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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Berwick - South East's population was approximately 20,626 as of August 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 2,866 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,760. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,003 in June 2024 and an additional 1,105 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,087 persons per square kilometer, higher than average national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Berwick - South East's growth rate of 16.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (6.1%) and the national average, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 39.5% to overall population gains during recent periods, with other factors such as interstate migration and natural growth also being positive contributors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made via 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. According to these trends, exceptional growth is predicted over the period, with the area expected to expand by 10,223 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers, resulting in a total gain of 46.5% over the 17 years.

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. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 1,400 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, there have been 54 approvals so far.

On average, about 1.5 new residents arrive per year for each new home approved over the past five financial years. This indicates a balanced market with stable conditions. The average construction cost value for new homes is $442,000, which aligns with regional patterns. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Berwick - South East records 153.0% more construction activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. New development consists of 91.0% standalone homes and 9.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes.

With around 73 people per dwelling approval, Berwick - South East exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Future projections suggest that Berwick - South East will add approximately 9,599 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact this region. Notable projects include Berwick Waters, Olio Residential Development, Clyde Road Upgrade, and Officer Town Centre Redevelopment. The following details these projects, focusing on those likely to be most relevant.

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

The labour market in Berwick - South East shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Berwick - South East has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.3%. There were 11,342 residents in work by June 2025, with a workforce participation rate of 71.6%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Professional & technical services had limited presence at 7.5% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.3%, while labour force grew by 4.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne during the same period, employment rose by 3.5%, labour force grew by 4.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth of 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, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Berwick - South East is among the highest in Australia, with a median assessed at $55,802 and an average income of $82,702. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne's figures of a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $61,444 (median) and $91,063 (average) as of March 2025. Census data reveals household incomes rank exceptionally at the 86th percentile ($2,361 weekly). Distribution data shows that 37.5% of the population (7,734 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, mirroring the surrounding region where 32.8% occupy this bracket. The substantial proportion of high earners (35.0% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Berwick - South East. High housing costs consume 15.7% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 85th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Berwick - South East had 96.5% houses and 3.5% other dwellings in the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 88.1% houses and 11.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Berwick - South East was at 21.0%, with dwellings either mortgaged (57.0%) or rented (22.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, higher than Melbourne metro's $1,900 and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Berwick - South East was $430, above Melbourne metro's $370 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise 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, which is 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

In Berwick - South East, 31.0% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees, compared to 37.0% in Greater Melbourne. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 31.9% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (12.5%) and certificates (19.4%). Educational participation is high, with 36.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (12.9%), secondary education (11.6%), and tertiary education (5.5%). The area has 5 schools with a combined enrollment of 4,561 students. Berwick - South East has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1067). There are 3 primary and 2 secondary schools serving distinct age groups, with school capacity exceeding 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.

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

Transport analysis shows 60 active stops in operation within Berwick - South East. These are served by a mix of buses along eight different routes. Together, these routes facilitate 2149 weekly passenger trips.

Residential accessibility to transport is rated excellent, with residents typically located 195 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 307 trips per day across all routes, resulting in 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 in Berwick - South East, particularly for younger cohorts who have a very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 61% (12,643 people) of the total population has private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 53.6%. Nationally, this figure stands at 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.3% and 6.5% of residents respectively. 76.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.0%. Berwick - South East has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 9.6% (1,982 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.7%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those in 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 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, however, is more prevalent here at 6.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 5.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (19.8%), Australian (19.7%), and Other (16.5%). Notably, Sri Lankan (3.1%) and Indian (8.1%) populations are overrepresented in Berwick-South East compared to regional averages of 2.3% and 5.0%, respectively. Hungarian representation stands at 0.5%.

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

Berwick's median age of 35 years is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and the national average of 38 years. The 5-14 age group comprises 17.1% of Berwick's population, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage. Meanwhile, the 25-34 cohort makes up 9.6%, which is lower 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 changes in Berwick's demographics. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to rise substantially, with an increase of 1,835 people (57%), from 3,244 to 5,080.