Mildura Surrounds
Statistical Area - sa2

Mildura Surrounds is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of August 2025, Mildura Surrounds' population is approximately 3,814, reflecting a growth of 88 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,726. This increase of 2.4% is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 3,801 in June 2024 and an additional 10 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 0.20 persons per square kilometer. Mildura Surrounds' growth exceeded that of its SA4 region (0%) and SA3 area, making it a regional growth leader between 2021 and August 2025. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this population increase. AreaSearch uses 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 from 2023 adjusted by 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. By 2041, Mildura Surrounds is projected to increase by 615 persons, a growth of 15.8% from the latest population numbers.

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

Mildura Surrounds has averaged approximately six new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Between FY21 and FY25, there were 31 dwellings approved in total, with no approvals recorded so far in FY26. On average, over these five years, each dwelling has added around 2.4 new residents annually, indicating steady demand which supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $428,000. This financial year, $88.9 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Mildura Surrounds has significantly less development activity, with 68.0% fewer approvals per person on average. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes in the area. This level of activity is also below national averages, reflecting the area's maturity and potentially pointing to planning constraints.

All new construction in the area has been standalone homes, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1420 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Mildura Surrounds will gain approximately 602 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Mildura Surrounds has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 41 potential influence projects in total. Notable ones include Nowingi Solar Power Station, Red Cliffs Solar Farm, Sunraysia Water Efficiency Project, and Red Cliffs Early Years Hub. The following list details the most relevant projects.

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

Employment performance in Mildura Surrounds exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Mildura Surrounds has a balanced workforce with equal representation of white and blue collar jobs across various sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.1%.

In this month, 1,971 residents are employed, which is 1.7% below Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%, while workforce participation is similar at 57.4%. Key employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 5.6 times the regional level, but construction shows lower representation at 4.3% compared to the regional average of 10.4%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis.

Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.3%, employment declined by 3.9%, and unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. had an employment decline of 0.9% and labour force decline of 0.4%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. 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's forecasts from May 2025 suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mildura Surrounds' employment mix indicates local growth of approximately 4.8%% over five years and 11.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates Mildura Surrounds had a median taxpayer income of $45,046 and an average of $52,319. This is lower than the national averages of $57,085 (median) and $73,292 (average). In Victoria excluding Mildura Surrounds, the median was $48,741 with an average of $60,693. Considering Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% from financial year 2022 to March 2025, estimated current incomes for Mildura Surrounds would be approximately $49,600 (median) and $57,608 (average). The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Mildura Surrounds fall between the 16th and 28th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile reveals that 30.0% of locals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to metropolitan regions where 30.3% fall into this range. Housing costs are modest in Mildura Surrounds, with 93.3% of income retained after expenses. However, total disposable income ranks at only the 27th percentile nationally.

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

In Mildura Surrounds, as per the latest Census evaluation, 92.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 7.5% comprising semi-detached, apartments, and other types. This compares to Non-Metro Vic.'s 85.6% houses and 14.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mildura Surrounds stood at 54.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.0% and rented ones at 20.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $900, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,283. Median weekly rent in Mildura Surrounds was $150, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $265. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,863, and rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Mildura Surrounds features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households compose 64.5% of all households, including 23.9% couples with children, 32.7% couples without children, and 6.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.5%, with lone person households at 32.7% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Mildura Surrounds faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 13.2%, substantially below the VIC average of 33.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 10.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.7% and graduate diplomas at 1.5%. Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 8.1% and certificates at 29.2%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.5% in primary education, 9.6% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education. A robust network of six schools operates within Mildura Surrounds, educating approximately 407 students as of the latest data. The educational mix includes three primary schools and three K-12 schools. School places per 100 residents stand at 10.7, falling below the regional average of 17.1, with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas due to varied educational conditions across Mildura Surrounds.

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

Public transport analysis shows 15 active stops operating within Mildura Surrounds. These are a mix of bus services. There are 10 individual routes serving these stops, providing a total of 67 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is limited; residents are typically located 3747 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 9 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Mildura Surrounds faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~1,762 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.4 and 8.3% of residents respectively. 66.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.1% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 24.1% of residents aged 65 and over (918 people), which is higher than the 19.2% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Mildura Surrounds, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016, showed a relatively low cultural diversity with 84.9% of its population being citizens, 91.3% born in Australia, and 94.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 48.8%. The category 'Other', comprising 1.4%, showed a slight overrepresentation compared to the Rest of Vic's 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (33.9%), English (31.6%), and Scottish (8.2%) were the top three groups represented in Mildura Surrounds. Notable divergences existed for Samoan (1.1% vs regional 0.2%), German (5.5% vs 4.0%), and Croatian (0.4% vs 0.5%).

Mildura Surrounds hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Mildura Surrounds' median age of 45 years is modestly higher than Rest of Vic.'s 43 years, making it considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Vic. average, Mildura Surrounds has a notably over-represented 25-34 cohort (13.6% locally) and an under-represented 15-24 age group (10.2%). Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 10.6% to 13.6% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 16.5% to 12.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Mildura Surrounds' age profile will evolve significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to expand by 211 people (41%), from 519 to 731. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 cohorts.