Breakwater, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Breakwater VIC is 1,060 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Breakwater is $655 per week ($34,060 per year). Median rent in Breakwater is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Breakwater has a median age of 40 years, older than the national median of 38. Breakwater has a population density of 339 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Breakwater is England. The most common religion is No religion (45.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is French. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Breakwater is $1,213.

There were 204 recorded offences in Breakwater in 2025-25, a rate of 192 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (59 offences).

Population
1,060
Census 2021
Median income
$655/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$300/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
40years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au), 2025-25.

Breakwater vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Breakwater is $655 a week, 15% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 980th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $300 a week, $16 less than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 27.9% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 40, 3 years younger than in the typical VIC suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBreakwaterTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$655/wk$767/wk −15%$766/wk
Household income$1,077/wk$1,687/wk −36%$1,637/wk
Rent$300/wk$316/wk −5%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,213/mo$1,723/mo −30%$1,733/mo
Median age4043 −3 yrs42
Rent share of household income27.9%19.1% +8.8 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Breakwater, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Breakwater Population

1,060 residents at the 2021 Census.

Breakwater Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$655/wk
$34,060 per year
Ranked 6,252 of 14,663
Median Rent
$300/wk
$1,300 per month
Ranked 4,529 of 14,663
Median Age
40years
2 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,213/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Breakwater Rent Prices & Affordability

28% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,077/wk
Median rent $300/wk
Rent to income 27.9%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Breakwater against your income

About $4,667 a month
Median rent $300/wk
Left after rent $777/wk
Rent share 27.9%

Breakwater Schools

14
schools nearby
9
government
1019
avg ICSEA score
4,094
total students
Chilwell Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 408 students
1139
ICSEA
St Mary's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 214 students
1114
ICSEA
Geelong South Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 326 students
1088
ICSEA
St Margaret's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 241 students
1063
ICSEA
Christ the King School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 269 students
1061
ICSEA
Tate Street Primary School Geelong Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 164 students
1029
ICSEA
Grovedale Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 343 students
1009
ICSEA
Geelong High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 976 students
998
ICSEA
MacKillop Specialist School Catholic
Combined · Prep-12 · 196 students
993
ICSEA
Newcomb Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 142 students
960
ICSEA
Newcomb Secondary College Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 515 students
950
ICSEA
Geelong East Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 147 students
948
ICSEA
Whittington Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 153 students
896
ICSEA
SEDA College (Victoria) - AFL- Geelong Independent
Secondary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Breakwater, with a map

Breakwater Map

Breakwater, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Breakwater, Victoria: 38.1801°S, 144.3733°E

Breakwater Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (14)

People in Breakwater

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.4% (514) Female 51.6% (547)

Population Density

339
people per km²
1,060 people · 3.1 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,477
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
2.2%
India
1.3%
New Zealand
0.9%
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.8%
Pakistan
0.8%
Philippines
0.8%
Fiji
0.8%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

French
0.8%
Italian
0.8%
Tagalog
0.8%
Mandarin
0.8%
Malayalam
0.8%
Serbian
0.8%
Thai
0.5%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
36.2%
English
36.0%
Irish
10.5%
Scottish
9.1%
German
4.4%
Italian
4.2%
Dutch
3.3%
Australian Aboriginal
1.5%
Filipino
1.3%
Chinese
1.0%
Polish
1.0%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
45.8%
Catholic
16.0%
Not stated
11.5%
Anglican
6.7%
Baptist
3.5%
Christian (other)
3.4%
Uniting Church
2.2%
Hinduism
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.6%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
29.9% 270
Separated
6.5% 59
Divorced
11.1% 100
Widowed
7.1% 64
Never married
45.4% 410

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
31.4%
Couple: children under 15
30.9%
One parent: children under 15
15.1%
One parent: no children under 15
11.5%
Couple: no children under 15
11.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
38.8%
2 persons
34.6%
3 persons
15.2%
4 persons
6.3%
5 persons
2.9%
6+ persons
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Breakwater

Housing Tenure

Of the 453 occupied private dwellings in Breakwater at the 2021 Census, 38.4% were rented, 29.6% owned outright and 30.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.1% 5 dwellings
Owned outright
29.6% 134 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
30.2% 137 dwellings
Rented
38.4% 174 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.1% 5 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
89.9%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
6.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
4.3%
2 bedrooms
29.8%
3 bedrooms
57.4%
4 bedrooms
7.4%
5 bedrooms
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.3%
$300-$449/mo
6.6%
$600-$799/mo
7.4%
$800-$999/mo
10.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
38.8%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
22.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
8.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
7.0%
1 vehicle
46.2%
2 vehicles
32.4%
3 vehicles
10.0%
4+ vehicles
4.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Breakwater

