Mount Pleasant
A crime rate of 147.9 per 1,000 residents is the first number any prospective buyer should know about Mount Pleasant. That figure sits well above typical suburban benchmarks and is driven primarily by property and deception offences (185 incidents), which shapes the lived experience despite the suburb's affordability credentials. House prices average $467,500, making it one of the more accessible markets in the Ballarat region, with household incomes at the 34.6th percentile nationally. The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, and university qualifications reach 34.9% of residents, about 4.8 points above the national average.
Population
2,225
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,350/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$468K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $467,500 (Apr-Jun 2024) is down 14.2% from the April-June 2023 peak of $545,000, giving buyers some breathing room compared to the froth of 2023. Over the longer term, prices have risen 69.1% from $276,500 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 3.8% across 14 years. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 84.3%, with three-bedroom homes the standard at 55% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes adding another 22.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, so serviceability is manageable relative to local incomes even for median earners.
For Buyers
The median house price of $467,500 (Apr-Jun 2024) is down 14.2% from the April-June 2023 peak of $545,000, giving buyers some breathing room compared to the froth of 2023. Over the longer term, prices have risen 69.1% from $276,500 in 2013, a compound annual growth rate of 3.8% across 14 years. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 84.3%, with three-bedroom homes the standard at 55% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes adding another 22.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, so serviceability is manageable relative to local incomes even for median earners.
For Investors
With 42.4% of residents renting, Mount Pleasant has a tenant base proportionally higher than many comparable regional suburbs. Weekly rent of $280 against a $467,500 median implies a gross yield near 3.1%, modest but above coastal premium markets. The vacancy rate of 8.7% is elevated and signals supply slightly outpacing demand, so investors should factor in potential void periods. Development activity is low, with only 3 planning applications lodged in the past 12 months, limiting new-supply pressure over the near term. The renter majority, combined with an unemployment rate of 7.9%, points to a tenant base with some income fragility, which is relevant to rent collection risk.
Development Activity
Total DAs
11
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Mount Pleasant skews younger than the national average, with a median age of 35 compared to 40 nationally, a gap of 5 years. The overseas-born population is 12.6%, which is 9 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a strongly Anglo-leaning heritage anchored by English (991 residents), Irish (339) and Scottish (339) ancestry. University qualifications at 34.9% run 4.8 points above the national rate, higher than expected for a suburb at the 34.6th income percentile, suggesting an educated workforce employed in middle-income roles. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, and couples without children (28.6% of families) are the most common household type.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.3%
Houses
13.3%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 84.3% of dwellings, with semi-detached homes adding 13.3% and apartments a thin 2.4%, so the suburb is effectively a detached-house market. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant format at 55%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 22.4% and two-bedroom at 19.2%. Tenure splits see 42.4% renting, 29.0% owning outright and 28.6% carrying a mortgage. The outright ownership rate is meaningful because it indicates an established cohort of long-term residents alongside the significant renter share. Rent-to-income sits at 20.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, so renting households are not under severe financial strain relative to local incomes. The price trajectory shows a rise from $276,500 in 2013 to a $545,000 peak in 2023, followed by a correction to $467,500.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$690
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.7%
Unoccupied
89
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.6%
Couples, no children
1,532
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing sector at 21% of workers (153 people), followed by Education at 14% (102) and Public Administration at 10% (73). Professional and Technical services add 7.7% (56 workers) and Manufacturing 7% (51), reflecting the mix of public-sector and trade employment typical of regional Ballarat. By occupation, Professionals top the list at 259, followed by Community and Personal service roles at 157 and Clerical and Admin at 125. The unemployment rate of 7.9% is notably higher than the national figure, and the labour force participation rate of 56.8% is lower than average, partly because 616 residents are not in the labour force. Full-time employment reaches 57.4% of those working.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
56.8%
Employed
974
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.9%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
12.6%
Dwellings
926
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total, with 85.9% of residents driving to work and only 1.0% using public transport, reflecting the suburb's regional location within Ballarat rather than a walkable inner-city setting. Walking and cycling account for 4.6% of commutes, slightly above minimal. The crime rate of 147.9 incidents per 1,000 residents is the key liveability challenge, with property and deception offences alone accounting for 185 incidents, Justice procedures offences 69 and crimes against the person 50. Rent-to-income at 20.7% keeps housing costs manageable for renters. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families draw on Ballarat's broader school network. The volunteering rate of 16.2% indicates reasonable community participation, and 7.7% of residents need daily assistance.
Drive
85.9%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
4.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
329
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
147.9
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 Mount Pleasant compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Pleasant a good suburb to live in?
Mount Pleasant offers accessible house prices averaging $467,500 and manageable housing costs, with mortgage-to-income at 22.2% and rent-to-income at 20.7%. The main concern is a crime rate of 147.9 per 1,000 residents, one of the higher rates in the region, driven primarily by 185 property and deception offences. Car access is essential as only 1% of residents use public transport.
What is the median house price in Mount Pleasant?
The median house price is $467,500 as of April-June 2024, down 14.2% from the peak of $545,000 in April-June 2023. Prices have grown 69.1% from $276,500 in 2013 over 14 years, a compound annual rate of 3.8%. Weekly rent averages $280 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,300.
What schools are in Mount Pleasant?
No schools are recorded within the Mount Pleasant suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 2,225 across 2.03 square kilometres, families rely on schools across the broader Ballarat area. The local population shows a university qualification rate of 34.9%, which is 4.8 percentage points above the national average.
Is Mount Pleasant safe?
The crime rate is 147.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is elevated compared to many suburban benchmarks. Total recorded offences reached 329 in the most recent period, led by property and deception offences (185), justice procedures offences (69) and crimes against the person (50). Buyers and renters should weigh this against the suburb's affordability.
Is Mount Pleasant good for property investment?
The 42.4% renter share provides a solid tenant pool, and weekly rent of $280 against a $467,500 median gives a gross yield near 3.1%. The vacancy rate of 8.7% is elevated, meaning investors should expect some void periods. Only 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, limiting new supply. The unemployment rate of 7.9% is a risk factor for tenant income stability.
How is Mount Pleasant's population changing?
The current population is 2,225 across a 2.03 square kilometre area, giving a density of 1,094 per square kilometre. About 30.7% of residents moved within the last 5 years, indicating moderate turnover. The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure of 40, suggesting a relatively younger demographic profile compared to many established suburbs.
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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