Melton South (Vic.)

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Based on demographic evaluations of ABS records for the surrounding region, combined with fresh addresses verified by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Melton South contains approximately 14,419 inhabitants as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 3,057 people (26.9%) from the 2021 Census, which registered a headcount of 11,362 people. This shift is calculated from a local population of 14,234, determined by Districts using the most recent ERP statistics from the ABS (June 2025) plus an extra 595 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population size corresponds to a density of 2,805 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the top quartile of domestic settings analyzed by Districts. The expansion of 26.9% since the 2021 census outpaced the state rate (9.3%) and the countrywide mean, establishing the locality as a leading growth zone. Domestic migration from other states was the main contributor, accounting for roughly 75.0% of the overall population rise in recent times, though all other contributors, such as natural growth and overseas arrivals, remained positive.

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The suburb of Melton South features a qualified labour pool across various industries, alongside an unemployment rate of 15.0%, derived from aggregated regional data by Districts. In March 2026, 5,045 local residents were employed, while the jobless rate was 10.2% higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%, highlighting scope for labor market improvement. Additionally, the participation rate of 56.4% is significantly lower than the 70.2% recorded across Greater Melbourne. Census records indicate a moderate 14.7% of working residents performed their duties from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of COVID-19 lockdowns.

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Districts aggregated the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 to show that Melton South recorded a median income among taxpayers of $39,005 and an average level of $44,028. These figures sit below the national average and contrast with the corresponding levels of $57,688 and $75,164 found in Greater Melbourne. Applying a Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 project a median of approximately $42,757 and an average of $48,263. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family and personal incomes in Melton South rank between the 8th and 14th percentiles on a national scale. Distribution data reveals that 31.1% of the population, which amounts to 4,484 individuals, earn between $1,500 and mirroring regional patterns where of residents fall into the same income bracket. Housing affordability pressures are intense, leaving only of income after housing costs, a position that corresponds to the th percentile.

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At the time of the last Census, residential property types in the suburb of Melton South consisted of 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% alternative structures like townhouses, flats, and other dwellings, compared to the Greater Melbourne split of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in the suburb of Melton South was below the metropolitan average at 26.1%, with the remaining properties occupied under mortgages (37.4%) or rental agreements (36.5%). The median monthly home loan repayment of $1,300 was lower than the Melbourne metro average of $2,000, while the median weekly rent of $300 was also below the metropolitan figure of $390. On a national scale, mortgage repayments in the suburb of Melton South are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are well below the national median of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households in the suburb of Melton South at 68.8%, consisting of couples with children (29.9%), couples without children (18.8%), and single-parent households (18.3%). Non-family households represent the remaining 31.2%, with single-person living arrangements accounting for 27.6% and shared group households making up 3.6%. The median household occupancy is 2.6 people, matching the average for Greater Melbourne.

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The suburb of Melton South exhibits lower rates of tertiary education, with university qualification levels (17.2%) running substantially behind the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This situation presents an opportunity for targeted academic programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education credential at 10.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees (4.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational and technical training is common, with 35.1% of residents aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (25.0%).

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An analysis of public transit shows 40 active stops within the suburb of Melton South, offering a combination of train and bus services. These facilities are serviced by 18 separate routes, which combine to support 5,173 passenger journeys each week. Local transit access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 233 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the area's residential profile, most workers travel out of the area, with private cars remaining the primary option at 85% and train travel at 9%. Average vehicle ownership stands at 1.2 per home. Around 14.7% of working residents work from home, based on 2021 Census figures which may reflect COVID-19 circumstances.

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Health indicators point to notable challenges in the suburb of Melton South, based on Districts evaluations of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses across young and old cohorts, alongside a low rate of private health insurance, which covers just 44% of the population (~6,397 people). In comparison, private coverage stands at 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and 55.7% nationally.

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The suburb of Melton South displays high levels of multiculturalism, with 35.2% of the population born outside Australia and 34.6% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 44.0% of residents. The most pronounced divergence from metropolitan averages is in the Other category, which accounts for 5.7% of the population in the suburb of Melton South compared to 2.3% in Greater Melbourne.

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The median age of 34 years in the suburb of Melton South is slightly below the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and younger than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the suburb of Melton South has a higher proportion of residents aged 5 - 14 (18.5%) but fewer people aged 25 - 34 (12.8%). The concentration of 5 - 14 year-olds is higher than the national figure of 12.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the 5 to 14 cohort grew from 15.3% to 18.5% of the population, and the 35 to 44 cohort rose from 14.6% to 17.3%. Meanwhile, the 25 to age group dropped from to , and the to group fell from to . Projections for point to shifts in the local age profile, with the to cohort expected to grow by , adding residents to reach a total of .

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Melton South currently has an estimated 1,095 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 823 children aged 0-2 and 549 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 19% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 45% by 2041 (to approximately 1,586 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 2,252. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 21.6 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally.