Ocean Grove vs Barwon Heads

Ocean Grove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 46 in Barwon Heads. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Barwon Heads: a median of $1.19 million, against $940,000 in Ocean Grove, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ocean Grove tends to suit 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

Ocean Grove

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Ocean Grove

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($940,000 vs $1,190,000)
  • has cheaper units ($685,000 vs $782,500)

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ocean Grove

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 41/100)

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

Investors

Ocean Grove

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (25.1% vs 12.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
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.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Walkability 75 / 69
Ocean Grove — Walkability: 75/100 Barwon Heads — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 74 / 59
Ocean Grove — Safety: 74/100 Barwon Heads — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 64 / 100
Ocean Grove — Low fire risk: 64/100 Barwon Heads — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 35 / 17
Ocean Grove — Low flood risk: 35/100 Barwon Heads — Low flood risk: 17/100

Demographics

Ocean Grove has more residents (17,714 vs 4,353); Barwon Heads has higher household incomes ($115,752 vs $95,524).

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Population 17,714
+75% vs other
 4,353
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +25.1% +12.3%
Median age 43 46
Median household income $95,524/yr $115,752/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk $450/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
0-4 5.7% / 3.7%
Ocean Grove — 0-4: 5.7% Barwon Heads — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 14.4% / 16.3%
Ocean Grove — 5-14: 14.4% Barwon Heads — 5-14: 16.3%
15-19 5.3% / 6.4%
Ocean Grove — 15-19: 5.3% Barwon Heads — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 3.8% / 3.2%
Ocean Grove — 20-24: 3.8% Barwon Heads — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 8.9% / 5.5%
Ocean Grove — 25-34: 8.9% Barwon Heads — 25-34: 5.5%
35-44 13.6% / 12.2%
Ocean Grove — 35-44: 13.6% Barwon Heads — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 12.9% / 15.2%
Ocean Grove — 45-54: 12.9% Barwon Heads — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 13.2% / 13.9%
Ocean Grove — 55-64: 13.2% Barwon Heads — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 13.7% / 14.9%
Ocean Grove — 65-74: 13.7% Barwon Heads — 65-74: 14.9%
75-84 6.2% / 6.5%
Ocean Grove — 75-84: 6.2% Barwon Heads — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 2.4% / 2.2%
Ocean Grove — 85+: 2.4% Barwon Heads — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ocean Grove 48.2% couple families
Ocean Grove — Couple Families: 48.2% Ocean Grove — Lone Person: 34.2% Ocean Grove — One Parent Families: 13.6% Ocean Grove — Group Household: 3.3% Ocean Grove — Other Families: 0.7%
Barwon Heads 48.5% couple families
Barwon Heads — Couple Families: 48.5% Barwon Heads — Lone Person: 35.3% Barwon Heads — One Parent Families: 12.6% Barwon Heads — Group Household: 2.3% Barwon Heads — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ocean Grove 19.1% renting
Ocean Grove — Owned Outright: 42.4% Ocean Grove — Mortgage: 38.6% Ocean Grove — Renting: 19.1%
Barwon Heads 16.0% renting
Barwon Heads — Owned Outright: 49.0% Barwon Heads — Mortgage: 35.0% Barwon Heads — Renting: 16.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Bachelor Degree 15.8% / 21.1%
Ocean Grove — Bachelor Degree: 15.8% Barwon Heads — Bachelor Degree: 21.1%
Certificate III & IV 13.6% / 10.0%
Ocean Grove — Certificate III & IV: 13.6% Barwon Heads — Certificate III & IV: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 9.6%
Ocean Grove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% Barwon Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.7% / 6.1%
Ocean Grove — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7% Barwon Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 3.5%
Ocean Grove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Barwon Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
England 4.2% / 4.2%
Ocean Grove — England: 4.2% Barwon Heads — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.7%
Ocean Grove — New Zealand: 0.9% Barwon Heads — New Zealand: 0.7%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.5%
Ocean Grove — Scotland: 0.5% Barwon Heads — Scotland: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.4%
Ocean Grove — Netherlands: 0.5% Barwon Heads — Netherlands: 0.4%
Germany 0.5% / 0.3%
Ocean Grove — Germany: 0.5% Barwon Heads — Germany: 0.3%
South Africa 0.3% / 0.4%
Ocean Grove — South Africa: 0.3% Barwon Heads — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ocean Grove 93.4% houses
Ocean Grove — Houses: 93.4% Ocean Grove — Townhouses: 6.0% Ocean Grove — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Barwon Heads 91.2% houses
Barwon Heads — Houses: 91.2% Barwon Heads — Townhouses: 6.1% Barwon Heads — Flats / Apartments: 2.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Median house price $940,000 $1,190,000
Median unit price $685,000 $782,500
Median land price $827,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 49 days
from 230 sales
 61 days
from 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.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
2 bed $786K / $1.06M
Ocean Grove — 2 bed: $786K (25 sales) Barwon Heads — 2 bed: $1.06M (5 sales)

