Mount Helen

Mount Helen has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population for the Mount Helen statistical area (Lv2) is around 3,445, reflecting a 14.4% increase from the 2021 Census figure of 3,011 people. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 3,356 in June 2024 and an additional 26 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 279 persons per square kilometer. Mount Helen's growth rate exceeded both the non-metro area average (7.9%) and the national average during this period. Overseas migration contributed around 71% of overall population gains in recent years. AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in June 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, the Mount Helen (SA2) is forecasted to experience significant population growth in the top quartile of national regional areas. By 2041, the area's population is expected to increase by 1,017 persons, marking a total increase of 19.2% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Mount Helen according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Mount Helen shows an average of around 20 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 101 homes were approved, with a further 14 approved in FY-26 to date. Despite population decline during this period, the new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice for buyers.

The average construction value of new properties is $536,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, there have been $4.4 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of Vic., Mount Helen shows approximately half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 63rd percentile nationally.

New development consists of 81.0% standalone homes and 19.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 228 people per approval, Mount Helen reflects a transitioning market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Mount Helen is expected to grow by 663 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified six projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones are Buninyong Heritage Swimming Baths Conservation Works, Buninyong Botanic Gardens Landscape Masterplan, Gong Reservoir Wall Reconstruction, Mount Clear Childcare Centre and Medical Centre, and Mount Clear College Upgrade and Modernisation - Stage 3. Below is a list of those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The employment environment in Mount Helen shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Mount Helen has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.8%, lower than the national average of 4.3%.

Over the past year, employment growth was estimated at 2.2%. As of September 2025, 1,775 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% below the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is high at 65.7%, compared to the regional average of 57.4%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Notably, education & training has an employment share 1.8 times higher than the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.1% of Mount Helen's workforce compared to 7.5% in Rest of Vic. Employment opportunities appear limited locally, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.2%, while the labour force grew by 1.7%, causing a 0.5 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment contraction of 0.7% over the same period, with the labour force falling by 0.6%, and unemployment rising marginally. State-level data from 25-Nov shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Helen's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2023 shows median income in Mount Helen was $54,512 and average income was $68,857. Comparatively, Rest of Vic.'s median income was $50,954 with an average of $62,728. Considering Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since June 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $59,009 (median) and $74,538 (average). According to Census 2021 data, household income ranks at the 70th percentile ($2,076 weekly), with personal income at the 51st percentile. Income distribution shows 36.0% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (1,240 individuals), similar to metropolitan regions where 30.3% fall within this bracket. After housing costs, residents retain 89.3% of income, indicating strong purchasing power; the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the sixth decile.

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

In Mount Helen, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 5.4% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types of dwellings. This contrasts with Non-Metro Vic., where 85.6% of dwellings were houses and 14.5% were other dwelling types. Home ownership in Mount Helen stood at 38.7%, with mortgaged properties making up 44.0% and rented dwellings comprising 17.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,600, surpassing Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,499. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure in Mount Helen was $345, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $300. Nationally, Mount Helen's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were below the national figure of $375.

Mount Helen features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 80.5% of all households, including 37.9% couples with children, 30.7% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 19.5%, with lone person households at 16.4% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Mount Helen shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Mount Helen has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above, with 34.3% holding university qualifications compared to the broader benchmarks of 21.7% in Rest of Vic. and 24.6% in the SA4 region. This is particularly evident in Bachelor degrees, which are held by 21.3% of residents. Postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas follow at 7.5% and 5.5% respectively. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 31.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (20.9%).

Educational participation is high in Mount Helen, with 36.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in primary education, 10.4% in tertiary education, and 9.9% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Mount Helen has 19 active public transport stops currently operating. These are served by buses on four different routes. Together, these routes facilitate 822 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport in Mount Helen is moderate, with residents generally located about 413 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 117 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 43 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Mount Helen is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Mount Helen demonstrates above-average health outcomes with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is approximately 54% of the total population (1,862 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of Vic..

The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.9 and 8.3% of residents respectively, while 69.7% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.3% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 15.0% of residents aged 65 and over (516 people), which is lower than the 17.8% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Mount Helen's population showed low cultural diversity, with 90.4% being Australian citizens, 88.5% born in Australia, and 94.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 39.6%. Judaism, however, was slightly overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.0%), Australian (29.7%), and Irish (10.6%). Notable differences existed in the representation of Dutch (2.1% vs regional 2.1%), Scottish (9.4% vs 9.2%), and Croatian (0.8% vs 0.4%) groups.

Mount Helen's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Mount Helen has a median age of 35 years, which is significantly lower than the Rest of Vic average of 43 and somewhat younger than the Australian median of 38. The 15-24 cohort is notably over-represented in Mount Helen at 20.6%, compared to the Rest of Vic average, while the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 4.8%. This concentration of the 15-24 age group is well above the national average of 12.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 17.1% to 20.6%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 3.7% to 4.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 12.6% to 10.2% and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 14.8% to 13.0%. Demographic modeling suggests that Mount Helen's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort is projected to grow strongly at 92%, adding 336 residents to reach 702. However, both the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.