North Shore vs North Geelong

North Geelong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 45 in North Shore. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In North Shore, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. In North Geelong, most households own their home. On these figures, North Shore tends to suit people living alone.

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

North Geelong

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (51% vs 27%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house 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

They split

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

  • North Shore sits closer to the CBD (67.6 km vs 70 km)
  • North Geelong is more walkable (80/100 vs 46/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

North Geelong

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 46/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 17%)

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

Investors

North Geelong

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (8.7% vs -9.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

North Shore 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.

North Shore 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.

North Shore North Geelong
Walkability 46 / 80
North Shore — Walkability: 46/100 North Geelong — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 3 / 8
North Shore — Safety: 3/100 North Geelong — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Shore — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Geelong — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 72 / 70
North Shore — Low flood risk: 72/100 North Geelong — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

North Geelong has more residents (3,225 vs 325); North Shore skews older (45 vs 40).

North Shore North Geelong
Population 325 3,225
+892% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -9.0% +8.7%
Median age 45 40
Median household income $69,004/yr $77,480/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $310/wk $315/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Shore North Geelong
0-4 1.2% / 5.6%
North Shore — 0-4: 1.2% North Geelong — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 11.1% / 10.7%
North Shore — 5-14: 11.1% North Geelong — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 5.2% / 4.2%
North Shore — 15-19: 5.2% North Geelong — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 4.3% / 5.8%
North Shore — 20-24: 4.3% North Geelong — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 11.7% / 16.6%
North Shore — 25-34: 11.7% North Geelong — 25-34: 16.6%
35-44 16.6% / 12.2%
North Shore — 35-44: 16.6% North Geelong — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 16.6% / 12.0%
North Shore — 45-54: 16.6% North Geelong — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 15.7% / 8.3%
North Shore — 55-64: 15.7% North Geelong — 55-64: 8.3%
65-74 10.8% / 9.3%
North Shore — 65-74: 10.8% North Geelong — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 4.9% / 7.5%
North Shore — 75-84: 4.9% North Geelong — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 1.2% / 7.5%
North Shore — 85+: 1.2% North Geelong — 85+: 7.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Shore 64.0% lone person
North Shore — Lone Person: 64.0% North Shore — Couple Families: 13.2% North Shore — One Parent Families: 14.0% North Shore — Group Household: 8.8% North Shore — Other Families: 0.0%
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.

North Shore 45.2% renting
North Shore — Owned Outright: 27.7% North Shore — Mortgage: 27.1% North Shore — Renting: 45.2%
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.

North Shore North Geelong
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 13.8%
North Shore — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% North Geelong — Certificate III & IV: 13.8%
Bachelor Degree 12.6% / 10.6%
North Shore — Bachelor Degree: 12.6% North Geelong — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.1% / 7.4%
North Shore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.1% North Geelong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 4.2%
North Shore — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% North Geelong — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.0%
North Shore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% North Geelong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

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.

North Shore North Geelong
India 1.5% / 3.8%
North Shore — India: 1.5% North Geelong — India: 3.8%
England 3.1% / 1.9%
North Shore — England: 3.1% North Geelong — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 3.1% / 1.0%
North Shore — New Zealand: 3.1% North Geelong — New Zealand: 1.0%
Netherlands 1.2% / 0.8%
North Shore — Netherlands: 1.2% North Geelong — Netherlands: 0.8%
Germany 0.9% / 1.0%
North Shore — Germany: 0.9% North Geelong — Germany: 1.0%
Italy — / 1.8%
North Shore — Italy: not among its largest North Geelong — Italy: 1.8%
Sri Lanka 1.2% / —
North Shore — Sri Lanka: 1.2% North Geelong — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Shore 83.4% houses
North Shore — Houses: 83.4% North Shore — Townhouses: 19.7% North Shore — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
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

North Shore North Geelong
Median house price $702,600 $690,000
Median unit price — $429,000
Median land price — $825,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 68 days
from 3 sales
 42 days
from 12 sales

Zoning mix

North Shore has more commercially zoned land (25% vs 10%); North Shore has more industrially zoned land (54% vs 41%).

North Shore North Geelong
Industrial 54% 41%
Commercial 25% 10%
Residential 8% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 19%
Parks and recreation 3% 7%
Other and special use 0% 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

North Shore 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.

North Shore North Geelong
Houses 3.0%
$460/wk on $804K
 3.9%
$528/wk on $700K
Units — 6.5%
$420/wk on $335K

Ranking within VIC

North Shore North Geelong
House price Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Income Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 96% of VIC

Liveability

North Geelong is more walkable (80 vs 46).

North Shore North Geelong
Grade — B
Score — 50/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

North Shore North Geelong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
92/100
Flood Low
28/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
42/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

North Shore North Geelong
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.2 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.2% 1.8%

Schools in North Shore

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

Schools in North Geelong

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

Amenities in the suburb

North Shore North Geelong
Cafes & restaurants 1 8
Parks & reserves 0 4
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 2
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

North Geelong sits further from the CBD (70 km vs 67.6 km).

North Shore North Geelong
Walkability score 46/100 80/100
Distance to Melbourne 67.6 km 70 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 58 min
Public transport score 88/100
Rail
 89/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 28.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 96.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 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.

North Shore North Geelong
Car (driver) 72.4% / 64.9%
North Shore — Car (driver): 72.4% North Geelong — Car (driver): 64.9%
Worked from Home 18.6% / 22.3%
North Shore — Worked from Home: 18.6% North Geelong — Worked from Home: 22.3%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 5.1%
North Shore — Car (passenger): 4.1% North Geelong — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 2.8% / 2.3%
North Shore — Walked Only: 2.8% North Geelong — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus 2.1% / 1.8%
North Shore — Bus: 2.1% North Geelong — Bus: 1.8%
Bicycle — / 1.9%
North Shore — Bicycle: not among its largest North Geelong — Bicycle: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.4%).

Setting

North Shore North Geelong
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 659 m
3.7 km to a named beach
 903 m
3.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Shore North Geelong
Connectivity score 83/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 67%
430 premises
 65%
2,409 premises

Climate

North Shore 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)

North Shore 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Shore

Coastal Quiet Trains Transport Hub

North Geelong

Coastal Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Shore

North Shore vs Corio North Shore vs Norlane

Other comparisons with North Geelong

North Geelong vs Norlane North Geelong vs Geelong West North Geelong vs Hamlyn Heights North Geelong vs Geelong North Geelong vs Bell Park North Geelong vs Rippleside
Full data on North Shore Full data on North 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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