Metung

Metung lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As per ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Metung as of Feb 2026 is around 2,140. This represents an increase of 241 people (12.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,899. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 1,986 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 60 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 77 persons per square kilometer. Metung's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (6.5%) and Rest of Vic., making it a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 78.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, the suburb of Metung is forecasted to experience a significant increase, with an expected rise of 604 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall gain of 18.2% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Metung when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Metung shows approximately 18 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 94 homes. As of FY26, seven approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.2 new residents per year arrived with each new home between FY21 and FY25, indicating a balanced supply and demand until recently, when it moderated to 0.3 people per dwelling over the past two financial years. New properties are constructed at an average value of $463,000, targeting the premium market segment. This year, Metung has registered $2.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting its residential nature.

Compared to the Rest of Vic., Metung exhibits moderately higher building activity, approximately 18.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. All new construction consists of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking space. With around 101 people per dwelling approval, Metung displays characteristics of a growth area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Metung is projected to add 389 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest that new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Metung has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

No infrastructure changes are anticipated in the area. No projects have been identified by AreaSearch that could impact the region. Key initiatives include Seadragon Offshore Wind Farm, Regional Housing Fund Gippsland, Gippsland Digital Infrastructure Upgrade, and Blue Mackerel North.

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The labour market in Metung demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Metung has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.3% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.8%. As of September 2025832 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.5% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation lagged significantly at 48.7%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. According to Census responses, 22.8% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. Metung had particular specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, at 3.9% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. The area offered limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 4.8% alongside a labour force increase of 4.9%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. This contrasted with Rest of Vic., where employment fell by 0.7%, labour force contracted by 0.6%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Metung's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Metung had a median taxpayer income of $42,639 and an average of $54,985 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is below the national average, with Rest of Vic.'s median income being $50,954 and average income being $62,728. As of September 2025, current estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% would be approximately $46,157 (median) and $59,521 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household, family and personal incomes in Metung all fall between the 13th and 14th percentiles nationally. The largest segment of residents comprises 33.0% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly (706 residents), unlike broader trends where 30.3% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing costs are modest with 89.1% of income retained, however total disposable income ranks at just the 20th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Metung is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Metung, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 97.9% houses and 2.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s figures of 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Metung stood at 57.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.8% and rented dwellings at 15.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Metung was $346, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Metung's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Metung has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.0% of all households, including 15.9% couples with children, 49.5% couples without children, and 6.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.0%, with lone person households making up 26.2% and group households comprising 1.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Metung exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Metung trail's educational qualifications lag behind Victoria's regional benchmarks. As of a recent report (2021), 25.0% of Metung residents aged 15+ hold university degrees, compared to the Victorian average of 33.4%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skills enhancement in the region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas constitute 15.4%, while certificates make up 26.8%. A significant portion of the population is currently engaged in formal education: 20.9% in total. This includes 7.9% in primary, 5.7% in secondary, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Metung's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Metung. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low across both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover was found to be very low at approximately 49% of the total population (around 1,040 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area were arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 12.5% and 8.1% of residents respectively. Sixty point one percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Rest of Vic.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Thirty seven point seven percent of residents are aged 65 and over (806 people), higher than the 23.9% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Metung is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Metung's population showed lower cultural diversity, with 81.2% born in Australia, 89.9% being citizens, and 96.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 44.2%. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

The top three parental ancestry groups were English (36.4%), Australian (26.6%), and Scottish (10.6%). Dutch (2.2%) and Welsh (0.8%) were notably overrepresented, while Hungarian was slightly higher at 0.4%.

Metung ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Metung's median age in 2021 was 59, notably higher than Rest of Vic.'s figure of 43 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Rest of Vic., Metung had a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (23.7%) but fewer aged 15-24 (6%). This concentration of 65-74 year-olds was well above the national average of 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data showed Metung's median age decreased by 1.1 years to 59, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. Specifically, the 35-44 age group grew from 8.2% to 10.1%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 10.9% to 12.3%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort declined from 25.9% to 23.7%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 20.8% to 19.2%. Demographic modeling suggests Metung's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to increase notably, growing by 77 people (37%) from 209 to 287. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 9% (11 people).