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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
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South Morang has an estimated 26,377 residents, up from 24,989 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,388 people, or 5.6%. 839 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 68.0% of that increase. That puts 1,235 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader regional ABS demographic releases alongside post-Census validated address counts, the suburb of South Morang has an estimated count of around 26,377 residents as of Aug 2026. This indicates a net gain of 1,388 people (5.6%) relative to the 24,989 people recorded in the 2021 Census. Such growth is deduced from an estimated resident tally of 26,313 established from the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 839 validated new addresses identified since Census night. The resulting population density stands at 1,234 persons per square kilometer, outpacing the national benchmark across AreaSearch study locations.
Inbound overseas migration served as the primary growth driver, accounting for roughly 68.0% of recent population gains in the suburb of South Morang. Demographic projections utilised by AreaSearch incorporate the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia dataset based on 2022 benchmarks. Where specific SA2 coverage is absent, figures draw upon 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA models converted via weighted population growth aggregations from LGA down to SA2 zones, with cohort-specific rates applied across all territories for the years 2032 to 2041. Over the coming years, the suburb of South Morang is slated for exceptional expansion that ranks within the top 10 percent of national areas, with aggregated SA2 figures pointing to an increase of 11,894 persons to 2041, representing a 44.9% overall surge across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
1,130 new dwellings have been approved in South Morang over the past five years, an average of 226 a year. That places the area in the 70th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 9 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 219 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 47% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 94, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Examining statistical area building consent data from the ABS, AreaSearch tracks an annual average of around 226 residential approvals in South Morang, amounting to approximately 1,130 homes across the past 5 financial years. Within FY-25 to date, 94 approvals have been lodged. With an average of just 0.5 new residents added annually per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, residential construction is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, widening options for purchasers and facilitating growth that may outstrip current projections. The average expected construction cost for new dwellings sits at $540,000, moderately higher than regional figures and underscoring a commitment to build quality.
Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $25.4 million this financial year, reflecting a moderate pace of commercial development. Per capita building activity in South Morang reaches roughly 62% of the Greater Melbourne level, positioning it in the 77th percentile nationally. Recent residential construction is divided between 47.0% standalone houses and 53.0% medium and high-density formats. This orientation toward higher-density stock creates accessible price points for first-home buyers, downsizers, and investors alike. It also marks a visible departure from the local standing stock of 84.0% houses, pointing to tighter land availability alongside shifting lifestyle demands for varied, budget-friendly housing. Recording roughly 142 people per dwelling approval, South Morang maintains the traits of a low density area. Long-term demographic models indicate that South Morang will add 11,830 residents through to 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. While current building activity maintains a reasonable pace relative to these forecasts, incoming buyers could encounter tighter competition as the local population base widens.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around South Morang
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 18 current infrastructure and development projects inside South Morang, worth an estimated $4.61 billion. A further 135 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $35.2 billion. 37 are already under construction and 52 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and education & training. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local amenities, planning initiatives, and major capital works play a pivotal role in shaping community outcomes. AreaSearch has pinpointed a total of 44 projects positioned to influence the area. Key undertakings include the South Morang Civic Centre Precinct, The Gorge Townhomes, 175 Gordons Road Development, and the Findon Road Arterial Road Completion - Plenty Road to Epping Road, with prominent works summarised below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
175 Gordons Road Development
Residential development featuring modern townhomes and apartments. Strategic location with easy access to public transport and shopping precincts.
Whittlesea Aboriginal Gathering Place
A purpose-built, culturally safe community facility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Whittlesea, located in the bunjil nganga Parkland (Quarry Hills). The facility includes consulting suites, meeting rooms, multi-purpose spaces, commercial kitchen, and outdoor ceremony and gathering spaces.
Findon Road Arterial Road Completion - Plenty Road to Epping Road
State government advocacy for the completion of Findon Road as a declared arterial road with duplication between Plenty Road and Epping Road by 2030. Following the 2023 extension to Danaher Drive, the project aims to complete the connection, ease congestion, and provide the first major east-west arterial north of the Metropolitan Ring Road.
South Morang Civic Centre Precinct
Proposed civic centre development including council offices, community facilities, library, and public spaces to serve as a central hub for South Morang.
