Highton vs Newtown

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Highton, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Newtown: a median of $1.1 million, against $900,000 in Highton. On these figures, Highton tends to suit 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

Highton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 49/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 18)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 77%)
  • But Newtown has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Highton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($900,000 vs $1,100,000)
  • has cheaper units ($500,000 vs $552,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Newtown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (77.8 km vs 82.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Highton

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 49/100)
  • But Newtown has more units and townhouses to downsize into (23% vs 13%)

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

Investors

Highton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (9.4% vs 2.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Highton 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.

Highton 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.

Highton Newtown
Walkability 76 / 81
Highton — Walkability: 76/100 Newtown — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 73 / 51
Highton — Safety: 73/100 Newtown — Safety: 51/100
Low fire risk 100 / 16
Highton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Newtown — Low fire risk: 16/100
Low flood risk 42 / 21
Highton — Low flood risk: 42/100 Newtown — Low flood risk: 21/100

Demographics

Highton has more residents (20,736 vs 10,445).

Highton Newtown
Population 20,736
+50% vs other
 10,445
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.4% +2.9%
Median age 39 40
Median household income $106,808/yr $108,784/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highton Newtown
0-4 5.3% / 5.0%
Highton — 0-4: 5.3% Newtown — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 13.5% / 14.2%
Highton — 5-14: 13.5% Newtown — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 6.1% / 6.5%
Highton — 15-19: 6.1% Newtown — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 7.3% / 5.9%
Highton — 20-24: 7.3% Newtown — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 12.0% / 11.0%
Highton — 25-34: 12.0% Newtown — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 13.2% / 12.9%
Highton — 35-44: 13.2% Newtown — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 12.9% / 14.0%
Highton — 45-54: 12.9% Newtown — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 11.4% / 12.9%
Highton — 55-64: 11.4% Newtown — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 9.8% / 10.1%
Highton — 65-74: 9.8% Newtown — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 6.4% / 5.6%
Highton — 75-84: 6.4% Newtown — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 2.1% / 1.9%
Highton — 85+: 2.1% Newtown — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Highton 50.6% couple families
Highton — Couple Families: 50.6% Highton — Lone Person: 32.2% Highton — One Parent Families: 11.2% Highton — Group Household: 5.1% Highton — Other Families: 0.9%
Newtown 44.0% couple families
Newtown — Couple Families: 44.0% Newtown — Lone Person: 38.7% Newtown — One Parent Families: 11.7% Newtown — Group Household: 4.9% Newtown — Other Families: 0.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Highton 21.8% renting
Highton — Owned Outright: 39.3% Highton — Mortgage: 39.0% Highton — Renting: 21.8%
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.

Highton Newtown
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 21.3%
Highton — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Newtown — Bachelor Degree: 21.3%
Certificate III & IV 11.4% / 9.7%
Highton — Certificate III & IV: 11.4% Newtown — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 8.6%
Highton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Newtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 6.8% / 7.7%
Highton — Postgraduate Degree: 6.8% Newtown — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 3.8%
Highton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% 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.

Highton Newtown
England 3.4% / 2.8%
Highton — England: 3.4% Newtown — England: 2.8%
India 2.4% / 1.3%
Highton — India: 2.4% Newtown — India: 1.3%
China 1.5% / 1.1%
Highton — China: 1.5% Newtown — China: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.9%
Highton — New Zealand: 1.1% Newtown — New Zealand: 0.9%
South Africa 0.8% / —
Highton — South Africa: 0.8% Newtown — South Africa: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.5%
Highton — Netherlands: not among its largest Newtown — Netherlands: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Highton 87.3% houses
Highton — Houses: 87.3% Highton — Townhouses: 12.4% Highton — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Newtown 77.0% houses
Newtown — Houses: 77.0% Newtown — Townhouses: 20.5% Newtown — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Highton Newtown
Median house price $900,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price $500,000 $552,500
Median land price $456,250 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 218 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.

