Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Geelong West suburb profile
Geelong West, VIC · Postcode 3218
This Geelong West suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Geelong West, VIC (postcode 3218). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Geelong West with nearby suburbs.
Geelong West at a glance
Population
7,345
Median rent
$350/wk
Household income
$1,797/wk
Median age
36
Geelong West trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+9.9% over 10 years
Population
7,345
was 6,966 in 2016
+379 · +5.4%
Median rent
$350/wk
was $295/wk in 2016
+$55 · +18.6%
Household income
$1,797/wk
was $1,373/wk in 2016
+$424 · +30.9%
Median age
36
was 35 in 2016
+1 · +2.9%
Dig deeper: Geelong West population growth · Geelong West then and now
Geelong West vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Geelong West, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-10.4% vs area
- Geelong West$350/wk
- Nearby$340/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
-7.2% vs area
- Geelong West$1,797/wk
- Nearby$1,801/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
-7.7% vs area
- Geelong West36
- Nearby37.5
- Melbourne39
Personal income
+15.5% vs area
- Geelong West$974/wk
- Nearby$963.5/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Geelong West compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Geelong West sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 71,033.8
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 81,040.3
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2964.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 91,073.9
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Geelong West on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Geelong West, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Geelong West people
- Population
- 7,345
- Median age
- 36
- Born overseas
- 19.1%
- Average household size
- 2.2
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Geelong West income
- Median household income
- $1,797/wk
- Median personal income
- $974/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Geelong West housing
- Median rent
- $350/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,996/mo
- Separate houses
- 67%
- Flats & apartments
- 15%
- Owned outright
- 25%
- Mortgaged
- 27.2%
- Rented
- 36.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 9.4%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Geelong West work
- Employment to population
- 66.5%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.9%
- Year 12 or above
- 67.4%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3218)
Compare Geelong West with nearby suburbs
Geelong West in numbers
Geelong West had 7,345 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 280th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 36, 12% below the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.2 people. 19.1% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 25% own their home outright, 27.2% are paying a mortgage, 36.6% rent. Separate houses make up 67% of dwellings, with 15% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $350/wk, close to the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,797/wk, close to the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.9%. 67.4% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 7 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 5.4% (from 6,966 to 7,345). Median rent moved from $295/wk to $350/wk (+18.6%).
Geelong West suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Geelong West, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Geelong West was $350/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Geelong West, VIC?
- Geelong West had 7,345 residents at the 2021 Census, up 5.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Geelong West?
- Median household income in Geelong West was $1,797/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Geelong West?
- 36.6% of occupied homes in Geelong West were rented, 25% were owned outright and 27.2% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Geelong West suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Geelong West. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Melbourne