Mildura
Prices have risen 155.0% from 2013 to October to December 2025, while the annual forecast trend is 1.43%, driven by overseas migration. Compared with nearby Irymple and Merbein, Mildura has the broader employment, education and health-service role. The trade-off is a 194.9 per 1,000 crime rate and household income at the 30.7th percentile, so affordability and services need to be weighed against careful street-by-street assessment.
Population
34,565
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,295/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$575K
October to December 2025
Three-bedroom homes represent 53.0% of stock, while 4 or more bedrooms account for 24.3%, giving families more choice than the smaller 2-bedroom segment at 18.9%. A typical mortgage is listed at $1,300 per month, with mortgage costs at 23.2% of household income versus rent costs at 21.6%.
For Buyers
Three-bedroom homes represent 53.0% of stock, while 4 or more bedrooms account for 24.3%, giving families more choice than the smaller 2-bedroom segment at 18.9%. A typical mortgage is listed at $1,300 per month, with mortgage costs at 23.2% of household income versus rent costs at 21.6%.
For Investors
Mildura has a substantial rental base, with 37.5% of households renting, higher than the 30.7% owning outright. Weekly rent is $280 and the vacancy rate is 8.7%, which gives tenants more availability than a tightly constrained market but may reduce the urgency behind rent increases. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while 15 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing activity. Because vacancy is relatively elevated, investors should prioritise location, property condition and durable tenant demand rather than relying only on capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
83
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-36.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mildura
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Trinity Lutheran College
Mildura Primary School
Mildura West Primary School
Ranfurly Primary School
Sacred Heart School
Demographics
Mildura has a median age of 39, only 1 year below the national figure, while its university-educated share is 22.4%, 7.7 percentage points lower than the national comparison. The overseas-born share is 18.6%, 3.0 points below nationally, and average household size is 2.4 people, 0.1 below the national average. English ancestry is most common at 12,262 people, followed by Scottish at 2,969 and Irish at 2,901. Christianity accounts for 14,476 residents and no religion for 14,317, with Islam at 1,047. This mix, combined with 77.2% of residents staying at the same address, points to an established population, although lower university participation than nationally may influence the local occupation profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.0%
Houses
10.9%
Townhouse
7.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Mildura remains a house-led market, with 81.0% separate houses compared with 10.9% semi-detached dwellings and 7.1% apartments. Tenure is mixed: 30.7% own outright, 29.4% have a mortgage and 37.5% rent, meaning renters are more common than outright owners. The largest bedroom category is 3 bedrooms at 53.0%, followed by 4 or more at 24.3%. Mortgage stress is listed at 23.2% of income and rent stress at 21.6%, with neither flagged as stress.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $280.
$460
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $480 · units $350
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$681
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.7%
Unoccupied
1,262
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.7%
Couples with children
41.0%
Couples, no children
21.5%
Single parent
8,887
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Mildura's largest industry at 23.8%, employing 2,138 people, followed by education at 12.4% and 1,118 people. Public administration contributes 7.7% and 694 jobs, while retail and construction each represent 7.3%, with 654 and 653 workers respectively. The leading occupations are professionals at 2,724, labourers at 2,247, community and personal service workers at 1,953, trades at 1,887 and managers at 1,707. Unemployment is 5.9%, participation is 55.6% and the full-time employment rate is 59.2%. All four socioeconomic deciles are 2, below the middle deciles, which points to lower education, income and occupational advantage despite the strong health and education employment base. That anomaly reflects a service economy with substantial labour, trade and care roles.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
15,739
Unemployed
932
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
33.4%
Participation
55.6%
Employed
14,807
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.4%
Postgraduate
4.3%
Born Overseas
18.6%
Dwellings
13,281
Transport to Work
Mildura is strongly car dependent: 77.5% travel as car drivers, compared with only 0.4% using public transport and 4.1% walking or cycling. Work from home accounts for 8.7%, so daily convenience is likely to depend on proximity to shops, services and employment. Ten local schools cover 5 primary, 3 secondary, 1 special and 1 combined primary and secondary setting, across 6 government, 3 Catholic and 1 independent providers. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Safety requires attention, with 6,736 recorded offences and a rate of 194.9 per 1,000. Property and deception offences total 3,297, higher than drug offences at 485. An IRSAD decile of 2, below the middle deciles, also points to socioeconomic challenges that can vary between neighbourhoods.
Drive
77.5%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
8.7%
Population Forecast
+1.43%/yr
(+239 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth across the wider area is running at 1.43% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration, and population change over 10 years is 22.0%. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.1 percentage points and the young share down 2.2 points. Affordability has remained broadly stable, moving from 42.0 in 2011 to 42.8 in 2021, while rents have grown by 50.0%. Compared with a no-growth scenario, the 1.43% annual trend signals continued expansion, but the aging pattern means future demand is likely to lean more heavily toward healthcare, accessible housing and established services. The gentrification measure is scored 7 and labelled Not gentrifying, suggesting growth without a strong displacement or premium-upgrading signal.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+103
Net Internal / yr
-108
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal outflow -108/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
6,736
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
194.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mildura compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mildura a good suburb to live in?
Mildura can suit households seeking regional services and comparatively accessible housing. The population is 34,565, 81.0% of homes are separate houses and 77.5% of commuters drive. Compared with a metropolitan lifestyle, residents should expect greater car dependence and should assess safety and services at the street level.
What schools are in Mildura?
Mildura has 10 local schools across 5 primary, 3 secondary, 1 special and 1 combined primary and secondary setting. The mix includes 6 government schools, 3 Catholic schools and 1 independent school. Enrolment zones can differ by address, so families should confirm eligibility before relying on proximity.
Is Mildura safe?
Safety is mixed and should be assessed carefully. Mildura recorded 6,736 offences at a rate of 194.9 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 3,297 incidents, higher than drug offences at 485. Street, property type and travel patterns can affect personal experience, so inspect the exact area at different times.
Is Mildura good for property investment?
Mildura has an established rental market, with 37.5% of households renting and weekly rent at $280. The vacancy rate is 8.7%, higher than a tightly supplied market, so tenant demand and rent growth should be tested by location. Prices are 155.0% above 2013 levels, but investors should also allow for maintenance and local market variability.
How is Mildura's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 22.0% over 10 years, with growth running at 1.43% annually and overseas migration the primary driver. Mildura is also on an Aging trajectory: the senior share has increased by 3.1 percentage points while the young share has fallen by 2.2 points. Demand is therefore likely to favour services and housing suited to older residents.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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