Geelong VIC 3220
Geelong is a suburb in Victoria, 74 km from Melbourne CBD, around 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Population is 5,811; the median age is 40 and the median household income is $86,840 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 20% nationally. Population grew 11.5% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $370 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,000. The area shows high crime risk and high coastal erosion risk. 5 schools sit within the suburb boundary, and walkability is high.
Is Geelong a good suburb?
Geelong scores a B (51/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit and community, weaker on schools and safety.
Below the state average
5 schools · Bottom 15% in VIC
Very walkable
Walkability 90/100 · 74.3 km · 64 min drive to Melbourne
Around the state median
Median $896K
High crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 99/100 · Flood 37/100
Very advantaged
SEIFA decile 9/10 · median age 40 · 5,811 residents
Liveability Rating
51 / 100 · Ranked #418 in VICEach bar is Geelong's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
How do you rate the liveability in Geelong?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
51 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataGeelong's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $896,000, about 5% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$895,750
4% above its 6 neighbours (median $860,000)
Based on 108 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 33 days — median across 59 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 23 sales $665K
- 3 bed 48 sales $905K
- 4 bed 30 sales $1.12M
Units
$566,500
32% above its 4 neighbours (median $430,000)
Based on 106 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 82 days — median across 51 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 1 bed 23 sales $430K
- 2 bed 65 sales $591K
- 3 bed 17 sales $970K
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Geelong are currently listed at around $1.04 million on average. Based on 75 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$1.04M
75 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$620K
85 units listed in the last 6 months.
160 of the suburb's 2,497 dwellings (6.4%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Geelong rent for around $640 a week on average, based on 31 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$640/wk
31 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$580/wk
57 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
88 rentals advertised against an estimated 1,126 rented homes (7.8%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 202596 Unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 31% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3220.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$640/week ($33,000 a year) on a $1.04 million median
$580/week ($30,000 a year) on a $620,000 median
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Short-Stay Rentals
190 active Airbnb listings: 165 whole homes and 25 rooms. Whole homes are about 5.4% of the suburb's homes.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months. The share is against private dwellings at the 2021 Census.
Is Geelong safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Geelong sits in the high band, with 2,964 incidents recorded in 2026 — up about 4% on the prior year.
2,964 offences
3.9% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–2025108 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 1 of them fatal
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.
Coastal Erosion
Shoreline Change Summary
1988–2025Nearest Eroding Coastline
- Distance
- 677 m
- Rate
- -0.04 m/yr
- Net Movement
- 2.7 m
- Certainty
- good
Data Quality
Schools
Five schools serve Geelong, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 1,154 students across 3 schools (avg 385)
- • Sectors: 3 Government, 1 Independent, 1 Catholic
- • ICSEA 1046-1114, median 1088 (above the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College (614 students)
Primary
Secondary
Universities nearby
- 0.0 kmDeakin University, Geelong Waterfront CampusDeakin University · 55 courses
- 0.0 kmDeakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds CampusDeakin University · 93 courses
6.1% 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
Geelong is exceptionally walkable on foot — at 90/100, daily errands don't require a car at all. Within the suburb there are 1 supermarket, 14 parks and 123 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Geelong.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 318.2 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 251.6 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 145.6 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 0 min
- Span of service
- 21.6 hours
- Direct to CBD (peak)
- 18 min wait
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Geelong.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 35%
- Premises covered
- 6,219
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
The ABS scores 15 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 4 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Geelong is home to about 5,800 residents, with a median age of 40, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $87,000 a year, with unemployment at 5.2%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
5,811
Median Age
40
Median Household Income
$86,840/yr
Census Median Rent
$370/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,000/mo
Avg Household Size
2.0
Median Personal Income
$44,980/yr
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Unoccupied Dwellings
21.6%
Total Dwellings
2,497
Owner-Occupier Rate
54.9%
Houses
51.8%
Rental Stress
22.2%
Mortgage Stress
27.6%
Work From Home
25.1%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
28 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 52 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 1,097 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 71.8%
- English Spoken at Home
- 78.2%
- Employment Rate
- 60.2%
- Completed Year 12
- 57.6%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
390 residents (6.7%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
13.4% of residents (754) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (609).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 5,606 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
7% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (216 of 3,137).
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.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 26,132 people work here; 3,137 employed residents live here.
A jobs hub: 8.3 jobs for every working resident. At least 88% of the people who work here must live elsewhere.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
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
- Residential 41%
- Commercial 38%
- Infrastructure and transport 14%
- Parks and recreation 7%
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, 2.7 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Point Wilson, 16.4 kmwarm summers — mild winters.
