South Morang - South
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in South Morang - South are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

South Morang - South's population is around 13,558 as of August 2025. From the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,392 people, there has been an increase of 1,166 people (9.4%). This growth can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,889 in June 2024 and an additional 480 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 1,751 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. South Morang - South's growth of 9.4% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (8.6%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 94.2% 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 utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends forecast a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with South Morang - South expected to increase by 5,140 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 33.0% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions South Morang - South among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

South Morang - South has received approximately 52 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that between Financial Year 20 (FY20) and FY25, there were a total of 264 approvals, with none recorded so far in FY26. Over the past five financial years, an average of 0.1 new residents per year was associated with each dwelling constructed. This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average expected construction cost value of these dwellings is $293,000, which is below the regional average, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers. Commercial development approvals totalling $19.5 million have been recorded in the current financial year, indicating balanced commercial development activity in South Morang - South compared to Greater Melbourne. While it has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person nationally, it ranks among the 92nd percentile of areas assessed, suggesting robust developer interest in the area. New building activity shows that 72% is medium and high-density housing, with the remaining 28% being detached houses. This shift towards denser development caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, reflecting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles. South Morang - South has approximately 69 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a growth area.

Population forecasts suggest it will gain 4,471 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.

South Morang - South 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 26 projects likely influencing the region. Notable initiatives include Findon Road Arterial Road Completion from Plenty Road to Epping Road, 175 Gordons Road Development, 18 Bush Boulevard Apartments, and 300 Gordons Road Development. The subsequent list details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in South Morang - South exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

South Morang - South has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.5% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year.

By this date, 7,245 residents were in work, while the unemployment rate was 1.2% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents comprised health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Professional & technical had a limited presence with 6.0% employment compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 2.1%, while labour force increased by 1.4%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.5%, with the labour force growing by 4.0% and unemployment rising by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year (adding 39,880 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that while national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to South Morang - South's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

South Morang - South's median income among taxpayers was $54,958 and average income stood at $64,078 in the financial year 2022. This compares to Greater Melbourne's figures of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for South Morang - South as of March 2025 would be approximately $60,514 (median) and $70,556 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in South Morang - South cluster around the 52nd percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 38.3% of residents (5,192 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, reflecting patterns seen in the metropolitan region where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. High housing costs consume 15.3% of income. Despite this, strong earnings place disposable income at the 60th percentile nationally. South Morang - South's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In South Morang - South, as per the latest Census evaluation, 78.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 21.4% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Melbourne's metropolitan area, where 87.2% of dwellings are houses and 12.8% are other dwelling types. Home ownership in South Morang - South stood at 27.5%, mirroring the Melbourne metro average. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 49.5%, while rented properties made up 23.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Morang - South was $1,787, lower than Melbourne's metropolitan average of $1,900. The median weekly rent figure for the area was $380, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, South Morang - South's median monthly mortgage repayment is below the Australian average of $1,863, while its median weekly rent exceeds the national figure of $375.

South Morang - South features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 78.1% of all households, including 42.8% couples with children, 21.1% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 21.9%, with lone person households at 19.6% and group households comprising 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

The educational profile of South Morang - South exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 26.2%, substantially below Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 31.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.0%) and certificates (20.8%). Educational participation is high at 30.4%, including primary education (9.7%), secondary education (8.6%), and tertiary education (5.4%).

South Morang - South has 4 schools with a combined enrollment of 2,759 students. It demonstrates typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1033). The area functions as an education hub with 20.4 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 13.1, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

The transport analysis indicates that South Morang - South has 42 active transport stops operating. These comprise a mix of train and bus services, with 8 individual routes in total. The weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 5,927.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically residing 281 meters away from the nearest transport stop. On average, service frequency across all routes stands at 846 trips per day, which translates to approximately 141 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in South Morang - South are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

South Morang - South shows below-average health indicators compared to national averages.

Common health conditions are somewhat typical but higher among older cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 51%, slightly lower than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and arthritis were found to be the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.1% and 7.3% of residents respectively. A total of 71.4% of residents reported no medical ailments, compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 15.9%, or 2,150 people, compared to the 13.2% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those of the broader population.

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

South Morang South has a high level of cultural diversity, with 33.0% of its population born overseas and 37.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in South Morang South, comprising 57.8% of the population. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 5.3% versus 6.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (18.6%), English (16.9%), and Other (13.5%). Notably, Macedonian (5.0%) and Italian (11.8%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 4.6% and 9.6%, respectively.

South Morang - South's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

South Morang-South has a median age of 37, matching Greater Melbourne and closely resembling Australia's figure of 38 years. The 55-64 age group makes up 11.9%, higher than the Greater Melbourne average, while the 35-44 cohort stands at 13.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has risen from 4.7% to 5.8%, and the 55 to 64 cohort has increased from 10.8% to 11.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group has decreased from 14.4% to 13.4%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant changes in South Morang-South's age structure, with the 45 to 54 group expected to grow by 41%, reaching 2,570 people from its current total of 1,819.