Thomson vs Whittington

Thomson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in Whittington. In both, about half of households rent and most homes are detached houses. In Thomson, most households are people living alone. In Whittington, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Thomson tends to suit young adults and 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

Whittington

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (46% vs 32%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 69%)

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

First-home buyers

Whittington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($416,000 vs $515,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Whittington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $295/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Whittington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 77/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Thomson has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% vs 10%)
  • Whittington is more walkable (89/100 vs 77/100)

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

Investors

Whittington

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

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

Thomson Whittington
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.

Thomson Whittington
Walkability 77 / 89
Thomson — Walkability: 77/100 Whittington — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 12 / 16
Thomson — Safety: 12/100 Whittington — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Thomson — Low fire risk: 100/100 Whittington — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 88 / 32
Thomson — Low flood risk: 88/100 Whittington — Low flood risk: 32/100

Demographics

Whittington has more residents (3,990 vs 1,606); Thomson rents higher ($295/wk vs $250/wk).

Thomson Whittington
Population 1,606 3,990
+148% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.1% +2.9%
Median age 38 42
Median household income $58,552/yr
+15% vs other
 $49,868/yr
Median weekly rent $295/wk
+15% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Thomson Whittington
0-4 4.2% / 4.6%
Thomson — 0-4: 4.2% Whittington — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 8.4% / 11.3%
Thomson — 5-14: 8.4% Whittington — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 3.5% / 5.6%
Thomson — 15-19: 3.5% Whittington — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 9.8% / 6.3%
Thomson — 20-24: 9.8% Whittington — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 19.3% / 14.1%
Thomson — 25-34: 19.3% Whittington — 25-34: 14.1%
35-44 14.6% / 11.0%
Thomson — 35-44: 14.6% Whittington — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 10.2% / 12.7%
Thomson — 45-54: 10.2% Whittington — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 12.8% / 12.8%
Thomson — 55-64: 12.8% Whittington — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 9.0% / 12.1%
Thomson — 65-74: 9.0% Whittington — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 6.0% / 6.4%
Thomson — 75-84: 6.0% Whittington — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 1.9% / 2.9%
Thomson — 85+: 1.9% Whittington — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Thomson 57.1% lone person
Thomson — Lone Person: 57.1% Thomson — One Parent Families: 14.1% Thomson — Couple Families: 18.0% Thomson — Group Household: 8.8% Thomson — Other Families: 2.0%
Whittington 46.9% lone person
Whittington — Lone Person: 46.9% Whittington — One Parent Families: 26.5% Whittington — Couple Families: 19.6% Whittington — Group Household: 4.6% Whittington — Other Families: 2.4%
Lone Person One Parent Families Couple Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Thomson 53.6% renting
Thomson — Owned Outright: 21.4% Thomson — Mortgage: 25.0% Thomson — Renting: 53.6%
Whittington 45.5% renting
Whittington — Owned Outright: 29.7% Whittington — Mortgage: 24.8% Whittington — Renting: 45.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Thomson Whittington
England 3.4% / 2.9%
Thomson — England: 3.4% Whittington — England: 2.9%
India 2.1% / 2.2%
Thomson — India: 2.1% Whittington — India: 2.2%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.8%
Thomson — New Zealand: 1.2% Whittington — New Zealand: 0.8%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.1%
Thomson — Philippines: 0.6% Whittington — Philippines: 1.1%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.6%
Thomson — Scotland: 0.7% Whittington — Scotland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

Qualifications

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

Thomson Whittington
Certificate III & IV 18.5% / 15.3%
Thomson — Certificate III & IV: 18.5% Whittington — Certificate III & IV: 15.3%
Bachelor Degree 10.3% / 5.4%
Thomson — Bachelor Degree: 10.3% Whittington — Bachelor Degree: 5.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 5.9%
Thomson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Whittington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 2.2%
Thomson — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Whittington — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 0.8%
Thomson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Whittington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Thomson 69.3% houses
Thomson — Houses: 69.3% Thomson — Townhouses: 27.2% Thomson — Flats / Apartments: 3.5%
Whittington 90.5% houses
Whittington — Houses: 90.5% Whittington — Townhouses: 7.1% Whittington — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Thomson Whittington
Median house price $591,000 $596,000
Median unit price $515,000 $416,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 8 days
from 7 sales
 26 days
from 14 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.

Thomson Whittington
2 bed $482K / $535K
Thomson — 2 bed: $482K (6 sales) Whittington — 2 bed: $535K (7 sales)

6 vs 7 sales

3 bed $596K / $582K
Thomson — 3 bed: $596K (52 sales) Whittington — 3 bed: $582K (66 sales)

52 vs 66 sales

Zoning mix

Thomson Whittington
Residential 77% 89%
Parks and recreation 17% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 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

Thomson Whittington
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.

Thomson Whittington
Houses 3.7%
$450/wk on $627K
 4.3%
$500/wk on $600K
Units — 4.7%
$420/wk on $470K

Ranking within VIC

Thomson Whittington
House price — Higher than 20% of VIC
Income Higher than 19% of VIC —
Schools Higher than 71% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 43% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 43% of VIC

Liveability

Thomson scores higher overall (56 vs 35); Whittington is more walkable (89 vs 77).

Thomson Whittington
Grade B C
Score 56/100 35/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Whittington carries more flood risk (68 vs 12).

Thomson Whittington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 High
84/100
Flood Low
12/100
 Moderate
68/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Thomson Whittington
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 2.6 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 1.0%

Schools in Thomson

  • Tate Street Primary School Geelong Government · Primary above peers
  • Geelong East Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Margaret's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Whittington

  • Whittington Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • MacKillop Specialist School - Whittington Catholic · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Thomson Whittington
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Childcare 5 3

Mobility

Thomson Whittington
Walkability score 77/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 78.2 km 79 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 68 min 70 min
Public transport score 75/100 76/100
Peak arrivals per hour 40.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 62.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3219
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3219
same for both

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.

Thomson Whittington
Car (driver) 72.7% / 75.0%
Thomson — Car (driver): 72.7% Whittington — Car (driver): 75.0%
Worked from Home 17.9% / 12.0%
Thomson — Worked from Home: 17.9% Whittington — Worked from Home: 12.0%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 7.4%
Thomson — Car (passenger): 4.2% Whittington — Car (passenger): 7.4%
Bus 2.0% / 2.6%
Thomson — Bus: 2.0% Whittington — Bus: 2.6%
Walked Only 1.4% / 1.7%
Thomson — Walked Only: 1.4% Whittington — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.0%).

Setting

Thomson Whittington
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.5 km
2.6 km to a named beach
 2.9 km
3.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Thomson Whittington
Connectivity score 79/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
1,033 premises
 55%
2,031 premises

Climate

Thomson Whittington
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)

Thomson Whittington
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Thomson Whittington
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Thomson Whittington
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Thomson Whittington
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Thomson

Coastal Parks Quiet Townhouses

Whittington

Coastal Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Thomson

Thomson vs St Albans Park Thomson vs Newcomb Thomson vs East Geelong Thomson vs Breakwater Thomson vs South Geelong

Other comparisons with Whittington

Whittington vs St Albans Park Whittington vs Newcomb Whittington vs Moolap Whittington vs Breakwater
Full data on Thomson Full data on Whittington
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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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