Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Essendon West suburb profile
Essendon West, VIC · Postcode 3040
This Essendon West suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Essendon West, 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 West with nearby suburbs.
Essendon West at a glance
Population
1,559
Median rent
$450/wk
Household income
$2,338/wk
Median age
39
Essendon West 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
+11.5% over 10 years
Population
1,559
was 1,439 in 2016
+120 · +8.3%
Median rent
$450/wk
was $360/wk in 2016
+$90 · +25%
Household income
$2,338/wk
was $1,691/wk in 2016
+$647 · +38.3%
Median age
39
was 40 in 2016
-1 · -2.5%
Dig deeper: Essendon West population growth · Essendon West then and now
Essendon West vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Essendon West, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+15.2% vs area
- Essendon West$450/wk
- Nearby$405.5/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
+20.7% vs area
- Essendon West$2,338/wk
- Nearby$2,121.5/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
0% vs area
- Essendon West39
- Nearby41
- Melbourne39
Personal income
+23.3% vs area
- Essendon West$1,040/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 West compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Essendon West ranks among Australia's most advantaged suburbs. It shows high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 91,079.7
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 101,096
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 71,049.9
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 101,094.5
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Essendon West on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Essendon West, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Essendon West people
- Population
- 1,559
- Median age
- 39
- Born overseas
- 20.9%
- Average household size
- 2.7
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Essendon West income
- Median household income
- $2,338/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,040/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Essendon West housing
- Median rent
- $450/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,682/mo
- Separate houses
- 62%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 33.3%
- Mortgaged
- 32.2%
- Rented
- 23.7%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 8.2%
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 West work
- Employment to population
- 65.5%
- Unemployment rate
- 3%
- Year 12 or above
- 70.9%
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 West with nearby suburbs
Essendon West in numbers
Essendon West had 1,559 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 39, 5% below the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.7 people. 20.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 33.3% own their home outright, 32.2% are paying a mortgage, 23.7% rent. Separate houses make up 62% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $450/wk, 29% above the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $2,338/wk, 31% above the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3%. 70.9% 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 8.3% (from 1,439 to 1,559). Median rent moved from $360/wk to $450/wk (+25%).
Essendon West suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Essendon West, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Essendon West was $450/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Essendon West, VIC?
- Essendon West had 1,559 residents at the 2021 Census, up 8.3% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Essendon West?
- Median household income in Essendon West was $2,338/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Essendon West?
- 23.7% of occupied homes in Essendon West were rented, 33.3% were owned outright and 32.2% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Essendon West suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Essendon West. 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