Median house price
—
No data available
VIC · Mansfield Council
Merton, 3715
Est. population · Jun 2025
238
Growth (1 yr)
+2.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+12.3%
Median age
53
Median income
$1,091/wk
Employment rate
53.3%
Languages at home
1.5%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Merton is a quieter smaller community in Mansfield 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.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Homes are neither a bargain nor a premium buy against the wider market.
Local crime has been trending higher of late. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because local dining and lifestyle amenities trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Merton snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
238
+2.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
45.2%
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
#396
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
65th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
89th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
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
- 20.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6698th in Australia
- State rank
- 1244th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #396 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #716 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
238(June 2025)
+2.1% annual · +12.3% over 5 years · 89th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.1%
- 5-year growth
- +12.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +5
- Change in 5 years
- +26
- Growth rank in VIC
- 89th 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 +2.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 216
- Median age
- 53
- Median household income / week
- $1,091
- Dwelling vacancy
- 45.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 75 of 166
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,500
- Employment rate
- 53.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 92 / 0 / 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)
- 18
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 11
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 75.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 43 residents
- State safety percentile
- 65.3th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +157.1%
Most common offence types
- A212 Non-Fv Serious Assault2
- A231 Fv Common Assault1
- A89 Other Dangerous Or Negligent Acts Endangering People2
- B321 Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
- B322 Non-Residential Non-Aggravated Burglary2
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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Euroa - Mansfield Rd/Maroondah Hwy
- Euroa-Mansfield Rd/Maroondah Hwy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb
- Walkability proxy
- 3/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 4.63
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Park
- Picnic area
- Sports field
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(6)
- Bench
- Merton CFAFire station
- Parking
- AmpolPetrol station
- Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
- 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Merton G104 Bushland ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Uniting Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Alexandra District Health (24.1 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)
- 5
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 21.0
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
- 28° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 176 mm · ~22 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 233 mm · ~29 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 12° / 2°
- Rainfall
- 385 mm · ~48 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 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).
11 planning-related records
2021· 6 proposals
July 2021
- Construction of an outbuilding192 MERTON STRATHBOGIE ROAD MERTON 3715Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and Works in a Rural Zone - Shed530 MAROONDAH HIGHWAYNo permit required
June 2021
- Farm Building Development of Land for an agricultural shed490 Frees RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Buildings and works - outbuilding824 MAROONDAH HIGHWAY MERTON 3715Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- Development of a building in association with agriculture within prescribed setbacks to waterways327 MACKLINS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Resubdivision of 102 lots into two lots, and use and development of a dwelling and outbuilding on proposed Lot 120 KUBEILS ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 5 proposals
November 2020
- Use and development of agricultural shed8173 MAROONDAH HIGHWAYPermit issued by the RA
September 2020
- Development of dwelling and shed52 OLD STRATHBOGIE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Use and Development of a dwelling and shed293 MERTON-STRATHBOGIE ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Use and Development of a Dwelling in the Farming Zone (retrospective) bushfire management overlay and environmental significance overlay93 PENNY LANEPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of land for an outbuilding323 MERTON-STRATHBOGIE 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
- Indi
- Member of Parliament
- Helen HAINES (Independent)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 120,774
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -1.4 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 56.7%Labor 43.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 34.6 km away).
Coalition 56.5%Labor 43.5%
0.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Bonnie DoonLabor 42.1% · Coalition 57.9% TPP (2025)14.4 km away
- StrathbogieLabor 48.9% · Coalition 51.1% TPP (2025)14.8 km away
- RuffyLabor 41.9% · Coalition 58.1% TPP (2025)18.5 km away
- AlexandraLabor 41.2% · Coalition 58.8% TPP (2025)23.8 km away
- EuroaLabor 43.6% · Coalition 56.4% TPP (2025)28.2 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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 Mansfield Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.