SA 5043 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Mitchell Park

Its 5,754 residents have a median age of 37, three years below the national figure, and 34.7% were born overseas, 13.1 percentage points above national. Compared with nearby Marion and Oaklands Park, Mitchell Park's 2.07 sq km footprint creates a concentrated urban setting at 2,773.3 residents per sq km. Rising prices, overseas migration and 1.3% annual growth make housing pressure more important than its established classification.

Mitchell Park urban fabric map

Population

5,754

Median Age

37.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,160/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

33

Median House

$1.2M

First quarter 2026

2.07 km²· 2,773.3 people/km²· Family income $1,615/wk

The illustrated monthly mortgage is $1,582, while mortgage commitments equal 31.5% of household income, signalling tighter borrowing capacity even though rent stress is 24.0%. The stock is relatively family-oriented, with 58.8% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms, 54.5% separate houses and 42.6% semi-detached dwellings. Compared with a detached-only search, the semi-detached share gives buyers more compact options, while 51.0% renting points to strong housing demand.

For Buyers

The illustrated monthly mortgage is $1,582, while mortgage commitments equal 31.5% of household income, signalling tighter borrowing capacity even though rent stress is 24.0%. The stock is relatively family-oriented, with 58.8% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms, 54.5% separate houses and 42.6% semi-detached dwellings. Compared with a detached-only search, the semi-detached share gives buyers more compact options, while 51.0% renting points to strong housing demand.

For Investors

Mitchell Park suits investors seeking a renter-heavy market, but the entry price requires disciplined yield testing. Renting accounts for 51.0% of households, weekly rent is $278 and vacancy is 5.9%, so tenant demand is broad while the vacancy buffer is not exceptionally tight. Compared with the lower-priced 2025 entry point, investors now need to stress-test interest costs because mortgage commitments equal 31.5% of household income. Thirty-six development applications in 12 months, including a 6-dwelling flat project, may add choice and competition. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, supporting rental demand because new arrivals often seek housing before buying.

Development Activity

Total DAs

237

Last 12 Months

33

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-13.2%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
14
Deck / Pergola / Patio
14
New Dwelling
8
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
7
Garage / Carport / Shed
7
Renovation / Extension
6
Fencing
4
Tree Removal
4

Schools in Mitchell Park

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Hamilton Secondary College

Secondary Education Government

Demographics

Mitchell Park has a median age of 37, three years below the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.2, which is 0.3 below the national figure. Overseas-born residents make up 34.7%, 13.1 percentage points above national, helping explain the presence of Mandarin speakers at 104, Nepali at 72, Arabic at 65, Hindi at 42 and Cantonese at 41. English ancestry is recorded for 1,723 people and Chinese ancestry for 433, alongside 2,338 people reporting no religion and 2,099 Christianity. Compared with nearby Marion and Oaklands Park, the suburb's demographic story is shaped by overseas migration and smaller households, while 76.4% stayed at the same address and turnover was 23.6%.

Age Distribution

0-14
14.8%
15-24
12.8%
25-44
32.1%
45-64
22.1%
65+
18.2%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
5.0%
2 bed
26.3%
3 bed
58.8%
4+ bed
10.0%

Dwelling Structure

54.5%

Houses

42.6%

Townhouse

2.8%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 22.0% Mortgage 25.9% Rent 51.0% Other 1.0%

Housing is concentrated in 3-bedroom dwellings at 58.8%, with 54.5% separate houses and 42.6% semi-detached homes; only 2.8% are apartments. Compared with a more owner-occupied suburb, this renter-majority mix can create faster turnover, although rent stress is 24.0%. The $278 weekly rent sits alongside a 5.9% vacancy rate, giving households some choice without removing price pressure.

