Herne Hill vs Newtown

Herne Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 40 in Newtown. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Herne Hill, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Newtown: a median of $1.1 million, against $755,000 in Herne Hill, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Herne Hill tends to suit young adults, people living alone, 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

Newtown

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Herne Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($755,000 vs $1,100,000)
  • has cheaper units ($380,000 vs $552,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Herne Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($270/wk vs $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Newtown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 68/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Newtown

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Herne Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 2.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.8% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Herne Hill Newtown
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.

Herne Hill Newtown
Walkability 68 / 81
Herne Hill — Walkability: 68/100 Newtown — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 59 / 51
Herne Hill — Safety: 59/100 Newtown — Safety: 51/100
Low fire risk 100 / 16
Herne Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Newtown — Low fire risk: 16/100
Low flood risk 73 / 21
Herne Hill — Low flood risk: 73/100 Newtown — Low flood risk: 21/100

Demographics

Newtown has more residents (10,445 vs 3,507); Newtown has higher household incomes ($108,784 vs $73,840).

Herne Hill Newtown
Population 3,507 10,445
+198% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% +2.9%
Median age 36 40
Median household income $73,840/yr $108,784/yr
+47% vs other
Median weekly rent $270/wk $360/wk
+33% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Herne Hill Newtown
0-4 6.6% / 5.0%
Herne Hill — 0-4: 6.6% Newtown — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 10.5% / 14.2%
Herne Hill — 5-14: 10.5% Newtown — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 3.8% / 6.5%
Herne Hill — 15-19: 3.8% Newtown — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 6.9% / 5.9%
Herne Hill — 20-24: 6.9% Newtown — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 18.6% / 11.0%
Herne Hill — 25-34: 18.6% Newtown — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 14.4% / 12.9%
Herne Hill — 35-44: 14.4% Newtown — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 11.8% / 14.0%
Herne Hill — 45-54: 11.8% Newtown — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 11.1% / 12.9%
Herne Hill — 55-64: 11.1% Newtown — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 8.1% / 10.1%
Herne Hill — 65-74: 8.1% Newtown — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 5.3% / 5.6%
Herne Hill — 75-84: 5.3% Newtown — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 2.6% / 1.9%
Herne Hill — 85+: 2.6% Newtown — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Herne Hill 52.1% lone person
Herne Hill — Lone Person: 52.1% Herne Hill — Couple Families: 29.4% Herne Hill — One Parent Families: 13.2% Herne Hill — Group Household: 4.6% Herne Hill — Other Families: 0.7%
Newtown 38.7% lone person
Newtown — Lone Person: 38.7% Newtown — Couple Families: 44.0% Newtown — One Parent Families: 11.7% Newtown — Group Household: 4.9% Newtown — Other Families: 0.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Herne Hill 38.9% renting
Herne Hill — Owned Outright: 27.5% Herne Hill — Mortgage: 33.6% Herne Hill — Renting: 38.9%
Newtown 29.7% renting
Newtown — Owned Outright: 38.1% Newtown — Mortgage: 32.1% Newtown — Renting: 29.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Herne Hill Newtown
Bachelor Degree 15.2% / 21.3%
Herne Hill — Bachelor Degree: 15.2% Newtown — Bachelor Degree: 21.3%
Certificate III & IV 17.0% / 9.7%
Herne Hill — Certificate III & IV: 17.0% Newtown — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.6%
Herne Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Newtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.5% / 7.7%
Herne Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5% Newtown — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 3.8%
Herne Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Newtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.3%).

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.

Herne Hill Newtown
England 2.1% / 2.8%
Herne Hill — England: 2.1% Newtown — England: 2.8%
India 1.4% / 1.3%
Herne Hill — India: 1.4% Newtown — India: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.3% / 0.9%
Herne Hill — New Zealand: 1.3% Newtown — New Zealand: 0.9%
China — / 1.1%
Herne Hill — China: not among its largest Newtown — China: 1.1%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.5%
Herne Hill — Netherlands: 0.5% Newtown — Netherlands: 0.5%
Germany 0.4% / 0.5%
Herne Hill — Germany: 0.4% Newtown — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Herne Hill 71.3% houses
Herne Hill — Houses: 71.3% Herne Hill — Townhouses: 9.9% Herne Hill — Flats / Apartments: 18.9%
Newtown 77.0% houses
Newtown — Houses: 77.0% Newtown — Townhouses: 20.5% Newtown — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Herne Hill Newtown
Median house price $755,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price $380,000 $552,500
Median land price $645,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 24 sales
 31 days
from 93 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Herne Hill Newtown
1 bed $330K / $360K
Herne Hill — 1 bed: $330K (25 sales) Newtown — 1 bed: $360K (9 sales)

25 vs 9 sales

2 bed $415K / $560K
Herne Hill — 2 bed: $415K (23 sales) Newtown — 2 bed: $560K (37 sales)

23 vs 37 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.

