Norlane vs North Geelong

Norlane is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in North Geelong. 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 North Geelong, most households own their home. Houses cost more in North Geelong: a median of $690,000, 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

Norlane

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 4)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)

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 land ($425,000 vs $825,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($535,000 vs $690,000)
  • But North Geelong leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 30%)

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 42%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $315/wk)
  • But North Geelong leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)

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 70 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

North Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 18%)

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

Investors

North Geelong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 4.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Norlane and North 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.

Norlane North 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.

Norlane North Geelong
Walkability 76 / 80
Norlane — Walkability: 76/100 North Geelong — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 5 / 8
Norlane — Safety: 5/100 North Geelong — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Norlane — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 76 / 70
Norlane — Low flood risk: 76/100 North Geelong — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

Norlane has more residents (8,682 vs 3,225); North Geelong has higher household incomes ($77,480 vs $47,268).

Norlane North Geelong
Population 8,682
+63% vs other
 3,225
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.5% +8.7%
Median age 37 40
Median household income $47,268/yr $77,480/yr
+64% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $315/wk
+26% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Norlane North Geelong
0-4 5.6% / 5.6%
Norlane — 0-4: 5.6% North Geelong — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 10.4% / 10.7%
Norlane — 5-14: 10.4% North Geelong — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 5.4% / 4.2%
Norlane — 15-19: 5.4% North Geelong — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 7.5% / 5.8%
Norlane — 20-24: 7.5% North Geelong — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 17.3% / 16.6%
Norlane — 25-34: 17.3% North Geelong — 25-34: 16.6%
35-44 11.6% / 12.2%
Norlane — 35-44: 11.6% North Geelong — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 12.0% / 12.0%
Norlane — 45-54: 12.0% North Geelong — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 12.0% / 8.3%
Norlane — 55-64: 12.0% North Geelong — 55-64: 8.3%
65-74 10.0% / 9.3%
Norlane — 65-74: 10.0% North Geelong — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 5.7% / 7.5%
Norlane — 75-84: 5.7% North Geelong — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 2.7% / 7.5%
Norlane — 85+: 2.7% North Geelong — 85+: 7.5%

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%
North Geelong 42.0% lone person
North Geelong — Lone Person: 42.0% North Geelong — Couple Families: 34.0% North Geelong — One Parent Families: 16.6% North Geelong — Group Household: 6.3% North Geelong — Other Families: 1.1%
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%
North Geelong 41.7% renting
North Geelong — Owned Outright: 26.4% North Geelong — Mortgage: 31.9% North Geelong — Renting: 41.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Norlane North Geelong
Certificate III & IV 14.2% / 13.8%
Norlane — Certificate III & IV: 14.2% North Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 13.8%
Bachelor Degree 5.0% / 10.6%
Norlane — Bachelor Degree: 5.0% North Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 7.4%
Norlane — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% North Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 4.2%
Norlane — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% North Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 2.0%
Norlane — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% North Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.2%).

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 North Geelong
India 3.5% / 3.8%
Norlane — India: 3.5% North Geelong — India: 3.8%
England 1.7% / 1.9%
Norlane — England: 1.7% North Geelong — England: 1.9%
Philippines 1.5% / 1.0%
Norlane — Philippines: 1.5% North Geelong — Philippines: 1.0%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.0%
Norlane — New Zealand: 0.9% North Geelong — New Zealand: 1.0%
Italy — / 1.8%
Norlane — Italy: not among its largest North Geelong — Italy: 1.8%
Afghanistan 1.5% / —
Norlane — Afghanistan: 1.5% North Geelong — Afghanistan: not among its largest
Pakistan 1.0% / —
Norlane — Pakistan: 1.0% North Geelong — Pakistan: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.0%
Norlane — Germany: not among its largest North Geelong — Germany: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

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%
North Geelong 81.6% houses
North Geelong — Houses: 81.6% North Geelong — Townhouses: 17.9% North Geelong — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Norlane North Geelong
Median house price $535,000 $690,000
Median unit price $432,500 $429,000
Median land price $425,000 $825,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 83 sales
 42 days
from 12 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 North Geelong
1 bed $370K / $321K
Norlane — 1 bed: $370K (7 sales) North Geelong — 1 bed: $321K (8 sales)

7 vs 8 sales

2 bed $435K / $491K
Norlane — 2 bed: $435K (17 sales) North Geelong — 2 bed: $491K (6 sales)

17 vs 6 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 North Geelong
2 bed $484K / $640K
Norlane — 2 bed: $484K (85 sales) North Geelong — 2 bed: $640K (7 sales)

85 vs 7 sales

3 bed $555K / $667K
Norlane — 3 bed: $555K (148 sales) North Geelong — 3 bed: $667K (45 sales)

148 vs 45 sales

4 bed $629K / $810K
Norlane — 4 bed: $629K (32 sales) North Geelong — 4 bed: $810K (16 sales)

32 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

North Geelong has more industrially zoned land (41% vs 14%).

Norlane North Geelong
Residential 65% 19%
Industrial 14% 41%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 19%
Commercial 3% 10%
Parks and recreation 9% 7%
Other and special use 1% 5%
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 North 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.

Norlane North Geelong
Houses 4.3%
$450/wk on $550K
 3.9%
$528/wk on $700K
Units 4.5%
$410/wk on $479K
 6.5%
$420/wk on $335K

Ranking within VIC

Norlane North Geelong
House price Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Income Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Schools Higher than 32% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 37% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC

Liveability

North Geelong scores higher overall (50 vs 35).

Norlane North Geelong
Grade C B
Score 35/100 50/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Norlane North Geelong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 High
92/100
Flood Low
24/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
42/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 17
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Norlane North Geelong
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
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, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.9% 1.8%

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 North Geelong

  • SEDA College (Victoria) - BVNV Geelong Independent · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Multi Geelong Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Norlane North Geelong
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 8
Parks & reserves 10 4
Childcare 6 2
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 3
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

North Geelong sits further from the CBD (70 km vs 67.5 km).

Norlane North Geelong
Walkability score 76/100 80/100
Distance to Melbourne 67.5 km 70 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 58 min
Public transport score 76/100 89/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 167.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 96.0
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 North Geelong
Car (driver) 77.2% / 64.9%
Norlane — Car (driver): 77.2% North Geelong — Car (driver): 64.9%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 22.3%
Norlane — Worked from Home: 9.2% North Geelong — Worked from Home: 22.3%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 5.1%
Norlane — Car (passenger): 7.1% North Geelong — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Bus 2.8% / 1.8%
Norlane — Bus: 2.8% North Geelong — Bus: 1.8%
Walked Only 1.5% / 2.3%
Norlane — Walked Only: 1.5% North Geelong — Walked Only: 2.3%
Train 1.6% / 1.8%
Norlane — Train: 1.6% North Geelong — Train: 1.8%
Bicycle 0.6% / 1.9%
Norlane — Bicycle: 0.6% North Geelong — Bicycle: 1.9%

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

Setting

Norlane North Geelong
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
4.9 km to a named beach
 903 m
3.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Norlane North Geelong
Connectivity score 78/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
5,146 premises
 65%
2,409 premises

Climate

Norlane North Geelong
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 North Geelong
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Norlane North Geelong
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Norlane North Geelong
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

North Geelong

Coastal Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Norlane

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

Other comparisons with North Geelong

North Geelong vs Geelong West North Geelong vs Hamlyn Heights North Geelong vs Geelong North Geelong vs Bell Park North Geelong vs Rippleside North Geelong vs Drumcondra
Full data on Norlane Full data on North Geelong
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or