Newtown vs South Geelong

South Geelong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Newtown. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Newtown: a median of $1.1 million, against $845,000 in South Geelong. On these figures, South Geelong tends to suit young adults 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 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

South Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($845,250 vs $1,100,000)

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

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 51/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Newtown

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 97/100)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 51/100)

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

Investors

South Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

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

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Newtown South Geelong
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.

Newtown South Geelong
Walkability 81 / 51
Newtown — Walkability: 81/100 South Geelong — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 51 / 3
Newtown — Safety: 51/100 South Geelong — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 16 / 100
Newtown — Low fire risk: 16/100 South Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 21 / 13
Newtown — Low flood risk: 21/100 South Geelong — Low flood risk: 13/100

Demographics

Newtown has more residents (10,445 vs 1,014); Newtown has higher household incomes ($108,784 vs $85,384).

Newtown South Geelong
Population 10,445
+90% vs other
 1,014
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% +2.1%
Median age 40 37
Median household income $108,784/yr
+22% vs other
 $85,384/yr
Median weekly rent $360/wk
+3% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Newtown South Geelong
0-4 5.0% / 6.4%
Newtown — 0-4: 5.0% South Geelong — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 14.2% / 10.7%
Newtown — 5-14: 14.2% South Geelong — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 6.5% / 3.5%
Newtown — 15-19: 6.5% South Geelong — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 5.9% / 7.4%
Newtown — 20-24: 5.9% South Geelong — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 11.0% / 17.7%
Newtown — 25-34: 11.0% South Geelong — 25-34: 17.7%
35-44 12.9% / 15.1%
Newtown — 35-44: 12.9% South Geelong — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 14.0% / 12.3%
Newtown — 45-54: 14.0% South Geelong — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 12.9% / 12.3%
Newtown — 55-64: 12.9% South Geelong — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 10.1% / 9.4%
Newtown — 65-74: 10.1% South Geelong — 65-74: 9.4%
75-84 5.6% / 4.3%
Newtown — 75-84: 5.6% South Geelong — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.9% / 0.8%
Newtown — 85+: 1.9% South Geelong — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
South Geelong 43.5% lone person
South Geelong — Lone Person: 43.5% South Geelong — Couple Families: 30.7% South Geelong — One Parent Families: 14.3% South Geelong — Group Household: 9.6% South Geelong — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Newtown 29.7% renting
Newtown — Owned Outright: 38.1% Newtown — Mortgage: 32.1% Newtown — Renting: 29.7%
South Geelong 38.3% renting
South Geelong — Owned Outright: 30.1% South Geelong — Mortgage: 31.6% South Geelong — Renting: 38.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Newtown South Geelong
Bachelor Degree 21.3% / 17.7%
Newtown — Bachelor Degree: 21.3% South Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 17.7%
Certificate III & IV 9.7% / 14.5%
Newtown — Certificate III & IV: 9.7% South Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 9.4%
Newtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% South Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 8.3%
Newtown — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% South Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 4.2%
Newtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% South Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

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.

Newtown South Geelong
England 2.8% / 3.0%
Newtown — England: 2.8% South Geelong — England: 3.0%
India 1.3% / 1.9%
Newtown — India: 1.3% South Geelong — India: 1.9%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.2%
Newtown — New Zealand: 0.9% South Geelong — New Zealand: 1.2%
China 1.1% / 0.6%
Newtown — China: 1.1% South Geelong — China: 0.6%
Vietnam — / 0.9%
Newtown — Vietnam: not among its largest South Geelong — Vietnam: 0.9%
South Africa — / 0.9%
Newtown — South Africa: not among its largest South Geelong — South Africa: 0.9%
Netherlands 0.5% / —
Newtown — Netherlands: 0.5% South Geelong — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Newtown 77.0% houses
Newtown — Houses: 77.0% Newtown — Townhouses: 20.5% Newtown — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
South Geelong 68.1% houses
South Geelong — Houses: 68.1% South Geelong — Townhouses: 30.2% South Geelong — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Newtown South Geelong
Median house price $1,100,000 $845,250
Median unit price $552,500 $596,475
Median land price — $860,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 93 sales
 16 days
from 4 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.

Newtown South Geelong
2 bed $685K / $721K
Newtown — 2 bed: $685K (24 sales) South Geelong — 2 bed: $721K (10 sales)

24 vs 10 sales

3 bed $995K / $830K
Newtown — 3 bed: $995K (93 sales) South Geelong — 3 bed: $830K (23 sales)

93 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

South Geelong has more industrially zoned land (52% vs 2%).

Newtown South Geelong
Residential 71% 18%
Industrial 2% 52%
Parks and recreation 18%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 6% 9%
Commercial 3%
same for both
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

Newtown South Geelong
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.

Newtown South Geelong
Houses 2.4%
$625/wk on $1.33M
 4.2%
$575/wk on $705K
Units 3.9%
$435/wk on $585K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Newtown South Geelong
House price — Higher than 36% of VIC
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Schools Higher than 49% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 70% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 7% of VIC —

Liveability

Newtown is more walkable (81 vs 51); Newtown scores higher overall (51 vs 42).

Newtown South Geelong
Grade B C
Score 51/100 42/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Newtown carries more bushfire risk (84 vs 0); South Geelong carries more crime risk (97 vs 49).

Newtown South Geelong
Bushfire High
84/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
49/100
 High
97/100
Flood High
79/100
 High
87/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Newtown South Geelong
Inside the suburb 10 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 3 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 2.4 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 3.0%

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

Schools in South Geelong

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Newtown South Geelong
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 19 7
Parks & reserves 18 5
Childcare 15 1
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Newtown South Geelong
Walkability score 81/100 51/100
Distance to Melbourne 77.8 km
+2% vs other
 76.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 67 min
Public transport score 75/100 89/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 98.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 95.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 3220
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 3220
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.

Newtown South Geelong
Car (driver) 58.6% / 55.9%
Newtown — Car (driver): 58.6% South Geelong — Car (driver): 55.9%
Worked from Home 29.2% / 28.3%
Newtown — Worked from Home: 29.2% South Geelong — Worked from Home: 28.3%
Walked Only 5.1% / 8.6%
Newtown — Walked Only: 5.1% South Geelong — Walked Only: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 4.5%
Newtown — Car (passenger): 4.0% South Geelong — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bicycle 1.4% / 0.8%
Newtown — Bicycle: 1.4% South Geelong — Bicycle: 0.8%
Train 0.8% / 1.0%
Newtown — Train: 0.8% South Geelong — Train: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.6%).

Setting

Newtown South Geelong
Elevation 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.5 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Newtown South Geelong
Connectivity score 81/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
5,473 premises
 51%
1,246 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Newtown

Coastal Parks Professionals Regional Centre Townhouses Village Feel

South Geelong

Coastal Parks River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Newtown

Newtown vs Highton Newtown vs Belmont Newtown vs Geelong West Newtown vs Geelong Newtown vs Herne Hill Newtown vs Manifold Heights

Other comparisons with South Geelong

South Geelong vs Belmont South Geelong vs Geelong South Geelong vs East Geelong South Geelong vs Thomson South Geelong vs Breakwater
Full data on Newtown Full data on South Geelong
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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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