Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Essendon suburb profile
Essendon, VIC · Postcode 3040
This Essendon suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Essendon, VIC (postcode 3040). 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 Essendon with nearby suburbs.
Essendon at a glance
Population
21,240
Median rent
$380/wk
Household income
$2,132/wk
Median age
39
Essendon 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
+12.7% over 10 years
Population
21,240
was 20,596 in 2016
+644 · +3.1%
Median rent
$380/wk
was $341/wk in 2016
+$39 · +11.4%
Household income
$2,132/wk
was $1,775/wk in 2016
+$357 · +20.1%
Median age
39
was 37 in 2016
+2 · +5.4%
Dig deeper: Essendon population growth · Essendon then and now
Essendon vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Essendon, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-2.7% vs area
- Essendon$380/wk
- Nearby$425.5/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
+10.1% vs area
- Essendon$2,132/wk
- Nearby$2,137.5/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
0% vs area
- Essendon39
- Nearby41
- Melbourne39
Personal income
+26.5% vs area
- Essendon$1,067/wk
- Nearby$1,025.5/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Essendon compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Essendon ranks among Australia's most advantaged suburbs. It shows high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 91,074.5
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 101,092.2
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 51,016.5
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 101,101.8
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Essendon on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Essendon, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Essendon people
- Population
- 21,240
- Median age
- 39
- Born overseas
- 24.7%
- Average household size
- 2.4
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Essendon income
- Median household income
- $2,132/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,067/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Essendon housing
- Median rent
- $380/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,275/mo
- Separate houses
- 41.4%
- Flats & apartments
- 29%
- Owned outright
- 28.5%
- Mortgaged
- 26.1%
- Rented
- 31.3%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 12.1%
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
Essendon work
- Employment to population
- 66.1%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 74%
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 3040)
Compare Essendon with nearby suburbs
Essendon in numbers
Essendon had 21,240 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 71st most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 39, 5% below the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.4 people. 24.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 28.5% own their home outright, 26.1% are paying a mortgage, 31.3% rent. Separate houses make up 41.4% of dwellings, with 29% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $380/wk, 9% above the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $2,132/wk, 20% above the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.2%. 74% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 9 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 3.1% (from 20,596 to 21,240). Median rent moved from $341/wk to $380/wk (+11.4%).
Essendon suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Essendon, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Essendon was $380/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Essendon, VIC?
- Essendon had 21,240 residents at the 2021 Census, up 3.1% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Essendon?
- Median household income in Essendon was $2,132/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Essendon?
- 31.3% of occupied homes in Essendon were rented, 28.5% were owned outright and 26.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Essendon suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Essendon. 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