Wallington vs Barwon Heads

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wallington, most households are couple families. In Barwon Heads, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wallington: a median of $1.74 million, against $1.19 million in Barwon Heads, though rent is higher in Barwon Heads. On these figures, Wallington tends to suit couples, while Barwon Heads suits 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

Barwon Heads

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 61/100)
  • But Wallington is already more of a family suburb (77% vs 61%)

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

First-home buyers

Barwon Heads

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,190,000 vs $1,735,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wallington

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($325/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Wallington sits closer to the CBD (91.8 km vs 95.3 km)
  • Barwon Heads is more walkable (69/100 vs 13/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Barwon Heads

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 13/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 61/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Wallington 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.

Wallington 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.

Wallington Barwon Heads
Walkability 13 / 69
Wallington — Walkability: 13/100 Barwon Heads — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 39 / 59
Wallington — Safety: 39/100 Barwon Heads — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 68 / 100
Wallington — Low fire risk: 68/100 Barwon Heads — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 12 / 17
Wallington — Low flood risk: 12/100 Barwon Heads — Low flood risk: 17/100

Demographics

Barwon Heads has more residents (4,353 vs 1,515); Barwon Heads rents higher ($450/wk vs $325/wk).

Wallington Barwon Heads
Population 1,515 4,353
+187% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.1% +12.3%
Median age 48 46
Median household income $125,320/yr
+8% vs other
 $115,752/yr
Median weekly rent $325/wk $450/wk
+38% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wallington Barwon Heads
0-4 3.4% / 3.7%
Wallington — 0-4: 3.4% Barwon Heads — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 13.0% / 16.3%
Wallington — 5-14: 13.0% Barwon Heads — 5-14: 16.3%
15-19 7.0% / 6.4%
Wallington — 15-19: 7.0% Barwon Heads — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 5.3% / 3.2%
Wallington — 20-24: 5.3% Barwon Heads — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 5.7% / 5.5%
Wallington — 25-34: 5.7% Barwon Heads — 25-34: 5.5%
35-44 9.6% / 12.2%
Wallington — 35-44: 9.6% Barwon Heads — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 14.8% / 15.2%
Wallington — 45-54: 14.8% Barwon Heads — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 14.3% / 13.9%
Wallington — 55-64: 14.3% Barwon Heads — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 14.0% / 14.9%
Wallington — 65-74: 14.0% Barwon Heads — 65-74: 14.9%
75-84 7.5% / 6.5%
Wallington — 75-84: 7.5% Barwon Heads — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 5.8% / 2.2%
Wallington — 85+: 5.8% Barwon Heads — 85+: 2.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wallington 66.0% couple families
Wallington — Couple Families: 66.0% Wallington — Lone Person: 19.9% Wallington — One Parent Families: 11.1% Wallington — Group Household: 2.9% Wallington — Other Families: 0.0%
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.

Wallington 7.5% renting
Wallington — Owned Outright: 50.1% Wallington — Mortgage: 42.4% Wallington — Renting: 7.5%
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.

Wallington Barwon Heads
Bachelor Degree 12.2% / 21.1%
Wallington — Bachelor Degree: 12.2% Barwon Heads — Bachelor Degree: 21.1%
Certificate III & IV 14.2% / 10.0%
Wallington — Certificate III & IV: 14.2% Barwon Heads — Certificate III & IV: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.6%
Wallington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Barwon Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.5% / 6.1%
Wallington — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5% Barwon Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 3.5%
Wallington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% 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.

Wallington Barwon Heads
England 5.5% / 4.2%
Wallington — England: 5.5% Barwon Heads — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 0.6% / 0.7%
Wallington — New Zealand: 0.6% Barwon Heads — New Zealand: 0.7%
Germany 0.9% / 0.3%
Wallington — Germany: 0.9% Barwon Heads — Germany: 0.3%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.5%
Wallington — Scotland: 0.5% Barwon Heads — Scotland: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.4%
Wallington — Netherlands: 0.5% Barwon Heads — Netherlands: 0.4%
Italy 0.8% / —
Wallington — Italy: 0.8% Barwon Heads — Italy: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.4%
Wallington — South Africa: not among its largest Barwon Heads — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wallington 100.5% houses
Wallington — Houses: 100.5% Wallington — Townhouses: 0.0% Wallington — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
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

Wallington Barwon Heads
Median house price $1,735,000 $1,190,000
Median unit price — $782,500
Median land price $2,070,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 85 days
from 5 sales
 61 days
from 17 sales

Zoning mix

Wallington has more rural and farming land (77% vs 20%).

Wallington Barwon Heads
Rural and farming 77% 20%
Residential 0% 33%
Parks and recreation 14% 31%
Other and special use 2% 11%
Environmental 4% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 1%
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

Wallington 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.

Wallington Barwon Heads
Houses — 3.0%
$950/wk on $1.62M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Wallington Barwon Heads
House price — Higher than 85% of VIC
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 25% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 58% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 15% of VIC

Liveability

Barwon Heads is more walkable (69 vs 13); Barwon Heads scores higher overall (67 vs 42).

Wallington Barwon Heads
Grade C B
Score 42/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Wallington carries more bushfire risk (32 vs 0); Wallington carries more crime risk (61 vs 41).

Wallington Barwon Heads
Bushfire Low
32/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
61/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood High
88/100
 High
83/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
47/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Wallington Barwon Heads
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Wallington

  • Wallington Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Barwon Heads

  • Barwon Heads Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Wallington Barwon Heads
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 4 5
Parks & reserves 3 6
Childcare 0 2
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 2 1

Mobility

Barwon Heads sits further from the CBD (95.3 km vs 91.8 km).

Wallington Barwon Heads
Walkability score 13/100 69/100
Distance to Melbourne 91.8 km 95.3 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 83 min 87 min
Public transport score 44/100 67/100
Peak arrivals per hour 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3222
 2.3%
postcode 3227
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 3222
 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.

Wallington Barwon Heads
Car (driver) 59.3% / 56.2%
Wallington — Car (driver): 59.3% Barwon Heads — Car (driver): 56.2%
Worked from Home 31.6% / 36.1%
Wallington — Worked from Home: 31.6% Barwon Heads — Worked from Home: 36.1%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 2.6%
Wallington — Car (passenger): 4.5% Barwon Heads — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 2.9% / 2.5%
Wallington — Walked Only: 2.9% Barwon Heads — Walked Only: 2.5%
Bicycle — / 1.9%
Wallington — Bicycle: not among its largest Barwon Heads — Bicycle: 1.9%
Train 1.0% / 0.5%
Wallington — Train: 1.0% Barwon Heads — Train: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.3%).

Setting

Wallington Barwon Heads
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.1 km 876 m
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Wallington Barwon Heads
Connectivity score 30/100 70/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
446 premises
 44%
2,500 premises

Climate

Wallington 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)

Wallington 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Wallington

Acreage Retirees

Barwon Heads

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Professionals Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wallington

Wallington vs Ocean Grove Wallington vs Leopold Wallington vs Drysdale Wallington vs Curlewis Wallington vs Connewarre Wallington vs Marcus Hill

Other comparisons with Barwon Heads

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