Mill Park - South
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Mill Park - South's population was around 11,605 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 365 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,240 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,322 in June 2024 and an additional 111 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 2,354 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 69.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilised the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting with a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest numbers, the area was forecast to grow by 3,038 persons to 2041, an increase of 23.7% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Mill Park - South according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Mill Park - South has recorded approximately 29 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, totalling 146 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 2 approvals so far in FY-26. The population has declined in recent years, indicating that new supply may be keeping pace with demand and offering good choice for buyers. New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $547,000.

In the current financial year, $1.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mill Park - South has significantly lower building activity, 82.0% below the regional average per person, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. However, development activity has increased recently. This is also lower than the national average, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. New development consists of 15.0% detached houses and 85.0% medium to high-density housing, providing accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This represents a shift from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 90.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for diverse, affordable housing options. With approximately 993 people per approval, Mill Park - South shows signs of being a mature, established area.

Population forecasts indicate that Mill Park - South will gain around 2,755 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Mill Park - South has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Mill Park Place Framework, Tram Route 86 Extension, The Stables Kindergarten Redevelopment, and Peter Hopper Lake Revitalisation. Below is a list detailing those most relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Mill Park - South remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Mill Park - South has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in the area is 4.3%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6% over the past year.

As of June 2025, there are 6,117 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is 0.3% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. The workforce participation rate in Mill Park - South is 60.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries of employment among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence with only 6.6% employment compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between the Census working population and resident population counts. In a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.6%, while the labour force increased by 1.4%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with an increase in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows that Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate a projected growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.4% over ten years for Mill Park - South, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Mill Park - South had a median income among taxpayers of $49,176 and an average level of $57,834. These figures are lower than the national averages of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively for Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $54,148 (median) and $63,681 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census figures rank household income at the 44th percentile ($1,647 weekly) and personal income at the 27th percentile. Income distribution data shows that 35.0% of locals (4,061 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the surrounding region's 32.8%. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Mill Park - South's latest Census data shows 89.8% houses and 10.2% other dwellings compared to Melbourne metro's 87.2% houses and 12.8%. Home ownership in Mill Park - South was 40.0%, with mortgaged properties at 35.8% and rented ones at 24.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733 compared to Melbourne metro's $1,900. Median weekly rent was $369 versus Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Mill Park - South's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Mill Park - South features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 78.0% of all households, consisting of 37.9% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 22.0%, with lone person households at 19.1% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.9.

Educational attainment in Mill Park - South aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 26.3%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (17.7%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 31.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.3% and certificates at 20.2%. Current educational participation is high at 26.6%, including 8.5% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 6.0% in tertiary education.

Educational institutions include Findon Primary School and Mill Park Primary School, serving 808 students collectively. Mill Park - South has typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1030) with balanced educational opportunities. Both schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. School places per 100 residents are 7.0, below the regional average of 13.1, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Mill Park - South has 45 active transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes totaling 8. Together, these routes facilitate 6,308 weekly passenger trips.

Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 204 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency across all routes averages 901 trips per day, translating to approximately 140 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mill Park - South's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Mill Park - South residents. Prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 49% (~5674 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 7.7% of residents) and asthma (7.0%). Around 70.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.0% across Greater Melbourne. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.9% (2305 people), compared to 13.2% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

Mill Park - South is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Mill Park - South has a high cultural diversity, with 38.5% of its population born overseas and 43.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mill Park - South, making up 56.0% of its population. However, Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, with 6.2% versus 9.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (15.5%), Other (15.1%), and English (14.7%). Notably, Macedonian (4.5%) and Greek (6.6%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 4.6% and 4.1%, respectively. Italian population is also slightly higher at 10.7%.

Mill Park - South's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Mill Park - South is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Mill Park - South at 12.4%, while the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 11.1%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 10.8% to 12.4% of the population, and the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 4.5% to 5.9%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group declined from 15.5% to 14.0%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.1% to 10.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Mill Park - South, with the 75 to 84 age group expected to grow by 108% (adding 743 people), reaching 1,433 from 689. Residents aged 65 and older will represent 56% of this growth. The 0 to 4 age group is projected to grow modestly at 5%, adding only 32 residents.