Quarry Hills Precinct Structure Plan
A major 285-hectare precinct structure plan for sustainable community development with 2,358 dwellings. It features a village town centre, sporting fields, and integrates with the newly named bunjil nganga Parkland (formerly Quarry Hills). Key infrastructure under construction includes the Granite Hills Major Community Park and an Aboriginal Gathering Place.
300 Gordons Road Development
Subdivision activity lodged July 2025 to create two lots (R1, R2) and a reserve on a ~1.2 ha site at 300 Gordons Road, South Morang. This appears to be an early subdivision/servicing step ahead of future housing development. Council is the responsible authority; the application is being processed via SPEAR.
The Gorge Townhomes
Proposed townhouse development in the heart of South Morang. Modern architectural design with premium finishes and close proximity to local amenities and transport links. Site previously sold for $6.42M with permit for 36 townhomes.
Tram Extension to South Morang
Proposed extension of tram route 86 from Bundoora to South Morang, providing improved public transport connectivity and reducing reliance on private vehicles.
15,266 residents of South Morang are employed, from a labour force of 16,016. Unemployment sits at 4.7%, with participation at 74.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 20,627, about 78% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
South Morang features a capable workforce with solid representation in essential services, showing an unemployment rate of 4.7% and a 1.3% rise in estimated jobs over the previous twelve months according to AreaSearch aggregated data. By March 2026, employed residents reached 15,266, while the jobless rate closely matches the 4.8% recorded across Greater Melbourne, accompanied by a labor force participation rate of 74.4% compared to 70.1% across the broader metropolitan area. Census findings also revealed that 23.6% of workers operated from home, though this figure was subject to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Local employment is heavily concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction shows especially strong representation, engaging workers at 1.3 times the Greater Melbourne average. Conversely, professional & technical roles account for only 6.3% of the resident workforce, trailing the 10.1% metropolitan benchmark. When comparing the resident working cohort against local job numbers from the Census, the area exhibits a relatively limited volume of local employment opportunities. Synthesising broader SALM and ABS statistics over the 12 months to March 2026, AreaSearch notes that a 1.3% rise in employment alongside a 2.9% expansion in the labour force lifted the local unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points. Throughout the same timeframe, Greater Melbourne saw employment climb 2.1%, the workforce grow 2.3%, and joblessness edge up 0.2 percentage points. Longer-term structural shifts can be contextualised using national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 across five- and ten-year horizons. Across the country, total employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though industry trajectories diverge. Applying these national sector trends to South Morang's workforce profile indicates potential local employment gains of 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (noting this illustrative weighting model does not incorporate local demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in South Morang is $2,078 a week (about $108,000 a year), with median personal income at $824 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,113 a year against an average of $64,259. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Aggregated ATO figures compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place personal earnings in the suburb of South Morang beneath national averages. Local taxpayers reported a median income of $55,113 and an average income of $64,259, whereas Greater Melbourne registered benchmarks of $57,688 and $75,164. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% from financial year 2023 suggests updated levels of roughly $60,415 (median) and $70,441 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed weekly household earnings at $2,078, positioning the area in the 70th percentile, alongside individual earnings at the 53rd percentile.
