Neerim South

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

The population of Neerim South is estimated at around 1,637 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 1,599 people, a rise of 38 individuals (2.4%). The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,552 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 12 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 25 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 59.0% 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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, the suburb is expected to grow by 89 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 5.8% in total over the 17 years.

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

Neerim South had 3 dwelling approvals annually from 2016 to 2020, totaling 16 dwellings. This low development level is typical of rural areas with modest housing needs and limited construction activity due to local demand and infrastructure capacity. The small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Neerim South's development activity is much lower than Rest of Vic. and below national patterns. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, favoring family homes suited for rural lifestyle seekers. With around 252 people per approval, Neerim South reflects low-density areas.

AreaSearch quarterly estimates project a population increase of 95 residents by 2041. Construction pace is reasonable with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as population grows.

Neerim South has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

No changes can influence a region's performance more than modifications to local infrastructure, significant projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch that could potentially impact this area. Key projects include the Warragul and Drouin Precinct Structure Plan, Marinus Link, Maryvale Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility, and Gippsland Line Upgrade, with the subsequent list providing details on those most likely to be relevant.

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

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.

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. The unemployment rate was 2.6% as of September 2025. Employment grew by an estimated 3.4% over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation.

As of September 2025783 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% below Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was 64.2%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. Census data showed that 20.3% of residents worked from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and agriculture, forestry & fishing.

Neerim South has a high specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing (1.4 times the regional level), but health care & social assistance employs only 12.2% of local workers, below Rest of Vic.'s 16.8%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.4%, labour force increased by 3.1%, and unemployment fell by 0.3 percentage points, contrasting with Rest of Vic.'s employment decrease of 0.7% and unemployment rise. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these 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 is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 contrasts with Rest of Vic.'s median income of $50,954 and average income of $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Neerim South are approximately $48,822 (median) and $63,739 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Neerim South fall between the 24th and 24th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 27.6% of locals (451 people) in the $800 - 1,499 category. Housing costs are modest with 87.2% of income retained. Total disposable income ranks at the 29th percentile nationally and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Neerim South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Vic had 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Neerim South was 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 Non-Metro Vic's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure in Neerim South was $260, compared to Non-Metro Vic's $285. Nationally, Neerim South's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,549 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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 comprise the remaining 24.6%, with lone person households at 23.6% and group households making up 1.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Neerim South shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area has university qualification rates of 18.9%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (3.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 45.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (14.0%) and certificates (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.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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 based on AreaSearch's assessment. 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 (~821 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis (impacting 12.0% of residents) and mental health issues (9.1%), while 60.4% 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. As of the latest data, 27.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (453 people), which is higher than the 23.9% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.4% of its population being Australian citizens and 88.7% born in Australia. Additionally, 97.5% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 45.5% of Neerim South's population.

Notably, Buddhism was slightly overrepresented at 1.1%, compared to 1.0% across Rest of Vic.. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.7%), Australian (31.5%), and Irish (10.1%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Dutch at 3.5% (vs regional 1.7%), Scottish at 9.1% (vs 8.8%), and Welsh at 0.7% (vs 0.4%).

Neerim South hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Neerim South's median age is 46, which is slightly higher than Victoria's figure of 43 and significantly higher than Australia's norm of 38. The 65-74 age group comprises 14.8% of Neerim South's population, compared to Rest of Vic.'s figure and notably higher than the national average of 9.5%. Meanwhile, the 45-54 cohort makes up 8.6%, which is less prevalent than in Rest of Vic. Post-Census data shows that by 2021, Neerim South's population aged 25 to 34 grew from 10.2% to 11.2%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 15.0% to 12.7%, and the 45-54 group decreased from 10.8% to 8.6%. By 2041, Neerim South's age composition is expected to shift significantly. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 31%, increasing from 183 to 241 people. Conversely, the 15-24 and 65-74 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.