25 vs 5 sales

3 bed $866K / $1.1M
Ocean Grove — 3 bed: $866K (204 sales) Barwon Heads — 3 bed: $1.1M (12 sales)

204 vs 12 sales

4 bed $1.06M / $1.44M
Ocean Grove — 4 bed: $1.06M (160 sales) Barwon Heads — 4 bed: $1.44M (19 sales)

160 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Residential 56% 33%
Parks and recreation 19% 31%
Rural and farming 11% 20%
Other and special use 4% 11%
Environmental 4% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 1%
Commercial 2% 0%
Industrial 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

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
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.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Houses 3.7%
$750/wk on $1.05M
 3.0%
$950/wk on $1.62M
Units 4.0%
$550/wk on $722K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
House price Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools Higher than 56% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 9% of VIC —

Liveability

Barwon Heads scores higher overall (67 vs 60).

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Ocean Grove carries more bushfire risk (36 vs 0); Barwon Heads carries more crime risk (41 vs 26).

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Bushfire Low
36/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
26/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood Moderate
65/100
 High
83/100
Coastal erosion Low
28/100
 Moderate
47/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Ocean Grove

  • Ocean Grove Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady Star of the Sea School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Surfside Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Bellarine Secondary College-Ocean Grove Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Barwon Heads

  • Barwon Heads Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 15 5
Parks & reserves 16 6
Childcare 10 2
GPs 6 2
Pharmacies 3 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 2
Fuel stations 4 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Walkability score 75/100 69/100
Distance to Melbourne 96.8 km
+2% vs other
 95.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 89 min 87 min
Public transport score 76/100 67/100
Peak arrivals per hour 55.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 3226
 2.3%
postcode 3227
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 3226
 47
postcode 3227

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.

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Car (driver) 63.9% / 56.2%
Ocean Grove — Car (driver): 63.9% Barwon Heads — Car (driver): 56.2%
Worked from Home 28.8% / 36.1%
Ocean Grove — Worked from Home: 28.8% Barwon Heads — Worked from Home: 36.1%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 2.6%
Ocean Grove — Car (passenger): 3.6% Barwon Heads — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 2.2% / 2.5%
Ocean Grove — Walked Only: 2.2% Barwon Heads — Walked Only: 2.5%
Bicycle 0.7% / 1.9%
Ocean Grove — Bicycle: 0.7% Barwon Heads — Bicycle: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.9%).

Setting

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Elevation 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.3 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 876 m
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Connectivity score 76/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
10,378 premises
 44%
2,500 premises

Climate

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Annual rainfall —
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 22.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Division Corangamite
same for both
Member Libby Coker
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ocean Grove Barwon Heads
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Ocean Grove

Coastal Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre

Barwon Heads

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Professionals Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ocean Grove

Ocean Grove vs Point Lonsdale Ocean Grove vs Wallington Ocean Grove vs Marcus Hill

Other comparisons with Barwon Heads

Barwon Heads vs Wallington Barwon Heads vs Connewarre
Full data on Ocean Grove Full data on Barwon Heads
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.

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