Council (LGA) · Area profile
Mildura
22,082 km²
Most people in Mildura get around by car and live in detached houses, as the area is very spread out. It is a growing community of nearly 57,000 people with a diverse mix of families and a notable First Nations population. The region is a major hub for health and agriculture, though it faces challenges with lower typical incomes and higher rates of long-term health conditions compared to the rest of the state. This is a place where the population is slightly older than the national average, but with a strong presence of children.
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The typical resident is 40 years old, and the population has grown by 12% since 2011. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.6% of the community, which is well above the Victorian figure of 1.0%.
While 78% of people were born in Australia, the number of overseas-born residents has risen to 13.6%. This remains far below the 30.0% seen across Victoria.
About 12.3% of people use a language other than English at home, which is higher than in most similar areas. However, this is still well below the national figure of 22.3%.
A large number of residents now report having no religion, at 42.7%. This is well above the national figure and represents a significant rise of 18 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 12.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion has risen to 39.7%, though this is still far below the 61.8% in Victoria.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,341, which is well below the state figure of $1,759. Only 5.8% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, a figure that is much lower than most other areas.
Health challenges are more common here, as 31.1% of people have a long-term health condition. Additionally, 7.5% of residents need help with daily activities, which is much higher than most areas.
Unpaid care is common, with 13.1% of people providing this support. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011 and is now much lower than in most other areas.
The First Nations community is larger than in 86% of similar areas. This group is noticeably younger, with a typical age of 20, but faces higher unemployment at 14.9% and lower typical incomes.
One-parent families make up 17.1% of the community, which is well above the national figure of 14.1%. About 29% of people live alone.
Detached houses are the norm here, making up 85.4% of homes. While typical weekly rents are well below the state average at $265, the number of households renting is higher than most areas.
Cars are essential for daily life, as only 0.5% of people use public transport to commute. Working from home is also far less common here than in the rest of Victoria.
The area has seen a surge in new arrivals from overseas, who now make up 25.8% of the population. This is far above the national figure of 14.5%.
Jobs are concentrated in health care, agriculture, and retail. While full-time employment is around the national middle, the unemployment rate of 5.2% is higher than most similar areas.
Mildura has a large business presence with 5,491 companies, but it ranks lower than 70% of areas for overall economic advantage and access to resources.
The climate is dry and warm, with average annual rainfall of 288mm, which is far below the Victorian average of 510mm.
Recorded offences are higher than in most areas, particularly theft and burglary. The crime rate has risen by 27% over the last five years, which is much higher than in most other regions.
While there are many parks and amenities within walking distance, overall walkability is a little below the state average. This is partly because many homes are far from health services and schools.