Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Mansfield
270 km²
Larger than about 91% of similar areas, Mansfield is a mature rural community with a notably older population. The typical resident is 47, far older than the national figure of 38. This aging character is reflected in the high number of retirees and a strong trend toward home ownership, with many residents owning their houses outright. It is a predominantly Australian-born community that maintains a traditional feel in its housing and lifestyle.
Mansfield's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
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The community is significantly older than the state and national average, with 26% of residents aged 65 and over. This high proportion of seniors contributes to a typical age of 47, which is far older than the usual 38 years seen across Australia.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots most commonly cite English, Australian, Irish, or Scottish ancestry. Only 10.6% of the population were born overseas, which is far below the figures for Victoria and Australia.
English is the primary language for 90.3% of the community. Only 4.1% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.
Nearly half of the population (48.5%) report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 43.2%.
While 18% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, this is far below the Victorian average of 29.2%. Year 12 completion is also far below the state and national figures at 47.1%.
Typical household income is $1,356 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Weekly personal income is around the middle for its level and sits about the same as the national figure of $805.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 31% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average of 27.7%.
Volunteering is very common in Mansfield, with 21.8% of people giving their time—well above the national figure of 14.1%. There is also a slightly higher rate of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.
First Nations residents in Mansfield are far older than the national typical age of 24, at 35 years. A significant 14.1% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the state average.
Homes are smaller than usual, with 2.3 people per household. This is consistent with a high number of people living alone, who make up 30.2% of the community.
The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 92.9% of dwellings. A high 43% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 61.4% of people driving to work and very few using public transport. The drive time to the city is much higher than in most similar areas.
Mansfield has seen significant movement recently, with 43.5% of people moving house in the last five years. This is well above the Victorian average of 40%.
The unemployment rate is very low at 1.7%, far below the national figure of 5.1%. Many residents work in construction, retail, or health care, though full-time employment is well below the national average.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.9, far below the Victorian average of 6.4. Fewer than half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools.