Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Morwell suburb profile
Morwell, VIC · Postcode 3840
This Morwell suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Morwell, VIC (postcode 3840). 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 Morwell with nearby suburbs.
Morwell at a glance
Population
14,389
Median rent
$215/wk
Household income
$942/wk
Median age
43
Morwell 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
+3% over 10 years
Population
14,389
was 13,771 in 2016
+618 · +4.5%
Median rent
$215/wk
was $180/wk in 2016
+$35 · +19.4%
Household income
$942/wk
was $807/wk in 2016
+$135 · +16.7%
Median age
43
was 43 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Morwell population growth · Morwell then and now
Morwell vs nearby & VIC
Median Census 2021 figures for Morwell, nearby suburbs (8), and the VIC state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-41.3% vs area
- Morwell$215/wk
- Nearby$250/wk
- VIC$366/wk
Household income
-48% vs area
- Morwell$942/wk
- Nearby$1,963/wk
- VIC$1,813/wk
Median age
+7.5% vs area
- Morwell43
- Nearby43
- VIC40
Personal income
-35% vs area
- Morwell$522/wk
- Nearby$753.5/wk
- VIC$803/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC.
Socio-economic profile
How Morwell compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Morwell ranks among Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 1824
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 1819.8
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1858.5
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 1828.6
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Morwell on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Morwell, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Morwell people
- Population
- 14,389
- Median age
- 43
- Born overseas
- 16%
- 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
Morwell income
- Median household income
- $942/wk
- Median personal income
- $522/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Morwell housing
- Median rent
- $215/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $953/mo
- Separate houses
- 77.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 6.6%
- Owned outright
- 33.4%
- Mortgaged
- 22.4%
- Rented
- 30.4%
- 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
Morwell work
- Employment to population
- 39.5%
- Unemployment rate
- 11%
- Year 12 or above
- 32.5%
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 3840)
Compare Morwell with nearby suburbs
Morwell in numbers
Morwell had 14,389 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 135th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 43, 5% above the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.2 people. 16% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 33.4% own their home outright, 22.4% are paying a mortgage, 30.4% rent. Separate houses make up 77.3% of dwellings, with 6.6% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $215/wk, 39% below the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $942/wk, 47% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 11%. 32.5% 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 4.5% (from 13,771 to 14,389). Median rent moved from $180/wk to $215/wk (+19.4%).
Morwell suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Morwell, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Morwell was $215/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Morwell, VIC?
- Morwell had 14,389 residents at the 2021 Census, up 4.5% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Morwell?
- Median household income in Morwell was $942/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Morwell?
- 30.4% of occupied homes in Morwell were rented, 33.4% were owned outright and 22.4% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Morwell suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Morwell. 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