Norlane vs Bell Park

Norlane is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 41 in Bell Park. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. In Norlane, most households rent. In Bell Park, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Bell Park: a median of $691,000, against $535,000 in Norlane, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Norlane tends to suit renters 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

Bell Park

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Norlane has more parks and reserves (10 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Norlane

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($425,000 vs $580,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($535,000 vs $691,400)
  • has cheaper units ($432,500 vs $550,000)

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

Renters

Norlane

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (57% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $340/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Norlane

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (67.5 km vs 72.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Bell Park

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 95/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 18%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Norlane returns a higher gross yield on units (4.5% vs 4.0%)
  • Bell Park is growing faster (11.8% vs 4.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Norlane Bell Park
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.

Norlane Bell Park
Walkability 76 / 76
Norlane — Walkability: 76/100 Bell Park — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 5 / 32
Norlane — Safety: 5/100 Bell Park — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Norlane — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bell Park — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 76 / 86
Norlane — Low flood risk: 76/100 Bell Park — Low flood risk: 86/100

Demographics

Norlane has more residents (8,682 vs 5,602); Bell Park rents higher ($340/wk vs $250/wk).

Norlane Bell Park
Population 8,682
+35% vs other
 5,602
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.5% +11.8%
Median age 37 41
Median household income $47,268/yr $63,648/yr
+35% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $340/wk
+36% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Norlane Bell Park
0-4 5.6% / 4.9%
Norlane — 0-4: 5.6% Bell Park — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 10.4% / 10.5%
Norlane — 5-14: 10.4% Bell Park — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 5.4% / 5.0%
Norlane — 15-19: 5.4% Bell Park — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 7.5% / 6.1%
Norlane — 20-24: 7.5% Bell Park — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 17.3% / 15.5%
Norlane — 25-34: 17.3% Bell Park — 25-34: 15.5%
35-44 11.6% / 11.7%
Norlane — 35-44: 11.6% Bell Park — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 12.0% / 11.4%
Norlane — 45-54: 12.0% Bell Park — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 12.0% / 11.3%
Norlane — 55-64: 12.0% Bell Park — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 10.0% / 11.7%
Norlane — 65-74: 10.0% Bell Park — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 5.7% / 8.6%
Norlane — 75-84: 5.7% Bell Park — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 2.7% / 3.2%
Norlane — 85+: 2.7% Bell Park — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Norlane 47.2% lone person
Norlane — Lone Person: 47.2% Norlane — Couple Families: 18.9% Norlane — One Parent Families: 24.4% Norlane — Group Household: 6.6% Norlane — Other Families: 2.8%
Bell Park 46.2% lone person
Bell Park — Lone Person: 46.2% Bell Park — Couple Families: 31.2% Bell Park — One Parent Families: 16.2% Bell Park — Group Household: 4.7% Bell Park — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Norlane 56.7% renting
Norlane — Owned Outright: 24.3% Norlane — Mortgage: 19.0% Norlane — Renting: 56.7%
Bell Park 32.3% renting
Bell Park — Owned Outright: 42.2% Bell Park — Mortgage: 25.6% Bell Park — Renting: 32.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Norlane Bell Park
Certificate III & IV 14.2% / 15.5%
Norlane — Certificate III & IV: 14.2% Bell Park — Certificate III & IV: 15.5%
Bachelor Degree 5.0% / 10.1%
Norlane — Bachelor Degree: 5.0% Bell Park — Bachelor Degree: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 7.1%
Norlane — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% Bell Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 2.9%
Norlane — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Bell Park — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.3%
Norlane — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Bell Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

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.

Norlane Bell Park
India 3.5% / 2.9%
Norlane — India: 3.5% Bell Park — India: 2.9%
Philippines 1.5% / 1.6%
Norlane — Philippines: 1.5% Bell Park — Philippines: 1.6%
England 1.7% / 1.3%
Norlane — England: 1.7% Bell Park — England: 1.3%
Italy — / 1.9%
Norlane — Italy: not among its largest Bell Park — Italy: 1.9%
Pakistan 1.0% / 0.8%
Norlane — Pakistan: 1.0% Bell Park — Pakistan: 0.8%
Afghanistan 1.5% / —
Norlane — Afghanistan: 1.5% Bell Park — Afghanistan: not among its largest
China — / 1.0%
Norlane — China: not among its largest Bell Park — China: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Norlane 84.8% houses
Norlane — Houses: 84.8% Norlane — Townhouses: 13.6% Norlane — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Bell Park 80.7% houses
Bell Park — Houses: 80.7% Bell Park — Townhouses: 13.3% Bell Park — Flats / Apartments: 6.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Norlane Bell Park
Median house price $535,000 $691,400
Median unit price $432,500 $550,000
Median land price $425,000 $580,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 83 sales
 18 days
from 52 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.

