Berwick - South East
Statistical Area - sa2

Berwick - South East lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Berwick - South East's population was approximately 20,627 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents a growth of 2,867 people, or 16.1%, since the 2021 Census reported a population of 17,760. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,004 in June 2024 and an additional 1,105 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,087 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Berwick - South East's growth rate exceeded that of the SA3 area (6.1%) and the national average, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 39.5% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

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 uses the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Berwick - South East is projected to grow by an additional 10,223 persons, representing a total gain of 46.5% over the 17-year period, placing it in the top 10 percent of national statistical areas for growth.

The level of residential development activity in Berwick - South East was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Berwick - South East has seen approximately 280 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 1,400 homes. As of FY-26, 88 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.5 new residents arrive per year for each new home approved between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions.

The average construction value of new properties is $348,000. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Berwick - South East has 153.0% more building activity per person, providing ample choice for buyers. This high level suggests strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction comprises 91.0% standalone homes and 9.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the suburban nature of the area while attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 73 people per dwelling approval, Berwick - South East exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

Future projections estimate that Berwick - South East will add approximately 9,598 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Berwick - South East has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects that may impact this region. Notable ones are Beaconsfield Primary School Modernisation, Berwick Waters, Arena Berwick (Stage 3 Expansion), and Olio Residential Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Berwick - South East demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Berwick - South East has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate as of June 2025 is 3.1%, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%.

The area has seen an estimated employment growth of 4.3% over the past year. As of June 2025, 11,342 residents are in work and workforce participation stands at 71.6%, higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading industries among employed residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

However, professional & technical services are under-represented with only 7.5% of the workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 4.3%, labour force grew by 4.4%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with an increase in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025, national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Berwick - South East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 on Berwick - South East. The median income among taxpayers was $55,802 and the average was $82,702. These figures were among the highest in Australia. Greater Melbourne's median income was $54,892 with an average of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $62,588 (median) and $92,759 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household incomes ranked at the 86th percentile with a weekly income of $2,361. In terms of income distribution, 37.5% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting regional patterns where 32.8% fell within this range. Economic strength was evident with 35.0% of households earning over $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consumed 15.7% of income but strong earnings resulted in disposable income at the 85th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Berwick - South East, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.5% houses and 3.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 88.1% houses and 11.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Berwick - South East stood at 21.0%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (57.0%) or rented (22.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,100, exceeding Melbourne metro's average of $1,900. The median weekly rent figure for Berwick - South East was recorded at $430, compared to Melbourne metro's $370. Nationally, Berwick - South East's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 88.0% of all households, including 56.3% couples with children, 19.4% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 12.0%, with lone person households at 10.5% and group households making up 1.5%. The median household size is 3.3 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

Berwick - South East shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational qualifications in Berwick - South East trail regional benchmarks, with 31.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 37.0% in Greater Melbourne. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 31.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.5%) and certificates (19.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.9% in primary education, 11.6% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education. Berwick - South East's 5 schools have combined enrollment reaching 4,561 students while the area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1067). Education provision is balanced with 3 primary and 2 secondary schools serving distinct age groups. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (22.1 places per 100 residents vs 16.0 regionally), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Transport analysis in Berwick - South East shows 60 active transport stops operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by 8 individual routes that together provide 2,149 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 195 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 307 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 35 weekly trips per individual stop.

Berwick - South East's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Berwick - South East, with younger cohorts experiencing very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 61% of the total population (12,644 people) have private health cover, compared to 53.6% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.3 and 6.5% of residents respectively.

A total of 76.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.0% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 9.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,982 people), lower than the 15.7% in Greater Melbourne. While health outcomes among seniors are above average, they require more attention than the broader population.

Berwick - South East is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Berwick-South East has a high cultural diversity, with 39.2% of its population born overseas and 35.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Berwick-South East, comprising 43.3%. Buddhism is more prevalent here compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 6.8% versus 5.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (19.8%), Australian (19.7%), and Other (16.5%). Notably, Sri Lankan ethnicity is overrepresented at 3.1%, Indian at 8.1%, and Hungarian at 0.5%.

Berwick - South East's population is younger than the national pattern

Berwick in the South East region has a median age of 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and the national average of 38 years. The age group of 5-14 years comprises 17.1% of Berwick's population, higher than Greater Melbourne's representation. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age cohort makes up 9.6%, which is less prevalent compared to Greater Melbourne. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 15.1% to 16.2%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 18.1% to 17.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Berwick-South East. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to rise substantially by 1,835 people (57%), growing from 3,244 to 5,080 individuals.