Median house price
$601k
-11% change
VIC · Greater Geelong Council
Indented Head, 3223
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,580
Growth (1 yr)
+2.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+22.4%
Median age
59
Median income
$1,201/wk
Employment rate
41.6%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$600,800
Languages at home
6.7%non-English
Most common: Greek, Croatian, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Indented Head wears its coastal identity openly, a smaller community built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. With fewer amenities on hand, neighbouring suburbs do much of the shopping and service heavy lifting.
Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here.
Reported crime has been falling recently. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Versus similar coastal suburbs, the suburb reads around average on desirability, chiefly because growth momentum trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Indented Head snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$490/wk
Population (ERP)
1,580
+2.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
51.5%
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
#30
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
17th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
93rd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
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
- 46.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 45% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2740th in Australia
- State rank
- 561st in VIC
- Peer rank
- #30 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #66 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 71%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $490
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $600,800
- Median price change
- -11%
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025; Sep 2025 (council median) · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
1,580(June 2025)
+2.6% annual · +22.4% over 5 years · 93th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.6%
- 5-year growth
- +22.4%
- Change in 1 year
- +40
- Change in 5 years
- +289
- Growth rank in VIC
- 93th 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 (~1,900), extrapolated at +3.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,391
- Median age
- 59
- Median household income / week
- $1,201
- Dwelling vacancy
- 51.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 630 of 1,223
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 41.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 576 / 14 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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)
- 36
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 19
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 22.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 232 residents
- State safety percentile
- 17.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -23.4%
Most common offence types
- A232 Non-Fv Common Assault2
- B21 Criminal Damage4
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle4
- B49 Other Theft5
- D12 Prohibited And Controlled Weapons Offences6
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Public transport
22 public transport stops in this suburb
- 248 The Esplanade
- Brett Dr/The Esplanade
- David St/The Esplanade
- Lewis St/The Esplanade
- Pike St/The Esplanade
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
19 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
5 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 0 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 22 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Sport & outdoors(6)
- Anderson ReservePlayground
- Grieves Avenue ReservePlayground
- Playground
- Point George ReservePlayground
- Taylor ReservePlayground
- Indented Head Boat Club & Community HallSports centre
Entertainment(1)
- Ozone Paddle Steamer Ship WreckViewpoint
Other(8)
- Beachlea Boat HireBoat Rental
- Anderson ReserveCaravan Site
- Batman ReserveCaravan Site
- Taylor ReserveCaravan Site
- Information
- Indented Head Genaral StorePost office
- Public toilets
- Shelter (5)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Barwon Health - Newcomb (27.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 45
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 28.5
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.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
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
- 24° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 155 mm · ~19 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 186 mm · ~23 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 203 mm · ~25 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 207 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
14 planning-related records
2021· 9 proposals
September 2021
- Construction of a Dwelling on a Lot Less than 300m22/493 HOOD ROAD INDENTED HEAD 3223Refusal issued by a delegate
July 2021
- Drainage Works within a Heritage Overlay326B The EsplanadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling194 THE ESPLANADE INDENTED HEAD 3223NOD issued by a delegate
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings11 FLINDERS STREET INDENTED HEAD 3223NOD issued by a delegate
- Removal of Vegetation81-99 IBBOTSON STREET INDENTED HEAD 3223Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings and Two (2) Lot Subdivision745 BATMAN ROAD INDENTED HEAD 3223NOD issued by a delegate
March 2021
- Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling within a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay224 The EsplanadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Extension to an Existing Dwelling exceeding 7.5 metres in Height above Natural Ground Level3 Whiting AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of Two (2) Dwellings and Create Access to a Road in a Road Zone, Category 1403 HOOD ROAD INDENTED HEAD 3223NOD issued by a delegate
2020· 5 proposals
December 2020
- Construction of a Second Dwelling, Buildings/Works to the Existing Dwelling and a Two Lot Subdivision1 Valda AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Demolition of Existing Tennis Court and Buildings and Works to Construct a Replacement Tennis Court, Associated Fencing and Installation of Two Basket Ball Towers326B The EsplanadePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Extension to an Existing Dwelling and Construction of a New Garage on a Lot Less than 300sqm3/15 Gregory CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision356 The EsplanadeNOD issued by a delegate
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision81-99 Ibbotson StreetNOD issued by a delegate
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard 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 19.7 km away).
Coalition 41.0%Labor 59.0%
1.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- PortarlingtonLabor 56.3% · Coalition 43.7% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
- St LeonardsLabor 60.7% · Coalition 39.3% TPP (2025)4.3 km away
- DrysdaleLabor 62.8% · Coalition 37.2% TPP (2025)11.8 km away
- Clifton SpringsLabor 59.2% · Coalition 40.8% TPP (2025)13.2 km away
- QueenscliffLabor 64.0% · Coalition 36.0% TPP (2025)15.1 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.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Greater Geelong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.