- Elevation
- 23 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 639 m
- 774 m to a named beach
- Annual rainfall
- —
- Summer max (Jan)
- 22.8°C
- 3 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 7.8°C
- 0 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.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
14 facilities within 5 km- 0.4 kmFossil Fuel Electricity GenerationTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
- 1.8 kmBeer ManufacturingTop reported: Carbon monoxide · Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Ethanol
- 1.9 kmRail Passenger TransportTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Cumene (1-methylethylbenzene) · Xylenes (individual or mixed isomers)
- 2.0 kmFuneral, Crematorium and Cemetery ServicesTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Total Volatile Organic Compounds
- 2.1 kmTextile Floor Covering ManufacturingTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Carbon monoxide
EV adoption
In postcode 3220, 342 of 17,583 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 5.7% (995 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 7.6%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3220, 1,903 rooftop-solar systems totalling 16.2 MW have been installed since 2001, against 7,869 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 135 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
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.
4 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3220 in 2025-26, rank 143 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 96, in 2000-01.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
24 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb, 40 across postcode 3220.
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 $895,750 this is $145,750 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 Richard Marles Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Richard Marles | 63.2% | 36.8% | +0.7 |
| 2022 | Richard Marles | 62.8% | 37.2% | -2.5 |
| 2019 | Richard Marles | 60.3% | 39.7% | -2.1 |
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 Christine Couzens Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Christine Couzens ALP | 64.7% | 64.7% | 35.3% |
| 2018 | Christine Couzens ALP | 50.4% | 60.1% | 39.9% |
| 2014 | Christine Couzens ALP | 56.0% | 56.0% | 44.0% |
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 Geelong?
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 5,811 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.
Featured in
- #1 in Geelong suburbs with the most apartments
- #1 in The best beachside suburbs in Geelong
- #1 in Best Geelong suburbs to rent in
- #1 in Best Geelong suburbs for good public high schools
- #1 in Geelong suburbs where the most Greek is spoken at home
- #1 in Geelong suburbs with the deepest rental markets
- #1 in Where the Malaysian community lives in Geelong
- #1 in Geelong suburbs that suit young professionals
- #2 in Geelong suburbs where the most Hindi is spoken at home
- #2 in Sportiest Geelong suburbs
- #2 in Geelong suburbs with the best public transport
- #3 in Highest-yielding Geelong suburbs (units)
- #3 in Geelong suburbs where the most Italian is spoken at home
- #3 in Most walkable suburbs in Geelong
- #4 in Geelong's most educated suburbs
- #5 in Geelong suburbs with the largest Hindu community
- #9 in Best Geelong suburbs for first-home buyers (units)
- #9 in Where the Indian community lives in Geelong
- #10 in Geelong suburbs where the most residents moved from a capital city
- #13 in Geelong suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021
- #13 in Geelong suburbs with the largest Sikh community
- #15 in Geelong suburbs where seniors live
Nearby suburbs
Newtown VIC 3220
Geelong West VIC 3218
East Geelong VIC 3219
North Geelong VIC 3215
South Geelong VIC 3220
Drumcondra VIC 3215
Compare Geelong 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 Geelong
Is Geelong a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Geelong is high (99/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Geelong?
Geelong has no recorded bushfire history. Flood overlays cover a low share of it (37/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Geelong a good place to live?
Geelong has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of B (51/100), ranked against other VIC suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Geelong?
Geelong, VIC had a population of 5,811 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Geelong, VIC?
The postcode for Geelong, VIC is 3220.
How far is Geelong from Melbourne?
Geelong is 74 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 64 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Geelong?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Geelong was $86,840 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 Geelong?
The median advertised rent in Geelong is $640 a week for houses (31 listings) and $580 a week for units (57 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Geelong?
The median age of residents in Geelong was 40 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Geelong?
There are 5 schools inside the Geelong boundary: 2 at and 1 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Geelong walkable?
Geelong scores 90/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it exceptionally walkable. 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 Geelong?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Geelong (Geelong South) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 5.0 µg/m³ and PM10 of 20.5 µg/m³. That puts Geelong below the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Geelong?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Geelong, Point Wilson (16.4 km away), summer days average 22.8°C, winter nights 7.8°C, and 3 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Geelong?
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 Geelong belong to?
Geelong 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 Geelong?
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 Geelong?
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 Geelong in?
Geelong sits within the federal Division of Corio, currently held by Richard Marles (Australian Labor Party).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- 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.