Herne Hill Newtown
2 bed $647K / $685K
Herne Hill — 2 bed: $647K (7 sales) Newtown — 2 bed: $685K (24 sales)

7 vs 24 sales

3 bed $745K / $995K
Herne Hill — 3 bed: $745K (77 sales) Newtown — 3 bed: $995K (93 sales)

77 vs 93 sales

4 bed $862K / $1.4M
Herne Hill — 4 bed: $862K (22 sales) Newtown — 4 bed: $1.4M (62 sales)

22 vs 62 sales

Zoning mix

Herne Hill Newtown
Residential 81% 71%
Parks and recreation 9% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 6%
Commercial 0% 3%
Industrial 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

Herne Hill Newtown
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.

Herne Hill Newtown
Houses 4.2%
$590/wk on $735K
 2.4%
$625/wk on $1.33M
Units 5.8%
$390/wk on $350K
 3.9%
$435/wk on $585K

Ranking within VIC

Herne Hill Newtown
House price Higher than 54% of VIC —
Income Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 32% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC

Liveability

Newtown is more walkable (81 vs 68).

Herne Hill Newtown
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 51/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Newtown carries more bushfire risk (84 vs 0); Newtown carries more flood risk (79 vs 27).

Herne Hill Newtown
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
84/100
Crime Moderate
41/100
 Moderate
49/100
Flood Low
27/100
 High
79/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Herne Hill Newtown
Inside the suburb 3 10
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 3.7 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 2.9%

Schools in Herne Hill

  • Clonard College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Holy Spirit Parish School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's College Geelong - Westcourt Campus Catholic · Secondary

Schools in Newtown

  • Fyans Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Robert's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Chilwell Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Newtown Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Sacred Heart College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • St Joseph's College Geelong Catholic · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Herne Hill Newtown
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 4 19
Parks & reserves 6 18
Childcare 3 15
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Herne Hill Newtown
Walkability score 68/100 81/100
Distance to Melbourne 76.4 km 77.8 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 65 min 66 min
Public transport score 75/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 40.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 98.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 3218
 1.9%
postcode 3220
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 3218
 24
postcode 3220

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.

Herne Hill Newtown
Car (driver) 68.7% / 58.6%
Herne Hill — Car (driver): 68.7% Newtown — Car (driver): 58.6%
Worked from Home 21.9% / 29.2%
Herne Hill — Worked from Home: 21.9% Newtown — Worked from Home: 29.2%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.0%
Herne Hill — Car (passenger): 4.1% Newtown — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 1.1% / 5.1%
Herne Hill — Walked Only: 1.1% Newtown — Walked Only: 5.1%
Bicycle 1.3% / 1.4%
Herne Hill — Bicycle: 1.3% Newtown — Bicycle: 1.4%
Bus 1.6% / 0.8%
Herne Hill — Bus: 1.6% Newtown — Bus: 0.8%
Train 1.4% / 0.8%
Herne Hill — Train: 1.4% Newtown — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.7%).

Setting

Herne Hill Newtown
Elevation 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.8 km
4.2 km to a named beach
 2.5 km
3.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Herne Hill Newtown
Connectivity score 77/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
1,920 premises
 53%
5,473 premises

Climate

Herne Hill Newtown
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)

Herne Hill Newtown
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Herne Hill Newtown
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Herne Hill Newtown
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Herne Hill Newtown
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Herne Hill

Coastal Gentrifying Parks

Newtown

Coastal Parks Professionals Regional Centre Townhouses Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Herne Hill

Herne Hill vs Hamlyn Heights Herne Hill vs Manifold Heights Herne Hill vs Fyansford

Other comparisons with Newtown

Newtown vs Highton Newtown vs Belmont Newtown vs Geelong West Newtown vs Geelong Newtown vs Manifold Heights Newtown vs Fyansford
Full data on Herne Hill Full data on Newtown
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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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