Employment

Employed full-time
31.3% 241 people
Employed part-time
21.7% 167 people
Unemployed
4.2% 32 people
Not in labour force
42.9% 331 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Community & Personal Service
21.1%
Technicians & Trade Workers
18.6%
Professionals
16.1%
Clerical & Administrative
12.6%
Labourers
10.5%
Managers
8.4%
Sales Workers
6.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
0.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
1.8%
$300-$399/wk
4.4%
$400-$499/wk
13.3%
$500-$649/wk
4.6%
$650-$799/wk
10.3%
$800-$999/wk
10.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.9%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
8.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.8%
$4,000+/wk
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.0%
$1-$149/wk
3.4%
$150-$299/wk
6.8%
$300-$399/wk
6.1%
$400-$499/wk
7.4%
$500-$649/wk
5.3%
$650-$799/wk
13.3%
$800-$999/wk
13.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
3.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.5%
$3,500+/wk
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.2%
Did not go to work
13.1%
Car (passenger)
4.5%
Bus
2.4%
Walked only
2.1%
Bicycle
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
51.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
21.2%
Year 11 or equivalent
16.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
11.6%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
53.7%
Bachelor Degree
18.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
17.0%
Postgraduate Degree
7.1%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.5%
Certificate I/II
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Society & Culture
18.0%
Health
15.7%
Engineering
14.2%
Management & Commerce
13.9%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
11.6%
Architecture & Building
9.4%
Education
5.6%
Creative Arts
4.9%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.7%
Agriculture & Environment
1.9%
Information Technology
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.8%
Vocational Education
20.6%
Secondary: Government
18.7%
Primary: Catholic
10.3%
Pre-school
9.7%
Secondary: Catholic
1.9%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
80.3%
Has need for assistance
9.2%
Need for assistance not stated
10.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
185
Asthma
47
Arthritis
33
Diabetes
32
Lung condition
31
Heart disease
26
Cancer
18
Kidney disease
17
Stroke
16

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.0% 119
Did not provide
85.0% 676

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
9.4% 75
Not a volunteer
90.6% 727

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.8% 31
Never served
96.2% 778

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
37.5%
1 child
17.0%
2 children
22.5%
3 children
14.5%
4 children
4.9%
5+ children
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
16
1961: 1970
15
1971: 1980
3
1981: 1990
14
1991: 2000
11
2001: 2010
30
2011: 2015
24
2017
3
2018
14
2019
10
2020
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

13.6%
moved in the last year
42.5%
moved in the last 5 years
5.8%
unemployment rate (Census)
52.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
812
Moved from VIC
93
Moved: same area (SA2)
17
Moved from overseas
14

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.3%
5: 14 hours
27.5%
15: 29 hours
12.5%
30+ hours
9.5%
Did not do domestic work
30.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
77.5%
Step family: no other children
16.9%
Blended family: no other children
5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Breakwater Crime Statistics

204 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
59
Justice Procedures
34
Drug Offences
33
Assault
32
Property Damage
13
Break & Enter
11
Fraud
10
Weapons
6
Public Order
4
Robbery
1
Traffic
1

Total offences by year

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Yinnar
Income: $749/wk Rent: $245/wk $55/wk less rent
Tongala
Income: $656/wk Rent: $200/wk $100/wk less rent
Wurruk
Income: $749/wk Rent: $250/wk $50/wk less rent
Toongabbie (Vic.)
Income: $782/wk Rent: $270/wk $30/wk less rent
Ironbark (Vic.)
Income: $696/wk Rent: $275/wk $25/wk less rent
Strathmerton
Income: $662/wk Rent: $210/wk $90/wk less rent
Yallourn North
Income: $659/wk Rent: $220/wk $80/wk less rent
Shepparton East
Income: $780/wk Rent: $231/wk $69/wk less rent

Suburbs near Breakwater

The closest suburb to Breakwater is Thomson (Greater Geelong - Vic.), 1.0 km away.

Thomson (Greater Geelong - Vic.)
1.0 km away · income $667/wk · rent $295/wk
Whittington
1.7 km away · income $549/wk · rent $250/wk
South Geelong
1.7 km away · income $937/wk · rent $350/wk
St Albans Park
1.9 km away · income $651/wk · rent $330/wk
Marshall
2.3 km away · income $625/wk · rent $390/wk
Belmont (Vic.)
2.7 km away · income $802/wk · rent $350/wk

Compare Breakwater

Frequently Asked Questions About Breakwater

What is the population of Breakwater VIC?

The population of Breakwater VIC is 1,060 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 339 people per km². Breakwater is ranked #3,894 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Breakwater?

The median personal income in Breakwater VIC is $655 per week, or $34,060 per year. The median household income is $1,077 per week. Family income is $1,477 per week. Breakwater is ranked #6,252 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Breakwater?

Median rent in Breakwater VIC is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Rent represents 27.9% of household income, which is considered moderate. Breakwater ranks #4,529 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Breakwater?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Breakwater VIC is $1,213. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Breakwater?

The median age in Breakwater VIC is 40 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Breakwater a good suburb to live in?

Breakwater is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 1,060. The median income is $655/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (27.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Melbourne Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 20326. All dollar figures in AUD.