Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Population
Population growth drivers in Neerim South are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of Neerim South as of February 2026 is around 1,637 people. This reflects an increase of 38 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,599 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,552 following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024, along with an additional 12 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 25 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Neerim South has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.9%, outpacing its SA4 region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 59.0% of overall population gains.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods. Considering these projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 83 persons to reach an estimated population of around 1,720 people by 2041, reflecting a decrease of 0.1% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Neerim South when compared nationally
Neerim South had 3 dwelling approvals annually between January 2016 and December 2020, totaling 17 approvals over this five-year period. This low development activity reflects the rural nature of the area, with housing needs driving development rather than broad market demand. Notably, the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.
Compared to Rest of Vic., Neerim South shows less construction activity. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, favoring family homes suited for those seeking a rural lifestyle and space. With approximately 234 people per approval, Neerim South maintains low density. Population projections indicate stability or decline, potentially reducing housing demand pressures and benefiting potential buyers.
With population projections showing stability or decline, Neerim South should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Neerim South has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally
AreaSearch has identified zero infrastructure projects that could impact the area. Notable initiatives include the Warragul and Drouin Precinct Structure Plan, Marinus Link, Maryvale Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility, and Gippsland Line Upgrade.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Marinus Link
Marinus Link is a 1,500 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity and telecommunications interconnector. Stage 1 (750 MW) involves 255 km of subsea cable across Bass Strait and 90 km of underground cable in Gippsland. As of February 2026, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has approved $3.47 billion in capital expenditure for Stage 1. Major contracts are awarded to the TasVic Greenlink joint venture (DT Infrastructure and Samsung C&T) for converter stations at Heybridge (TAS) and Hazelwood (VIC), with full construction activities commencing in early 2026 and a target commissioning date of 2030.
Victorian Desalination Plant Expansion
Recommended expansion of the existing Victorian Desalination Plant to increase production capacity from 150 GL to 200 GL per year. As of late 2025, Infrastructure Victoria's 30-year strategy recommends the State Government develop a detailed business case for this expansion to meet water demand until 2035. The project aims to secure Melbourne's water supply against climate change and population growth, with manufactured sources potentially providing 65% of the city's water by 2050.
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
State-wide NSW planning reforms to enable diverse low and mid-rise housing, including dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses, and apartment buildings up to 6 storeys. The policy applies to residential zones within 800m of 171 nominated transport hubs and town centres. Stage 1 (dual occupancies) commenced 1 July 2024, and Stage 2 (mid-rise apartments and terraces) commenced 28 February 2025. In June 2025, further amendments adjusted aircraft noise thresholds and clarified storey definitions to expand the policy's reach. The initiative is expected to facilitate approximately 112,000 additional homes by 2030.
Warragul and Drouin Precinct Structure Plan
The Warragul and Drouin Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs) serve as a long-term strategic framework for urban expansion in the Baw Baw Shire growth corridor. Following the original 2014 approval, the plans are currently undergoing a comprehensive Development Contributions Plan (DCP) and PSP review as of early 2026. This process aims to resolve implementation issues, update infrastructure costs, and ensure the delivery of approximately 20,000 homes, 100 hectares of industrial land, and vital community services including new schools, parks, and transport links over the next 20 to 30 years.
Star of the South Offshore Wind Farm
Star of the South is Australia's most advanced offshore wind project, proposing up to 2.2 GW of capacity in the Bass Strait. In December 2025, the project reached a major milestone by lodging its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for federal approval under the EPBC Act. The development includes up to 150 turbines and offshore substations, with subsea cables reaching shore at a recently purchased 120-hectare site near Reeves Beach. Underground transmission will connect the farm to the Latrobe Valley grid. The project is expected to provide 20 percent of Victoria's electricity needs and support 6,000 jobs over its lifetime.
Victorian Renewable Energy Zones
VicGrid is coordinating the staged development of six onshore Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and a Gippsland Shoreline zone. The 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan identifies indicative REZ locations and the nearly 800km of transmission upgrades required to connect 25GW of new wind, solar, and storage by 2035. The plan balances infrastructure needs with impacts on agriculture, Traditional Owners, and the environment. Formal declaration of the first five zones is anticipated in early 2026, followed by a competitive access regime for developers.
NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Program
NSW is delivering five Renewable Energy Zones (Central-West Orana, New England, South West, Hunter-Central Coast, and Illawarra) to coordinate wind and solar generation, storage, and high-voltage transmission. Led by EnergyCo NSW under the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, the program targets at least 12 GW of new renewable generation and 2 GW of long-duration storage by 2030. Major construction of the first REZ (Central-West Orana) transmission project began in June 2025, involving 90km of 500kV and 150km of 330kV lines. As of February 2026, the project reached a milestone with the Australian Energy Regulator's final decision on network revenue determinations, and significant progress has been made on temporary worker accommodation and road upgrades between the Port of Newcastle and the Central-West Orana region.
Gippsland Line Upgrade
The Gippsland Line Upgrade, now complete as of mid-2025, has delivered more frequent and reliable train services to the growing communities of Gippsland. Key features include station upgrades at Bunyip, Longwarry, Morwell, and Traralgon (including new second platforms and accessibility improvements), a new bridge over the Avon River at Stratford, new signalling and train control systems, track duplication, and the extension of VLocity trains to Bairnsdale. From September 2025, over 80 additional weekly services were introduced, enabling trains approximately every 40 minutes between Melbourne and Traralgon for much of the day, 7 days a week. The project created over 500 jobs during construction.
Employment
The labour market in Neerim South shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions
Neerim South has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.6% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.1%.
As of December 2025790 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% below Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation was similar to Regional Vic.'s 61.5%. In home-based work, 20.3% of residents participated, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and agriculture, forestry & fishing.
Neerim South has a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance employs only 12.2% of local workers, below Regional Vic.'s 16.8%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census population data analysis by AreaSearch. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 5.1%, labour force grew by 4.5%, and unemployment fell by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Vic.'s employment fell by 0.6%, labour force contracted by 0.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate a potential future demand within Neerim South. By May-25 projections, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Neerim South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this extrapolation is illustrative and does not consider localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Neerim South's median income is $45,101 and average income is $58,881. This is below Regional Vic.'s median income of $50,954 and average income of $62,728. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $48,822 (median) and $63,739 (average), based on an 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census figures indicate that Neerim South's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 24th and 24th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 27.6% of locals (451 people) predominantly earn within the $800 - 1,499 range, unlike surrounding regions where 30.3% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 87.2% income retention, total disposable income ranks at the 29th percentile nationally and Neerim South's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Neerim South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
In Neerim South, as per the latest Census evaluation, 96.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 3.9% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Regional Vic.'s figures of 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Neerim South stood at 48.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.7% and rented ones at 12.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,549, higher than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Neerim South was $260, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Neerim South's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,549 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $260 compared to the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Neerim South has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 75.4% of all households, including 30.6% couples with children, 35.7% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.6%, with lone person households at 23.6% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Neerim South shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist
The area's university qualification rate is 18.9%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 12.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (3.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.9%). Vocational credentials are held by 45.5% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 14.0% and certificates at 31.5%. Educational participation is high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.
This includes 10.7% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 2.3% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
No public transport data available for this catchment area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Neerim South is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Neerim South faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.
Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (around 821 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 12.0 and 9.1% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 60.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. As of the latest data (2021), 28.4% of Neerim South's residents are aged 65 and over (around 464 people), higher than the 23.9% in Regional Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Neerim South is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Neerim South had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 88.4% of its population being Australian citizens, 88.7% born in Australia, and 97.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 45.5% of Neerim South's population. Buddhism, however, showed an overrepresentation with 1.1%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 1.0%.
The top three ancestral groups were English (32.7%), Australian (31.5%), and Irish (10.1%). Notably, Dutch ancestry was overrepresented at 3.5% in Neerim South versus the regional average of 1.7%, Scottish at 9.1% versus 8.8%, and Welsh at 0.7% versus 0.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Neerim South hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide
Neerim South has a median age of 46, which is higher than Regional Vic.'s figure of 43 and significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group comprises 15.0% of Neerim South's population, compared to Regional Vic., while the 45-54 cohort makes up 8.8%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 25 to 34 age group grew from 10.2% to 11.7%, and the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 8.2% to 9.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 10.8% to 8.8%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 15.0% to 13.1%. By 2041, Neerim South is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 group growing by 21% (39 people), reaching 231 from 191. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.