South Morang vs Mernda

Mernda is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 36 in South Morang. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in South Morang: a median of $813,000, against $736,000 in Mernda. South Morang is closer to the city centre: 32.1 km, against 45.4 km. On these figures, Mernda tends to suit families with children.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Mernda

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (19 vs 16)
  • But South Morang has more parks and reserves (108 vs 96)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Mernda

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($396,000 vs $546,750)
  • has cheaper houses ($736,000 vs $813,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

South Morang

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (32.1 km vs 45.4 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (46 min vs 52 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Mernda

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (42.0% vs 3.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.8% vs 5.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

South Morang and Mernda drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

South Morang Mernda
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

South Morang Mernda
Walkability 70 / 75
South Morang — Walkability: 70/100 Mernda — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 45 / 40
South Morang — Safety: 45/100 Mernda — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 48 / 65
South Morang — Low fire risk: 48/100 Mernda — Low fire risk: 65/100
Low flood risk 51 / 51
South Morang — Low flood risk: 51/100 Mernda — Low flood risk: 51/100

Demographics

South Morang skews older (36 vs 33).

South Morang Mernda
Population 24,989
+6% vs other
 23,369
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +42.0%
Median age 36 33
Median household income $108,056/yr
+3% vs other
 $104,572/yr
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+2% vs other
 $381/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Morang Mernda
0-4 6.0% / 9.6%
South Morang — 0-4: 6.0% Mernda — 0-4: 9.6%
5-14 14.9% / 17.4%
South Morang — 5-14: 14.9% Mernda — 5-14: 17.4%
15-19 7.3% / 5.3%
South Morang — 15-19: 7.3% Mernda — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.7% / 5.3%
South Morang — 20-24: 6.7% Mernda — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 13.2% / 16.5%
South Morang — 25-34: 13.2% Mernda — 25-34: 16.5%
35-44 15.9% / 20.4%
South Morang — 35-44: 15.9% Mernda — 35-44: 20.4%
45-54 15.1% / 11.2%
South Morang — 45-54: 15.1% Mernda — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 10.1% / 6.8%
South Morang — 55-64: 10.1% Mernda — 55-64: 6.8%
65-74 6.1% / 5.1%
South Morang — 65-74: 6.1% Mernda — 65-74: 5.1%
75-84 3.2% / 2.2%
South Morang — 75-84: 3.2% Mernda — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ 1.5% / 0.3%
South Morang — 85+: 1.5% Mernda — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Morang 61.0% couple families
South Morang — Couple Families: 61.0% South Morang — Lone Person: 19.5% South Morang — One Parent Families: 15.9% South Morang — Group Household: 2.4% South Morang — Other Families: 1.2%
Mernda 60.4% couple families
Mernda — Couple Families: 60.4% Mernda — Lone Person: 18.6% Mernda — One Parent Families: 17.6% Mernda — Group Household: 2.2% Mernda — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Morang 21.3% renting
South Morang — Owned Outright: 24.5% South Morang — Mortgage: 54.2% South Morang — Renting: 21.3%
Mernda 28.3% renting
Mernda — Owned Outright: 14.8% Mernda — Mortgage: 57.0% Mernda — Renting: 28.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

South Morang Mernda
Bachelor Degree 12.6% / 13.2%
South Morang — Bachelor Degree: 12.6% Mernda — Bachelor Degree: 13.2%
Certificate III & IV 12.8% / 11.8%
South Morang — Certificate III & IV: 12.8% Mernda — Certificate III & IV: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.9%
South Morang — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Mernda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.8% / 5.8%
South Morang — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8% Mernda — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.8%
South Morang — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Mernda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

South Morang Mernda
India 6.5% / 10.3%
South Morang — India: 6.5% Mernda — India: 10.3%
Sri Lanka 1.7% / 2.2%
South Morang — Sri Lanka: 1.7% Mernda — Sri Lanka: 2.2%
Italy 2.4% / 1.1%
South Morang — Italy: 2.4% Mernda — Italy: 1.1%
Philippines 1.4% / 1.7%
South Morang — Philippines: 1.4% Mernda — Philippines: 1.7%
England 1.2% / 1.5%
South Morang — England: 1.2% Mernda — England: 1.5%
Iran 1.3% / 1.3%
South Morang — Iran: 1.3% Mernda — Iran: 1.3%
New Zealand — / 1.6%
South Morang — New Zealand: not among its largest Mernda — New Zealand: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Morang 84.4% houses
South Morang — Houses: 84.4% South Morang — Townhouses: 15.2% South Morang — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Mernda 89.4% houses
Mernda — Houses: 89.4% Mernda — Townhouses: 9.1% Mernda — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

