Mansfield (Vic.)
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Mansfield are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Aug 2025, Mansfield Vic.'s population is around 12,010. This reflects a growth of 1,493 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 10,517. The change was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 11,162 as of June 2024 and an additional 153 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3.1 persons per square kilometer. Mansfield's growth rate of 14.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.7%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 65.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 are used with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the area's population is expected to decline by 723 persons by 2041. However, growth is anticipated in specific age cohorts, notably the 25 to 34 age group which is projected to increase by 182 people.

The level of residential development activity in Mansfield was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Mansfield receives approximately 139 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 698 approvals from FY20 to FY25 and 18 so far in FY26. Each dwelling built attracts an average of 2.8 new residents per year over the past five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values. New homes are constructed at an average cost of $637,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

This financial year has seen $27.1 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the rest of Victoria, Mansfield exhibits moderately higher development activity, 22.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This preserves buyer options while sustaining existing property demand.

New building activity consists of 95.0% standalone homes and 5.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 139 people per approval, Mansfield reflects a developing area. Population projections indicate stability or decline, suggesting reduced housing demand pressures that benefit potential buyers.

Mansfield has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Mansfield District Hospital Residential Aged Care Development, Mansfield Common, Mansfield Station Precinct Activation Project, and Alpine Estate Mansfield. The following list details those most relevant:.

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

The employment environment in Mansfield shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Mansfield in Victoria has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.6% as of June 2025.

Over the past year, employment remained relatively stable. As of June 2025, 5,485 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.2% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Employment is concentrated in construction, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

Mansfield specialises in accommodation & food services with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 10.2% compared to the regional average of 16.8%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 0.5% while labour force increased by 1.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.9 percentage points in Mansfield. Rest of Vic., however, experienced employment decline of 0.9% and labour force decline of 0.4%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mansfield's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.0%% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Mansfield's median income among taxpayers was $43,075 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $58,322 during the same period. These figures compare to those for Rest of Vic., which were $48,741 and $60,693 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $47,430 (median) and $64,218 (average) as of March 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family and personal incomes in Mansfield rank modestly, between the 22nd and 33rd percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 30.2% of locals (3,627 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to regional levels where 30.3% occupy this bracket. Housing costs are modest in Mansfield, with 87.2% of income retained. However, total disposable income ranks at just the 28th percentile nationally, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Mansfield is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Mansfield, as per the latest Census evaluation, 95.0% of dwellings were houses while 5.1% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and others. In contrast, Non-Metro Vic. had 93.6% houses and 6.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mansfield stood at 49.6%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 33.5% and rented ones at 16.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, aligning with Non-Metro Vic.'s average, while the median weekly rent was $320 compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $280. Nationally, Mansfield's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,500 against Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $320 compared to the national figure of $375.

Mansfield has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 68.0% of all households, including 23.2% couples with children, 36.6% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 32.0%, with lone person households at 29.8% and group households making up 2.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which matches the average for the Rest of Vic.

Mansfield performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 22.3%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.7%) and certificates (29.0%). Educational participation is high at 29.1%, with 10.7% in primary education, 10.4% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.

The area has 14 schools serving 1,423 students, operating under typical Australian conditions (ICSEA: 1007) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 5 primary, 4 secondary, and 5 K-12 schools.

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

The analysis of public transport in Mansfield shows that there are 19 active transport stops currently operating. These stops offer a mix of bus services. Four individual routes service these stops, collectively providing 40 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as limited, with residents typically located 4210 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages five trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Mansfield is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Mansfield faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 49% of its total population (~5,872 people) has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 9.4% of residents) and mental health issues (7.5%), while 67.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.0% in the rest of Victoria. As of June 2018, 25.2% of Mansfield's residents are aged 65 and over (3,024 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Mansfield is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Mansfield's population, as per the 2016 Census, was predominantly Australian-born and English-speaking, with 87.8% citizens, 87.5% born in Australia, and 95.3% speaking only English at home. Christianity was the primary religion, accounting for 44.0%. Judaism was slightly overrepresented compared to Victoria's regional average (0.2% vs 0.1%).

The top three ancestry groups were English (31.8%), Australian (29.3%), and Irish (10.7%). Mansfield also had higher proportions of Scottish (9.8% vs 9.1%), Dutch (1.8% vs 1.5%), and German (4.0% vs 3.4%) ancestry compared to regional averages.

Mansfield hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Mansfield's median age at 47 years is significantly higher than Victoria's average of 43, and substantially exceeds the national average of 38. The age profile shows a prominent group of 65-74 year-olds (15.0%), while the 35-44 group is comparatively smaller (10.6%) than in the rest of Victoria. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 9.2% to 11.5%, while those aged 25 to 34 increased from 9.4% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 16.4% to 14.5%. By 2041, Mansfield's population is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The number of people aged 85 and above will grow by 36%, reaching 381 from the current figure of 279, indicating a clear aging population trend with those aged 65 and above comprising 70% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 age cohorts.