Berwick
The suburb is 2.0 years younger than the national age profile, while its 35.4% overseas-born share is 13.8 percentage points above national. Annual growth is forecast at 2.62%, reinforcing its high-growth, mortgage-belt identity. For buyers weighing Berwick against nearby Narre Warren or Cranbourne, the practical test is whether family-sized stock, a 79.9th-percentile household income and a $2,000 monthly mortgage fit the budget.
Population
50,298
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,113/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
51
Median House
$907K
October to December 2025
Berwick suits buyers seeking family-sized detached stock, but the entry cost is substantial. A 46.7% mortgage tenure share is higher than the 28.9% owned outright share, consistent with many households still paying down debt. The 89.1% separate-house share, 53.3% 4-plus-bedroom share and 38.5% 3-bedroom share support family demand. Mortgage repayments of $2,000 monthly equal 21.9% of household income, below the mortgage stress flag.
For Buyers
Berwick suits buyers seeking family-sized detached stock, but the entry cost is substantial. A 46.7% mortgage tenure share is higher than the 28.9% owned outright share, consistent with many households still paying down debt. The 89.1% separate-house share, 53.3% 4-plus-bedroom share and 38.5% 3-bedroom share support family demand. Mortgage repayments of $2,000 monthly equal 21.9% of household income, below the mortgage stress flag.
For Investors
Berwick has an owner-occupier base to support rental demand, with 22.2% of households renting versus 46.7% with a mortgage. Weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 4.7%, while rent growth has reached 19.4%, a useful signal for landlords but not a guarantee of future returns. Development activity is material at 51 applications in 12 months, which can expand local supply and create competition between newer and established homes. Forecast migration is Balanced, so demand is not tied to a single inflow source. Compared with a highly rental-dependent suburb, the lower renting share means investors should prioritise tenant appeal, resale depth and cash flow after interest, insurance and maintenance.
Development Activity
Total DAs
96
Last 12 Months
51
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+183.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Berwick
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Timbarra P-9 College
Berwick Chase Primary School
Berwick Fields Primary School
Berwick Lodge Primary School
Demographics
Berwick's median age is 38, 2.0 years younger than the national profile, but the age trajectory is not especially young: the young share has fallen 3.7 percentage points and the senior share has risen 2.4. Families are prominent because 55.3% are couples with children, average household size is 2.9, and 30.4% are couples without children. The overseas-born share is 35.4%, 13.8 points above national, while university attainment is 38.6%, 8.5 points above national. English, Irish, Scottish and Indian ancestries are prominent, with Mandarin and Sinhal among the leading languages. Residential mobility is settled, with 79.6% staying at the same address versus 20.4% turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.1%
Houses
10.5%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Berwick's housing profile is dominated by detached, larger homes. Separate houses account for 89.1% of stock, 4-plus-bedroom homes 53.3%, and 3-bedroom homes 38.5%, while apartments represent 0.3% and semi-detached homes 10.5%. That mix helps explain the 46.7% mortgage share and family orientation, compared with smaller-dwelling markets. Tenure is 28.9% owned outright, 46.7% mortgage and 22.2% renting. Across 20 quarters, the 3.7% CAGR indicates long-run growth rather than a straight-line rise.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $400.
