Norlane VIC 3214
Norlane sits 68 km from Melbourne CBD in Victoria, around 56 minutes by car. Census data records 8,682 residents with a median age of 37 and a median household income of $47,268 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the bottom 20% nationally. The suburb grew 4.5% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $250 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,200. Norlane is characterised by high crime risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. 4 schools sit within the suburb boundary, and walkability is high.
Is Norlane a good suburb?
Norlane scores a C (35/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit, weaker on schools, safety, and community.
Trailing peer schools
4 schools
Very walkable
Walkability 76/100 · 67.5 km · 56 min drive to Melbourne
Around the state median
Median $535K · Cheaper than 86% of VIC
High crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 95/100 · Flood 24/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 1/10 · median age 37 · 8,682 residents
Liveability Rating
35 / 100 · Ranked #661 in VICEach bar is Norlane's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
How do you rate the liveability in Norlane?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
35 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataNorlane's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $535,000, roughly 13% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$535,000
4% below its 6 neighbours (median $560,000)
Based on 285 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 25 days — median across 83 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 1 bed 11 sales $490K
- 2 bed 85 sales $484K
- 3 bed 148 sales $555K
- 4 bed 32 sales $629K
Units
$432,500
In line with its 5 neighbours (median $430,000)
Based on 36 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 26 days — median across 19 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 1 bed 7 sales $370K
- 2 bed 17 sales $435K
- 3 bed 8 sales $505K
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Norlane are currently listed at around $550,000 on average. Based on 91 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$550K
91 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$479K
13 units listed in the last 6 months.
104 of the suburb's 3,561 dwellings (2.9%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Norlane rent for around $450 a week on average, based on 68 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$450/wk
6% below its 3 neighbours (median $480/wk)
68 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$410/wk
17 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
85 rentals advertised against an estimated 2,019 rented homes (4.2%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025117 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 26% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3214.
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$450/week ($23,000 a year) on a $550,000 median
$410/week ($21,000 a year) on a $479,000 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
12 active Airbnb listings: 11 whole homes and 1 room. Whole homes are about 0.3% 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 Norlane safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Norlane sits in the high band, with 1,779 incidents recorded in 2026 — down roughly 15% on the prior year.
1,779 offences
14.8% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–202586 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 2 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
Four schools serve Norlane, and performance is broadly on par with peer-suburb schools.
- • 149 students in one school (avg 149)
- • Sectors: 2 Government, 1 Independent, 1 Catholic
- • Largest: St Thomas Aquinas School (149 students)
Primary
Combined
Universities nearby
- 6.5 kmDeakin University, Geelong Waterfront CampusDeakin University · 55 courses
- 6.5 kmDeakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds CampusDeakin University · 93 courses
0.9% 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
Norlane is very walkable on foot — at 76/100, most daily errands can be done on foot. Within the suburb there are 2 supermarkets, 10 parks and 4 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Norlane.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 167.5 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 141.4 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 97.4 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 0 min
- Span of service
- 16.6 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 Norlane.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 59%
- Premises covered
- 5,146
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 23 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. Every one of them ranks in that same decile, so the average describes the whole suburb.
Norlane is home to about 8,700 residents, with a median age of 37, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $47,000 a year, with unemployment at 10.5%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
8,682
Median Age
37
Median Household Income
$47,268/yr
Census Median Rent
$250/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,200/mo
Avg Household Size
2.2
Median Personal Income
$25,688/yr
Unemployment Rate
10.5%
Unoccupied Dwellings
10.5%
Total Dwellings
3,561
Owner-Occupier Rate
43.3%
Houses
84.8%
Rental Stress
27.5%
Mortgage Stress
30.5%
Work From Home
9.2%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
658 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 80 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 1,928 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 62.6%
- English Spoken at Home
- 66.7%
- Employment Rate
- 40.1%
- Completed Year 12
- 29.0%
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.
457 residents (5.3%) 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.
7.4% of residents (608) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (537).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 8,196 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
3% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (88 of 2,923).
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 2,807 people work here; 2,923 employed residents live here.
Roughly as many jobs as working residents (1.0 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 65%
- Industrial 14%
- Parks and recreation 9%
- Infrastructure and transport 8%
- Commercial 3%
- Other and special use 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, 9.2 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Avalon Airport, 13.0 kmDry climate — hot summers, cold winters with occasional frost.
