Barwon Heads is a coastal town in Victoria, in Greater Geelong Council. It is close to the Barwon River and the Murtnaghurt Lagoon.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Local school ICSEA scores are among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, and university qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, with university qualifications 80% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on higher housing costs and limited health access, with median house prices 85% above the peer median.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising school quality and socio-economic advantage over lower housing costs.
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.
Strengths and weaknesses
Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in Victoria (105)
Strengths
Local school ICSEA scores are among the highest in the peer group
Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Housing is expensive relative to comparable places
Health-facility access is relatively limited
What stands out
Barwon Heads Beach
Thirteenth Beach
Barwon River
Murtnaghurt Lagoon
Point Flinders
Lake Connewarre
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★★★
Professionals★★★☆☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★☆☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Barwon Heads compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.56M
+3.5% change
Median rent
$570/wk
Population (ERP)
4,807
+9.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
26.4%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#8
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Crime rate
29th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
99th
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
16%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
89th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
63.7/100 — Good
State standing
Top 4% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
248th in Australia
State rank
46th in VIC
Peer rank
#8 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#11 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
95%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
All types (Sep 2025)
$570
Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$1,557,500
Median price change
+3.5%
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
+9.5% annual · +46.7% over 5 years · 99th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+9.5%
5-year growth
+46.7%
Change in 1 year
+417
Change in 5 years
+1,531
Growth rank in VIC
99th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~7,500), extrapolated at +9.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
4,353
Median age
46
Median household income / week
$2,226
Dwelling vacancy
26.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
559 of 2,114
Median monthly mortgage
$2,184
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$450
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
49% / 35% / 16%
Employment rate
56.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
30.6% / 0.4% / 50.7%
Walked or cycled to work
3.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,416 / 94 / 44 (+ 3 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
38.3% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 12.5% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified38.3% · 29.2% VIC
Diploma qualified12% · 9.8% VIC
Trade / vocational12.5% · 14.2% VIC
Year 12 or below37.2% · 46.8% VIC
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce18.6%
Health17.1%
Education14.8%
Society and culture14.4%
Engineering and related technologies9.9%
Architecture and building7.7%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$61,481
79th percentile in VIC · +5% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$65,982
76th percentile in VIC · +1% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
17.0%
83rd percentile in VIC · +23% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$193,163
99th percentile in VIC · +205% vs Australia
Residents with business income
12.0%
56th percentile in VIC · +15% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3227 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
3,567
Taxpayers reporting net rent
621
Median net rent
-$1,184
Taxpayers reporting business income
431
Taxable income vs state median
+15%
Salary / wages vs state median
+13%
Rental investment vs state median
+31%
Super vs state median
+140%
Business income vs state median
+9%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in VIC, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
1.7% speak a language other than English at home; 10.2% born overseas
Language at home
3,993 English only · 68 other
Non-English at home
1.7%
Born overseas
411 (10.2%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
22 (0.5%)
Australian citizens
3,969
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
3
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Japanese4 · 40%
Greek3 · 30%
Italian3 · 30%
Religion
52.4%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 52.4%, while Christianity accounts for 37.8%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
52.4%
38.8%
Christianity
37.8%
40.9%
Other / not stated
9.7%
20.3%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
16.3%
20.5%
Anglican
12.4%
6.5%
Uniting Church
4%
2.4%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
159
Against the person
20
Against property
100
Rate per 1,000 residents
33.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 218 residents
State crime-rate percentile
29.1th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-26.7%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
49
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
10.19
Most common offence types
B21 Criminal Damage13
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle18
B43 Steal From A Retail Store8
B49 Other Theft19
B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception8
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Barwon Heads Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1120 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 416 students · Top SEA quarter 48% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Barwon Heads Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Bellarine Secondary CollegeGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Ocean Grove Primary SchoolGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
Victorian designated neighbourhood zones — Victorian Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Great for outdoor family life — 10 parks mapped in suburb, 6 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 25 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 12 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
92/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.92
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
2.53
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.3
Food & drink(11)
Bakery Bar LoungeBar
Annie's Provedore & Produce StoreCafe
Bacman OrangeCafe
Shack Dining Co.Cafe
Starfish BakeryCafe
Australian Ice Cream CompanyFast food
Barwon Heads Fish & ChipsFast food
Gilligan's Fish & ChipsFast food
Kebabs on the CoastFast food
Barwon Heads HotelPub
At The HeadsRestaurant
Jetty Road
Shopping(2)
Barwon Heads General StoreSupermarket
Everyday services(3)
Bendigo BankBank
APCOPetrol station
41 Geelong Road
Barwon Heads LPOPost office
70 Hitchcock Avenue
Community(1)
Barwon Heads Primary SchoolSchool
3A Golf Links Road
Health & services(1)
