Mitcham (Vic.)
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Mitcham's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 17,512. This figure represents an increase of 717 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 16,795. The change is inferred from the ABS estimate of 17,472 in June 2024 and an additional 126 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,641 persons per square kilometer, placing Mitcham in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Mitcham's growth rate of 4.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's rate of 3.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for Mitcham.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041 based on these aggregations. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected nationally, with Mitcham expected to grow by 2,603 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a gain of 14.6% in total over the 17 years.

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

Mitcham has recorded approximately 87 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25, around 436 homes have been approved. As of FY26, six residential dwellings have been approved so far.

On average, over these five years, 0.7 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were recorded. This suggests that supply is meeting or surpassing demand, offering greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth above projections. The average construction value of new dwellings in Mitcham is $660,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. In FY26, $8.5 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating the area's residential character.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mitcham has similar development levels per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. This is also below average nationally, suggesting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% medium and high-density housing, offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more accessible compact options. Mitcham has approximately 378 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. Looking ahead, it is expected that Mitcham will grow by 2,563 residents through to 2041. Existing development levels seem aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Mitcham has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely to influence the area. Notable projects include McDowell Street Social Housing (26-32), Mitcham Station Precinct Enhancement, Glenburnie Road Residences (42-48), and Dudley Street Townhouses (26). Below is a list of projects most relevant to the area.

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

Employment conditions in Mitcham demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Mitcham Vic has a highly educated workforce with professional services strongly represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.6%, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% in the past year.

As of June 2025, 9889 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0%, below Greater Melbourne's 4.6%. Workforce participation is 67.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training, notably so in professional & technical at 1.3 times the regional average. Transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 2.8% versus the regional average of 5.2%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population to local population count. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 0.6%, labour force by 0.7%, leaving unemployment broadly flat in Mitcham. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 3.5%, labour force expanded by 4.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Vic employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mitcham's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022, Mitcham had a median income among taxpayers of $56,319. The average income level stood at $73,886. This is above the national average and compares to levels of $54,892 and $73,761 across Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates for Mitcham would be approximately $62,013 (median) and $81,356 (average) as of March 2025. From the 2021 Census, incomes in Mitcham cluster around the 68th percentile nationally. Income analysis shows that 30.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (5,271 individuals), mirroring the region where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Mitcham demonstrates affluence with 31.2% earning over $3,000 per week. After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Mitcham displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Mitcham, as per the latest Census, consisted of 62.9% houses and 37.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Melbourne metro's 73.0% houses and 26.9% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Mitcham was at 35.6%, with the rest being mortgaged (36.4%) or rented (28.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mitcham was $2,167, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,200. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $406, compared to Melbourne metro's $410. Nationally, Mitcham's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Mitcham has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.2% of all households, including 35.2% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.8%, with lone person households at 25.3% and group households comprising 3.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in Mitcham places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Mitcham's educational attainment exceeds national averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 44.9% possess university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 31.2% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 28.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 24.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 13.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education. Mitcham's five schools have a combined enrollment of 2,481 students as of the latest data. The area shows significant socio-educational advantages with an ICSEA score of 1116. Educational provision is balanced with four primary schools and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

Mitcham has 94 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 26 different routes that together facilitate 10,115 weekly passenger trips. The average distance residents travel to reach the nearest stop is 188 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

Daily service frequency averages 1,445 trips across all routes, equating to about 107 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mitcham's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Mitcham. Both young and old age cohorts see low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~9,894 people), compared to 54.2% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 7.9 and 7.4% of residents respectively, while 72.6% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.3% across Greater Melbourne. As of June 20xx (exact year not specified), the area has 16.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,922 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Mitcham has a high level of cultural diversity, with 34.3% of its population born overseas and 32.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mitcham, making up 41.8% of the population. However, Buddhism appears to be overrepresented in Mitcham compared to Greater Melbourne, with 3.7% of Mitcham's population identifying as Buddhist versus 5.3% regionally.

The top three represented ancestry groups in Mitcham are English at 21.7%, Australian at 20.2%, and Chinese at 14.1%. There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, including Korean which is overrepresented at 0.7% compared to 0.6% regionally, Sri Lankan at 0.5% versus 0.9%, and Indian at 3.4% versus 3.9%.

Mitcham's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Mitcham is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mitcham has a notably higher proportion of individuals aged 55-64 (11.6% locally) but a lower proportion of those aged 25-34 (13.2%). According to post-2021 Census data, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 11.1% to 12.0%, while the age group of 25-34 has declined from 14.1% to 13.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Mitcham, with the 45-54 age group expected to grow by 25% (587 people), reaching 2,938 from 2,350. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease in number.