Mernda - North
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Mernda - North's population was around 12,235 as of August 2025. This reflected an increase of 808 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,427 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,038 in June 2024 and an additional 106 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population resulted in a density ratio of 804 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Mernda - North had demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 52.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilised VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Exceptional growth was predicted over the period, placing Mernda - North in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas. The area was expected to grow by 7,880 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 62.8% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Mernda - North when compared nationally

Mernda - North has seen approximately 185 new homes approved annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 927 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, and none yet in FY-26. On average, around 5.3 people have moved to the area each year for each dwelling built during these years, indicating significant demand exceeding new supply. This typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $392,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26, there have been $147,000 in commercial development approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to Greater Melbourne, where Mernda - North records markedly lower building activity, at 79.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes usually strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. The area's building activity is also below national averages, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity shows 44.0% standalone homes and 56.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, currently at 84.0% houses. The estimated population count of 1668 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Population forecasts indicate Mernda - North will gain approximately 7,683 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Mernda - North has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 22 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones are Mernda Community Hospital, Regional Sports Precinct Mernda, Mernda Town Centre, and Aspect Mernda. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions Mernda - North ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Mernda - North has an educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.7% as of June 2025, which is below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.6%. As of June 2025, 6,507 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 0.9% below Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation was at 68.8%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

The area has a high specialization in health care & social assistance (1.3 times the regional level) but lower representation in professional & technical services (5.5% vs regional average of 10.1%). Employment opportunities appear limited locally based on Census data comparison. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6%, labour force grew by 1.5%, leading to a 1.1 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced higher employment growth (3.5%) but also higher labour force growth (4.0%), resulting in a slight rise in unemployment rate (0.5 percentage points). State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly above the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local growth patterns may differ based on industry-specific projections applied to Mernda - North's employment mix.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates Mernda - North's median income among taxpayers is $53,494. The average income for the area during this period was $61,422. Both figures are below the national averages. In Greater Melbourne, the median income was $54,892 and the average was $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest the median income in Mernda - North would be approximately $58,902 by March 2025, with an average of around $67,632. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Mernda - North are at the 59th percentile nationally. Income distribution reveals that 39.0% of individuals (4,771 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to regional levels where 32.8% fall into this bracket. High housing costs consume 18.4% of income in the area. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 57th percentile nationally. Mernda - North's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Mernda - North's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 83.8% houses and 16.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Melbourne metro's 83.9% houses and 16.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mernda - North stood at 16.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 54.6% and rented dwellings at 28.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,900, similar to Melbourne metro's average. Median weekly rent was $378, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Mernda - North's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,900, while rents were slightly higher at $375.

Mernda - North features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 80.2 percent of all households, including 44.4 percent couples with children, 21.0 percent couples without children, and 13.9 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 19.8 percent, with lone person households at 18.1 percent and group households making up 1.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

Educational qualifications in Mernda - North trail regional benchmarks. As of the latest data, 31.1% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to 37.0% in Greater Melbourne. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 19.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 33.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (20.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.1% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education. As of the 20XX census, Mernda - North's three schools had a combined enrollment reaching 1,360 students while the area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1064). Education provision is balanced with two primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

The public transport analysis indicates that in Mernda - North, there are 35 active transport stops currently operating. These stops serve a variety of bus routes, with a total of 7 individual routes providing service to the area. The combined weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 4,790.

Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 269 meters to the nearest transport stop. The service frequency averages 684 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 136 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mernda - North'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 Mernda - North.

Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average among older and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 51% (~6,190 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low. The most common medical conditions are asthma (7.4%) and mental health issues (7.0%). 74.8% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.0% in Greater Melbourne. There are 12.0% (1,470 people) aged 65 and over, lower than the 13.2% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting challenges.

Mernda - North is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Mernda-North ranks high in cultural diversity, with 35.6% of its population born overseas and 38.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 47.8% of Mernda-North's population. Hinduism is notably higher compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 9.5% versus 6.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (18.7%), English (18.1%), and Other (17.6%). Certain ethnic groups show notable differences: Macedonian at 2.5% (versus regional 4.6%), Indian at 7.6% (versus 6.2%), and Sri Lankan at 0.9% (versus 0.8%).

Mernda - North hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Mernda's median age in 2021 was 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and the national average of 38 years. The age group of 35-44 had a strong representation at 20.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's percentage. However, the 25-34 cohort was less prevalent at 12.6%. This concentration in the 35-44 age group was well above the national average of 14.2%. Between 2021 and the present, the population aged 15 to 24 grew from 9.9% to 11.6%, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 3.1% to 4.8%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group declined from 15.9% to 12.6%, and the 0 to 4 age group dropped from 9.2% to 7.3%. Population forecasts for Mernda - North indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to grow exceptionally, expanding by 1,553 people (a 102% increase) from 1,525 to 3,079.