Loddon

Loddon is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Loddon's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 7,244 people. This figure represents a decrease of 45 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,289 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,231 as of June 2025 and an additional 161 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1.2 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch is using 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 employs Victoria's State Government Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, Loddon's population is expected to decline over this period, with a contraction of 3,144 persons predicted by 2041.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Loddon according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Loddon has averaged approximately 23 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 116 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 12 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 0.8 new residents per year per dwelling constructed has been observed. This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections.

The average value of new homes being built is $322,000. In FY-26, $25.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Loddon has significantly less development activity, at 56.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Additionally, Loddon is under the national average in terms of development activity, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations.

Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, preserving Loddon's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The area reflects a low density population, with approximately 336 people per approval. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Loddon should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Loddon has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 79 projects potentially impacting the region. Notable initiatives comprise Derby Solar Farm, Campbells Forest Solar Farm, Marong Township Growth Area, and Calder Highway Upgrades. The following details projects likely to have the greatest relevance.

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

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Loddon shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Loddon's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs with varied industry representation. The unemployment rate was 5.4% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 1.5%. As of December 2025, 3,139 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.7%, above Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation was 53.7%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. Approximately 22.2% of residents worked from home, possibly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had employment levels at 4.8 times the regional average.

Health care & social assistance was lower at 12.0%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 16.8%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.5% and labour force by 1.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Vic. saw employment decline of 0.6% and labour force decline of 0.7%, with a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Loddon. Over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Loddon's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 4.8% over five years and 11.1% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Loddon SA2 had a median income of $44,393 and an average income of $52,167. This is below the national average. Regional Vic.'s median was $50,954 with an average of $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $48,664 (median) and $57,185 (average). Census data reveals incomes in Loddon fall between the 4th and 6th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 28.9% of locals in the $800 - $1,499 range, unlike broader trends where 30.3% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing costs are modest with 92.6% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 11th percentile nationally.

Loddon is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Loddon, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 95.6% houses and 4.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Loddon stood at 60.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.6% and rented dwellings at 13.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $867, below Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Loddon was $170, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Loddon's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Loddon features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 63.5% of all households, including 21.7% couples with children, 32.8% couples without children, and 7.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.5%, with lone person households at 34.0% and group households making up 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Loddon fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 14.6%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 29.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.2% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

A total of 33 operational public transport stops exist within Loddon. These consist of a mix of train services. Seven unique routes serve these stops, offering a combined total of 61 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is considered limited, with residents typically residing 600 meters away from the nearest stop. As primarily residential area, most residents travel outward for work. The car remains the prevalent mode of commuting at 85%, while walking accounts for 12%.

On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 22.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, the average service frequency is 8 trips per day, resulting in approximately one weekly trip per individual stop.

Health performance in Loddon is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Loddon faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age groups. Only approximately 46% of Loddon's total population (~3,317 people) has private health cover, compared to Regional Vic.'s 50.5% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.8%) and mental health issues (9.3%). Conversely, 58.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to Regional Vic.'s 63.4%. Working-age population health challenges are notable due to elevated chronic condition rates. Loddon has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over (31.4%, 2,273 people) than Regional Vic. (23.9%), with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Loddon is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Loddon's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.5% of its population being citizens, 90.4% born in Australia, and 96.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Loddon, accounting for 52.5% of people, compared to 47.3% across Regional Vic.. The top three ancestry groups are English (34.1%), Australian (32.0%), and Scottish (10.5%).

Notably, Irish ethnicity is overrepresented at 9.5%, compared to 9.7% regionally, while Filipino and Dutch ethnicities are also higher than the regional averages at 1.3% each.

Loddon ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Loddon is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Regional Victoria's average of 43 years and also notably above the national norm of 38 years. The 65-74 age cohort is over-represented in Loddon at 17.5%, compared to Regional Victoria's average of around 10%. This concentration is well above the national average of 9.4%. From 2021 onwards, the 75-84 age group has grown from 8.4% to 10.1% of Loddon's population, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 8.4% to 9.7%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group declined from 17.7% to 15.4%, and the 45-54 age group dropped from 12.5% to 11.2%. Population forecasts for Loddon indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 85+ cohort is projected to show the strongest growth, increasing by approximately 30% to reach around 193 residents. However, population declines are projected for both the 85+ and 0-4 age cohorts.