Ceres VIC 3221
Located in Victoria, Ceres sits 83 km from Melbourne CBD, around 1 hour 5 minutes by car. The suburb has 266 residents, a median age of 41, and a median household income of $162,500 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 20% nationally. Population grew 4.7% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $250 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,733. The area shows high flood risk. 2 schools sit within the suburb boundary, and walkability is low.
This suburb is too small to rate.
The Liveability Rating is calculated for suburbs of 500 residents or more, and this one has 266. Below that the school, census and safety figures behind the score cover too few people to rank fairly against the rest of the state. The individual measures further down this page are still shown.
How do you rate the liveability in Ceres?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
Not enough data to score this suburb.
Residents say
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Median House Price
Public listings dataThe median house sale price in Ceres sits at $1.13 million, broadly flat year-on-year. That said, only four sales settled in the quarter, so the median is a noisy signal — treat it as a direction rather than a level.
$1,131,250
Based on only 4 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Short-Stay Rentals
No active Airbnb listings.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months.
Is Ceres safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Ceres sits in the low band, with 5 incidents recorded in 2026 — up roughly 400% on the prior year.
5 offences
400.0% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–20254 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Two schools serve Ceres, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 197 students across 2 schools (avg 98)
- • Sectors: 1 Government, 1 Independent
- • ICSEA 1069-1100, median 1084 (above the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Ceres Primary School (124 students)
Primary
Universities nearby
- 7.9 kmDeakin University, Geelong Waterfront CampusDeakin University · 55 courses
- 7.9 kmDeakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds CampusDeakin University · 93 courses
3.8% of residents here are full-time university students aged 15–24.
Distance is measured to the suburb centre. A campus nearby does not by itself mean a student rental market — most suburbs within a few kilometres of one have a student share close to the national norm, and the figure above is what tells them apart.
Walkability
Ceres is very car-dependent on foot — at 21/100, nearly all errands require a car.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Ceres.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 99
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Greater Geelong: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Ceres is home to 266 residents, with a median age of 41, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $162,000 a year, with unemployment at 7.1%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
266
Median Age
41
Median Household Income
$162,500/yr
Census Median Rent
$250/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg Household Size
3.1
Median Personal Income
$58,032/yr
Unemployment Rate
7.1%
Unoccupied Dwellings
6.9%
Total Dwellings
87
Owner-Occupier Rate
96.7%
Houses
96.6%
Rental Stress
8.0%
Mortgage Stress
12.8%
Work From Home
32.0%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 91.7%
- English Spoken at Home
- 99.6%
- Employment Rate
- 73.4%
- Completed Year 12
- 53.4%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
5% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (7 of 142).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,802 a year through Greater Geelong based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 96%
- Infrastructure and transport 2%
- Parks and recreation 1%
- Residential 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 — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Greater Geelong
In the year to August 2026, 3,468 new dwellings were approved across Greater Geelong. That mix is 2,749 houses and 719 units. Approvals are up 55.5% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2009).
Registered Aboriginal Parties are appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage for their area. They are the body to contact about cultural heritage here.
Air Quality
CLEANPM2.5 averaged 5 µg/m³ in 2025 — below the WHO 2021 annual guideline (5 µg/m³).
PM10 averaged 20.5 µg/m³. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 3 · ozone 0.
From the Geelong South monitoring station, 8.6 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Avalon Airport, 23.5 kmDry climate — hot summers, cold winters with occasional frost.
- Elevation
- 137 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 7.9 km
- Annual rainfall
- 454 mm
- 74 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 26.1°C
- 11 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 5.5°C
- 6 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
EV adoption
In postcode 3221, 35 of 3,882 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.3% (90 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 3.2%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3221, 507 rooftop-solar systems totalling 2.2 MW have been installed since 2001. 10 went up in the last year.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
The separate First Home Buyer Duty Reduction (stamp-duty concession) runs alongside this grant.
0 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3221 in 2025-26. The most was 27, in 2001-02.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
Land transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with State Revenue Office Victoria
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with State Revenue Office Victoria.
At $1,131,250 this is $381,250 above the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with State Revenue Office Victoria.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Libby Coker Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Libby Coker | 58.0% | 42.0% | +0.2 |
| 2022 | Libby Coker | 57.6% | 42.4% | -6.5 |
| 2019 | Libby Coker | 51.1% | 48.9% | -1.0 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Darren Cheeseman Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Darren Cheeseman ALP | 59.8% | 59.8% | 40.2% |
| 2018 | Darren Cheeseman ALP | 54.6% | 54.6% | 45.4% |
| 2014 | Andrew Katos LP | 52.9% | 47.1% | 52.9% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Ceres?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 266 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Highton VIC 3216
Waurn Ponds VIC 3216
Wandana Heights VIC 3216
Fyansford VIC 3218
Barrabool VIC 3221
Stonehaven VIC 3218
Compare Ceres to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Ceres
Is Ceres a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Ceres is low (27/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Ceres?
Ceres has a low recorded bushfire history (33/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a moderate share of it (67/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
What is the population of Ceres?
Ceres, VIC had a population of 266 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Ceres, VIC?
The postcode for Ceres, VIC is 3221.
How far is Ceres from Melbourne?
Ceres is 83 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 65 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Ceres?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Ceres was $162,500 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Ceres?
There are too few current rental listings in Ceres for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $250, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Ceres?
The median age of residents in Ceres was 41 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Ceres at risk of bushfire?
Ceres has a low recorded bushfire history (33/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the suburb relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
How are the schools in Ceres?
There are 2 schools inside the Ceres boundary: 1 at and 1 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Ceres walkable?
Ceres scores 21/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the air quality in Ceres?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Ceres (Geelong South) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 5.0 µg/m³ and PM10 of 20.5 µg/m³. That puts Ceres below the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Ceres?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Ceres, Avalon Airport (23.5 km away), summer days average 26.1°C, winter nights 5.5°C, 454 mm of rain a year over 74 rainy days, and 11 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Ceres?
First-home buyers in VIC may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office Victoria; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Ceres belong to?
Ceres sits within the Greater Geelong local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Ceres?
The average residential rates bill through Greater Geelong is $1,802 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Ceres?
Across Greater Geelong, 3,468 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 55.5% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Ceres in?
Ceres sits within the federal Division of Corangamite, currently held by Libby Coker (Australian Labor Party).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- Short-stay rentals · Jun 2026
- State electorate · 2022
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.