Geelong

Population growth drivers in Geelong are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Geelong's population was approximately 13,699 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 195 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,504. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures: 13,736 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,068 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 92.4% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Future population trends forecast significant growth in the top quartile of Australia's regional areas by 2041, with Geelong expected to grow by 4,012 persons, reflecting a total gain of 29.6% over the 17 years based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Geelong among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Geelong has seen approximately 120 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 600 homes. As of FY-26, seven approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were registered between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction value for new properties is $426,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment.

In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $721.9 million, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Geelong has 17.0% less new development per person but ranks in the 91st percentile nationally. Recent periods have seen increased development activity. New development consists of 13.0% detached dwellings and 87.0% attached dwellings, marking a shift from existing housing patterns (currently 67.0% houses). Geelong has around 99 people per dwelling approval, indicating low density characteristics.

By 2041, Geelong is projected to add 4,049 residents, with construction maintaining pace with growth. However, increasing population may lead to growing competition among buyers.

Geelong has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 47 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones include Barwon Women's and Children's Hospital, Cunningham Place, Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, and Geelong Regional Sports Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Geelong has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Geelong has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.0%.

As of September 2025, 7825 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.2% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation stands at 63.4%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Employment in Geelong is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, employment in health care & social assistance is 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.7% compared to the regional average of 7.5%. The area hosts more jobs than residents with a ratio of 2.7 workers per resident, functioning as an employment hub attracting workers from nearby areas. Between June 2024 and May 2025, labour force decreased by 0.5% while employment also fell by 0.5%, keeping unemployment broadly stable. In comparison, Rest of Vic. saw employment fall by 0.7% with a marginal rise in unemployment. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National forecasts indicate employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Geelong's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Geelong SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $53,582 and an average level of $76,010 in financial year 2022. These figures are higher than national averages and compare to $48,741 and $60,693 across Rest of Vic., respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest approximately $60,098 (median) and $85,253 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 57th percentile ($843 weekly), while household income sits at the 37th percentile. Income analysis shows that 29.5% of the population, equating to 4,041 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 30.3% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Geelong displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Geelong's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.1% houses and 32.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 84.6% houses and 15.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Geelong was at 31.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.3% and rented ones at 41.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,703, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,712. Median weekly rent in Geelong was $340, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $335. Nationally, Geelong's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Geelong features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 56.1% of all households, including 20.0% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 43.9%, with lone person households at 37.2% and group households comprising 6.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Geelong exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Geelong has a higher educational attainment compared to broader areas. 37.0% of its residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, surpassing the Rest of Vic's 21.7% and the SA3 area's 27.3%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 23.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.9%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 31.2% of residents holding them – advanced diplomas account for 11.3% and certificates for 19.9%. Educational participation is high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.0% in tertiary education, 7.1% in primary education, and 5.1% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Geelong has 124 active public transport stops, served by a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are connected by 37 individual routes, offering a total of 9,756 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 178 meters to the nearest stop.

The service frequency is high, with an average of 1,393 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 78 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Geelong is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Geelong faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 57% (~7,822 people) of Geelong's total population has private health cover, compared to 52.7% across the rest of Victoria.

Mental health issues affect 10.6% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.6%. A total of 66.3% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.9% across the rest of Victoria. As of 2016, 17.2% (2,363 people) of residents are aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors in Geelong are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Geelong records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Geelong's cultural diversity aligns with its wider region, as 85.6% are citizens, 81.0% were born in Australia, and 87.3% speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 45.0%. Judaism is slightly overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups are English (27.7%), Australian (24.5%), and Irish (11.4%). Notably, Dutch (1.8%) and Croatian (0.9%) populations are higher than the regional averages of 2.0% and 1.5%, respectively, while Scottish population is slightly higher at 9.0%.

Geelong's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Geelong as of 2021 is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 but closely aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Vic., Geelong has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (21.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.3%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Geelong's median age decreased by 1.3 years, from 40 to 39, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Key changes in age distributions show that the 25-34 age group grew from 17.6% to 21.0%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 12.2% to 13.4%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.2% to 10.4%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 13.7% to 12.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Geelong's age profile. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to increase markedly, growing by 1,838 people (64%) from 2,871 to 4,710. Meanwhile, the number of residents aged 55-64 is projected to fall by 54.