South Morang Mernda
Median house price $813,000 $736,000
Median unit price $546,750 $396,000
Median land price $625,000 $701,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 233 sales
 24 days
from 355 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

South Morang Mernda
2 bed $530K / $475K
South Morang — 2 bed: $530K (19 sales) Mernda — 2 bed: $475K (13 sales)

19 vs 13 sales

3 bed $739K / $682K
South Morang — 3 bed: $739K (154 sales) Mernda — 3 bed: $682K (183 sales)

154 vs 183 sales

4 bed $900K / $760K
South Morang — 4 bed: $900K (183 sales) Mernda — 4 bed: $760K (307 sales)

183 vs 307 sales

5 bed $1.12M / $910K
South Morang — 5 bed: $1.12M (22 sales) Mernda — 5 bed: $910K (18 sales)

22 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Mernda has more rural and farming land (26% vs 0%); Mernda has more land zoned for conservation (32% vs 20%).

South Morang Mernda
Residential 48% 32%
Environmental 20% 32%
Rural and farming 0% 26%
Parks and recreation 19% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 2%
Commercial 4% 0%
Other and special use 3%
same for both
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

South Morang Mernda
New dwellings approved 2,632
across Whittlesea
same for both
Approvals change year on year -28%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

South Morang Mernda
Houses 3.9%
$570/wk on $755K
 4.0%
$560/wk on $735K
Units 5.3%
$468/wk on $456K
 5.8%
$440/wk on $395K

Ranking within VIC

South Morang Mernda
House price Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC

Liveability

Mernda scores higher overall (51 vs 43).

South Morang Mernda
Grade C B
Score 43/100 51/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Morang carries more bushfire risk (52 vs 35).

South Morang Mernda
Bushfire Moderate
52/100
 Low
35/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood Moderate
49/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

South Morang Mernda
Inside the suburb 8 7
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 2
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 7.7 km
 None

Schools in South Morang

  • Marymede Catholic College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Morang South Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • The Lakes South Morang College Government · Combined below peers
  • Plenty River College Independent · Secondary
  • The Lakes South Morang College-Primary Campus Government · Combined
  • Collingwood English Language School-South Morang Campus Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Mernda

  • Mernda Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mernda Central P-12 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Mernda Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mernda Hills Christian College Independent · Combined below peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Gilson College - Mernda Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

South Morang Mernda
Supermarkets 2 3
Cafes & restaurants 6 14
Parks & reserves 108 96
Childcare 16 19
GPs 7
same for both
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 5 3
Waterways 21 6

Mobility

Mernda sits further from the CBD (45.4 km vs 32.1 km).

South Morang Mernda
Walkability score 70/100 75/100
Distance to Melbourne 32.1 km 45.4 km
+41% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 46 min 52 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 379.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 346.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3752
 1.2%
postcode 3754
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 3752
 45
postcode 3754

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

South Morang Mernda
Car (driver) 66.7% / 66.7%
South Morang — Car (driver): 66.7% Mernda — Car (driver): 66.7%
Worked from Home 24.2% / 23.7%
South Morang — Worked from Home: 24.2% Mernda — Worked from Home: 23.7%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.9%
South Morang — Car (passenger): 4.1% Mernda — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Train 3.5% / 4.5%
South Morang — Train: 3.5% Mernda — Train: 4.5%
Bus 1.0% / 0.5%
South Morang — Bus: 1.0% Mernda — Bus: 0.5%
Walked Only 0.4% / 0.6%
South Morang — Walked Only: 0.4% Mernda — Walked Only: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.7%).

Setting

South Morang Mernda
Elevation 149 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 186 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 26.8 km 30.8 km

NBN connectivity

South Morang Mernda
Connectivity score 98/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 96%
10,106 premises
 76%
9,201 premises

Climate

South Morang Mernda
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

South Morang Mernda
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

South Morang Mernda
Average residential rate $1,899/yr
same for both
Council Whittlesea
same for both

Federal electorate

South Morang Mernda
Division Scullin Mcewen
Member Andrew Giles Rob Mitchell
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

South Morang Mernda
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

South Morang

Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub

Mernda

Easy Commute Family Large Blocks Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Morang

South Morang vs Epping South Morang vs Mill Park South Morang vs Doreen South Morang vs Wollert South Morang vs Plenty South Morang vs Yarrambat

Other comparisons with Mernda

Mernda vs Doreen Mernda vs Wollert Mernda vs Yan Yean Mernda vs Woodstock
Full data on South Morang Full data on Mernda
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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