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 is approximately 12,235 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 808 people, a 7.1% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 11,427. The change is inferred from ABS estimates of 12,038 in June 2024 and validated new addresses totalling 106 since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 804 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Mernda - North has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%, outperforming its SA3 area. Natural growth contributed approximately 52.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 uses VIC State Government's 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. Future population trends predict exceptional growth, placing Mernda - North in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas. By 2041, the area is expected to grow by 7,880 persons based on the latest population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 62.8% over the 17 years.

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

Mernda - North has seen approximately 35 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, with a total of 176 approvals between FY21 and FY25. An additional two homes have been approved in FY26 to date. On average, 5.3 new residents have arrived per dwelling constructed each year during this period.

This indicates that demand for housing is outpacing supply, which can put upward pressure on prices and increase competition among buyers. The average construction cost of new dwellings in the area is $392,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY26 to date, there have been $147,000 worth of commercial approvals registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mernda - North has significantly lower building activity, with 78.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes can strengthen demand and prices for existing properties. The current housing mix in Mernda - North shows a shift towards higher-density living, with 44.0% standalone homes and 56.0% townhouses or apartments. This is a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 84.0% houses.

This shift may indicate decreasing availability of developable sites and reflect changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. As of now, there are an estimated 1668 people in the area per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population forecasts suggest Mernda - North will gain 7,683 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones are Mernda Community Hospital, Regional Sports Precinct Mernda, Mernda Town Centre, and Aspect Mernda. The following details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Mernda - North has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.7% as of June 2025, 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% lower than Greater Melbourne's. Workforce participation was 68.8%, comparable to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Health care & social assistance has a higher share at 1.3 times the regional level, while professional & technical services are lower at 5.5% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data analysis. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6%, labour force grew by 1.5%, and unemployment fell by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a slight rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying significantly by industry sector. Applying these projections to Mernda - North's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 on Mernda - North. The median income among taxpayers was $53,494 with an average of $61,422. This is below the national average. Greater Melbourne's median income was $54,892 and average was $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $59,999 (median) and $68,891 (average). Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Mernda - North are around the 59th percentile nationally. Income distribution indicates that 39.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which mirrors regional levels at 32.8%. High housing costs consume 18.4% of income. Despite this, disposable income is at the 57th percentile. The area'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

The dwelling structure in Mernda - North, as per the latest Census, consisted of 83.8% houses and 16.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 87.2% houses and 12.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mernda - North was at 16.6%, with the rest either mortgaged (54.6%) or rented (28.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,900, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $378, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Mernda - North's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 80.2% of all households, including 44.4% couples with children, 21.0% couples without children, and 13.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 19.8%, with lone person households at 18.1% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.9 people, matching 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 2021 show that 31.1% of residents aged 15+ have 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%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 33.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (20.6%). Educational participation is high, with 33.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2021.

This includes 13.1% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education. As of 2021, Mernda - North's 3 schools have a combined enrollment reaching 1,360 students while the area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1064). Education provision is balanced with 2 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 35 active transport stops operating within Mernda - North. These stops are serviced by a mix of buses along seven individual routes, collectively providing 4,790 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 269 meters from the nearest transport stop.

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 indicates strong performance across Mernda - North.

Prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average for older and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 51% of the total population (~6,190 people) has private health cover, which is relatively low. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (7.4%) and mental health issues (7.0%). Around 74.8% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. Mernda - North has 12.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,470 people), 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 in Mernda-North, accounting for 47.8%. Hinduism is notably overrepresented at 9.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 6.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (18.7%), English (18.1%), and Other (17.6%). Macedonian (2.5%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average of 4.6%. Indian (7.6%) and Sri Lankan (0.9%) groups also show higher representation than their regional counterparts, at 6.2% and 0.8% respectively.

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

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