Norlane vs Bell Post Hill

Norlane is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Bell Post Hill. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Norlane, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Bell Post Hill, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Bell Post Hill: a median of $750,000, against $535,000 in Norlane, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Norlane tends to suit renters, people living alone, 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 Post Hill

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 95/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 43%)
  • But Norlane has more parks and reserves (10 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Norlane

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($535,000 vs $750,000)
  • has cheaper land ($425,000 vs $592,500)

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 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Norlane

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 46/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (67.5 km vs 73.7 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (56 min vs 61 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Norlane has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • Bell Post Hill carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 95/100)

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

Investors

Norlane

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Norlane and Bell Post Hill 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 Post Hill
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 Post Hill
Walkability 76 / 46
Norlane — Walkability: 76/100 Bell Post Hill — Walkability: 46/100
Safety 5 / 45
Norlane — Safety: 5/100 Bell Post Hill — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Norlane — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bell Post Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 76 / 100
Norlane — Low flood risk: 76/100 Bell Post Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Norlane has more residents (8,682 vs 5,083); Bell Post Hill has higher household incomes ($71,136 vs $47,268).

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Population 8,682
+41% vs other
 5,083
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.5% +3.3%
Median age 37 42
Median household income $47,268/yr $71,136/yr
+50% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $350/wk
+40% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Norlane Bell Post Hill
0-4 5.6% / 5.5%
Norlane — 0-4: 5.6% Bell Post Hill — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 10.4% / 9.8%
Norlane — 5-14: 10.4% Bell Post Hill — 5-14: 9.8%
15-19 5.4% / 5.1%
Norlane — 15-19: 5.4% Bell Post Hill — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 7.5% / 6.2%
Norlane — 20-24: 7.5% Bell Post Hill — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 17.3% / 14.6%
Norlane — 25-34: 17.3% Bell Post Hill — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 11.6% / 11.4%
Norlane — 35-44: 11.6% Bell Post Hill — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 12.0% / 12.1%
Norlane — 45-54: 12.0% Bell Post Hill — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 12.0% / 11.5%
Norlane — 55-64: 12.0% Bell Post Hill — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 10.0% / 12.4%
Norlane — 65-74: 10.0% Bell Post Hill — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 5.7% / 8.6%
Norlane — 75-84: 5.7% Bell Post Hill — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 2.7% / 2.7%
Norlane — 85+: 2.7% Bell Post Hill — 85+: 2.7%

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 Post Hill 38.5% lone person
Bell Post Hill — Lone Person: 38.5% Bell Post Hill — Couple Families: 35.9% Bell Post Hill — One Parent Families: 20.3% Bell Post Hill — Group Household: 3.6% Bell Post Hill — Other Families: 1.7%
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 Post Hill 25.1% renting
Bell Post Hill — Owned Outright: 44.2% Bell Post Hill — Mortgage: 30.7% Bell Post Hill — Renting: 25.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Certificate III & IV 14.2% / 16.6%
Norlane — Certificate III & IV: 14.2% Bell Post Hill — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 5.0% / 8.7%
Norlane — Bachelor Degree: 5.0% Bell Post Hill — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 7.7%
Norlane — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% Bell Post Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 2.2%
Norlane — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Bell Post Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.7%
Norlane — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Bell Post Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

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.

Norlane Bell Post Hill
India 3.5% / 1.2%
Norlane — India: 3.5% Bell Post Hill — India: 1.2%
England 1.7% / 1.6%
Norlane — England: 1.7% Bell Post Hill — England: 1.6%
Italy — / 2.2%
Norlane — Italy: not among its largest Bell Post Hill — Italy: 2.2%
Philippines 1.5% / 0.6%
Norlane — Philippines: 1.5% Bell Post Hill — Philippines: 0.6%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.0%
Norlane — New Zealand: 0.9% Bell Post Hill — New Zealand: 1.0%
Afghanistan 1.5% / —
Norlane — Afghanistan: 1.5% Bell Post Hill — Afghanistan: not among its largest
Pakistan 1.0% / —
Norlane — Pakistan: 1.0% Bell Post Hill — Pakistan: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.0%
Norlane — Germany: not among its largest Bell Post Hill — Germany: 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 Post Hill 92.0% houses
Bell Post Hill — Houses: 92.0% Bell Post Hill — Townhouses: 1.5% Bell Post Hill — Flats / Apartments: 6.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Median house price $535,000 $750,000
Median unit price $432,500 $399,000
Median land price $425,000 $592,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 83 sales
 16 days
from 28 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 Post Hill
1 bed $490K / $742K
Norlane — 1 bed: $490K (11 sales) Bell Post Hill — 1 bed: $742K (6 sales)

11 vs 6 sales

2 bed $484K / $638K
Norlane — 2 bed: $484K (85 sales) Bell Post Hill — 2 bed: $638K (10 sales)

85 vs 10 sales

3 bed $555K / $735K
Norlane — 3 bed: $555K (148 sales) Bell Post Hill — 3 bed: $735K (77 sales)

148 vs 77 sales

4 bed $629K / $810K
Norlane — 4 bed: $629K (32 sales) Bell Post Hill — 4 bed: $810K (31 sales)

32 vs 31 sales

Zoning mix

Norlane has more industrially zoned land (14% vs 0%).

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Residential 65% 84%
Industrial 14% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 9%
Parks and recreation 9% 4%
Commercial 3% 0%
Other and special use 1% 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

Norlane Bell Post Hill
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 Post Hill
Houses 4.3%
$450/wk on $550K
 3.7%
$550/wk on $774K
Units 4.5%
$410/wk on $479K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Norlane Bell Post Hill
House price Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
Income Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
Schools Higher than 32% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 37% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 29% of VIC —

Liveability

Bell Post Hill scores higher overall (60 vs 35); Norlane is more walkable (76 vs 46).

Norlane Bell Post Hill
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 0); Norlane carries more crime risk (95 vs 55).

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Low
24/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 17
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.5 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 7.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.9% 1.3%

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 Post Hill

  • Rollins Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Covenant College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Kardinia International College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 10 6
Childcare 6 8
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 3 6

Mobility

Bell Post Hill sits further from the CBD (73.7 km vs 67.5 km).

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Walkability score 76/100 46/100
Distance to Melbourne 67.5 km 73.7 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 61 min
Public transport score 76/100 75/100
Peak arrivals per hour 167.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 51.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Post Hill
Car (driver) 77.2% / 73.5%
Norlane — Car (driver): 77.2% Bell Post Hill — Car (driver): 73.5%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 16.6%
Norlane — Worked from Home: 9.2% Bell Post Hill — Worked from Home: 16.6%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 5.3%
Norlane — Car (passenger): 7.1% Bell Post Hill — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Bus 2.8% / 1.6%
Norlane — Bus: 2.8% Bell Post Hill — Bus: 1.6%
Walked Only 1.5% / 1.5%
Norlane — Walked Only: 1.5% Bell Post Hill — Walked Only: 1.5%
Train 1.6% / 1.1%
Norlane — Train: 1.6% Bell Post Hill — Train: 1.1%

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

Setting

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 66 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
4.9 km to a named beach
 3.9 km

NBN connectivity

Norlane Bell Post Hill
Connectivity score 78/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
5,146 premises
 65%
2,414 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Norlane Bell Post Hill
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 Post Hill

Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Norlane

Norlane vs Corio Norlane vs Bell Park Norlane vs North Geelong Norlane vs Lovely Banks Norlane vs North Shore

Other comparisons with Bell Post Hill

Bell Post Hill vs Hamlyn Heights Bell Post Hill vs Bell Park Bell Post Hill vs Lovely Banks Bell Post Hill vs Batesford Bell Post Hill vs Moorabool
Full data on Norlane Full data on Bell Post Hill
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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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