Overall score
Geelong
59.5/100
Manifold Heights
50.7/100
Geelong for retirees and beach lifestyle; Manifold Heights for investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Geelong
59.5/100
Manifold Heights
50.7/100
Crime rate
Geelong
694.2 / 1k
Manifold Heights
65.1 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Geelong
1,412
Manifold Heights
138
Population
Geelong
5,811
Manifold Heights
2,681
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Geelong | Manifold Heights |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 59.5/100 | 50.7/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 58.0/100 | 55.4/100 |
| Crime rate | 694.2 / 1k | 65.1 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 10 | 13 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 13 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 51 | 17 |
| Walkability | 100.0/100 | 33.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 1,412 | 138 |
| Planning activity | 222 | 15 |
| Green cover | 5.1% | 0.2% |
| Population | 5,811 | 2,681 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 9/10 |
Put side by side, Geelong is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone, and Manifold Heights is a hillside mid-sized suburb with greener streets and a quieter pace. Where Geelong is shaped by the coast, Manifold Heights offers a more landlocked suburban rhythm.
Geelong tends to lead on housing affordability, parks and reserves, and public transport access, while Manifold Heights stands out for a quieter safety profile, schools and education options, and a calmer planning outlook.
On balance, people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, and value-focused buyers are more likely to prefer Geelong, while Manifold Heights remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.