Merton sits 151 km from Melbourne CBD in Victoria, around 2 hours 10 minutes by car. Census data records 216 residents with a median age of 53 and a median household income of $56,732 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the middle range nationally. The locality grew 13.7% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $200 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,500. Merton is characterised by high crime risk and high bushfire risk. Walkability is low.
This locality is too small to rate.
The Liveability Rating is calculated for suburbs of 500 residents or more, and this one has 216. Below that the school, census and safety figures behind the score cover too few people to rank fairly against the rest of the state. The individual measures further down this page are still shown.
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Is Merton safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Merton sits in the high band, with 23 incidents recorded in 2026 — up roughly 156% on the prior year.
23 offences
155.6% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–20255 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Walkability
Merton is very car-dependent on foot — at 23/100, nearly all errands require a car.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Merton.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 63
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Mansfield: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Merton is home to 216 residents, with a median age of 53 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $57,000 a year, with unemployment at 5.8%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
216
Median Age
53
Median Household Income
$56,732/yr
Census Median Rent
$200/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,500/mo
Avg Household Size
2.3
Median Personal Income
$30,264/yr
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Unoccupied Dwellings
82.4%
Total Dwellings
91
Owner-Occupier Rate
95.2%
Houses
101.1%
Rental Stress
18.3%
Mortgage Stress
31.7%
Work From Home
25.6%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 79.2%
- English Spoken at Home
- 92.1%
- Employment Rate
- 53.3%
- Completed Year 12
- 43.5%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,697 a year through Mansfield based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 97%
- Parks and recreation 1%
- Infrastructure and transport 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the locality around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Mansfield
In the year to August 2026, 76 new dwellings were approved across Mansfield. That mix is 69 houses and 7 units. Approvals are down 50.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Taungurung Land and Waters Council Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2009).
Registered Aboriginal Parties are appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage for their area. They are the body to contact about cultural heritage here.
Climate & Setting
from Strathbogie, 14.7 kmModerate rainfall — warm summers, frosty winters.
- Elevation
- 343 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Annual rainfall
- 865 mm
- 96 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 27.2°C
- 6 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 2.0°C
- 44 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the locality centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
EV adoption
In postcode 3715, 3 of 503 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 0.0% (0 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 0.6%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3715, 95 rooftop-solar systems totalling 0.6 MW have been installed since 2001, against 273 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 4 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
The separate First Home Buyer Duty Reduction (stamp-duty concession) runs alongside this grant.
0 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3715 in 2025-26. The most was 4, in 2007-08.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Helen Haines Independent
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Helen Haines | 43.3% | 56.7% | -1.4 |
| 2022 | Helen Haines | 44.7% | 55.3% | -7.5 |
| 2019 | Helen Haines | 37.3% | 62.7% | +7.7 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Cindy McLeish Liberal
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Cindy McLeish LP | 53.3% | 42.9% | 57.1% |
| 2018 | Cindy McLeish LP | 50.2% | 47.6% | 52.4% |
| 2014 | Cindy McLeish LP | 51.7% | 46.2% | 53.8% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Merton?
Every figure above is a locality average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 216 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Compare Merton to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Merton
Is Merton a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Merton is high (88/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Merton?
Merton has a moderate recorded bushfire history (65/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). Flood overlays cover a low share of it (32/100). These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
What is the population of Merton?
Merton, VIC had a population of 216 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Merton, VIC?
The postcode for Merton, VIC is 3715.
How far is Merton from Melbourne?
Merton is 151 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 130 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Merton?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Merton was $56,732 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Merton?
There are too few current rental listings in Merton for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $200, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Merton?
The median age of residents in Merton was 53 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Merton at risk of bushfire?
Merton has a moderate recorded bushfire history (65/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the locality relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
Is Merton walkable?
Merton scores 23/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the weather like in Merton?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Merton, Strathbogie (14.7 km away), summer days average 27.2°C, winter nights 2°C, 865 mm of rain a year over 96 rainy days, and 6 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Merton?
First-home buyers in VIC may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office Victoria; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Merton belong to?
Merton sits within the Mansfield local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Merton?
The average residential rates bill through Mansfield is $1,697 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Merton?
Across Mansfield, 76 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 50.0% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Merton in?
Merton sits within the federal Division of Indi, currently held by Helen Haines (Independent).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2022
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
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