Lara vs Corio

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lara, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lara: a median of $695,000, against $560,000 in Corio, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Lara tends to suit couples, while Corio suits 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

Lara

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 8)
  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 91/100)
  • But Corio has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Lara has cheaper land ($387,900 vs $500,000)
  • Corio has cheaper houses ($560,000 vs $695,000)

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

Renters

Corio

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $370/wk)
  • But Lara leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Corio

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (74/100 vs 23/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (52 min vs 64 min)
  • But Lara sits closer to the CBD (61.5 km vs 64.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Lara carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 91/100)
  • Corio is more walkable (74/100 vs 23/100)

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

Investors

Lara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.3% vs 1.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lara Corio
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.

Lara Corio
Walkability 23 / 74
Lara — Walkability: 23/100 Corio — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 40 / 9
Lara — Safety: 40/100 Corio — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 41 / 100
Lara — Low fire risk: 41/100 Corio — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 39 / 53
Lara — Low flood risk: 39/100 Corio — Low flood risk: 53/100

Demographics

Lara has higher household incomes ($102,388 vs $59,904); Lara rents higher ($370/wk vs $280/wk).

Lara Corio
Population 19,014
+18% vs other
 15,497
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.3% +1.3%
Median age 37 35
Median household income $102,388/yr
+41% vs other
 $59,904/yr
Median weekly rent $370/wk
+24% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lara Corio
0-4 6.3% / 5.8%
Lara — 0-4: 6.3% Corio — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 12.9% / 12.7%
Lara — 5-14: 12.9% Corio — 5-14: 12.7%
15-19 5.6% / 8.4%
Lara — 15-19: 5.6% Corio — 15-19: 8.4%
20-24 5.5% / 7.1%
Lara — 20-24: 5.5% Corio — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 15.8% / 15.0%
Lara — 25-34: 15.8% Corio — 25-34: 15.0%
35-44 15.0% / 11.4%
Lara — 35-44: 15.0% Corio — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 13.4% / 12.1%
Lara — 45-54: 13.4% Corio — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 10.5% / 12.0%
Lara — 55-64: 10.5% Corio — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 9.0% / 9.4%
Lara — 65-74: 9.0% Corio — 65-74: 9.4%
75-84 4.2% / 4.7%
Lara — 75-84: 4.2% Corio — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 1.5% / 1.4%
Lara — 85+: 1.5% Corio — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lara 51.1% couple families
Lara — Couple Families: 51.1% Lara — Lone Person: 28.2% Lara — One Parent Families: 16.4% Lara — Group Household: 3.1% Lara — Other Families: 1.2%
Corio 31.0% couple families
Corio — Couple Families: 31.0% Corio — Lone Person: 35.6% Corio — One Parent Families: 25.9% Corio — Group Household: 5.2% Corio — Other Families: 2.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lara 22.1% renting
Lara — Owned Outright: 31.2% Lara — Mortgage: 46.7% Lara — Renting: 22.1%
Corio 41.3% renting
Corio — Owned Outright: 29.7% Corio — Mortgage: 29.0% Corio — Renting: 41.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lara Corio
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 14.7%
Lara — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Corio — Certificate III & IV: 14.7%
Bachelor Degree 9.7% / 4.3%
Lara — Bachelor Degree: 9.7% Corio — Bachelor Degree: 4.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 5.2%
Lara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Corio — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.5% / 1.4%
Lara — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5% Corio — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 0.6%
Lara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Corio — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Lara Corio
England 3.6% / 2.6%
Lara — England: 3.6% Corio — England: 2.6%
India 1.9% / 1.8%
Lara — India: 1.9% Corio — India: 1.8%
Philippines 1.7% / 1.7%
Lara — Philippines: 1.7% Corio — Philippines: 1.7%
Myanmar — / 2.7%
Lara — Myanmar: not among its largest Corio — Myanmar: 2.7%
Thailand — / 2.2%
Lara — Thailand: not among its largest Corio — Thailand: 2.2%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.8%
Lara — New Zealand: 1.2% Corio — New Zealand: 0.8%
Afghanistan — / 1.9%
Lara — Afghanistan: not among its largest Corio — Afghanistan: 1.9%
Scotland 0.7% / —
Lara — Scotland: 0.7% Corio — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lara 89.5% houses
Lara — Houses: 89.5% Lara — Townhouses: 9.4% Lara — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Corio 91.5% houses
Corio — Houses: 91.5% Corio — Townhouses: 6.5% Corio — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lara Corio
Median house price $695,000 $560,000
Median unit price $515,000 $430,000
Median land price $387,900 $500,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 278 sales
 21 days
from 210 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.

Lara Corio
2 bed $492K / $454K
Lara — 2 bed: $492K (14 sales) Corio — 2 bed: $454K (20 sales)

14 vs 20 sales

3 bed $605K / $432K
Lara — 3 bed: $605K (13 sales) Corio — 3 bed: $432K (7 sales)

13 vs 7 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.

Lara Corio
2 bed $516K / $480K
Lara — 2 bed: $516K (24 sales) Corio — 2 bed: $480K (31 sales)

24 vs 31 sales

3 bed $645K / $560K
Lara — 3 bed: $645K (228 sales) Corio — 3 bed: $560K (389 sales)

228 vs 389 sales

4 bed $738K / $650K
Lara — 4 bed: $738K (372 sales) Corio — 4 bed: $650K (49 sales)

372 vs 49 sales

5 bed $914K / $794K
Lara — 5 bed: $914K (10 sales) Corio — 5 bed: $794K (6 sales)

10 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Lara has more rural and farming land (73% vs 16%); Corio has more industrially zoned land (26% vs 3%).

Lara Corio
Rural and farming 73% 16%
Residential 12% 29%
Industrial 3% 26%
Parks and recreation 5% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 10%
Commercial 0% 3%
Other and special use 2% 1%
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

Lara Corio
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.

Lara Corio
Houses 4.1%
$595/wk on $750K
 4.2%
$480/wk on $592K
Units 4.4%
$450/wk on $528K
 4.6%
$410/wk on $459K

Ranking within VIC

Lara Corio
House price Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC
Income Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
Schools Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 64% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC

Liveability

Corio is more walkable (74 vs 23); Lara scores higher overall (40 vs 31).

Lara Corio
Grade C
same for both
Score 40/100 31/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Lara carries more bushfire risk (59 vs 0); Corio carries more crime risk (91 vs 60).

Lara Corio
Bushfire Moderate
59/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
60/100
 High
91/100
Flood Moderate
61/100
 Moderate
47/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
52/100
Aircraft noise High
83/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Lara Corio
Inside the suburb 4 8
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 2
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 9.3 km

Schools in Lara

  • St Anthony's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Lara Lake Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Lara Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Lara Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Corio

  • St Francis Xavier School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Geelong Grammar School - Corio Campus Independent · Combined below peers
  • Northern Bay P-12 College Government · Combined below peers
  • Geelong English Language School (interim name)-Corio Campus Government · Combined
  • Northern Bay P-12 College-Hendy Street P-8 Campus Government · Combined
  • Northern Bay P-12 College-Wexford Court P-8 Campus Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Lara Corio
Supermarkets 3
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 10 3
Parks & reserves 16 28
Childcare 13 8
GPs 6
same for both
Pharmacies 1 3
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 3
same for both
Fuel stations 2 6
EV chargers 0 2
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 13 0

Mobility

Corio sits further from the CBD (64.3 km vs 61.5 km).

Lara Corio
Walkability score 23/100 74/100
Distance to Melbourne 61.5 km 64.3 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 64 min 52 min
Public transport score 90/100
Rail
 86/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 158.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 241.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3212
 0.3%
postcode 3214
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3212
 30
postcode 3214

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.

Lara Corio
Car (driver) 70.6% / 76.7%
Lara — Car (driver): 70.6% Corio — Car (driver): 76.7%
Worked from Home 20.8% / 9.1%
Lara — Worked from Home: 20.8% Corio — Worked from Home: 9.1%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 7.7%
Lara — Car (passenger): 4.7% Corio — Car (passenger): 7.7%
Train 2.5% / 1.2%
Lara — Train: 2.5% Corio — Train: 1.2%
Walked Only 1.0% / 2.1%
Lara — Walked Only: 1.0% Corio — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bus 0.3% / 2.6%
Lara — Bus: 0.3% Corio — Bus: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.7%).

Setting

Lara Corio
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.5 km 1.7 km
2.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Lara Corio
Connectivity score 78/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 55%
7,737 premises
 63%
7,094 premises

Climate

Lara Corio
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)

Lara Corio
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Lara Corio
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Lara Corio
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lara Corio
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lara

Regional Centre Transport Hub

Corio

Affordable Coastal Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lara

Lara vs Lovely Banks Lara vs Little River Lara vs Anakie Lara vs Avalon

Other comparisons with Corio

Corio vs Norlane Corio vs Lovely Banks Corio vs North Shore Corio vs Avalon
Full data on Lara Full data on Corio
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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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