Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Sunshine West suburb profile
Sunshine West, VIC · Postcode 3020
This Sunshine West suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Sunshine West, VIC (postcode 3020). 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 Sunshine West with nearby suburbs.
Sunshine West at a glance
Population
18,552
Median rent
$346/wk
Household income
$1,416/wk
Median age
38
Sunshine 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
+10.8% over 10 years
Population
18,552
was 18,580 in 2016
-28 · -0.2%
Median rent
$346/wk
was $300/wk in 2016
+$46 · +15.3%
Household income
$1,416/wk
was $1,147/wk in 2016
+$269 · +23.5%
Median age
38
was 36 in 2016
+2 · +5.6%
Dig deeper: Sunshine West population growth · Sunshine West then and now
Sunshine West vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Sunshine West, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-11.4% vs area
- Sunshine West$346/wk
- Nearby$325/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
-26.9% vs area
- Sunshine West$1,416/wk
- Nearby$1,354.5/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
-2.6% vs area
- Sunshine West38
- Nearby36.5
- Melbourne39
Personal income
-33% vs area
- Sunshine West$565/wk
- Nearby$584/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Sunshine West compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Sunshine West sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 1884.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2906.5
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2939.1
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 3922.4
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Sunshine West on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Sunshine West, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Sunshine West people
- Population
- 18,552
- Median age
- 38
- Born overseas
- 51%
- 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
Sunshine West income
- Median household income
- $1,416/wk
- Median personal income
- $565/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Sunshine West housing
- Median rent
- $346/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,700/mo
- Separate houses
- 76.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 3%
- Owned outright
- 35.9%
- Mortgaged
- 27.1%
- Rented
- 25.6%
- 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
Sunshine West work
- Employment to population
- 48.5%
- Unemployment rate
- 8.7%
- Year 12 or above
- 55%
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 3020)
Compare Sunshine West with nearby suburbs
Sunshine West in numbers
Sunshine West had 18,552 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 92nd most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 38, 7% below the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.8 people. 51% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 35.9% own their home outright, 27.1% are paying a mortgage, 25.6% rent. Separate houses make up 76.3% of dwellings, with 3% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $346/wk, close to the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,416/wk, 20% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 8.7%. 55% 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 fell 0.2% (from 18,580 to 18,552). Median rent moved from $300/wk to $346/wk (+15.3%).
Sunshine West suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Sunshine West, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Sunshine West was $346/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Sunshine West, VIC?
- Sunshine West had 18,552 residents at the 2021 Census, down 0.2% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Sunshine West?
- Median household income in Sunshine West was $1,416/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Sunshine West?
- 25.6% of occupied homes in Sunshine West were rented, 35.9% were owned outright and 27.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Sunshine West suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Sunshine 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