Moving to Lara VIC 3212
What the official numbers say about living in Lara — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Budget around $678,000 for a median house or $460,000 for a unit (based on 2024 sales). Sale prices moved up about 99% between 2014 and 2024.
Renting? The census median is $370 a week, against a median household income of $1,969 a week.
About 77% of homes are owner-occupied and 22% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Lara grew 37% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (13,846 → 19,014 people).
Around 77% of households are families, averaging 2.7 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, India, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Punjabi, Tagalog, Vietnamese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Lara scores a little above the national average (decile 6 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (76% of workers), while 21% work from home.
Nearest train station: Lara, 2.2 km east.
Nearest airport: Avalon Airport, 7.5 km east.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 55 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 4 schools · 10 cafes & restaurants · 3 supermarkets · 10 parks — see them all on the Lara profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St Anthony's Primary School 600 m · Lara Lake Primary School 1.3 km · Lara Primary School 1.9 km · Lara Secondary College 1.9 km
Groceries: Asia Verse 1.6 km · Woolworths 1.7 km · Coles 1.9 km
Parks and reserves: Chirnside Park 50 m · Six Ways Bell Park 700 m · Lara Lake Wetlands 1.4 km · Bunjil Playground Lara Lakes Park 1.5 km · Lara Lakes Park 1.8 km · Austin Park 1.9 km · Flinders Memorial Park 2 km · Lara Reserve 2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Lara, most often seen first: Chestnut Teal · Little Raven · Magpie Goose · Dusky Moorhen · Cape Barren Goose · House Sparrow.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Lara, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lara here | 19,014 | $678,000 | 6/10 | 5% |
| Corio | 15,497 | $488,000 | 1/10 | 6% |
| North Shore | 325 | — | 3/10 | 3% |
| Norlane | 8,682 | $462,000 | 1/10 | 6% |
| Lovely Banks | 2,782 | $758,500 | 4/10 | 2% |
| Bell Post Hill | 5,083 | $670,000 | 3/10 | 4% |
| Bell Park | 5,602 | $620,000 | 3/10 | 5% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Greater Geelong — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Corio — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3212 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Lara profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
A house in Lara has a median sale price of $678,000 (2024 sales), and a unit $460,000. Renters pay a median $370 a week, and about 22% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 37% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 13,846 people to 19,014. It sits about 55 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line, and Lara station is roughly 2.2 km away. Local government is Greater Geelong council, and the federal seat is Corio.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Lara vs Corio · Lara vs Norlane.
Nearby guides: Corio · North Shore · Norlane · Lovely Banks · Bell Post Hill · Bell Park.
Keep an eye on Lara
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