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 the Neerim South statistical area (Lv2) is estimated at around 1,638 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 39 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,599 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,552 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 11 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 25 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area 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, making adjustments 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. Moving forward with demographic trends, the Neerim South (SA2) is expected to grow by 95 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 6.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Neerim South has had minimal residential development activity with 3 dwelling approvals annually over the past five years (16 approvals total). This low development level reflects its rural nature, where housing needs drive development rather than broad market demand. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics.

Compared to Rest of Vic and national averages, Neerim South has much lower development activity. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, maintaining the area's rural character with emphasis on space. There are approximately 252 people per dwelling approval in Neerim South, indicating a low density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Neerim South is projected to add 100 residents by 2041.

Construction pace is maintaining reasonable 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 affect an area's performance more than alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch that could potentially impact the area. Significant projects include Warragul and Drouin Precinct Structure Plan, Marinus Link, Maryvale Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility, and Gippsland Line Upgrade. The following list provides 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. Its unemployment rate was 2.5% as of September 2025, lower than Rest of Vic.'s 3.8%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.7%, based on AreaSearch aggregation. As of September 2025788 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 54.2%, below Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Employment in agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly high at 1.4 times the regional average, while health care & social assistance employs 12.2% of local workers, below Rest of Vic.'s 16.8%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 3.7% and labour force by 3.2%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. experienced employment decline of 0.7%. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with a state unemployment rate of 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest Neerim South's employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Neerim South's median taxpayer income was $45,101 and average was $58,881 according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. This is lower than Victoria's overall median of $50,954 and average of $62,728. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $48,822 and average $63,739 based on an 8.25% increase from the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023. Neerim South's incomes rank between the 24th and 24th percentiles nationally for household, family, and personal incomes. The data shows 27.6% of residents (452 individuals) earn within the $800-$1,499 range, differing from surrounding regions where 30.3% fall into the $1,500-$2,999 bracket. Residents retain 87.2% of income after housing costs but total disposable income ranks at just the 29th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fourth decile.

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

Neerim South's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 91.6% houses and 8.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Neerim South was at 48.2%, with the rest being mortgaged (39.7%) or rented (12.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,549, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,600. The median weekly rent was $260, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $320. Nationally, Neerim South's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,549 versus Australia's $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Neerim South has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 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 make up 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, which aligns with the average for the Rest of Vic.

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 prominent, with 45.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them. Advanced diplomas account for 14.0% and certificates for 31.5%.

Educational participation is high at 29.0%, including 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 well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Neerim South, with common conditions prevalent across younger and older age groups. Approximately 50% (~821 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent medical issues are arthritis (12.0%) and mental health concerns (9.1%), while 60.4% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.7% in Rest of Vic.. Neerim South has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 27.9% (457 people), compared to the state average of 20.8%. Health outcomes among seniors show some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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, as per data from the 2016 Census, had low cultural diversity with 88.4% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (88.7%), and speaking English only at home (97.5%). Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 45.5% of residents. Buddhism, however, was slightly overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria, with 1.1% of Neerim South's population identifying as Buddhists.

Top ancestry groups were English (32.7%), Australian (31.5%), and Irish (10.1%). Notably, Dutch, Scottish, and Welsh ethnicities were also overrepresented in Neerim South compared to regional averages: Dutch at 3.5% vs 2.7%, Scottish at 9.1% vs 8.5%, 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 47 years, significantly higher than the Rest of Vic average of 43 and substantially exceeding the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows a prominent group aged 65-74 (14.9%), while those aged 45-54 are comparatively smaller (8.9%) than in Rest of Vic, with this concentration being well above the national figure of 9.4%. From 2021 to present, the population aged 75-84 has grown from 8.2% to 9.1%, while those aged 45-54 have declined from 10.8% to 8.9% and those aged 55-64 have dropped from 15.0% to 13.3%. By the year 2041, Neerim South's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 40%, reaching 243 people from its current figure of 173. Meanwhile, populations aged 15-24 and 65-74 are expected to decrease.