NSW 2575 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Mittagong

Mittagong pairs a median age of 49, fully 9.0 years above the national figure, with a population that has grown 34.9% over the past decade, an unusual combination of an aging resident base and steady expansion. The Southern Highlands town spreads its 6,090 residents across 58.42 km2 at just 104.2 people per km2, and 84.0% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income sits in the 42.1st percentile nationally, well below the SEIFA advantage scores of decile 6 across IRSAD, IRSD and IEO, while university qualifications reach 39.5%, which is 9.4 points above national. The median house price of $921,250 climbed 10.4% in a year, faster than incomes, which is why mortgage stress has emerged.

Mittagong urban fabric map

Population

6,090

Median Age

49.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,425/wk

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

88

Median House

$921K

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

58.42 km²· 104.2 people/km²· Family income $2,020/wk

The $921,250 median house price rose 10.4% from $890,000 in 2024 to $982,500 in 2025, outpacing local income growth and pushing the mortgage-to-income ratio to 33.0%, above the 30% stress threshold. The stock suits families: 84.0% of dwellings are separate houses, only 7.2% are apartments, and three-bedroom homes account for 40.8% with four-plus-bedroom homes at 34.4%. That leaves small dwellings scarce, since 2-bedroom homes are just 19.6% and 0-1 bedroom only 5.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,037, lower in dollar terms than Sydney metro because the median price is well below the harbour markets, yet the stress flag still trips because household income ranks only in the 42.1st percentile nationally.

For Buyers

The $921,250 median house price rose 10.4% from $890,000 in 2024 to $982,500 in 2025, outpacing local income growth and pushing the mortgage-to-income ratio to 33.0%, above the 30% stress threshold. The stock suits families: 84.0% of dwellings are separate houses, only 7.2% are apartments, and three-bedroom homes account for 40.8% with four-plus-bedroom homes at 34.4%. That leaves small dwellings scarce, since 2-bedroom homes are just 19.6% and 0-1 bedroom only 5.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,037, lower in dollar terms than Sydney metro because the median price is well below the harbour markets, yet the stress flag still trips because household income ranks only in the 42.1st percentile nationally.

For Investors

A 28.8% renter share and weekly rent of $400 give landlords a moderate tenant pool, and against the $921,250 median that rent implies a gross yield near 2.3%, low but typical for a detached-house market. The 8.5% vacancy rate is elevated, which caps how quickly rent can be pushed. Demand support is steady rather than strong: net overseas migration adds 54 residents a year and net internal migration adds 50, a balanced driver profile, while annual population growth runs at 1.68%. Development is active with 83 applications lodged in 12 months, including a tourist accommodation modification and several dwelling alterations, more renovation than new supply. Rent has grown 74.0% over the decade, far above the rent-growth seen in flat metro markets, so the case rests on rent escalation and capital growth more than headline yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

563

Last 12 Months

88

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-6.4%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
74
Subdivision
18
Demolition
18
New Dwelling
17
Garage / Carport / Shed
11
Swimming Pool / Spa
10
Commercial / Industrial
9
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
7

Schools in Mittagong iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Frensham Junior School

ICSEA 1157 Primary Independent

K-6 · 103 students

Frensham School

ICSEA 1137 Secondary Independent

7-12 · 345 students

St Michael's Catholic Primary School

ICSEA 1035 Primary Catholic

K-6 · 180 students

Mittagong Public School

ICSEA 992 Primary Government

K-6 · 536 students

Demographics

The median age of 49 is 9.0 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 3.9 points while the young-person share fell 1.4 points over the decade. Only 22.6% of residents were born overseas, close to the national average and 1.0 point above it, so the population is comparatively Anglo-leaning, led by English (2,670), Irish (924) and Scottish (813) ancestries. The most common non-English languages are Nepali (73 speakers), Punjabi (20) and Italian (17), a small migrant mix consistent with Hinduism (223) edging out other minority religions. University qualifications reach 39.5%, which is 9.4 points above national, while average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national and fits the older, couples-without-children profile that makes up 36.5% of families.

Age Distribution

0-14
14.8%
15-24
9.5%
25-44
20.5%
45-64
25.7%
65+
29.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
5.3%
2 bed
19.6%
3 bed
40.8%
4+ bed
34.4%

Dwelling Structure

84.0%

Houses

7.6%

Townhouse

7.2%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 44.0% Mortgage 27.2% Rent 28.8%

Tenure leans toward established ownership: 44.0% own outright, 27.2% carry a mortgage and 28.8% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held wealth among older residents rather than a churn of recent buyers, consistent with the median age of 49. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 84.0% separate houses, with apartments only 7.2% and semi-detached 7.6%, so buyers wanting anything other than a house have very little to choose from. Three-bedroom homes lead at 40.8% and four-plus-bedroom at 34.4%. The median house price rose from $890,000 to $982,500 across 2024 and 2025, a 10.4% one-year move. Mortgage-to-income at 33.0% trips the stress flag while rent-to-income at 28.1% stays just under it, a gap that reflects how much faster purchase prices have run than rents relative to a 42.1st-percentile income base.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$2,037

