North Geelong - Bell Park

Population growth drivers in North Geelong - Bell Park are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

North Geelong - Bell Park's population is 15,786 as of May 2026. This figure reflects a decrease of 9 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,795. The change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 15,727 in June 2025 and an additional 345 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 719 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made through weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the area is projected to increase by 3,258 persons, reflecting a total increase of 20.2% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in North Geelong - Bell Park according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

North Geelong - Bell Park has had approximately 68 dwellings approved annually for development. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 344 homes received approval, with an additional 20 approved in FY26 so far. The population has declined recently, suggesting that new supply is meeting demand and providing good options for buyers.

The average value of new homes being built is $537,000, indicating a focus on premium developments. This financial year alone, $93.9 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating strong commercial growth momentum. Compared to the rest of Victoria, North Geelong - Bell Park shows significantly reduced construction activity, with 58.0% fewer approvals per person than the regional average. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. Recent construction trends show a shift towards compact living, with 33.0% detached houses and 67.0% townhouses or apartments approved. This marks a significant change from the current housing pattern of 84.0% houses, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs.

With around 313 people being added per approval, North Geelong - Bell Park is considered a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to add approximately 3,196 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and price increases.

North Geelong - Bell Park has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 37 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Wathaurong Dreaming Project - Morgan Street Redevelopment, Northern Geelon Industrial Precinct, 340-344 Melbourne Road Retail Redevelopment, and Geelong Hydrogen Hub. 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates North Geelong - Bell Park faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

North Geelong-Bell Park has an unemployment rate of 6.3% as of December 2025. There are 7,662 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 2.6% higher than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation stands at 61.0%, on par with Regional Vic.

According to Census responses, 18.9% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Retail trade has a particularly high employment share of 1.2 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.0%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.8, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities.

Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force decreased by 0.9% and employment declined by 1.3%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Vic.'s employment fell by 0.6%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to North Geelong-Bell Park suggests local employment should grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows North Geelong - Bell Park SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $55,952 and an average of $67,449. These figures align with national averages. Compared to Regional Vic., the median was higher by $4,998 and the average by $4,721. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $61,335 (median) and $73,938 (average). Census 2021 income data ranks North Geelong - Bell Park modestly in household, family, and personal incomes, between the 26th and 27th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 29.9% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting regional patterns where 30.3% fall within this range. After housing costs, 85.0% of income remains, ranking at the 28th percentile nationally.

North Geelong - Bell Park is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

North Geelong - Bell Park's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 83.9% houses and 16.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Regional Vic. had 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in North Geelong - Bell Park was 40.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.7% and rented ones at 30.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,560, higher than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure was $340, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, North Geelong - Bell Park's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,560 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $340 compared to the national figure of $375.

North Geelong - Bell Park features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.6% of all households, including 25.4% couples with children, 26.6% couples without children, and 12.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households at 31.1% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in North Geelong - Bell Park aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 22.4%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 34.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 24.0%. Educational participation is high, with 26.1% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.4% in primary, 7.0% in secondary, and 4.3% in tertiary education.

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

North Geelong - Bell Park has 93 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops are serviced by 10 individual routes, collectively providing 2,152 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 240 meters from the nearest transport stop. The majority of residents commute outward due to the area's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 90%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 18.9% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 307 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 23 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

North Geelong - Bell Park faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The area has approximately 53% private health cover compared to Regional Vic.'s 50.5%. Mental health issues impact 9.7% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.9%. About 64.5% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 22.6% of residents aged 65 and over (3,561 people), which is lower than Regional Vic.'s 23.9%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in North Geelong - Bell Park was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

North Geelong-Bell Park has a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 29.3% of its population born overseas and 28.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in North Geelong-Bell Park, making up 57.4% of people, compared to 47.3% across Regional Vic.. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (21.7%), English (21.1%), and Other (10.6%).

Notably, Croatian (7.1%) is overrepresented in North Geelong-Bell Park compared to the regional average of 0.4%. Similarly, Polish (1.7%) and Serbian (1.4%) groups are also more prevalent than their respective regional averages of 0.5% and 0.2%.

North Geelong - Bell Park's median age exceeds the national pattern

North Geelong - Bell Park's median age is 41 years, which is lower than Regional Victoria's average of 43 but higher than Australia's national average of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 16.5% of the population, higher than Regional Vic.'s percentage. However, the 5-14 cohort makes up only 8.8%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25-34 age group grew from 14.5% to 16.5%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 11.7% to 13.4%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 10.4% to 8.8%, and the 65-74 group fell from 12.1% to 10.6%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in North Geelong - Bell Park's age profile by 2041. The 25-34 cohort is expected to grow by 46%, adding 1,191 residents to reach a total of 3,793. Conversely, the number of residents aged 75-84 is projected to decrease by 94.