- Elevation
- 20 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 1.7 km
- 4.9 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
17 facilities within 5 km- 1.3 km
- 1.7 kmPort and Water Transport Terminal OperationsTop reported: Fluoride compounds · Manganese & compounds · Cadmium & compounds
- 1.7 kmWater Passenger TransportTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Sulfur dioxide · Carbon monoxide
- 2.0 kmFertiliser ManufacturingTop reported: Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10) · Fluoride compounds · Sulfur dioxide
- 2.0 kmMetal Coating and FinishingTop reported: Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10) · Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide
EV adoption
In postcode 3214, 44 of 17,273 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.3% (389 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.5%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3214, 2,985 rooftop-solar systems totalling 15.5 MW have been installed since 2001, against 10,049 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 139 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.
1 first-home grant was paid in postcode 3214 in 2025-26, rank 213 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 283, in 2001-02.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
1 mortgage broker is registered in this suburb, 5 across postcode 3214.
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 $535,000 this is under 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 2026-10-26 — 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 Ella George Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ella George ALP | 50.3% | 66.2% | 33.9% |
| 2018 | John Eren ALP | 57.9% | 69.1% | 30.9% |
| 2014 | John Eren ALP | 55.9% | 67.1% | 32.9% |
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 Norlane?
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 8,682 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 Best Geelong suburbs for first-home buyers (houses)
- #1 in Geelong suburbs with the largest Muslim community
- #1 in Geelong suburbs where the most Urdu is spoken at home
- #2 in Where the Afghan community lives in Geelong
- #2 in Best Geelong suburbs to rent in
- #2 in Highest-yielding Geelong suburbs (houses)
- #2 in Where the Pakistani community lives in Geelong
- #2 in Where the Serbian community lives in Geelong
- #2 in Geelong suburbs where the most Vietnamese is spoken at home
- #4 in Best Geelong suburbs for first-home buyers (units)
- #4 in Geelong suburbs where the most Hindi is spoken at home
- #4 in Geelong suburbs with the deepest rental markets
- #4 in Geelong suburbs where the most Punjabi is spoken at home
- #5 in Best Geelong suburbs for good private primary schools
- #5 in Where the Macedonian community lives in Geelong
- #5 in Geelong suburbs with the largest Sikh community
- #6 in Best Geelong suburbs for good public high schools
- #6 in Highest-yielding Geelong suburbs (units)
- #6 in Where the Indian community lives in Geelong
- #6 in Geelong suburbs with the best public transport
- #8 in Geelong suburbs with the most apartments
- #11 in The best beachside suburbs in Geelong
- #12 in Best Geelong suburbs for good public primary schools
- #12 in Geelong suburbs with the largest Hindu community
- #13 in Geelong suburbs with the biggest house blocks
Nearby suburbs
Corio VIC 3214
Bell Park VIC 3215
Bell Post Hill VIC 3215
North Geelong VIC 3215
Lovely Banks VIC 3213
North Shore VIC 3214
Compare Norlane 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 Norlane
Is Norlane a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Norlane is high (95/100, 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 Norlane?
Norlane has no recorded bushfire history. Flood overlays cover a low share of it (24/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Norlane a good place to live?
Norlane has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of C (35/100), 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 Norlane?
Norlane, VIC had a population of 8,682 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Norlane, VIC?
The postcode for Norlane, VIC is 3214.
How far is Norlane from Melbourne?
Norlane is 68 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 56 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Norlane?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Norlane was $47,268 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 Norlane?
The median advertised rent in Norlane is $450 a week for houses (68 listings) and $410 a week for units (17 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Norlane?
The median age of residents in Norlane was 37 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Norlane?
There are 4 schools inside the Norlane boundary: 1 at similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Norlane walkable?
Norlane scores 76/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very 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 Norlane?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Norlane (Geelong South) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 5.0 µg/m³ and PM10 of 20.5 µg/m³. That puts Norlane below the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Norlane?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Norlane, Avalon Airport (13 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 Norlane?
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 Norlane belong to?
Norlane 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 Norlane?
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 Norlane?
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 Norlane in?
Norlane 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.