Mitcham
At 54.5% university-qualified and 34.3% born overseas, Mitcham reads as a well-educated eastern suburb with established family wealth rather than a pure commuter strip. Household income sits in the 76th percentile, while separate houses still make up 62.9% of dwellings despite 32.3% semi-detached stock. Compared with nearby Ringwood and Nunawading, its appeal is quieter and more school-and-home oriented, because the 39 median age and 35.6% outright ownership point to settled households with renewal around the edges.
Population
16,795
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,030/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$1.1M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $1,150,000 median house price in Apr-Jun 2024 sits below the 2021 peak of $1,212,500 by 13.0%, giving buyers a more forgiving entry point than the boom period. Housing is still family-scaled: 62.9% separate houses, 32.3% semi-detached homes and only 4.8% apartments. The 46.7% share of 3-bedroom homes suits upgraders, while mortgage costs at $2,167 per month and 24.7% of income look manageable because household income is in the 76th percentile.
For Buyers
The $1,150,000 median house price in Apr-Jun 2024 sits below the 2021 peak of $1,212,500 by 13.0%, giving buyers a more forgiving entry point than the boom period. Housing is still family-scaled: 62.9% separate houses, 32.3% semi-detached homes and only 4.8% apartments. The 46.7% share of 3-bedroom homes suits upgraders, while mortgage costs at $2,167 per month and 24.7% of income look manageable because household income is in the 76th percentile.
For Investors
Mitcham is more an owner-occupier market than a high-churn rental play: renters are 27.9%, lower than the combined 72.1% owned outright or with a mortgage. Weekly rent is $406, while the 6.2% vacancy rate points to softer letting conditions than a tight inner market. Development is controlled, with 9 applications in 12 months, so value is more likely to come from well-located houses and townhouses. Overseas migration averaging +297 people a year helps demand, but internal movement is -261 a year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mitcham iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rangeview Primary School
Prep-6 · 689 students
Antonio Park Primary School
Prep-6 · 529 students
Mitcham Primary School
Prep-6 · 490 students
St John's School
Prep-6 · 142 students
Mullauna Secondary College
7-12 · 625 students
Demographics
Mitcham has 16,795 residents, a 39 median age and an average household size of 2.5, placing it close to the national age profile at 1.0 year lower. Education is a standout, with 54.5% university attainment, 24.4 percentage points above the national level. The overseas-born share is 34.3%, also 12.7 points above national, led by English ancestry at 4,893 people and Chinese ancestry at 3,166. Mandarin has 798 speakers, which helps explain the suburb's strong Asia-linked household mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
62.9%
Houses
32.3%
Townhouse
4.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Mitcham's price cycle shows long-run growth with a recent reset. The price series rose from $650,000 in 2013 to $1,055,000 in 2024, a 62.3% gain and 4.1% CAGR over 12 years, but it remains 13.0% below the $1,212,500 peak in 2021. Ownership is high, with 35.6% owned outright and 36.5% mortgaged compared with 27.9% renting. The dwelling mix is broad enough for downsizers and families because 22.3% are 2-bedroom homes, 46.7% have 3 bedrooms and 27.2% have 4 or more.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$406
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$911
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
425
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.3%
Couples, no children
13,738
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mitcham's workforce is professional and service-led. Healthcare employs 1,062 people, Professional/Tech 1,010, Education 844, Finance 522 and Construction 504. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 3,070, followed by 1,286 managers and 1,216 clerical/admin workers. Unemployment is 4.6% with 63.7% participation, supporting above-average household incomes. SEIFA is strong but uneven: IEO decile 9, IER decile 7, IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 9, suggesting high education and advantage alongside some lower resource households.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
10,213
Unemployed
325
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
30.8%
Participation
63.7%
Employed
8,391
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.5%
Postgraduate
16.2%
Born Overseas
34.3%
Dwellings
6,463
Transport to Work
Mitcham works best for households that value schools and suburban convenience but still drive often. Five local schools span an ICSEA range of 1058 to 1155, led by Rangeview Primary at 1155, Antonio Park Primary at 1137 and Mitcham Primary at 1127, with Government, Catholic and secondary options in the mix. Public transport is used by 8.2% of commuters, below car drivers at 82.6%, so access to the station matters. Crime is 52.8 per 1,000 from 887 offences, and IRSAD decile 9 supports overall amenity.
Drive
82.6%
Public Transport
8.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.7%/yr
(+122 people/yr)
EstablishedForecast growth is modest rather than explosive, at 0.7% or 122 people a year. The medium scenario rises from 17,740 residents in 2026 to 18,349 by 2031, so housing demand should build steadily. Migration is the key driver: overseas migration averages +297 people annually, while internal migration averages -261, meaning new arrivals offset local outflow. The gentrification score is 25 and stage is Early signs, with a Mixed trajectory, 28.5% rent growth and 13.8% real income growth above the slow population pace.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+297
Net Internal / yr
-261
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +14% since 2011, Net internal outflow -261/yr, Strong overseas inflow +297/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
887
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
52.8
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 Mitcham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mitcham a good suburb to live in?
Yes for households wanting established eastern Melbourne living: 62.9% separate houses, 5 local schools and IRSAD decile 9 support comfort, while car use at 82.6% means commuters should weigh driving needs.
What is the median house price in Mitcham?
The median house price in Mitcham is $1,150,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. The broader 2024 price series records $1,055,000, which is 13.0% below the 2021 peak of $1,212,500.
What schools are in Mitcham?
Mitcham has 5 local schools: Rangeview Primary School, Antonio Park Primary School, Mitcham Primary School, St John's School and Mullauna Secondary College. ICSEA scores range from 1058 to 1155.
Is Mitcham safe?
Mitcham recorded 887 offences, equal to 52.8 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 670, so buyers should compare street-level exposure near shops and transport.
Is Mitcham good for property investment?
It can suit selective investors: 27.9% of households rent, weekly rent is $406 and vacancy is 6.2%. The case is stronger for quality homes near schools because development activity is modest at 9 applications.
How is Mitcham's population changing?
Mitcham is growing slowly, with a forecast 0.7% or 122 people a year. The medium projection rises from 17,740 in 2026 to 18,349 in 2031, led by +297 overseas migration offset by -261 internal movement.
What languages are spoken in Mitcham?
With 34.3% of residents born overseas, Mitcham has a clear multilingual layer. Mandarin is the largest listed non-English language with 798 speakers, followed by Canton with 351, Persian ED with 96, Italian with 89 and Hindi with 88.
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), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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