South Morang

Population growth drivers in South Morang are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of South Morang is estimated at around 26,426, reflecting an increase of 1,437 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 24,989. This increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of resident population at 25,959 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 793 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,237 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 68.0% 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, and for areas not covered, utilising VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels.

Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of South Morang is predicted to grow by 12,369 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 45.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions South Morang among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows South Morang has averaged approximately 238 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 1,190 homes. So far in FY-26, 28 approvals have been recorded. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 is 0.1.

New supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new properties is $344,000. In the current financial year, there have been $25.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, South Morang records about 65% of the building activity per person and places among the 87th percentile of areas assessed nationally. New building activity shows 45.0% detached dwellings and 55.0% townhouses or apartments.

This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. It reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The current housing mix is 84.0% houses. South Morang has approximately 100 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, South Morang is expected to grow by 11,902 residents through to 2041. Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

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

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 44 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are the Findon Road Arterial Road Completion project from Plenty Road to Epping Road, the 175 Gordons Road Development, the South Morang Civic Centre Precinct, and The Gorge Townhomes. The following list details those projects that are likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions South Morang ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

South Morang has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. Employment stability over the past year is relatively high.

As of September 2025, 15,085 residents are employed. The unemployment rate is 1.1% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation stands at 73.9%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 23.6% of residents work from home.

Key industries of employment are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction is particularly strong with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Professional & technical services have a limited presence at 6.3%, compared to 10.1% regionally. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 0.3% while labour force grew by 0.4%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment rate of 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with an unemployment increase of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Morang's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows South Morang's median income among taxpayers is $55,113. The average income in the suburb is $64,259. Nationally, these figures are lower than average. In Greater Melbourne, the median income is $57,688 and the average is $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for South Morang would be approximately $59,660 (median) and $69,560 (average) as of September 2025. Census data indicates household income ranks at the 70th percentile ($2,078 weekly), while personal income sits at the 53rd percentile. Income analysis reveals that 39.7% of locals (10,491 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category. This is similar to the surrounding region where 32.8% occupy this range. High housing costs consume 15.4% of income. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 72nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

South Morang is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In South Morang, as per the latest Census, 84.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 15.6% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. In contrast, Melbourne metropolitan area had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Morang stood at 24.5%, lower than Melbourne's metro average. The majority of dwellings were mortgaged (54.2%) or rented (21.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,900, below the Melbourne metro average of $2,000 but higher than the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in South Morang was $390, matching Melbourne's figure but exceeding the national average of $375.

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

Family households constitute 82.4% of all households, including 48.9% couples with children, 19.9% couples without children, and 12.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 17.6%, with lone person households at 15.7% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 3.0 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of South Morang exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 26.7%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 32.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (20.8%). Educational participation is high at 32.5%, with 11.0% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

South Morang has 97 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 12 different routes that collectively facilitate 4,791 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these transport services is considered good, with residents typically residing just 239 meters away from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most inhabitants commute outwards for work or other purposes. Private cars are the primary mode of transportation, used by 90% of residents, while only 6% rely on trains. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling in South Morang, which is higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, approximately 23.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 684 trips per day, translating to roughly 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

South Morang's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

South Morang's health metrics closely match national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among South Morang residents is somewhat typical but higher than the national average for older cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~13,810 people), slightly above the average SA2 area rate of 50.9%. This compares to a rate of 56.7% across Greater Melbourne. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in South Morang, affecting 7.1% and 6.8% of residents respectively. A total of 74.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population in South Morang demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 13.5% of residents aged 65 and over (3,567 people), lower than the 15.1% figure for Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those of the broader population as a whole.

South Morang was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

South Morang's cultural diversity is evident with 32.4% of its population born overseas and 38.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 59.3% of South Morang's population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 2.6%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 2.3%.

In terms of ancestry, Australians make up 17.6%, English 15.0% (lower than Greater Melbourne's 20.1%), and Other groups comprise 13.7%. Significant disparities exist in the representation of certain ethnicities: Macedonian at 5.8% (regional average is 0.7%), Italian at 13.2% (vs regional 5.2%), and Maltese at 2.1% (vs regional 1.1%).

South Morang's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

South Morang has a median age of 37, matching Greater Melbourne and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 45-54 age group constitutes 14.9%, higher than Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort is at 12.8%. Between 2021 and present, the 55 to 64 age group grew from 10.1% to 11.8%, and the 75 to 84 group increased from 3.2% to 4.6%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 14.8% to 13.0%, and the 35 to 44 group dropped from 15.9% to 14.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in South Morang's age structure, with the 55 to 64 group expected to grow by 68% (2,119 people), reaching a total of 5,238 from its current figure of 3,118.