Berwick - South West

Berwick - South West lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of February 2026, Berwick - South West's population is approximately 13,166. This marks a growth of 1,912 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,254. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates: 12,791 in June 2024 and an additional 489 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 2,649 persons per square kilometer, placing Berwick - South West in the upper quartile nationally. The area's growth rate of 17.0% since the 2021 Census exceeds both its SA3 region (7.0%) and national averages. Overseas migration contributed approximately 38.5% to recent population gains, with other factors like interstate migration also positive drivers.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, based on 2022 data. For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used 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. By 2041, Berwick - South West's population is projected to increase significantly, reaching approximately 18,390 persons, a 36.8% rise over the 17-year period.

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

Berwick - South West has seen approximately 202 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1,013 homes. As of FY-26, 59 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.9 new residents arrive per year for each new home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions. New properties are constructed at an average value of $309,000, aligning with regional trends.

In this financial year, $1.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity compared to residential growth. When considering Greater Melbourne, Berwick - South West shows 194.0% more construction activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers despite a recent slowdown in building activity. This high level of developer interest is significantly above the national average. New developments consist of 77.0% standalone homes and 23.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's suburban character while introducing more diverse housing options to meet changing lifestyles. The location has approximately 82 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Berwick - South West is projected to add 4,849 residents by 2041.

Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Berwick - South West has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects that may impact this area. Key projects are Berwick South Development Plan, Hunt Club Village Shopping Centre Expansion, Stockland Minta Residential Estate, and Hunt Club Estate, with the following list detailing those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Berwick - South West has been broadly consistent with national averages

Berwick - South West has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.9% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.7%.

As of September 2025, there were 7,276 residents employed with an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is 0.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Berwick - South West was 77.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 27.1% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Major employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Manufacturing is particularly notable with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. However, professional & technical services are under-represented at 7.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Over the year ending September 2025, employment increased by 4.7% while labour force grew by 5.5%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0%, labour force expand by 3.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Berwick - South West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The median taxpayer income in Berwick - South West SA2 is $58,152 and the average is $76,835 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is high nationally compared to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%, the estimated median income would be approximately $62,950 and the average around $83,174. Census data indicates that household, family and personal incomes in Berwick - South West cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 42.8% of residents (5,635 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket. This is similar to regional levels where 32.8% occupy this range. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income but strong earnings place disposable income at the 75th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Berwick - South West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Berwick - South West, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.8% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 5.2% being semi-detached properties, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Berwick - South West stood at 16.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 51.7% and rented ones at 32.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Melbourne metro's average, while the median weekly rent was $400, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390 respectively. Nationally, Berwick - South West's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 85.1% of all households, including 53.5% couples with children, 18.8% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 14.9%, with lone person households at 12.4% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 32.4%, exceeding the SA3 average of 25.7%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are held by 33.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.5% and certificates at 20.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 35.2% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.9% in primary, 9.1% in secondary, and 5.4% in tertiary education.

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

Berwick - South West has 27 active public transport stops offering mixed bus services. These are covered by eight routes, providing a total of 1,339 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 328 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most residents commute outward using cars (91%), while 6% use trains. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, 27.1% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Daily service frequency across all routes averages 191 trips, resulting in approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

Berwick - South West's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Berwick - South West.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were assessed by AreaSearch. Prevalence of common health conditions was low among the general population but higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover rate was very high, approximately 57% of the total population (around 7,504 people). The most common medical conditions in the area were asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.0 and 7.0% of residents respectively. 75.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for the under-65 population were better than average. The area has 9.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,187 people), which is lower than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

Berwick - South West 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 West has high cultural diversity with 42.3% overseas-born residents and 42.4% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 39.5%. Buddhism is overrepresented at 7.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (20.5%), Australian (18.5%), and English (18.3%). Sri Lankan (3.3%) and Indian (8.7%) groups are notably overrepresented, while Hungarian is slightly higher at 0.5%.

Berwick - South West hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Berwick's median age of 35 years is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and the national average of 38. The 5-14 age group comprises 16.4% of Berwick's population compared to Greater Melbourne. The 25-34 cohort makes up 12.8%. From 2021, the 65-74 age group grew from 4.6% to 5.7%, and the 55-64 cohort increased from 8.4% to 9.4%. Conversely, the 35-44 cohort decreased from 18.9% to 17.7%, and the 25-34 group dropped from 13.8% to 12.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Berwick-South West, with the 45-54 age cohort projected to rise substantially by 1,020 people (54%) from 1,882 to 2,903.