Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Upper Ferntree Gully suburb profile
Upper Ferntree Gully, VIC · Postcode 3156
This Upper Ferntree Gully suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Upper Ferntree Gully, VIC (postcode 3156). 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 Upper Ferntree Gully with nearby suburbs.
Upper Ferntree Gully at a glance
Population
3,417
Median rent
$369/wk
Household income
$2,039/wk
Median age
41
Upper Ferntree Gully 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
+0.3% over 10 years
Population
3,417
was 3,416 in 2016
+1 · 0%
Median rent
$369/wk
was $311/wk in 2016
+$58 · +18.6%
Household income
$2,039/wk
was $1,628/wk in 2016
+$411 · +25.2%
Median age
41
was 41 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Upper Ferntree Gully population growth · Upper Ferntree Gully then and now
Upper Ferntree Gully vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Upper Ferntree Gully, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-5.5% vs area
- Upper Ferntree Gully$369/wk
- Nearby$381/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
+5.3% vs area
- Upper Ferntree Gully$2,039/wk
- Nearby$1,894.5/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
+5.1% vs area
- Upper Ferntree Gully41
- Nearby40
- Melbourne39
Personal income
+0.4% vs area
- Upper Ferntree Gully$847/wk
- Nearby$826.5/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Upper Ferntree Gully compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Upper Ferntree Gully sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 71,046
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 81,027
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 71,048.6
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 81,033.3
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Upper Ferntree Gully on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Upper Ferntree Gully, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Upper Ferntree Gully people
- Population
- 3,417
- Median age
- 41
- Born overseas
- 19.2%
- Average household size
- 2.6
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Upper Ferntree Gully income
- Median household income
- $2,039/wk
- Median personal income
- $847/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Upper Ferntree Gully housing
- Median rent
- $369/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,000/mo
- Separate houses
- 92.1%
- Flats & apartments
- 1.5%
- Owned outright
- 34.9%
- Mortgaged
- 45.8%
- Rented
- 13.4%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 4.4%
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
Upper Ferntree Gully work
- Employment to population
- 64.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.3%
- Year 12 or above
- 59.7%
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 3156)
Compare Upper Ferntree Gully with nearby suburbs
Upper Ferntree Gully in numbers
Upper Ferntree Gully had 3,417 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 444th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 41, close to the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.6 people. 19.2% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 34.9% own their home outright, 45.8% are paying a mortgage, 13.4% rent. Separate houses make up 92.1% of dwellings, with 1.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $369/wk, 5% above the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $2,039/wk, 15% above the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.3%. 59.7% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 7 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 0% (from 3,416 to 3,417). Median rent moved from $311/wk to $369/wk (+18.6%).
Upper Ferntree Gully suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Upper Ferntree Gully, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Upper Ferntree Gully was $369/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Upper Ferntree Gully, VIC?
- Upper Ferntree Gully had 3,417 residents at the 2021 Census, up 0% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Upper Ferntree Gully?
- Median household income in Upper Ferntree Gully was $2,039/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Upper Ferntree Gully?
- 13.4% of occupied homes in Upper Ferntree Gully were rented, 34.9% were owned outright and 45.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Upper Ferntree Gully suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Upper Ferntree Gully. 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