Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Glenelg Council
Merino, 3310
Est. population · Jun 2025
234
Growth (1 yr)
0.0%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.8%
Median age
58
Median income
$769/wk
Employment rate
42.1%
Languages at home
1.3%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Merino is a quieter smaller community in Glenelg Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. A car helps for most daily errands, with fewer amenities clustered within an easy walk. Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower.
Crime reports are up on the previous period. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer growth momentum, plus community and employment relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Merino snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
234
0.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
14.6%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#342
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
75th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
26th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
28th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 25.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6161st in Australia
- State rank
- 1162nd in VIC
- Peer rank
- #342 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #646 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
234(June 2025)
0.0% annual · -0.8% over 5 years · 26th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- 0.0%
- 5-year growth
- -0.8%
- Change in 1 year
- 0
- Change in 5 years
- -2
- Growth rank in VIC
- 26th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~250), extrapolated at -0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 249
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $769
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 144
- Median monthly mortgage
- $650
- Employment rate
- 42.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 116 / 6 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 23
- Against the person
- 12
- Against property
- 8
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 98.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 21 residents
- State safety percentile
- 75.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +76.9%
Most common offence types
- A211 Fv Serious Assault2
- A231 Fv Common Assault4
- B21 Criminal Damage3
- B49 Other Theft3
- Other Crimes Against The Person2
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 959
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 28th
School list
- Merino Consolidated SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 959 · 28th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 11 students · Top SEA quarter 2%View on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Amenities
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 pubs · 2 places of worship · 1 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 2/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 4.02
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 8.03
Food & drink(1)
- Paddy's WaterholePub
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Merino Golf ClubGolf course
- Lions ParkPark
- Playground
Other(6)
- Merino CFAFire station
- Merino General StoreGeneral
- Merino Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
- St Peter's Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
- Merino Police StationPolice
Annesley Street, Merino
- Public toilets
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Lions ParkPark
- Mocamboro H29 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
- Unnamed P0042 Private Nature ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Merino Uniting Church
- St Peter's Anglican Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Coleraine District Health Service (19.1 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 6
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 25.6
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 112 mm · ~14 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 164 mm · ~20 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 251 mm · ~31 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
1 planning-related records
2021· 1 proposal
May 2021
- Building an Works to Construct a Shed12 Lansdown RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Wannon
- Member of Parliament
- Dan TEHAN (Liberal)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,788
- Turnout (2025)
- 94.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.3 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 60.9%Labor 39.1%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 45.1 km away).
Coalition 64.0%Labor 36.0%
3.1 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +36.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- MerinoLabor 36.6% · Coalition 63.4% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- CastertonLabor 29.0% · Coalition 71.0% TPP (2025)19.9 km away
- ColeraineLabor 31.8% · Coalition 68.2% TPP (2025)19.9 km away
- BranxholmeLabor 23.7% · Coalition 76.3% TPP (2025)27.1 km away
- DartmoorLabor 21.4% · Coalition 78.6% TPP (2025)30.7 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Glenelg Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.