Mount Pleasant (Vic.)

Mount Pleasant has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Mount Pleasant (Vic.) is around 2,221, reflecting a decrease of 4 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,225. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 2,178 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of an additional 30 new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio stands at 1,094 persons per square kilometer, relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation method for areas not covered by ABS data.

Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is forecasted to increase its population by 796 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 38.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Mount Pleasant, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Mount Pleasant has had approximately eight residential properties approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 42 homes were approved, with two more granted in FY-26. On average, 1.3 people have moved to the area per year for each dwelling built during these years.

This balance between supply and demand has maintained stable market conditions, while new homes are constructed at an average cost of $356,000. In FY-26, there have been $12,000 in commercial development approvals, reflecting the area's residential focus. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Mount Pleasant has significantly less development activity, 69.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. Recent construction consists of equal parts detached dwellings (50.0%) and townhouses or apartments (50.0%), shifting from the current housing mix of 84.0% houses. Mount Pleasant's population density is around 908 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Mount Pleasant is projected to grow by 845 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Mount Pleasant has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eleven projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Sebastopol Community Hub, Delacombe Town Centre Stage 3, Sovereign Hill Master Plan: Gold Vault, and Ballarat Regional Animal Facility. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment drivers in Mount Pleasant are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Mount Pleasant has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 6.0% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6%. As of September 2025, 1,178 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 2.2% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation stands at 67.4%, above Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. According to Census responses, 19.3% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and accommodation & food, with a strong specialization in the latter (1.6 times the regional level). Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.9% of local workers, below Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points, contrasting with Rest of Vic.'s employment contraction of 0.7% and unemployment rise. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Mount Pleasant's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Mount Pleasant's median income among taxpayers was $48,656 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $62,596 during the same period. These figures are lower than those for Rest of Vic., which had median and average incomes of $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. By September 2025, current estimates project Mount Pleasant's median income to be approximately $52,670 and the average income to reach around $67,760, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%. According to data from the 2021 Census, incomes in Mount Pleasant rank modestly, between the 24th and 26th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 31.3% of residents earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (695 residents), which is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 30.3% in the same category. After housing costs, 84.9% of income remains, ranking at the 26th percentile nationally.

Mount Pleasant is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Mount Pleasant's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure was 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Pleasant stood at 29.3%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (28.3%) or rented (42.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mount Pleasant was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent figure in Mount Pleasant was $280, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Mount Pleasant's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Mount Pleasant features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 59.2% of all households, including 18.9% couples with children, 23.4% couples without children, and 15.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.8%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 8.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Mount Pleasant fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 28.4%, surpassing the Rest of Vic. average of 21.7%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 18.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 33.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 23.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 7.6% in tertiary education, and 7.3% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Mount Pleasant has 12 operational public transport stops. These are served by one route, offering a total of 246 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents usually located 182 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 35 trips per day, equating to approximately 20 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Mount Pleasant is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Mount Pleasant faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 52% (~1,146 people) of the total population has private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most common medical conditions in Mount Pleasant are mental health issues (affecting 14.5% of residents) and asthma (impacting 10.9%). Conversely, 60.0% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across the rest of Victoria. The working-age population in Mount Pleasant faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 14.7% (326 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 23.9% found in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors in Mount Pleasant present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Mount Pleasant ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Pleasant, surveyed in 2016, had a population that was predominantly Australian-born citizens speaking English at home. Specifically, 88.4% were citizens, 87.4% were born in Australia, and 92.2% spoke only English at home. Christianity was the most prevalent religion, accounting for 39.3% of the population.

Notably, Judaism, which comprised 0.1% of Mount Pleasant's population, was slightly overrepresented compared to the rest of Victoria (0.1%). In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (31.5%), Australian (26.4%), and Irish (10.8%). Some ethnic groups showed notable variations: Scottish residents made up 10.8% in Mount Pleasant versus 8.8% regionally; Dutch residents comprised 1.9% compared to 1.7%; and Russian residents accounted for 0.4% versus 0.1%.

Mount Pleasant's population is younger than the national pattern

Mount Pleasant has a median age of 34, which is lower than the Rest of Vic's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Vic's average, Mount Pleasant has an over-representation of the 25-34 cohort (20.8% locally), while the 65-74 age group is under-represented (8.1%). This concentration of the 25-34 cohort is notably higher than the national figure of 14.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 18.1% to 20.8%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has risen from 12.0% to 13.2%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 9.4%, and the 55 to 64 age group has dropped from 10.6% to 9.2%. Demographic modeling indicates that Mount Pleasant's age profile is projected to evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25 to 34 age cohort expected to grow significantly, expanding by 314 people (68%) from 461 to 776.