Rent / wk

$400

HH Size

2.2

Personal Income / wk

$751

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

8.5%

Unoccupied

228

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

28.1%

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

33.0% stressed

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Nepali
73
Punjabi
20
Italian
17
Guj
16
Mandarin
13
French
11

Ancestry

English
2,670
Irish
924
Scottish
813
Other
607
Ancestry NS
307
German
228

Household Composition

36.5%

Couples, no children

4,402

Total families

Economy & Employment

The workforce concentrates in services rather than high-finance roles: Healthcare leads at 19.2% (369 workers), Education follows at 14.3% (274) and Professional/Tech at 10.2% (195), with Construction at 9.1% and Retail at 7.2%. By occupation, Professionals (640) and Managers (412) dominate, ahead of Community/Personal (325) and Labourers (282). Unemployment is low at 3.9% and the full-time employment rate is 59.0%. Participation reads only 50.6% because the aging profile leaves 2,134 residents not in the labour force, which is why SEIFA economic resources sit at decile 7 even though income ranks in the 42.1st percentile. The four SEIFA indexes cluster at decile 6 to 7, a middle-advantage band, and real incomes grew 28.1% over the decade.

Unemployment

1.2%

Labour Force

5,555

Unemployed

68

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

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

Overall advantage
6
Disadvantage
6
Economic resources
7
Education & occupation
6

Full-time

59.0%

Part-time

37.1%

Participation

50.6%

Employed

2,520

Occupations

Professionals 640
Managers 412
Community/Personal 325
Labourers 282
Clerical/Admin 267
Sales 235
Machinery/Drivers 102

Top Industries

Healthcare 19.2%
Education 14.3%
Professional/Tech 10.2%
Construction 9.1%
Retail 7.2%

University

39.5%

Postgraduate

10.9%

Born Overseas

22.6%

Dwellings

2,455

Transport to Work

Mittagong is car-dependent: 85.2% drive to work, only 1.4% use public transport and 6.1% walk or cycle, far above the national reliance on cars and below typical metro public-transport use, a function of the low 104.2 persons per km2 density. The suburb scores decile 6 on IRSAD and decile 6 on IRSD, a middle band where most residents face limited disadvantage but the area is not in the top advantage tiers. Volunteering runs at 19.1%, higher than many metro suburbs, while 6.9% of residents (401 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 49. No schools are recorded inside the 58.42 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Southern Highlands towns, a practical trade-off for the spread-out semi-rural setting.

Drive

85.2%

Public Transport

1.4%

Walk / Cycle

6.1%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+1.68%/yr

(+191 people/yr)

Established

Mittagong is an established suburb still expanding, with annual population growth of 1.68% and a 34.9% rise over 10 years, a pace well above flat metro markets. Migration is balanced rather than driven by one source: net overseas migration adds 54 residents a year and net internal migration adds 50. The population trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.9 points and the young-person share down 1.4 points over the decade, so growth is coming more from older arrivals than young families. The gentrification stage reads early signs, scored 27, supported by signals of population up 35% since 2011 and an accelerating change rate from 10% to 23%. Affordability worsened from 50.3% in 2011 to 55.6% in 2021, which is why price pressure now exceeds income gains.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+54

Net Internal / yr

+50

27

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +35% since 2011, Accelerating: 10% → 23%

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

How Mittagong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 9%
Household Income
Bottom 42%
Rent Level
Top 17%
Apartments
Top 36%
Renters
Top 30%
Uni Educated
Top 19%
Public Transport
Bottom 23%
Born Overseas
Top 24%
Density
Top 26%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mittagong a good suburb to live in?

Mittagong scores decile 6 across IRSAD, IRSD and IEO, a middle-advantage band, with household income in the 42.1st percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 39.5%, which is 9.4 points above national. It suits buyers wanting space, with 84.0% separate houses, though the median house price is $921,250 and mortgage stress has emerged.

What is the median house price in Mittagong?

The median house price is $921,250, having risen 10.4% from $890,000 in 2024 to $982,500 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,037, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.0%, above the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Mittagong?

No schools are recorded inside the 58.42 km2 Mittagong boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Southern Highlands towns. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 39.5%, which is 9.4 points above the national figure.

Is Mittagong safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Mittagong in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a middle band, and only 6.9% of its 6,090 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a moderate-disadvantage area.

Is Mittagong good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $400 against a $921,250 median gives a gross yield near 2.3%, low but typical for a detached market, and the 8.5% vacancy rate is elevated. Rent has grown 74.0% over the decade and population growth runs at 1.68% annually, so returns lean on rent escalation and capital growth more than yield.

How is Mittagong's population changing?

Population growth runs at 1.68% annually with a 34.9% rise over 10 years, well above flat metro markets. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 3.9 points and the young-person share down 1.4 points over the decade. Growth is balanced between 54 overseas and 50 internal net arrivals a year.

How much development is happening in Mittagong?

There were 83 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including a tourist accommodation modification and several dwelling alterations. Most are renovations or additions to existing homes rather than new supply, consistent with an established suburb where 84.0% of dwellings are separate houses.

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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