Barwon Heads PharmacyPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(35)
BBQ (2)
Beach (3)
Thirteenth BeachBeach
Boat ramp
Drinking water
Barwon Bluff Marine SanctuaryNature reserve
Barwon Heads Community ParkPark
Moonah ParkPark
Park (5)
Seabanks EstatePark
The MewsPark
Barwon Community PlaygroundPlayground
Barwon TennisPlayground
Frank Ellis ReservePlayground
Playground (2)
Seabanks Estate PlaygroundPlayground
BARWON HEADS HITCHCOCK TOILETSPublic toilets
Barwon Heads Reserve Cricket ToiletPublic toilets
Barwon Heads Reserve ToiletPublic toilets
BHEADS RES TOILET (RIVER END)Public toilets
Public toilets
Barwon Heads Bowling ClubSports field
Barwon Heads Football ClubSports field
Barwon Heads SkateparkSports field
H. Blyth FieldSports field
R. T. Fuller OvalSports field
Sports field
Camping & holiday parks(2)
Barwon Heads Caravan ParkCaravan park
Barwon Heads Caravan ParkCaravan park
1 Ewing Blyth Drive
Places to stay(1)
Seahaven VillageMotel
Transport(2)
2 bus stops
Other(17)
Beach BooksBooks
Car wash
Barwon Heads CFA Fire StationFire station
Peppercorn Fine FoodsFood
Barwon Heads Community Arts GardenGarden
Barwon Heads & District Pony ClubHorse Riding
FrithHouseware
Barwon Heads News Lotto & GiftsNewsagent
Cylinders Car ParkParking
Parking (11)
All Saints Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
61 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads
Barwon Heads Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
Post Box
Shelter (5)
Telephone
Rasta Surf Co.Water Sports
Tonik Surf CentreWater Sports
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
All Saints Anglican Church
61 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads
Barwon Heads Uniting Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Usual max / min
26° / 12°
Rainfall
128 mm · ~16 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
21° / 10°
Rainfall
124 mm · ~16 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
149 mm · ~19 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
19° / 8°
Rainfall
182 mm · ~23 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
109 planning-related records
2021· 40 proposals
September 2021
Construction of Two (2) Dwellings and a Front Fence
32 OZONE ROAD BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
Extension of a Dwelling and Construction of a Fence in a Special Building Overlay
20 GLYNDON COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Single Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay
34 COTTESLOE DRIVE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an Outbuilding and Garage
13 GOLIGHTLY STREET BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Alterations and Additions to a Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay
14 MULGOA COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Swimming Pool in a Special Building Overlay
4 CHANTICLEER PLACE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension and Addition to an Existing Dwelling in an SBO and DDO
18 HOPGOOD PLACE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works Associated with an Existing Dwelling
95 CARR STREET BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Dwelling
1-3 GEORGE STREET BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works Associated with an Existing Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay
69 TAITS ROAD BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
Construction of a Dwelling
126 HITCHCOCK AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Dwelling
12 PUNT ROAD BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Dwelling within an Environmental Significance Overlay
3/36 SARATOGA AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Dwelling
10 SEAVIEW AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use and Development of a Cafe and Reduction of Car Parking
64 HITCHCOCK AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
Extension to Existing Outbuildings
8 CURLEW COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2021
Construction of a Dwelling
38A WATTLE BIRD CRESCENT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Dwelling
20 BARWON TERRACE BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Front Fence
1C Grandview ParadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Fence on the Front Boundary
6 REID STREET BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings & Works Associated with an Extension to Existing Dwelling
25 Hopgood PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Use of Land for Sale and Consumption of Liquor (Restaurant and Cafe Licence)
64 HITCHCOCK AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling
5/45 HITCHCOCK AVENUE BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
Construction of a second dwelling and 2 lot subdivision
25-27 ARALUEN COURT BARWON HEADS 3227Lapsed
June 2021
Construction of a Fence Associated with an Existing Dwelling
6 River ParadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Front Fence
39 Margate StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling
3/45 Hitchcock AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a dwelling on a lot less than 300m2 and works on land affected by a Design and Development Overlay (DDO41)
96 GOLF LINKS ROAD BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
Construction of a Dwelling
28 Von Nida AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Additions to a Dwelling and Deck within a Special Building Overlay
37 Reid StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Dwelling
3 Chanticleer PlacePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of Two (2) Dwellings
31 WATTLE BIRD CRESCENT BARWON HEADS 3227Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of an Outbuilding
31 George StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling in a Special Building Overlay
12 Tremont CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Building and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling
3 Cosham CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of Two (2) Dwellings
1 COTTESLOE DRIVE BARWON HEADS 3227NOD issued by a delegate
April 2021
Alterations and Additions to Dwelling
6 Tremont CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Construction of a Fence
17 Cottesloe DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Extension to an Existing Dwelling
15 Mulgoa CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Dwelling and Swimming Pool in a Special Building Overlay
16 Coogee CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Heritage listings as established streetscape
Data sources & freshness
State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping. Flood cover uses inundation overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
Federal electorate
Corangamite
Member of Parliament
Libby COKER (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
114,123
Turnout (2025)
94.7%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+0.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 42.0%Labor 58.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.9 km away).
Coalition 38.1%Labor 61.9%
3.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Barwon HeadsLabor 61.5% · Coalition 38.5% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
Ocean Grove WestLabor 62.9% · Coalition 37.1% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
Ocean GroveLabor 69.6% · Coalition 30.4% TPP (2025)3.7 km away
Ocean Grove SouthLabor 66.4% · Coalition 33.6% TPP (2025)4.8 km away
WallingtonLabor 49.9% · Coalition 50.1% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)