Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Chelsea suburb profile
Chelsea, VIC · Postcode 3196
This Chelsea suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Chelsea, VIC (postcode 3196). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Chelsea with nearby suburbs.
Chelsea at a glance
Population
8,347
Median rent
$375/wk
Household income
$1,683/wk
Median age
41
Chelsea trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+15.6% over 10 years
Population
8,347
was 7,773 in 2016
+574 · +7.4%
Median rent
$375/wk
was $325/wk in 2016
+$50 · +15.4%
Household income
$1,683/wk
was $1,307/wk in 2016
+$376 · +28.8%
Median age
41
was 41 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Chelsea population growth · Chelsea then and now
Chelsea vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Chelsea, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-4% vs area
- Chelsea$375/wk
- Nearby$420.5/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
-13.1% vs area
- Chelsea$1,683/wk
- Nearby$2,069/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
+5.1% vs area
- Chelsea41
- Nearby41
- Melbourne39
Personal income
+12.7% vs area
- Chelsea$951/wk
- Nearby$974.5/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Chelsea compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Chelsea sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 71,037.8
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 81,033.8
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3988
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 91,048.1
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Chelsea on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Chelsea, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Chelsea people
- Population
- 8,347
- Median age
- 41
- Born overseas
- 24.4%
- Average household size
- 2.2
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Chelsea income
- Median household income
- $1,683/wk
- Median personal income
- $951/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Chelsea housing
- Median rent
- $375/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,008/mo
- Separate houses
- 32%
- Flats & apartments
- 38.5%
- Owned outright
- 26.5%
- Mortgaged
- 33.6%
- Rented
- 29.2%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 7.8%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Chelsea work
- Employment to population
- 61.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.5%
- Year 12 or above
- 62.2%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3196)
Compare Chelsea with nearby suburbs
Chelsea in numbers
Chelsea had 8,347 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 249th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 41, close to the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.2 people. 24.4% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 26.5% own their home outright, 33.6% are paying a mortgage, 29.2% rent. Flats and apartments make up 38.5% of dwellings, with 32% separate houses. Median rent was $375/wk, 7% above the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,683/wk, 5% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.5%. 62.2% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 7 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 7.4% (from 7,773 to 8,347). Median rent moved from $325/wk to $375/wk (+15.4%).
Chelsea suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Chelsea, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Chelsea was $375/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Chelsea, VIC?
- Chelsea had 8,347 residents at the 2021 Census, up 7.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Chelsea?
- Median household income in Chelsea was $1,683/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Chelsea?
- 29.2% of occupied homes in Chelsea were rented, 26.5% were owned outright and 33.6% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Chelsea suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Chelsea. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Melbourne