Shepparton - North
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Shepparton - North's population is approximately 20,754 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 826 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,928. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,332 in June 2024 and an additional 568 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 316 persons per square kilometer. Shepparton - North's 4.1% growth since the 2021 Census exceeded the SA4 region's 2.6%, making it a growth leader within its region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.7% of overall population gains recently.

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, AreaSearch employs the 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 years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, with Shepparton - North expected to increase by 11,711 persons by 2041, based on the latest numbers, representing a total gain of 54.3% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Shepparton - North among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Shepparton - North has averaged approximately 133 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 669 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 34 so far in FY-26. On average, 0.6 new residents per year per dwelling constructed have been reported over the same period. This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction value of new homes is $507,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $186.8 million, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Shepparton - North has similar development levels per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns.

New development consists of 78.0% standalone homes and 22.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 169 people per dwelling approval, Shepparton - North exhibits characteristics of a low density area. Population forecasts indicate that Shepparton - North will gain approximately 11,264 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.

Shepparton - North has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 18 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include GV Health Staff Accommodation Development, The North Quarter Estate, Goulburn Valley Health - Shepparton Hospital Redevelopment, and Shepparton Sports & Events Centre Redevelopment. Below is a list of projects most relevant to the area.

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

While Shepparton - North retains a healthy unemployment rate of 2.8%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Shepparton - North has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.8% as of June 2025.

In this period, 9,766 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.0% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was at 60.3%, slightly higher than Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level, but lower representation in agriculture, forestry & fishing at 4.2% compared to the regional average of 7.5%.

The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.7, indicating above-average local employment opportunities as at the Census. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 14.5% while employment declined by 15.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Vic. saw employment fall by 0.9%, labour force contract by 0.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Shepparton - North's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7%% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Shepparton - North's median income among taxpayers is $46,483, with an average of $56,787. This is below the national average and compares to Rest of Vic.'s median of $48,741 and average of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $51,182 (median) and $62,528 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Shepparton - North rank modestly between the 39th and 46th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 33.7% of locals (6,994 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to metropolitan regions where 30.3% occupy this range. Housing costs are manageable with 87.1% retained, but disposable income is below average at the 43rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Shepparton - North's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 85.6% houses and 14.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Shepparton - North stood at 31.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.0% and rented ones at 35.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,369, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,300. Median weekly rent in Shepparton - North was $270, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $260. Nationally, Shepparton - North's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,369 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $270 compared to the national figure of $375.

Shepparton - North has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 67.7% of all households, including 29.6% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 12.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households at 28.9% and group households comprising 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which matches the average in the Rest of Vic.

Educational attainment in Shepparton - North aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Shepparton - North has 23.8% of residents aged 15+ with university degrees, compared to Victoria's 33.4%, indicating potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 23.4%. Educational participation is high, with 31.2% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.8%), secondary (9.4%), tertiary (3.5%).

There are 17 schools serving 6,951 students; Shepparton - North has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 993) with balanced educational opportunities. The area has 6 primary, 7 secondary, and 4 K-12 schools, functioning as an education hub with 33.5 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 16.0.

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

Shepparton - North has 159 active public transport stops operating. These are served by a mix of bus routes totalling 16. Together, these routes facilitate 539 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 248 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency averages 77 trips across all routes, translating to approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Shepparton - North is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a slightly higher degree among older age cohorts

Shepparton - North faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across all age groups but slightly higher among older cohorts.

Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~10,024 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.4 and 9.1% of residents respectively. However, 65.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.8% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 17.1% of residents aged 65 and over (3,559 people), which is lower than the 18.9% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Shepparton - North was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Shepparton-North exhibits cultural diversity with 20.3% overseas-born residents and 20.6% speaking languages other than English at home, as of the latest data. Christianity is the predominant religion in Shepparton-North, comprising 51.6% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 2.8%, slightly higher than the regional average of 2.7%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are English (26.4%), Australian (25.1%), and Other (10.3%). Italian ethnicity is overrepresented at 5.5% compared to the regional average of 6.0%, while Macedonian and Samoan ethnicities show no divergence from their respective regional averages, both being 0.4%.

Shepparton - North's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Shepparton-North as of 2021 was 37 years, which is lower than the Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 and close to the national average of 38. The age profile showed that those aged 25-34 were prominent at 14.8%, while those aged 65-74 were smaller at 9.3%. Between 2021 and the present, the 35-44 age group grew from 12.4% to 13.7% of the population, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 13.6% to 14.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 12.2% to 11.0%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 12.2% to 11.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Shepparton-North's age structure, with the 25-34 age cohort projected to rise substantially by 2,746 people (90%) from 3,067 to 5,814.