Median house price
$995k
-5.2% change
VIC · Greater Geelong Council
Rippleside, 3215
Est. population · Jun 2025
890
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.8%
Median age
47
Median income
$2,103/wk
Employment rate
60.3%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$995,000
Languages at home
9.9%non-English
Most common: Macedonian, Italian, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Rippleside wears its coastal identity openly, a smaller community built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with family life visible on every street. Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away.
Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Reported crime has been falling recently. Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
Against similar coastal suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because growth momentum lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Rippleside snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$490/wk
Population (ERP)
890
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.4%
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
#27
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
60th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
52nd
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
46th
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
- 47.8/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 41% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2461st in Australia
- State rank
- 520th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #27 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #62 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
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)
- $995,000
- Median price change
- -5.2%
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
890(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · -0.8% over 5 years · 52th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- -0.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +4
- Change in 5 years
- -7
- Growth rank in VIC
- 52th 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 (~900), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 994
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $2,103
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 33 of 443
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,872
- Employment rate
- 60.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 284 / 107 / 17
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)
- 58
- Against the person
- 10
- Against property
- 33
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 65.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 99 residents
- State safety percentile
- 59.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -37%
Most common offence types
- A231 Fv Common Assault3
- B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary10
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle8
- B49 Other Theft5
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order5
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 998
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 46th
School list
- St Patrick's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1107 · 86th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 418 students · Top SEA quarter 41% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Ashby Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1059 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 259 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Hamlyn Views SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 998 · 46th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 150 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- Nelson Park SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 938 · 20th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 334 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- North Geelong Secondary CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 961 · 29th percentile · LBOTE 35% · 989 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- North Geelong Station/Princes Hwy
- North Geelong Station/Princess Highway Service Rd
- Vautier St/Princes Hwy
- Walker St/Princes Hwy
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
103 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 2 cafes · 1 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 14 swimming pools · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Strong local sport and recreation — 16 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 12/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 2.01
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 3.02
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.01
Food & drink(3)
- Bean & BaseCafe
159 Melbourne Road
- Food BoutiqueCafe
175 Melbourne Road
- No. 42Restaurant
42 Bell Parade
Shopping(2)
- Rippleside Supermarket + LiquorConvenience store
157 Melbourne Road
- Green Mumma OrganicsGreengrocer
169 Melbourne Road
Sport & outdoors(18)
- Rippleside ParkPark
- St Helens ParkPark
- Geelong Community Adventure PlaygroundPlayground
- Playground
- Swimming pool (14)
Transport(3)
3 bus stops
Other(26)
- Artwork
- Bbq (6)
- Bench (8)
- Bicycle Parking
- Reilly's U driveCar
127-135 Melbourne Road
- Majestic CaravansCaravan
- N. Gee ComputersComputer
155 Melbourne Road
- Drinking water (7)
- Compleat AnglerFishing
205 Melbourne Road
- Fitness Station
- Salon LeilaniHairdresser
183 Melbourne Road
- Waynes World of MusicMusic
171 Melbourne Road
- Parking (9)
- Picnic Table (15)
- St John the EvangelistPlace of worship
28-34 St David Street
- VF8 Geelong Coast GuardPolice
Swinburne Street
- Post Box
- Post Office and Rippleside NewsPost office
185 Melbourne Road
- Public toilets
- Rippleside Park Toilet BlockPublic toilets
- Recycling (2)
- Rippleside ShelterShelter
- Shelter (4)
- Shower
- Telephone
- Waste Basket (8)
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
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Rippleside ParkPark
- St Helens ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- St John the Evangelist
28-34 St David Street
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- McKellar Centre (1.7 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)
- 36
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 40.4
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
- 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 (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).
21 planning-related records
2021· 9 proposals
September 2021
- Change of Use to an Education Centre, Construct and Display Signage and a Reduction of Car Parking Requirements191 MELBOURNE ROAD RIPPLESIDE 3215No permit required
- Construction of Four (4) Dwellings and a Staged Four (4) Lot Subdivision5 BALMORAL CRESCENT RIPPLESIDE 3215Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
- Construction of Fifty-Three (53) Dwellings and Demolition and Alterations and Extension to a Building within a Heritage Overlay39 BAY STREET RIPPLESIDE 3215NOD issued by a delegate
July 2021
- Construction of a Shed in a Heritage Overlay36 Edward StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Partial Demolition, Alterations and Additions to a Dwelling in a Heritage Overlay58 Victoria StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Partial Demolition, Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling in the Heritage Overlay19 Walker StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Construction of a Carport in a Heritage Overlay18 Margaret StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use of the land to sell and consume liquor in association with a Cafe/Restaurant Liquor Licence and a Packaged Liquor Licence169 MELBOURNE ROAD RIPPLESIDE 3215Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Construction of five (5) Apartments in a Residential Building and Reduction of Car Parking (waiver of 1 visitor space)7 BALMORAL CRESCENT RIPPLESIDE 3215NOD issued by a delegate
2020· 12 proposals
December 2020
- (Rippleside Quay): Use of the land for a convenience shop, restricted recreation facility, marina and more than 98 dwellings, construction of buildings and works, including buildings that exceed the heights shown on the Comprehensive Development Plan), and variation of loading bay requirementsPARENT - 43 LIVERPOOL STREET RIPPLESIDE 3215Withdrawn
October 2020
- Partial Demolition, Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling8 Margaret StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Replacement roof and gutters to Existing Dwelling in a Heritage Overlay44 Margaret StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of Four (4) Dwellings and Four (4) Lot Subdivision and Creation of Carriageway EasementPARENT - 213 Melbourne RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Change of Use for an Education Centre39 Bay StreetNOD issued by a delegate
- (Rippleside Quay): Use of the land for a convenience shop, restricted recreation facility, marina and more than 98 dwellings, construction of buildings and works, including buildings that exceed the heights shown on the Comprehensive Development Plan), and variation of loading bay requirementsPARENT - 43 Liverpool StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Construction of Four (4) Dwellings and a Staged Four (4) Lot Subdivision5 Balmoral CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Staged Three (3) Lot Subdivision5 Balmoral CrescentWithdrawn
- Two (2) Lot Subdivision30-34 Bay StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Construct Two (2) Double Storey Dwellings and Two (2) Lot Subdivision1/1 Liverpool StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Partial Demolition, Alterations and Additions to an Existing Dwelling within a Heritage Overlay54 Victoria StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Multi Lot Subdivision20 Harbourside DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
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
- Corio
- Member of Parliament
- Richard MARLES (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,756
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 36.8%Labor 63.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.9 km away).
Coalition 32.9%Labor 67.1%
3.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Geelong West UpperLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Bell Park SouthLabor 65.0% · Coalition 35.0% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- Geelong WestLabor 66.6% · Coalition 33.4% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- Herne HillLabor 70.7% · Coalition 29.3% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- Manifold HeightsLabor 71.4% · Coalition 28.6% TPP (2025)2.4 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.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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.