Corio
VICCorio is a declining suburb in VIC with 15,497 residents.
- SAL code
- 20640
- SA2
- 203021486
- Population
- 15,497
Corio, VIC had 15,497 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 0.5% decline over the last five years. The predominant age group is 25-34 years, and the median age sits at 35. Households are most often couples with children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,300 a month. Around 56.5% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being rented at 39.7%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 92.6% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 38 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Suburb analysis
Corio, VIC at a glance
Corio is an established residential and industrial suburb ~9 km north of Geelong CBD (and ~59 km from Melbourne) in the City of Greater Geelong. Mid-century housing stock built around the Shell/Viva Energy refinery era dominates, with infill subdivision now lifting density. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market, lifestyle and council pipeline.
For homebuyers
Corio is one of the most accessible footholds into the Geelong housing market — predominantly single-storey 3-bedroom houses on standard lots, with newer infill mixed through. The Corio Central shopping centre is the local anchor (Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, ~100 specialty stores) and Corio railway station puts you on V/Line services to Geelong (~10 min) and Melbourne (~70 min). The brand-new $65.6 million Norlane ARC opened February 2024 — a full aquatic + recreation hub including 25m indoor pool, gym and community spaces. Schools are dominated by Northern Bay P-12 College (multi-campus state school across Corio + Norlane, ~1,830 enrolments) with prestigious Geelong Grammar on the suburb's north-east edge. Heavy industry (Viva Energy refinery, port) shapes the local economy and skyline — a working-suburb feel, not a coastal one. In short: an affordable, well-serviced family suburb with strong commuter access and a brand-new aquatic centre, but you're buying into Geelong's industrial north, not the bay-side lifestyle.
For investors
Corio is a Geelong yield play with deep liquidity. Median house $540,000 against $435/wk rent gives a 4.36% gross yield (units $423,000 / $350 = 5.20%) per Your Investment Property (Jan 2026 CoreLogic). 12-month house growth +11.00% (quarterly +3.85%); units +11.32% (quarterly +4.44%). 401 house sales + 18 unit sales over the past 12 months — one of the highest-volume markets in Greater Geelong. Days-on-market 17 (houses), 36 (units). Vacancy ~1.65%.
Strengths
- Solid double-digit capital growth recently (+11.00% YoY houses, +11.32% units) on still-affordable medians.
- Deep, liquid market — 401 house sales/yr means easy entry and exit.
- House gross yield 4.36% with units pushing 5.20% — better cashflow than most metro Melbourne suburbs at the same dollar entry.
- Major civic upgrade just delivered — $65.6m Norlane ARC (opened Feb 2024) materially lifts amenity for the catchment.
Trade-offs
- Lower SEIFA + tenant-quality profile than coastal Geelong — historically slower sustained capital growth than Bellarine or Highton.
- Heavy industrial neighbours (Viva Energy refinery, North Shore port) shape the suburb's brand and air-quality narrative.
- Unit market is thin (only 18 sales in 12 months) and slower to clear (36 days) — concentrate strategies on houses.
- Corio Norlane Structure Plan supports ongoing infill (e.g. recent $50m housing proposal) — future supply could moderate growth.
What's coming
City of Greater Geelong's 2025/26 budget allocates $1.3m for stage one of the Norlane Community Centre upgrade (permaculture garden + foodshare space). The Corio Norlane Structure Plan continues to underpin infill subdivision, including a $50m diverse-lot housing proposal currently progressing. The Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas project is reshaping the broader corridor north of the suburb.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: an affordable, well-connected entry to the Geelong market with a new aquatic centre on the doorstep. For investors: a yield + volume play on Geelong's industrial north, with steady but not stellar long-run growth.
Population
?15,497
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
-0.5%
3yr: +1.5% · 10yr: +3.0%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,152/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
35
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?1/10
SA2 · more disadvantaged
Unemployment
?13.0%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
3
3 primary, 2 secondary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?7
4 long day, 3 OSHC
Parks & green space
?38
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?51
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
No data for this suburb
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
Source: Valuer-General Victoria (suburb-level quarterly medians).
→ Calculate stamp duty on this suburb's median price→ Estimate mortgage repayments→ Calculate rental yield (price + median rent)
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from VIC police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Corio - Lovely Banks (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Corio suburb alone is ~15,497 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 17,178 to 18,486 over 24 years, averaging 0.3% per year.
Schools
3 in suburbSector
1 public · 2 private
Type
1 primary · 2 K-12
Total enrolment
3,612
Avg per school
1,204
Government school catchment
Catchment data is not yet available for VIC.
Source when available: Victorian Department of Education / Vicmap School Zones.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 8.5%Almost entirely detached houses (92.6%), mixed tenure (56.5% own or mortgage), built for families (73% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
VIC 29%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
Source: VIC DTP Designated Bushfire Prone Area
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Flood risk
Source: VIC DTP Vicmap Planning Overlay (flood codes)
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Planning zones
15 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRZ1 | General Residential Zone Schedule 1Residential | 19.7% | 3.89 km² |
| IN2Z | Industrial 2 ZoneIndustrial | 16.9% | 3.34 km² |
| FZ | Farming ZoneRural | 16.4% | 3.25 km² |
| IN1Z | Industrial 1 ZoneIndustrial | 9.2% | 1.81 km² |
| GRZ4 | General Residential Zone Schedule 4Residential | 8.9% | 1.76 km² |
| PCRZ | Public Conservation and Resource ZoneEnvironmental | 7.7% | 1.52 km² |
| TRZ2 | TRZ2Special use | 7.0% | 1.39 km² |
| PPRZ | Public Park and Recreation ZoneRecreation | 6.6% | 1.31 km² |
| TRZ1 | TRZ1Special use | 1.8% | 0.35 km² |
| C2Z | Commercial 2 ZoneBusiness | 1.5% | 0.30 km² |
| SUZ4 | Special Use Zone Schedule 4Special use | 1.4% | 0.28 km² |
| PZ | PZOther | 1.3% | 0.26 km² |
| PUZ1 | Public Use Zone Schedule 1Special use | 0.8% | 0.16 km² |
| C1Z | Commercial 1 ZoneBusiness | 0.6% | 0.12 km² |
| TRZ3 | TRZ3Special use | 0.2% | 0.05 km² |
Source: VIC DTP Vicmap Planning Zones (ZONE_VIC/2026-04-29/08783d2926383881) · As of Apr 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.