$600
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $560 · units $500
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$852
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.7%
Unoccupied
813
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.3%
Couples with children
30.4%
Couples, no children
13.6%
Single parent
13,846
Total families
Economy & Employment
Berwick's economy is anchored by healthcare at 18.6% of employment, followed by education at 12.0%, construction at 11.0%, professional and technical services at 9.3%, and manufacturing at 8.1%. The occupation mix is led by 5,956 professionals, 3,597 clerical and administrative workers, 3,502 managers and 3,447 trades workers. Labour-force participation is 66.9%, unemployment is 4.9%, and 61.2% of workers are full time. Household income sits at the 79.9th percentile, above the national median. SEIFA is favourable but uneven: IER is decile 9, IRSD decile 8, and IEO and IRSAD decile 7. The spread indicates economic resources are stronger than the broader education and occupation position, supporting demand while not removing affordability pressure.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
26,669
Unemployed
1,312
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
33.1%
Participation
66.9%
Employed
25,357
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.6%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
35.4%
Dwellings
16,646
Transport to Work
Daily life in Berwick is car-oriented. 63.7% of residents travel as car drivers, compared with 1.7% using public transport and 0.9% walking or cycling; 29.3% work from home, which may reduce some commuting demand. Families have access to 10 local schools, including 7 primary and 3 secondary options across 8 government and 2 Catholic providers. Confirm the exact enrolment zone for each address. Recorded crime was 2,854 offences, or 56.7 per 1,000 residents, led by 1,630 property and deception offences and 549 crimes against the person. SEIFA places Berwick in IRSAD decile 7, with IRSD decile 8 and IER decile 9, above the national midpoint. Compared with a transit-led suburb, transport convenience depends more on car ownership.
Drive
63.7%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
29.3%
Population Forecast
+2.62%/yr
(+347 people/yr)
EstablishedBerwick's growth outlook is active but not uniformly youthful. The annual trend is 2.62%, and population change across the wider area is 33.0% over 10 years, with migration labelled Balanced. The shift trajectory is Declining young: the young share is down 3.7 percentage points, while the senior share is up 2.4. Rent growth is 19.4%, and affordability improved from 48.0 in 2011 to 45.5 in 2021. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 56 and stage Active alongside a shift score of 18 labelled Not gentrifying. Compared with a static established suburb, the 2.62% pace and 51 development applications in 12 months point to continued change, so buyers should distinguish established streets from newer supply.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+146
Net Internal / yr
+189
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +52% since 2011, Net internal migration +189/yr, Accelerating: 11% → 37%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,854
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
56.7
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Berwick compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berwick a good suburb to live in?
Berwick can suit households wanting family-sized housing, schools and a settled base. The suburb has 50,298 residents, a median age of 38 and 89.1% separate houses. Car reliance is high at 63.7%, compared with 1.7% public transport, so the best fit depends on commute needs and access to a vehicle.
What schools are in Berwick?
Berwick has 10 local schools, including 7 primary and 3 secondary options, with 8 government and 2 Catholic providers. Options include Berwick Primary, Berwick Secondary College, Kambrya College, Nossal High School and St Catherine's Primary School. Confirm enrolment zones against the exact address before making a decision.
Is Berwick safe?
Safety is mixed rather than uniform: recorded crime was 2,854 incidents, or 56.7 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 1,630, compared with 549 crimes against the person. Buyers and renters should check current street-level conditions and recent local figures before deciding.
Is Berwick good for property investment?
Berwick has a plausible investment case, but returns depend on purchase price and costs. Weekly rent is $400, vacancy is 4.7% and rent growth is 19.4%. Renting households make up 22.2%, lower than the 46.7% mortgage share, while 51 development applications in 12 months may add supply. Compare each property on yield, maintenance, insurance and competition.
How is Berwick's population changing?
Berwick's current population is 50,298. The wider-area trend points to continued expansion, with annual growth at 2.62% and population change of 33.0% over 10 years. Migration is labelled Balanced, while the shift trajectory is Declining young, with the young share down 3.7 points and senior share up 2.4. Growth may continue while the age mix becomes older compared with the past.
What languages are spoken in Berwick?
Berwick has a 35.4% overseas-born population, 13.8 percentage points above national, with Mandarin spoken by 954 people and Sinhal by 945. Hindi, Punjabi and Malayalam are also among the leading listed languages, at 391, 367 and 293 people. English, Irish, Scottish and Indian ancestries are prominent.
How much development is happening in Berwick?
Development activity is significant, with 51 applications lodged in 12 months. Recent examples include a 1-dwelling VicSmart application, a pergola permit and a planning permit amendment for a licensed restaurant or tavern. New supply can improve choice, but it can also create construction disruption and competition with established homes. Check permit status and timing before buying.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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