Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Dandenong suburb profile
Dandenong, VIC · Postcode 3175
This Dandenong suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Dandenong, VIC (postcode 3175). 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 Dandenong with nearby suburbs.
Dandenong at a glance
Population
30,127
Median rent
$319/wk
Household income
$1,267/wk
Median age
33
Dandenong 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
+20.2% over 10 years
Population
30,127
was 29,906 in 2016
+221 · +0.7%
Median rent
$319/wk
was $284/wk in 2016
+$35 · +12.3%
Household income
$1,267/wk
was $1,026/wk in 2016
+$241 · +23.5%
Median age
33
was 32 in 2016
+1 · +3.1%
Dig deeper: Dandenong population growth · Dandenong then and now
Dandenong vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Dandenong, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-18.3% vs area
- Dandenong$319/wk
- Nearby$341/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
-34.6% vs area
- Dandenong$1,267/wk
- Nearby$1,409/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
-15.4% vs area
- Dandenong33
- Nearby37
- Melbourne39
Personal income
-29.3% vs area
- Dandenong$596/wk
- Nearby$601/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Dandenong compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Dandenong ranks among Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 1824.1
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 1870.4
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1875.3
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3923.3
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Dandenong on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Dandenong, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Dandenong people
- Population
- 30,127
- Median age
- 33
- Born overseas
- 60.5%
- Average household size
- 2.8
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Dandenong income
- Median household income
- $1,267/wk
- Median personal income
- $596/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Dandenong housing
- Median rent
- $319/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,517/mo
- Separate houses
- 37.2%
- Flats & apartments
- 17.3%
- Owned outright
- 17.7%
- Mortgaged
- 21.1%
- Rented
- 47.5%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 10%
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
Dandenong work
- Employment to population
- 46.9%
- Unemployment rate
- 9.4%
- Year 12 or above
- 54.2%
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 3175)
Compare Dandenong with nearby suburbs
Dandenong in numbers
Dandenong had 30,127 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 27th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 33, 20% below the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.8 people. 60.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 17.7% own their home outright, 21.1% are paying a mortgage, 47.5% rent. Separate houses make up 37.2% of dwellings, with 17.3% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $319/wk, 9% below the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,267/wk, 29% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 9.4%. 54.2% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 1 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 0.7% (from 29,906 to 30,127). Median rent moved from $284/wk to $319/wk (+12.3%).
Dandenong suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Dandenong, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Dandenong was $319/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Dandenong, VIC?
- Dandenong had 30,127 residents at the 2021 Census, up 0.7% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Dandenong?
- Median household income in Dandenong was $1,267/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Dandenong?
- 47.5% of occupied homes in Dandenong were rented, 17.7% were owned outright and 21.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Dandenong suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Dandenong. 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