Mooroopna
A 43-year median age puts Mooroopna 3 years above the national figure, reinforcing its established and ageing profile. The suburb has 8,312 residents across 39.97 square kilometres, with a density of 207.9 people per square kilometre. Compared with nearby Shepparton, Mooroopna presents as a smaller, more residential setting. Annual growth is only 0.3%, so the suburb is more suited to buyers seeking affordability and space than rapid capital-growth exposure.
Population
8,312
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,121/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
15
Median House
$465K
October to December 2025
Mooroopna suits buyers prioritising a detached home at a lower entry point than many metropolitan markets. A typical mortgage payment is listed at $1,148 per month, while mortgage costs equal 23.7% of household income, below a severe-stress position. Compared with apartment-led locations, the 80.7% separate-house share provides more family-oriented stock, although buyers should allow for car dependence.
For Buyers
Mooroopna suits buyers prioritising a detached home at a lower entry point than many metropolitan markets. A typical mortgage payment is listed at $1,148 per month, while mortgage costs equal 23.7% of household income, below a severe-stress position. Compared with apartment-led locations, the 80.7% separate-house share provides more family-oriented stock, although buyers should allow for car dependence.
For Investors
Mooroopna has a sizeable rental base, with 31.5% of households renting and weekly rent at $250. The 6.5% vacancy rate is comparatively loose, which can give tenants more choice and limit short-term pricing power. Rental growth of 42.9% is much higher than the 0.3% annual population trend, but that contrast suggests investors should not assume rent gains will continue at the same pace. Compared with faster-growing regional markets, Mooroopna is a steadier, income-focused proposition, with overseas migration identified as the primary growth driver.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+650.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mooroopna
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Mooroopna North Primary School
Mooroopna Park Primary School
Mooroopna Primary School
St Mary's School
Demographics
Mooroopna has an older age profile than Australia overall, with a median age of 43, or 3 years above the national figure. University attainment is 14.0%, which is 16.1 percentage points below the national comparison, and only 12.8% of residents were born overseas, 8.8 points below the national level. English ancestry is prominent at 3,157 people, followed by Irish at 898 and Scottish at 824. Christianity accounts for 3,676 residents, while 3,319 report no religion. Household size averages 2.2 people, below the national comparison by 0.3, and 79.8% of residents stayed at the same address over the measured period. Compared with more mobile or migrant-heavy centres, this points to an established population with slower household turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.7%
Houses
13.2%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Mooroopna remains a detached-house market, with 80.7% of dwellings separate houses, 13.2% semi-detached and only 0.4% apartments. Tenure is relatively balanced: 35.6% of homes are owned outright, 31.1% are mortgaged and 31.5% are rented. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.1%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 21.8%. Compared with 2013, prices are substantially higher, but mortgage-to-income at 23.7% and rent-to-income at 22.3% indicate housing costs are not currently flagged as stressed.
Mortgage / mo
$1,148
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$634
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
230
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.5%
Couples with children
41.5%
Couples, no children
24.6%
Single parent
2,083
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Mooroopna's leading industry, employing 471 people or 24.7% of the industry workforce, followed by manufacturing at 10.7%, education at 10.6%, construction at 8.9% and retail at 8.0%. The occupational mix reflects this regional service and practical-work base, led by 579 labourers, 468 professionals, 454 trades workers and 437 community or personal service workers. The labour force numbers 3,489 people, with unemployment at 5.8%, participation at 50.5% and full-time work at 58.7%. Household income of $1,121 per week sits at the 18.2nd percentile, below the national distribution, which helps explain the low SEIFA results: IEO decile 1, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 1. Compared with higher-income areas, limited earning capacity remains an important constraint despite healthcare and education employment.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
3,489
Unemployed
201
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
33.9%
Participation
50.5%
Employed
3,288
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.0%
Postgraduate
2.4%
Born Overseas
12.8%
Dwellings
3,282
Transport to Work
Daily life in Mooroopna is highly car dependent: 82.1% of residents drive to work, much higher than the 0.3% using public transport, while 2.4% walk or cycle and 7.5% work from home. Families have access to 4 nearby primary schools, comprising 3 government schools and 1 Catholic school, so enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Safety requires practical due diligence because the recorded crime rate is 140.8 offences per 1,000 residents, with 1,170 total offences, including 441 property and deception offences and 390 justice procedures offences. IRSAD is in decile 1 and 9.9% of residents need assistance, or 737 people, although volunteering reaches 14.3%. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, Mooroopna trades lower transport choice for easier car access and a more spacious housing pattern.
Drive
82.1%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
7.5%
Population Forecast
+0.3%/yr
(+25 people/yr)
EstablishedMooroopna is following a slow-growth and ageing trajectory. The annual trend is 0.3%, while population change across the wider area is 6.4% over 10 years, modest versus rapid-growth corridors. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, even as the age structure shifts: the senior share has increased by 6.5 percentage points, the young share has fallen 4.2 points and the working share has declined 1.8 points. Affordability has worsened from 36.6 in 2011 to 39.4 in 2021, while rents have grown 42.9%. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a shift score of 39 labelled Early signs, but the current gentrification status is score 0 and Not gentrifying. Compared with stronger-growth suburbs, ageing and modest annual expansion should keep demand more gradual.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+46
Net Internal / yr
-42
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,170
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
140.8
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 Mooroopna compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mooroopna a good suburb to live in?
Mooroopna can suit households seeking detached housing, lower entry prices and a quieter regional setting. The median age is 43, separate houses account for 80.7% of dwellings and 4 primary schools serve local families. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, daily life is more car dependent, while the crime rate of 140.8 per 1,000 residents warrants address-level due diligence.
What schools are in Mooroopna?
Mooroopna has 4 listed primary schools: Mooroopna Primary School, Mooroopna North Primary School, Mooroopna Park Primary School and St Mary's School. The mix is 3 government schools versus 1 Catholic school. Families should compare the exact address with current enrolment zones, because boundaries can affect access more than suburb names.
Is Mooroopna safe?
Safety should be checked carefully at street and property level. Mooroopna recorded 1,170 offences and a crime rate of 140.8 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences numbering 441 and justice procedures offences 390. Compared with a low-crime setting, these figures call for checking recent incidents, lighting, parking and the immediate surroundings before renting or buying.
How is Mooroopna's population changing?
Mooroopna has 8,312 residents today, with population change across the wider area recorded at 6.4% over 10 years and an annual trend of 0.3%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 6.5 percentage points while the young share fell 4.2 points. Compared with rapid-growth areas, change is gradual and age-led rather than expansionary.
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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