Longford - Loch Sport

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

Longford-Loch Sport's population is approximately 5,033 as of May 2026, an increase of 118 people since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 4,915. This growth reflects an estimated resident population of 5,009 in June 2025 and validated new addresses since then. The population density is around 3.1 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, from 2016 to 2026, Longford-Loch Sport has shown a compound annual growth rate of 1.6%, surpassing its SA3 area's growth. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 66.7% of population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 for areas not covered by the former data.

Future trends forecast a significant increase in Longford-Loch Sport's population, with an expected rise of 1,774 persons to 2041 based on annual ERP numbers, reflecting a total gain of 34.5% over these 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Longford - Loch Sport when compared nationally

Longford-Loch Sport averaged approximately 56 new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25282 homes were approved, with an additional 26 approved in FY26 as of now. On average, 1.3 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years, indicating a balanced supply and demand market supporting stable conditions.

The average construction cost value for new dwellings was $273,000. This financial year, $3.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to Rest of Vic., Longford-Loch Sport has seen 92.0% more building activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers, although construction activity has recently eased. This level is notably higher than the national average, suggesting robust developer interest in the area. All recent development has been detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking space, with approximately 130 people per dwelling approval.

Population forecasts indicate Longford-Loch Sport will gain an additional 1,734 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Construction is currently maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth; however, buyers may face increasing competition as the population grows.

Longford - Loch Sport 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 40 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Gippsland Renewable Energy Park (GREP), Fulham Solar Farm, Longford Development Plan, and Port of Sale East Bank Redevelopment Study. 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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Longford - Loch Sport has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Longford-Loch Sport has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.6% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.6% over the past year. There are 2,352 residents in work currently, with an unemployment rate of 0.9% above Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is somewhat below standard at 57.0%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. According to Census responses, 15.6% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area shows strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 2.4 times the regional level.

Manufacturing has limited presence at 4.1%, compared to Regional Vic.'s 7.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 5.6% and labour force increased by 5.1%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. Regional Vic., however, recorded an employment decline of 0.6%, labour force decline of 0.7%, with a decrease in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Longford-Loch Sport's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The Longford-Loch Sport SA2's median income among taxpayers was $45,165 in financial year 2023, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $59,828 during this period. These figures compare to Regional Vic.'s median and average incomes of $50,954 and $62,728 respectively in the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $49,510 (median) and $65,583 (average). Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Longford-Loch Sport all fall between the 6th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 28.1% of the community earned between $400 and $799 (1,414 individuals), differing from metropolitan regions where earnings between $1,500 and $2,999 dominate with 30.3%. Housing costs are modest, with 89.0% of income retained, but the total disposable income ranks at just the 11th percentile nationally.

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

In Longford - Loch Sport, as per the latest Census evaluation, 96.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 3.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Regional Vic., where 90.1% were houses and 9.9% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Longford - Loch Sport stood at 57.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.3% and rented ones at 8.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Longford - Loch Sport was $200, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Longford - Loch Sport's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 66.1% of all households, including 22.1% couples with children, 36.7% couples without children, and 6.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.9%, with lone person households at 31.3% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Longford - Loch Sport faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 18.1%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (31.7%). A total of 24.4% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, comprising 8.7% in primary, 7.2% in secondary, and 2.6% in tertiary education.

A substantial 24.4% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Longford-Loch Sport shows that there are currently 26 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops are serviced by two individual routes combined, providing a total of 16 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these transport services is rated as limited, with residents typically located approximately 1987 meters away from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential region, most residents commute outward for their daily activities. The car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 84%, while walking accounts for 10% of trips. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles owned per dwelling in Longford-Loch Sport, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census data (which may reflect COVID-19 conditions), approximately 15.6% of residents work from home. The service frequency averages about two trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly zero weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Longford - Loch Sport is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Longford-Loch Sport faces significant health challenges. AreaSearch's assessment shows mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high among both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is low, at approximately 49% of the total population (~2,461 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.9%) and mental health issues (8.0%). 61.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. As of March 2021, the area has 28.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,434 people), higher than Regional Vic.'s 23.9%. National rankings are broadly in line with the general population.

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

Longford-Loch Sport was found to have a below average level of cultural diversity, with 85.4% of its population born in Australia, 89.6% being citizens, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Longford-Loch Sport is Christianity, which comprises 49.1% of the population. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented, making up 0.1% of the population compared to a regional average of 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (33.6%), Australian (29.9%), and Irish (9.5%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences in representation: Dutch is overrepresented at 2.4%, Scottish at 9.1%, and Maltese at 1.0%.

Longford - Loch Sport ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Longford-Loch Sport is 52 years, which is significantly higher than Regional Victoria's average of 43 and also above the national norm of 38. The 55-64 age cohort makes up 19.4% of the local population, compared to 17.0% in Regional Victoria and 11.2% nationally. This group is notably over-represented in Longford-Loch Sport. Conversely, those aged 25-34 make up only 7.3% of the local population, lower than the regional average of 9.8%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 6.6% to 9.0%, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 14.1% to 12.1%, and the 15-24 group has dropped from 10.2% to 9.1%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest significant demographic changes, with the 25-34 age group projected to grow by 84%, adding 310 residents to reach a total of 680 in this cohort.