Next on our list of potential Melbourne suburbs is South Morang. It's about 20 kilometers northeast of the CBD. We’re exploring different areas to see what could be a good fit for our family, and South Morang seems to be worth a closer look—though there are definitely some mixed signals!
Population Diversity
One thing that stands out is the diverse mix of people living in South Morang. The top countries of birth here are:
- India: 6.5%
- Italy: 2.4%
- North Macedonia: 2.4%
- Sri Lanka: 1.7%
- Philippines: 1.4%
It’s a pretty varied community, which is always nice when you’re looking for a welcoming, family-friendly vibe.
Rental Prices
On the budget side, South Morang looks quite appealing. Rentals for a three-bedroom home seem to be around $500 to $580 per week, which is reasonable compared to some of the other suburbs we’ve looked at. If you’re not looking to buy yet (like us), it’s a nice spot to keep on the list for affordability.
Safety
Safety is a big one for us, and from what I’ve found, South Morang scores well in that area. The crime rate is about 10/100, which is pretty low. It’s definitely a reassuring factor when you’ve got kids to think about.
Schools
Unfortunately, the schools in South Morang don’t seem to be top-tier. The primary schools don’t even make it into the top 200 rankings, which is something to keep in mind if education quality is high on your list. For example, Morang South Primary School has an ICSEA score of 1022, and NAPLAN scores that don’t go over 500. Not the worst, but not super impressive either.
Convenience
One big plus for South Morang is the convenience. Public transport is well-covered with buses and trains, and you’ve got everything nearby like libraries, supermarkets, and fresh markets. The only downside is the hospitals are a little further away, so that could be something to think about if you want more immediate access to healthcare.
Natural Disasters
Natural disaster risk in South Morang looks fairly low, which is always a relief. However, I did notice that the nearby area of Yarrambat has a really high bushfire risk, which might be something to watch out for if you’re thinking of moving anywhere close to that area.
Reddit Experience
(Surprise!)
Now, here’s where things get a bit weird. I wanted to check out what people were saying about South Morang on Reddit, but when I searched, all I found were +18 posts! Seriously, the images were pretty shocking, and I wasn’t expecting that. I guess it just goes to show that online reviews can be a mixed bag. On the other hand, I checked Xiaohongshu, and the reviews there seemed a lot more normal and positive. Does this mean South Morang is a trendy spot for young people? Maybe. I’ll leave that one up in the air for now.
Stay tuned for more as we continue to explore Melbourne’s suburbs on our hunt for the perfect place to call home. South Morang is on the list, but there’s more to consider before we make any decisions!