Merbein

Merbein has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Merbein's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was around 5,216 by November 2025. This figure indicates a rise of 240 individuals, representing a 4.8% increase since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 4,976. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 4,971 in June 2024 and an additional 124 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a density ratio of 51 persons per square kilometer. Merbein's growth rate since the 2021 Census outperformed both its SA4 region (1.3%) and SA3 area, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 62.9% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, it employs VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted via weighted aggregation to SA2 levels. Age group growth rates are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Nationally, regional areas are projected to have above-median population growth, with Merbein expected to increase by 846 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 11.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Merbein has received approximately 25 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 127 homes were approved, with an additional 18 approved in FY-26 as of now. The population has been declining recently, suggesting that new supply is meeting demand and providing good options for buyers.

The average construction value of new homes is $356,000. In the current financial year, $5.8 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Merbein shows similar construction activity per person, supporting market stability in line with regional trends.

Recent construction consists of 95% detached houses and 5% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low density character and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 188 people per approval, Merbein reflects a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Merbein is projected to add 601 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Merbein has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that are expected to influence the area. Notable projects include Lake Hawthorn Foreshore Development, Mildura Airport Terminal Expansion, Sunraysia Modernisation Project 2, and Mildura Base Public Hospital Intensive Care Unit Expansion. The following list details those projects likely to have the most relevance:.

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

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AreaSearch analysis places Merbein well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Merbein's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with diverse sector representation. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate was 2.0%. There were 2,468 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 1.8% lower than Rest of Vic.'s 3.8%.

Workforce participation was similar to Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. According to Census responses, only 11.3% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Health care & social assistance had limited presence at 14.2% compared to the regional 16.8%. There appears to be limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force decreased by 4.0%, employment declined by 1.5%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 2.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic.'s employment fell by 0.7% with a slight increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Merbein's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates Merbein SA2 has a median income of $48,351 and an average income of $53,574. This is below the national average. Rest of Vic., in comparison, has a median income of $50,954 and an average of $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $52,340 (median) and $57,994 (average). Census 2021 data shows Merbein's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 22nd and 23rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 31.4% of Merbein residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually (1,637 individuals), similar to regional levels where 30.3% fall within this range. Housing costs are modest with 88.2% of income retained, yet total disposable income ranks at the 28th percentile nationally.

Merbein is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Merbein's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 93.5% houses and 6.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Merbein stood at 37.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 46.2% and rented ones at 16.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,140, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430, while the median weekly rent figure was $220, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Merbein's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Merbein has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 73.3% of all households, including 30.1% couples with children, 30.3% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 26.7%, with lone person households at 24.7% and group households comprising 1.7%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.1%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.9%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (31.5%). Educational participation is high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.8% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Merbein has 41 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 171 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Merbein is deemed good, with residents on average being located 301 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outwards, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 94%. On average, there are 1.9 vehicles per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.3% of Merbein's residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 24 trips per day, equating to roughly four weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Merbein faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low, with approximately 47% of Merbein's total population (~2,430 people) having it, compared to 50.5% in the rest of Victoria and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.3%) and asthma (9.7%), while 62.6% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 63.4% across the rest of Victoria. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. Merbein has 20.6% of its residents aged 65 and over (1,075 people), lower than the 23.5% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

The latest Census data sees Merbein placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Merbein's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.0% of its population being citizens, 93.2% born in Australia, and 95.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Merbein, comprising 46.5% of people, compared to 47.3% across Rest of Vic.. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.2%), English (31.2%), and Scottish (7.8%).

Notably, Italian ethnicity was overrepresented at 4.8%, compared to the regional average of 2.9%. German ethnicity also showed higher representation in Merbein at 4.3% (vs regionally 3.5%) and Croatian at 0.7% (vs regionally 0.4%).

Merbein's median age exceeds the national pattern

Merbein's median age is 42 years, similar to Rest of Vic.'s average of 43, but considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 5-14 years are prominent at 13.9%, while the 75-84 year-olds comprise a smaller proportion at 6.6% compared to Rest of Vic. Between 2021 and present, the population share of those aged 15-24 has increased from 9.8% to 10.8%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 13.5% to 11.5%. Population forecasts for Merbein in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The 35-44 age group is projected to grow by 31%, adding 191 residents to reach a total of 815. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 65-74 and 15-24 age cohorts.