Norlane Bell Park
2 bed $435K / $542K
Norlane — 2 bed: $435K (17 sales) Bell Park — 2 bed: $542K (28 sales)

17 vs 28 sales

3 bed $505K / $615K
Norlane — 3 bed: $505K (8 sales) Bell Park — 3 bed: $615K (17 sales)

8 vs 17 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.

Norlane Bell Park
2 bed $484K / $570K
Norlane — 2 bed: $484K (85 sales) Bell Park — 2 bed: $570K (13 sales)

85 vs 13 sales

3 bed $555K / $672K
Norlane — 3 bed: $555K (148 sales) Bell Park — 3 bed: $672K (94 sales)

148 vs 94 sales

4 bed $629K / $810K
Norlane — 4 bed: $629K (32 sales) Bell Park — 4 bed: $810K (28 sales)

32 vs 28 sales

Zoning mix

Norlane Bell Park
Residential 65% 71%
Industrial 14%
same for both
Parks and recreation 9% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 6%
Commercial 3% 2%
Other and special use 1% 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

Norlane Bell Park
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.

Norlane Bell Park
Houses 4.3%
$450/wk on $550K
 4.0%
$550/wk on $724K
Units 4.5%
$410/wk on $479K
 4.0%
$460/wk on $595K

Ranking within VIC

Norlane Bell Park
House price Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
Schools Higher than 32% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 37% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC

Liveability

Bell Park scores higher overall (60 vs 35).

Norlane Bell Park
Grade C B
Score 35/100 60/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Norlane carries more flood risk (24 vs 14); Norlane carries more crime risk (95 vs 68).

Norlane Bell Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood Low
24/100
 Low
14/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 17
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Norlane Bell Park
Inside the suburb 4 6
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.5 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 5.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.9% 1.4%

Schools in Norlane

  • St Thomas Aquinas School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Northern Bay P-12 College-Peacock Avenue P-8 Campus Government · Combined
  • Northern Bay P-12 College-Tallis Street P-8 Campus Government · Combined
  • Sirius College - Geelong Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Bell Park

  • Holy Family School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • North Geelong Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Bell Park North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Bell Park North Primary School-Geelong English Language Program Government · Primary
  • Geelong English Language School (interim name)-North Geelong Campus Government · Combined
  • Nelson Park School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Norlane Bell Park
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 4
same for both
Parks & reserves 10 2
Childcare 6 8
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 3
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 4
Fuel stations 3 2
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

Bell Park sits further from the CBD (72.3 km vs 67.5 km).

Norlane Bell Park
Walkability score 76/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 67.5 km 72.3 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 60 min
Public transport score 76/100 75/100
Peak arrivals per hour 167.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 82.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3214
 1.3%
postcode 3215
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3214
 26
postcode 3215

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.

Norlane Bell Park
Car (driver) 77.2% / 73.6%
Norlane — Car (driver): 77.2% Bell Park — Car (driver): 73.6%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 15.1%
Norlane — Worked from Home: 9.2% Bell Park — Worked from Home: 15.1%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 6.6%
Norlane — Car (passenger): 7.1% Bell Park — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Bus 2.8% / 1.4%
Norlane — Bus: 2.8% Bell Park — Bus: 1.4%
Walked Only 1.5% / 1.5%
Norlane — Walked Only: 1.5% Bell Park — Walked Only: 1.5%
Train 1.6% / 0.9%
Norlane — Train: 1.6% Bell Park — Train: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.2%).

Setting

Norlane Bell Park
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
4.9 km to a named beach
 2.2 km

NBN connectivity

Norlane Bell Park
Connectivity score 78/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
5,146 premises
 59%
3,086 premises

Climate

Norlane Bell Park
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)

Norlane Bell Park
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Norlane Bell Park
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Norlane Bell Park
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Norlane Bell Park
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Norlane

Affordable Coastal Parks Regional Centre

Bell Park

Coastal Multicultural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Norlane

Norlane vs Corio Norlane vs Bell Post Hill Norlane vs North Geelong Norlane vs Lovely Banks Norlane vs North Shore

Other comparisons with Bell Park

Bell Park vs Hamlyn Heights Bell Park vs Bell Post Hill Bell Park vs North Geelong
Full data on Norlane Full data on Bell Park
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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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