Around 39.7% of the community (10,471 individuals) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, aligning with the 32.8% observed metropolitan-wide. While housing commitments take up 15.4% of earnings, solid household income maintains disposable income in the 72nd percentile, with the area ranking in the 6th decile on the SEIFA index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
South Morang had 8,033 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 84% detached houses and 0% apartments. 54% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 25% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $390 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,900 a month. Rent absorbs 18.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, standalone houses made up 84.4% of South Morang's residential landscape, with apartments, semi-detached residences, and other dwellings comprising 15.6%, compared with 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings across greater Melbourne. Full home ownership stood at 24.5%, trailing the metropolitan standard, while mortgaged properties accounted for 54.2% and rental tenures represented 21.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments averaged $1,900 at the median, sitting below Melbourne's $2,000 benchmark, whereas median weekly rent matched the wider metropolitan rate of $390. Relative to Australia-wide benchmarks, South Morang records higher median housing outlays, exceeding the national monthly mortgage repayment of $1,863 and weekly rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
South Morang counted 8,033 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 8,479 today, averaging 3.0 people each. 49% are couples with children, more than in 94% of areas nationally, against 20% couples without children. 16% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family dwellings comprise the vast majority of local living arrangements at 82.4%, split between couples with children at 48.9%, couples without children at 19.9%, and single parent families at 12.6%. The remaining 17.6% consists of non-family living situations, which include single-person households at 15.7% and share houses at 1.9%. The median household size stands at 3.0 people, exceeding the 2.6 person average recorded across Greater Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
26.7% of adults in South Morang hold a university qualification, including 17.6% with a bachelor degree and 6.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 20.8% hold a vocational qualification. 8 schools serve the area, with 3,439 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,026 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational profiles indicate that 26.7% of local residents hold university degrees, trailing the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0% and highlighting avenues for future educational programs. Among degree holders, bachelor qualifications represent 17.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 6.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Conversely, technical and trade credentials show strong presence, with 32.2% of individuals aged 15 and over possessing vocational training, led by certificates (20.8%) and advanced diplomas (11.4%). A substantial proportion of the population is actively engaged in study, with 32.5% of residents participating in formal learning. This encompasses 11.0% enrolled in primary education, 9.4% in secondary schooling, and 5.5% attending tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in South Morang reaches 97 stops on 12 routes, timetabled for about 5,600 services a week. The typical home sits about 240 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Commuters in South Morang are served by 97 operational transit stops comprising a bus network. Operating across 12 unique routes, this network delivers 5,586 weekly passenger trips. Public transport accessibility is well-rated, placing residents an average distance of 239 meters from their closest boarding point. Commuting patterns reflect an outward flow from this predominantly residential district, with private cars accounting for 90% of travel and trains capturing 6%. Household vehicle ownership stands at 1.7 cars per dwelling, outpacing metropolitan averages, while 23.6% of residents worked remotely as of the 2021 Census under possible COVID-19 influences.
Transit services maintain an average volume of 798 daily trips across the combined network, translating to roughly 57 trips per week for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.5% of residents in South Morang report no long-term health condition. 5.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
General health indicators in South Morang broadly align with national averages according to AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and chronic disease trends. Typical medical conditions among the general community remain standard, though elevated rates are evident in older age brackets, while private health insurance membership reaches around 52% of the populace (~13,784 people), marginally leading the typical SA2 average but trailing the 56.7% benchmark for Greater Melbourne. Asthma and mental health issues represent the primary reported health conditions, diagnosed in 6.8% and 7.1% of the population respectively, while 74.5% of locals stated having no chronic conditions, outperforming the 72.6% recorded across Greater Melbourne.
Residents under 65 experience positive overall health. Those aged 65 and over make up 12.3% of the community (3,244 people), below Greater Melbourne's 15.1%, though health measures for senior age groups reveal greater complexity and sit lower nationally than the general local average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
32.4% of South Morang residents were born overseas and 38.2% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 77% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (17.6%) and English (15.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is pronounced in South Morang, where 32.4% of residents were born abroad and 38.2% communicate in a language other than English at home. Christianity forms the dominant religious faith, adhered to by 59.3% of the community. In addition, the Other category shows higher concentration locally, accounting for 2.6% of residents versus 2.3% across Greater Melbourne. Looking at parental lineage, the three largest background groups in South Morang are Australian at 17.6%, English at 15.0% (below the 20.1% Greater Melbourne figure), and Other at 13.7%. Pronounced concentrations also exist for specific European backgrounds, including Macedonian ancestry at 5.8% (against 0.7% regionally), Italian at 13.2% (compared to 5.2%), and Maltese at 2.1% (versus 1.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of South Morang is 36. 28.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Age distributions in South Morang track Greater Melbourne patterns closely, staying within 4.1 percentage points across each broad demographic group. The estimated median age remains at 36, identical to the 2021 Census figure and 1 year below Greater Melbourne's Census baseline of 37. The most noticeable demographic shift since the Census occurred among residents aged 0 - 24, who now represent an estimated 33.3% of the community compared to 34.8% previously. Projections to 2041 indicate that the 45 - 64 cohort will generate the largest numerical gain, adding 4,146 residents (60%) to reach 11,110, while the 65+ demographic will see the sharpest proportional increase, expanding 100% to 6,486.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for South Morang
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 18 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 839 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (24,989 at the 2021 Census → 26,377 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL22311). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.