Urban Centre · Area profile
Mansfield
13 km²
Mansfield is a growing community that stands out for its high proportion of retirees and volunteers. The population has surged by 273% since 2011, yet it remains a place where residents are noticeably older than the national average. Many people here live independently in large, detached homes, creating a relaxed atmosphere. This combination of a maturing population and a strong spirit of unpaid service gives the town a distinct character within regional Victoria.
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The typical resident is 45, making the area noticeably older than the state and national average of 38. This is driven by a high proportion of seniors, with 25.7% of people aged 65 and over, which is well above the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia (82.5%), though the number of people born overseas has risen to 11.6% since 2011. This remains far below the national average of 27.7%, with English and Australian ancestries being the most common.
English is the primary language for 89.4% of the community. While a higher share of people use another language at home compared to similar areas, this 4.8% is still far below the national average of 22.3%.
Almost half the population (49.5%) reports having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen sharply by 32 points since 2011.
Education levels have climbed, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher rising to 17.0% since 2011. While this is much higher than in similar areas, it remains well below the national average of 26.3%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,259, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, incomes have risen steadily, with the typical household earning $596 more per week than in 2011.
Health needs are slightly higher here than across Australia, with 7.3% of people needing help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions affect 31.8% of residents, which is well above the national average.
Volunteerism is a strong feature of the town, with 21.1% of people volunteering, a rate well above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid care for children is also common, affecting 27.1% of the population.
Living arrangements are often smaller, with 33.4% of people living alone—well above the national average. This helps explain why the typical number of people per home is 2.2, slightly lower than the national figure of 2.5.
The landscape is dominated by separate houses (90.5%), and 79% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Outright home ownership is common at 41.2%, which is far above the national average of 31%.
Cars are essential for most, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. While 9.7% of the workforce now works from home, this is far below the national average of 21%.
The area has seen significant movement, with 46.4% of residents moving in the last five years, a rate well above the national average. Recent overseas arrivals have fallen to 10.2% since 2011.
The local job market is very strong, with a very low unemployment rate of 1.9%, which is well below the national figure of 5.1%. Many residents work in construction, retail, or health care.
The town is somewhat walkable, and almost everyone (94.5%) lives within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, it is far less connected to public transport than most Victorian towns.