Lara vs Lovely Banks

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lara, about half of households are couple families. In Lovely Banks, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lovely Banks: a median of $780,000, against $695,000 in Lara, though rent is higher in Lara.

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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (13 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Lara

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($387,900 vs $758,750)
  • has cheaper houses ($695,000 vs $780,000)
  • But Lovely Banks has cheaper units ($371,500 vs $515,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

Lara

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (23/100 vs 13/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (61.5 km vs 72.4 km)
  • But Lovely Banks has a shorter drive in (58 min vs 64 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Lara

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (23/100 vs 13/100)

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

Investors

Lara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Lara and Lovely Banks 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 Lovely Banks
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 Lovely Banks
Walkability 23 / 13
Lara — Walkability: 23/100 Lovely Banks — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 40 / 33
Lara — Safety: 40/100 Lovely Banks — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 41 / 22
Lara — Low fire risk: 41/100 Lovely Banks — Low fire risk: 22/100
Low flood risk 39 / 100
Lara — Low flood risk: 39/100 Lovely Banks — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lara has more residents (19,014 vs 2,782).

Lara Lovely Banks
Population 19,014
+85% vs other
 2,782
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.3% +20.9%
Median age 37
same for both
Median household income $102,388/yr $103,532/yr
+1% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk
+5% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lara Lovely Banks
0-4 6.3% / 4.9%
Lara — 0-4: 6.3% Lovely Banks — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 12.9% / 12.6%
Lara — 5-14: 12.9% Lovely Banks — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 5.6% / 6.6%
Lara — 15-19: 5.6% Lovely Banks — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.5% / 9.0%
Lara — 20-24: 5.5% Lovely Banks — 20-24: 9.0%
25-34 15.8% / 14.3%
Lara — 25-34: 15.8% Lovely Banks — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 15.0% / 10.8%
Lara — 35-44: 15.0% Lovely Banks — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 13.4% / 15.4%
Lara — 45-54: 13.4% Lovely Banks — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 10.5% / 14.6%
Lara — 55-64: 10.5% Lovely Banks — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 9.0% / 6.8%
Lara — 65-74: 9.0% Lovely Banks — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 4.2% / 4.3%
Lara — 75-84: 4.2% Lovely Banks — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.5% / 1.0%
Lara — 85+: 1.5% Lovely Banks — 85+: 1.0%

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%
Lovely Banks 56.1% couple families
Lovely Banks — Couple Families: 56.1% Lovely Banks — Lone Person: 22.8% Lovely Banks — One Parent Families: 17.1% Lovely Banks — Group Household: 2.9% Lovely Banks — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
Lovely Banks 13.6% renting
Lovely Banks — Owned Outright: 35.9% Lovely Banks — Mortgage: 50.4% Lovely Banks — Renting: 13.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lara Lovely Banks
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 17.9%
Lara — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Lovely Banks — Certificate III & IV: 17.9%
Bachelor Degree 9.7% / 8.6%
Lara — Bachelor Degree: 9.7% Lovely Banks — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.7%
Lara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Lovely Banks — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.5% / 2.5%
Lara — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5% Lovely Banks — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.1%
Lara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Lovely Banks — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

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 Lovely Banks
England 3.6% / 1.7%
Lara — England: 3.6% Lovely Banks — England: 1.7%
India 1.9% / 2.7%
Lara — India: 1.9% Lovely Banks — India: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.8%
Lara — New Zealand: 1.2% Lovely Banks — New Zealand: 0.8%
Philippines 1.7% / —
Lara — Philippines: 1.7% Lovely Banks — Philippines: not among its largest
Italy — / 1.4%
Lara — Italy: not among its largest Lovely Banks — Italy: 1.4%
Vietnam 0.5% / 0.8%
Lara — Vietnam: 0.5% Lovely Banks — Vietnam: 0.8%
Scotland 0.7% / —
Lara — Scotland: 0.7% Lovely Banks — 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%
Lovely Banks 91.6% houses
Lovely Banks — Houses: 91.6% Lovely Banks — Townhouses: 4.0% Lovely Banks — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lara Lovely Banks
Median house price $695,000 $780,000
Median unit price $515,000 $371,500
Median land price $387,900 $758,750
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 278 sales
 31 days
from 29 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 Lovely Banks
3 bed $645K / $700K
Lara — 3 bed: $645K (228 sales) Lovely Banks — 3 bed: $700K (25 sales)

228 vs 25 sales

4 bed $738K / $800K
Lara — 4 bed: $738K (372 sales) Lovely Banks — 4 bed: $800K (27 sales)

372 vs 27 sales

Zoning mix

Lara has more rural and farming land (73% vs 46%).

Lara Lovely Banks
Rural and farming 73% 46%
Residential 12% 51%
Parks and recreation 5% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
Industrial 3% 0%
Other and special use 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

Lara Lovely Banks
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 Lovely Banks
Houses 4.1%
$595/wk on $750K
 3.3%
$728/wk on $1.14M
Units 4.4%
$450/wk on $528K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Lara Lovely Banks
House price Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Schools Higher than 61% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 64% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 28% of VIC —

Liveability

Lara is more walkable (23 vs 13).

Lara Lovely Banks
Grade C
same for both
Score 40/100 36/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Lara carries more flood risk (61 vs 0); Lovely Banks carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 59).

Lara Lovely Banks
Bushfire Moderate
59/100
 High
78/100
Crime Moderate
60/100
 Moderate
67/100
Flood Moderate
61/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
83/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Lara Lovely Banks
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 2 1

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 Lovely Banks

  • Geelong Baptist College Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lara Lovely Banks
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 10 1
Parks & reserves 16 2
Childcare 13 1
GPs 6 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 13 2

Mobility

Lovely Banks sits further from the CBD (72.4 km vs 61.5 km).

Lara Lovely Banks
Walkability score 23/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 61.5 km 72.4 km
+18% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 64 min 58 min
Public transport score 90/100
Rail
 52/100
Peak arrivals per hour 158.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3212
 0.8%
postcode 3213
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3212
 47
postcode 3213

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 Lovely Banks
Car (driver) 70.6% / 76.6%
Lara — Car (driver): 70.6% Lovely Banks — Car (driver): 76.6%
Worked from Home 20.8% / 13.4%
Lara — Worked from Home: 20.8% Lovely Banks — Worked from Home: 13.4%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 7.3%
Lara — Car (passenger): 4.7% Lovely Banks — Car (passenger): 7.3%
Train 2.5% / 1.1%
Lara — Train: 2.5% Lovely Banks — Train: 1.1%
Walked Only 1.0% / 0.7%
Lara — Walked Only: 1.0% Lovely Banks — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bus 0.3% / 0.7%
Lara — Bus: 0.3% Lovely Banks — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.6%).

Setting

Lara Lovely Banks
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 91 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.5 km 7.1 km

NBN connectivity

Lara Lovely Banks
Connectivity score 78/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 55%
7,737 premises
 45%
1,128 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Lara Lovely Banks
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

Lovely Banks

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lara

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Other comparisons with Lovely Banks

Lovely Banks vs Corio Lovely Banks vs Norlane Lovely Banks vs Bell Post Hill Lovely Banks vs Anakie Lovely Banks vs Moorabool
Full data on Lara Full data on Lovely Banks
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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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