Mortgage / mo

$1,582

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$278

Census 2021

HH Size

2.2

Personal Income / wk

$635

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

5.9%

Unoccupied

159

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

24.0%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

31.5% stressed

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
104
Nepali
72
Arabic
65
Hindi
42
Canton
41
Punjabi
41

Ancestry

English
1,723
Other
1,051
Chinese
433
Scottish
385
Irish
356
German
326

Household Composition

35.4%

Couples with children

38.8%

Couples, no children

22.7%

Single parent

1,458

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates local employment at 28.6%, representing 522 workers, followed by education at 10.4% and 189 workers, professional and technology services at 8.9% and 162, retail at 6.8% and 124, and public administration at 6.0% and 109. This mix gives Mitchell Park a service-sector base because healthcare is the largest industry by a wide margin. Occupations include 655 professionals, 450 community and personal service workers and 344 clerical and administrative workers. The unemployment rate is 6.8% and participation is 56.9%, while household income sits at the 22.4th percentile. SEIFA is uneven: education and occupation is decile 6, compared with economic resources at decile 2, IRSD at decile 3 and IRSAD at decile 4. Compared with the national income position, local skills are stronger than household financial capacity, likely reflecting renters and mortgage pressure at 31.5%.

Unemployment

6.8%

Labour Force

2,790

Unemployed

191

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
4
Disadvantage
3
Economic resources
2
Education & occupation
6

Full-time

53.4%

Part-time

40.3%

Participation

56.9%

Employed

2,599

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 655
Community/Personal 450
Clerical/Admin 344
Trades 297
Labourers 276
Sales 219
Managers 198
Machinery/Drivers 114

Top Industries

Healthcare 28.6%
Education 10.4%
Professional/Tech 8.9%
Retail 6.8%
Public Admin 6.0%

University

41.9%

Postgraduate

10.9%

Born Overseas

34.7%

Dwellings

2,531

Transport to Work

Mitchell Park is compact, covering 2.07 sq km at a density of 2,773.3 people per sq km, so daily trips are shaped by an urban street network rather than large-lot distances. Cars dominate commuting at 71.3%, while 10.3% use public transport, 9.7% work from home and 2.8% walk or cycle. One named nearby school is Hamilton Secondary College, a government secondary campus, so families should check enrolment zones and primary options at the exact address. Crime is recorded at 74.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, and IRSAD is in decile 4 while IRSD is decile 3, below the middle deciles. Compared with a lower-density suburb, Mitchell Park trades larger private space for proximity and transport choice, with 15.4% volunteering supporting local connection.

Drive

71.3%

Public Transport

10.3%

Walk / Cycle

2.8%

Work from Home

9.7%

Population Forecast

+1.3%/yr

(+236 people/yr)

Established

Mitchell Park is classified as established, but its current trajectory is not static. Forecast annual growth is 1.3%, with overseas migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 16.1% over 10 years. The shift profile is Mixed: rent growth reached 56.6%, affordability worsened from 43.4% in 2011 to 46.4% in 2021, and the working share moved 2.2 percentage points higher. Gentrification signals are at an Early signs stage with a score of 33, even though the shift measure records an Advanced stage and score of 72. That divergence matters because rising prices and rents can arrive before broad social change. Compared with a mature, low-growth suburb, overseas migration and 1.3% annual growth point to ongoing housing demand, while 36 development applications may gradually increase supply.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+386

Net Internal / yr

-66

33

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +24% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +386/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 18%

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

427

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

74.2

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Mitchell Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 10%
Household Income
Bottom 22%
Rent Level
Top 46%
Apartments
Top 15%
Renters
Top 6%
Uni Educated
Top 16%
Public Transport
Top 6%
Born Overseas
Top 10%
Density
Top 4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What schools are in Mitchell Park?

Mitchell Park has 1 named local school, Hamilton Secondary College, which is a government secondary school. Confirm the enrolment zone against the exact address, then check nearby primary options and current capacity because secondary access does not establish access for every year level.

Is Mitchell Park safe?

Crime is recorded at 74.2 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 427 total incidents. Treat that as a suburb-wide rate rather than a guarantee for each street, and inspect lighting, traffic and local conditions before choosing an address. Mitchell Park's IRSAD is decile 4 and IRSD is decile 3.

How is Mitchell Park's population changing?

Population change across the wider area is forecast at 16.1% over 10 years, with annual growth of 1.3% driven primarily by overseas migration. Mitchell Park currently has 5,754 residents, and 34.7% were born overseas, so demand is likely to remain connected to household formation and migration rather than only natural ageing.

Is there new development in Mitchell Park?

Development activity reached 36 applications in 12 months, including a proposed 6-dwelling, two-storey residential flat building. That level of activity may broaden rental and purchase choice, but it can also add construction disruption and future competition for existing properties. Check each approval's timing, dwelling mix and final outcome before relying on new supply.

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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (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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