Mitcham (Vic.)

Population growth drivers in Mitcham are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Mitcham's population was approximately 17,522 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 727 people, a 4.3% rise from the 2021 Census count of 16,795 residents. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates; Mitcham's population was 17,472 in June 2024, with an additional 130 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,642 persons per square kilometer, placing Mitcham in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Mitcham's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (4%), making it a growth leader within the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, using weighted aggregation methods to adjust population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Mitcham is expected to experience above median population growth nationally, with an increase of 2,603 persons projected by 2041. This would represent a total gain of 14.6% over the 17-year period.

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

Mitcham has recorded approximately 54 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 273 homes were approved, with another 81 so far in FY-26. The average new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these years is about 0.7.

New construction appears to be meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and facilitating population growth that may surpass current projections. The average expected construction cost of new properties is around $453,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, indicative of quality-focused development. This financial year has seen approximately $8.5 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mitcham's development activity per person is comparable, maintaining market balance with the broader area.

However, this activity is below national averages, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 62% standalone homes and 38% townhouses or apartments, offering a growing range of medium-density options across various price brackets. Mitcham has approximately 378 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established area. By 2041, Mitcham is projected to grow by around 2,553 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Mitcham has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 41stth percentile nationally

The area's performance is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified a total of 19 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include the 26-32 McDowell Street Social Housing initiative, the Mitcham Station Precinct Enhancement project, the 42-48 Glenburnie Road Mitcham Residences development, and the 26 Dudley Street Mitcham Townhouses project. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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The labour market in Mitcham shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Mitcham has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate in Mitcham was 2.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.7%.

As of September 2025, 9,874 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.8% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation was at 67.4%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training, particularly notable in the latter with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, 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 data. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.7%, labour force by 0.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points in Mitcham. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 3.0% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during this period. State-level data to 25-Nov shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mitcham's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation, the median income among taxpayers in Mitcham SA2 was $56,319 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $73,886 during this period. Both figures were above national averages of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively for Greater Melbourne. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $63,167 and the average around $82,871, based on a 12.16% growth in wages since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Mitcham cluster around the 67th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that 30.1% of individuals in Mitcham earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, mirroring the national trend where 32.8% fall into this bracket. The district shows considerable affluence with 31.2% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains for other expenses. Mitcham'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

In Mitcham, as per the latest Census, 62.9% of dwellings were houses while 37.1% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's 73.0% houses and 26.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mitcham stood at 35.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.4% and rented ones at 28.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, lower than Melbourne metro's average of $2,200. Median weekly rent in Mitcham was $406, compared to Melbourne metro's $410. Nationally, Mitcham's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $406 against 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 is notably higher than national and regional averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 44.9% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia 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.

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 individual routes that collectively facilitate 10,115 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 188 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 1,445 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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 have low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 9,899 people), compared to 54.2% across Greater Melbourne. The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 7.9 and 7.4% of residents respectively. Approximately 72.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 72.3% across Greater Melbourne. As of 16th June 2021, Mitcham has 16.7% of residents aged 65 and over (around 2,924 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 was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Mitcham has a high cultural diversity, with 34.3% of its population born overseas and 32.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Mitcham, comprising 41.8% of people. Buddhism is overrepresented in Mitcham at 3.7%, compared to 5.3% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (21.7%), Australian (20.2%), and Chinese (14.1%). Korean (0.7%) is notably overrepresented in Mitcham, while Sri Lankan (0.5%) and Indian (3.4%) show underrepresentation compared to regional percentages of 0.6%, 0.9%, and 3.9% respectively.

Mitcham's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

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. The 55-64 cohort is over-represented in Mitcham at 11.6%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average. Conversely, the 25-34 age group is under-represented in Mitcham at 13.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.1% to 12.0%, while the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 14.1% to 13.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Mitcham. Notably, the 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 25%, reaching 2,938 people from 2,351. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 35-44 age groups are expected to decrease in number.