Highton Newtown
1 bed $335K / $360K
Highton — 1 bed: $335K (17 sales) Newtown — 1 bed: $360K (9 sales)

17 vs 9 sales

2 bed $504K / $560K
Highton — 2 bed: $504K (58 sales) Newtown — 2 bed: $560K (37 sales)

58 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.

Highton Newtown
2 bed $634K / $685K
Highton — 2 bed: $634K (28 sales) Newtown — 2 bed: $685K (24 sales)

28 vs 24 sales

3 bed $811K / $995K
Highton — 3 bed: $811K (167 sales) Newtown — 3 bed: $995K (93 sales)

167 vs 93 sales

4 bed $1M / $1.4M
Highton — 4 bed: $1M (180 sales) Newtown — 4 bed: $1.4M (62 sales)

180 vs 62 sales

5 bed $1.23M / $1.45M
Highton — 5 bed: $1.23M (41 sales) Newtown — 5 bed: $1.45M (11 sales)

41 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Highton Newtown
Residential 76% 71%
Parks and recreation 12% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 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

Highton 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.

Highton Newtown
Houses 3.2%
$618/wk on $1M
 2.4%
$625/wk on $1.33M
Units 4.2%
$450/wk on $555K
 3.9%
$435/wk on $585K

Ranking within VIC

Highton Newtown
House price Higher than 62% of VIC —
Income Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 64% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC

Liveability

Highton scores higher overall (60 vs 51).

Highton Newtown
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Newtown carries more bushfire risk (84 vs 0); Newtown carries more crime risk (49 vs 27).

Highton Newtown
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
84/100
Crime Low
27/100
 Moderate
49/100
Flood Moderate
58/100
 High
79/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Highton Newtown
Inside the suburb 5 10
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 5.0 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 2.9%

Schools in Highton

  • Bellaire Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Highton Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Montpellier Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Christian College Geelong - Junior School – Belmont Independent · Combined
  • Christian College Geelong - Middle School – Highton Independent · Combined

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

Highton Newtown
Supermarkets 4 2
Cafes & restaurants 8 19
Parks & reserves 22 18
Childcare 13 15
GPs 6 2
Pharmacies 3 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 2
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 17 1

Mobility

Highton sits further from the CBD (82.2 km vs 77.8 km).

Highton Newtown
Walkability score 76/100 81/100
Distance to Melbourne 82.2 km
+5% vs other
 77.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 64 min 66 min
Public transport score 76/100 75/100
Peak arrivals per hour 163.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 98.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3216
 1.9%
postcode 3220
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3216
 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.

Highton Newtown
Car (driver) 64.6% / 58.6%
Highton — Car (driver): 64.6% Newtown — Car (driver): 58.6%
Worked from Home 27.0% / 29.2%
Highton — Worked from Home: 27.0% Newtown — Worked from Home: 29.2%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 4.0%
Highton — Car (passenger): 4.6% Newtown — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 1.3% / 5.1%
Highton — Walked Only: 1.3% Newtown — Walked Only: 5.1%
Bicycle 0.8% / 1.4%
Highton — Bicycle: 0.8% Newtown — Bicycle: 1.4%
Bus 1.0% / 0.8%
Highton — Bus: 1.0% Newtown — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.6%).

Setting

Highton Newtown
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.3 km 2.5 km
3.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Highton Newtown
Connectivity score 76/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
9,304 premises
 53%
5,473 premises

Climate

Highton Newtown
Annual rainfall — 454 mm
Summer max (Jan) 22.8°C 26.1°C
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C 5.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Highton

Parks Professionals Regional Centre

Newtown

Coastal Parks Professionals Regional Centre Townhouses Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highton

Highton vs Belmont Highton vs Grovedale Highton vs Waurn Ponds Highton vs Wandana Heights Highton vs Fyansford Highton vs Ceres

Other comparisons with Newtown

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