Geelong West VIC 3218
Located in Victoria, Geelong West sits 73 km from Melbourne CBD, around 1 hour 5 minutes by car. The suburb has 7,345 residents, a median age of 36, and a median household income of $93,444 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 40% nationally. Population grew 5.4% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $350 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,996. The area shows high crime risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. Of 2 schools within the suburb boundary, 1 ranks above the state average, and walkability is high.
Is Geelong West a good suburb?
Geelong West scores a B (66/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit and community, weaker on safety.
Mixed results
2 schools · 1 above peer schools
Very walkable
Walkability 93/100 · 73.4 km · 63 min drive to Melbourne
Around the state median
Median $860K
High crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 84/100 · Flood 38/100
Advantaged
SEIFA decile 8/10 · median age 36 · 7,345 residents
Liveability Rating
66 / 100 · Ranked #207 in VICEach bar is Geelong West's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
How do you rate the liveability in Geelong West?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
66 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataGeelong West's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $860,000, roughly 11% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$860,000
4% below its 6 neighbours (median $895,750)
Based on 157 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 28 days — median across 71 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 33 sales $685K
- 3 bed 86 sales $860K
- 4 bed 34 sales $1.05M
Units
$430,000
22% below its 5 neighbours (median $552,500)
Based on 49 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 23 days — median across 23 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 1 bed 17 sales $305K
- 2 bed 27 sales $515K
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Geelong West are currently listed at around $925,000 on average. Based on 86 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$925K
86 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$472K
17 units listed in the last 6 months.
103 of the suburb's 3,188 dwellings (3.2%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Geelong West rent for around $558 a week on average, based on 44 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$558/wk
11% below its 3 neighbours (median $625/wk)
44 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$460/wk
12 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
56 rentals advertised against an estimated 1,313 rented homes (4.3%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025102 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 29% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3218.
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$558/week ($29,000 a year) on a $925,000 median
$460/week ($24,000 a year) on a $472,000 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
52 active Airbnb listings: 45 whole homes and 7 rooms. Whole homes are about 1.3% 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 West safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Geelong West sits in the high band, with 765 incidents recorded in 2026 — up about 10% on the prior year.
765 offences
9.8% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–202539 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.
Schools
Two schools serve Geelong West, and the cohort skews above peer-suburb performance. St Patrick's School leads the pack.
- • 677 students across 2 schools (avg 338)
- • Sectors: 1 Government, 1 Catholic
- • ICSEA 1059-1107, median 1083 (above the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: St Patrick's School (418 students)
Primary
Universities nearby
- 1.9 kmDeakin University, Geelong Waterfront CampusDeakin University · 55 courses
- 1.9 kmDeakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds CampusDeakin University · 93 courses
2.4% 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 West is exceptionally walkable on foot — at 93/100, daily errands don't require a car at all. Within the suburb there are 4 supermarkets, 6 parks and 41 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Geelong West.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 129.0 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 109.3 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 72.9 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 0 min
- Span of service
- 16.3 hours
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 West.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 51%
- Premises covered
- 4,462
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 18 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 West is home to about 7,300 residents, with a median age of 36, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $93,000 a year, with unemployment at 3.9%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
7,345
Median Age
36
Median Household Income
$93,444/yr
Census Median Rent
$350/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,996/mo
Avg Household Size
2.2
Median Personal Income
$50,648/yr
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Unoccupied Dwellings
10.3%
Total Dwellings
3,188
Owner-Occupier Rate
58.8%
Houses
73.7%
Rental Stress
19.5%
Mortgage Stress
25.6%
Work From Home
30.1%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
79 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 36 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 1,285 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 77.1%
- English Spoken at Home
- 82.6%
- Employment Rate
- 66.5%
- Completed Year 12
- 54.1%
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.
365 residents (5.0%) 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 (914) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (798).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 6,844 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
9% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (358 of 4,044).
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 3,734 people work here; 4,044 employed residents live here.
Roughly as many jobs as working residents (0.9 per resident). At least 4% of employed residents must work outside the suburb.
