovedale — 20-24: 7.2% Waurn Ponds — 20-24: 16.5%
25-34 14.3% / 12.1%
Grovedale — 25-34: 14.3% Waurn Ponds — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 12.0% / 10.5%
Grovedale — 35-44: 12.0% Waurn Ponds — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 11.1% / 13.4%
Grovedale — 45-54: 11.1% Waurn Ponds — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 10.9% / 8.5%
Grovedale — 55-64: 10.9% Waurn Ponds — 55-64: 8.5%
65-74 10.9% / 6.1%
Grovedale — 65-74: 10.9% Waurn Ponds — 65-74: 6.1%
75-84 7.5% / 3.1%
Grovedale — 75-84: 7.5% Waurn Ponds — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 4.9% / 0.5%
Grovedale — 85+: 4.9% Waurn Ponds — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

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%
Waurn Ponds 61.0% couple families
Waurn Ponds — Couple Families: 61.0% Waurn Ponds — Lone Person: 19.2% Waurn Ponds — One Parent Families: 12.6% Waurn Ponds — Group Household: 6.0% Waurn Ponds — Other Families: 1.1%
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%
Waurn Ponds 21.3% renting
Waurn Ponds — Owned Outright: 34.7% Waurn Ponds — Mortgage: 44.0% Waurn Ponds — Renting: 21.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 13.5%
Grovedale — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Waurn Ponds — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 13.9%
Grovedale — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Waurn Ponds — Bachelor Degree: 13.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 8.1%
Grovedale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Waurn Ponds — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 5.6%
Grovedale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Waurn Ponds — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.4%
Grovedale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Waurn Ponds — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

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.

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
India 2.5% / 4.0%
Grovedale — India: 2.5% Waurn Ponds — India: 4.0%
England 3.2% / 2.9%
Grovedale — England: 3.2% Waurn Ponds — England: 2.9%
China 1.0% / 1.4%
Grovedale — China: 1.0% Waurn Ponds — China: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.8%
Grovedale — New Zealand: 1.0% Waurn Ponds — New Zealand: 0.8%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.7%
Grovedale — Philippines: 0.8% Waurn Ponds — Philippines: 0.7%
Sri Lanka — / 1.4%
Grovedale — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Waurn Ponds — Sri Lanka: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

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%
Waurn Ponds 97.6% houses
Waurn Ponds — Houses: 97.6% Waurn Ponds — Townhouses: 2.4% Waurn Ponds — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Median house price $721,000 $790,000
Median unit price $525,000 $510,000
Median land price $832,000 $638,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 152 sales
 28 days
from 58 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 Waurn Ponds
3 bed $700K / $740K
Grovedale — 3 bed: $700K (209 sales) Waurn Ponds — 3 bed: $740K (45 sales)

209 vs 45 sales

4 bed $795K / $820K
Grovedale — 4 bed: $795K (113 sales) Waurn Ponds — 4 bed: $820K (53 sales)

113 vs 53 sales

Zoning mix

Waurn Ponds has more rural and farming land (75% vs 0%).

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Residential 78% 8%
Rural and farming 0% 75%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 14%
Parks and recreation 12% 1%
Commercial 5% 1%
Industrial 2% 0%
Other and special use 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

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
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 Waurn Ponds
Houses 3.7%
$550/wk on $778K
 3.7%
$610/wk on $855K
Units 4.5%
$450/wk on $525K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
House price Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC
Income Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Schools Higher than 21% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 29% of VIC —

Liveability

Grovedale is more walkable (79 vs 18); Waurn Ponds scores higher overall (55 vs 46).

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Grade C B
Score 46/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Waurn Ponds carries more bushfire risk (31 vs 0); Grovedale carries more crime risk (74 vs 58).

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
31/100
Crime High
74/100
 Moderate
58/100
Flood Low
36/100
 Low
33/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Inside the suburb 7 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.5 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 9.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 16.8%

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 Waurn Ponds

  • Christian College Geelong - Senior School – Waurn Ponds Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 13 3
Parks & reserves 10 5
Childcare 15 2
GPs 2
same for both
Pharmacies 5 1
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 5 1
EV chargers 4 1
Waterways 6 14

Mobility

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Walkability score 79/100 18/100
Distance to Melbourne 86.3 km 87.9 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 68 min
same for both
Public transport score 76/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 205.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 91.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3216
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3216
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.

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Car (driver) 73.5% / 70.2%
Grovedale — Car (driver): 73.5% Waurn Ponds — Car (driver): 70.2%
Worked from Home 17.8% / 19.7%
Grovedale — Worked from Home: 17.8% Waurn Ponds — Worked from Home: 19.7%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 4.8%
Grovedale — Car (passenger): 5.0% Waurn Ponds — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus 1.2% / 2.2%
Grovedale — Bus: 1.2% Waurn Ponds — Bus: 2.2%
Walked Only 1.4% / 1.4%
Grovedale — Walked Only: 1.4% Waurn Ponds — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.5%).

Setting

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Elevation 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 104 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.1 km 10.1 km

NBN connectivity

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
Connectivity score 72/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
7,350 premises
 46%
1,552 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Grovedale Waurn Ponds
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

Waurn Ponds

Acreage River Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Grovedale

Grovedale vs Highton Grovedale vs Belmont Grovedale vs Mount Duneed Grovedale vs Charlemont Grovedale vs Marshall

Other comparisons with Waurn Ponds

Waurn Ponds vs Highton Waurn Ponds vs Mount Duneed Waurn Ponds vs Wandana Heights Waurn Ponds vs Freshwater Creek Waurn Ponds vs Ceres Waurn Ponds vs Mount Moriac
Full data on Grovedale Full data on Waurn Ponds
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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