Mitchell

The area is notably young, with 20.9% of people being children under 15, a figure much higher than most similar areas. Over the last decade, the population grew by 43% and the number of people in de facto relationships rose to 14.3%, which is well above the state figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, though the proportion of overseas-born people rose to 14.7% by 2021. While this is higher than in many similar areas, it remains far below the Victorian and national averages.

English is the main language for 82.7% of the community, but the use of other languages at home rose to 11.4% since 2011. This is still far below the national figure of 22.3%.

People with no religion now make up 42.6% of the population, a significant increase of 18 percentage points since 2011. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.

Year 12 completion rose 11 points since 2011 to reach 47.9%, and 14.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. Both figures are higher than in most similar areas, though they remain far below state and national averages.

Typical family incomes rose by $644 since 2011 to $2,012 per week, which is about the same as the national figure. Households earning $3,000 or more a week also saw a 12 point increase since 2011.

About 10% of residents have a mental health condition, which is a little above the national figure. Additionally, 6% of people need help with daily activities, a rate that is higher than most similar areas.

Unpaid care for children is very common here, with 29.4% of people providing this support, which is well above the national average. Notably, 4.9% of residents served in the Defence Force, among the highest rates for its level.

The First Nations community is notably young, with a typical age of 20. This group also sees better-than-average outcomes in pay and education, with a typical personal income of $713 and a Year 12 completion rate of 41%.

Homes here are larger than usual, averaging 2.7 people. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 60.3% of families, and a much lower rate of people living alone compared to most areas.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 93% of dwellings, with 87.2% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Renting is less common here than in the rest of the state, at 20.7%.

The community is very car-reliant, with 62.7% of people driving to work and only 0.9% using public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, and 15.2% of the workforce now works from home, up 11 points since 2011.

The area is seeing significant movement, with 41.8% of people moving in the last five years. This is slightly above the national average and reflects a rising trend in migration into the region.

Full-time employment is slightly higher than the national average at 61.1%. The most common industries for local workers are construction, health care, and public administration.

Mitchell is experiencing very strong growth, with a 17.6% population increase since 2021, which is well above the state average. It ranks higher than 70% of similar areas for overall economic advantage.

The area receives more rain than the state average, with 650mm annually. Both minimum and maximum temperatures are lower than in most other areas.

Theft is more common here than in most similar areas, while burglary and sexual offence rates are lower. Overall, the crime rate has risen by 15% over the last five years.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.3, far below the state average. Most residents live far from essential services, with only 25.6% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.