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 78%
- Commercial 12%
- Infrastructure and transport 7%
- Parks and recreation 3%
Rezoned since Oct 2025
- Commercial 2 Zone → Commercial 1 Zone · C433ggee, Sep 2026 6.4 ha
- Commercial 2 Zone → Residential Growth Zone · C433ggee, Sep 2026 5.2 ha
- Commercial 2 Zone → Mixed Use Zone · C433ggee, Sep 2026 2.7 ha
- General Residential Zone → Residential Growth Zone · C433ggee, Sep 2026 0.5 ha
and 2 smaller changes
Land in this suburb moved from one zone to another by a planning scheme amendment (Vicmap Planning, CC BY 4.0). Exhibited amendments are proposals and can change or lapse.
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, 4.4 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Avalon Airport, 17.0 kmDry climate — hot summers, cold winters with occasional frost.
- Elevation
- 33 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 996 m
- 2.3 km to a named beach
- 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.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
14 facilities within 5 km- 0.5 kmRail Passenger TransportTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Cumene (1-methylethylbenzene) · Xylenes (individual or mixed isomers)
- 1.7 kmHospitals (Except Psychiatric Hospitals)Top reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5)
- 2.3 kmFossil Fuel Electricity GenerationTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
- 2.5 kmWool ScouringTop reported: Carbon monoxide · Oxides of Nitrogen · Total Volatile Organic Compounds
- 3.0 kmGrain Mill Product ManufacturingTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10) · Carbon monoxide
EV adoption
In postcode 3218, 143 of 11,029 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.4% (263 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 3.7%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3218, 1,650 rooftop-solar systems totalling 10.4 MW have been installed since 2001, against 6,887 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 137 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.
11 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3218 in 2025-26, rank 82 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 132, in 2008-09.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
4 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb, 9 across postcode 3218.
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 $860,000 this is $110,000 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 West?
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 7,345 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 where the most people cycle to work
- #1 in Best Geelong suburbs for first-home buyers (units)
- #1 in Most walkable suburbs in Geelong
- #2 in The best beachside suburbs in Geelong
- #2 in Geelong suburbs where the most Greek is spoken at home
- #2 in Highest-yielding Geelong suburbs (units)
- #2 in Geelong suburbs that suit young professionals
- #3 in Geelong suburbs with the most apartments
- #3 in Best Geelong suburbs to rent in
- #3 in Geelong suburbs with the fastest EV adoption growth
- #4 in Geelong suburbs where the most Italian is spoken at home
- #4 in Sportiest Geelong suburbs
- #5 in Geelong's most educated suburbs
- #6 in Geelong suburbs with the highest EV adoption today
- #6 in Geelong suburbs with the deepest rental markets
- #7 in Where the Macedonian community lives in Geelong
- #8 in The most liveable suburbs in Geelong
- #9 in Geelong suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- #11 in Geelong suburbs where the most residents moved from a capital city
- #14 in Geelong suburbs with the largest Muslim community
- #14 in Geelong suburbs with the best public transport
- #15 in Best Geelong suburbs for first-home buyers (houses)
- #15 in Where the Indian community lives in Geelong
Nearby suburbs
Newtown VIC 3220
Hamlyn Heights VIC 3215
Geelong VIC 3220
North Geelong VIC 3215
Manifold Heights VIC 3218
Drumcondra VIC 3215
Compare Geelong West to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Geelong West
Is Geelong West a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Geelong West is high (84/100, 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 West?
Geelong West has no recorded bushfire history. Flood overlays cover a low share of it (38/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Geelong West a good place to live?
Geelong West has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of B (66/100), 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 West?
Geelong West, VIC had a population of 7,345 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Geelong West, VIC?
The postcode for Geelong West, VIC is 3218.
How far is Geelong West from Melbourne?
Geelong West is 73 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 63 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Geelong West?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Geelong West was $93,444 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 West?
The median advertised rent in Geelong West is $558 a week for houses (44 listings) and $460 a week for units (12 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Geelong West?
The median age of residents in Geelong West was 36 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Geelong West?
There are 2 schools inside the Geelong West boundary: 1 above and 1 at similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Geelong West walkable?
Geelong West scores 93/100 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 West?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Geelong West (Geelong South) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 5.0 µg/m³ and PM10 of 20.5 µg/m³. That puts Geelong West below the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Geelong West?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Geelong West, Avalon Airport (17 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 Geelong West?
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 West belong to?
Geelong West 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 West?
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 West?
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 West in?
Geelong West 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.