Victoria · Postcode 3212
Lara postcode and suburb data
Victoria · Phone area code 03 · 55 km from Melbourne
Suburb snapshot
Lara at a glance vs VIC
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against VIC
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Where Lara ranks: household income is in the top 25% of VIC suburbs.
ABS Census 2021 · SEIFA 2021Detailed comparison table
Lara vs the VIC average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Lara | VIC avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,969 ≈VIC | $1,817 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $370 ≈VIC | $375 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $1,733 -VIC | $1,933 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 37 | 46.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 6/10 ≈VIC | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 4.1% -VIC | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the VIC average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Lara is a locality 55 km from Melbourne in Victoria, classified as inner regional by the ABS. The postcode is 3212. It falls within the Geelong region. The local government area is Greater Geelong.
According to the 2021 Census, Lara has a population of 19,014 with a median age of 37. The median weekly household income is $1,969, close to the VIC average. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, lower than the VIC average. The Indigenous population is 401 (2.1% of residents).
Housing in Lara includes a median weekly rent of $370, median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,733, with 6,358 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the VIC average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 77.9% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Lara scores in decile 6 out of 10, which is around the national average.
Schools in Lara include Lara Secondary College, St Anthony's School and Lara Primary School.
Lara is part of the Geelong statistical area in Victoria.
Lara details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 3212 |
| State | Victoria (VIC) |
| Phone Area Code | 03 |
| Population (2021) | 19,014 |
| Median Age | 37 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,969/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $834/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $370 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $1,733 |
| Average Household Size | 2.7 persons |
| Area | 89.3 km² |
| Population Density | 213/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 6,358 |
| Australian Citizens | 85.1% |
| Indigenous Population | 401 (2.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 6/10 (average) |
| Latitude | -38.0229202 |
| Longitude | 144.3964232 |
| Distance from Melbourne | 55 km |
| Region (SA4) | Geelong |
| Area (SA3) | Geelong |
| Local Government | Greater Geelong |
| Federal Electorate | Corio |
| State Electorate | Lara (Western Victoria) |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Melbourne (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 3,667 (19.3%) |
| 15–24 years | 2,115 (11.1%) |
| 25–44 years | 5,870 (30.9%) |
| 45–64 years | 4,541 (23.9%) |
| 65+ years | 2,809 (14.8%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Asthma | 1,892 (10.0%) |
| Arthritis | 1,618 (8.5%) |
| Diabetes | 921 (4.8%) |
| Heart Disease | 707 (3.7%) |
| Cancer | 509 (2.7%) |
| Lung Condition | 298 (1.6%) |
| Dementia | 131 (0.7%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 160 (2.5%) |
| 1 vehicle | 1,801 (28.6%) |
| 2 vehicles | 2,728 (43.3%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 1,608 (25.5%) |
Schools in Lara
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Lara. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Lara
Same Postcode (3212)
More Lara Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.