Dandenong
At 30,127 residents, Dandenong has a median age of 33, making it 7 years younger than the national figure, while 66.2% of residents were born overseas. Its renter share is 54.2% and vacancy rate is 10.0%, creating a more mobile housing profile than owner-heavy suburbs. Islam is the largest listed religion at 10,260 people, and household income sits at the 28.5th percentile nationally. For buyers comparing Dandenong with nearby Noble Park or Springvale, the key distinction to investigate is its concentration of healthcare and manufacturing employment, at 20.4% and 13.3%. That employment base supports local services and jobs, but an IRSAD decile of 1 signals pronounced disadvantage and affordability pressures alongside regeneration.
Population
30,127
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,267/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
44
Median House
$762K
October to December 2025
Housing choice is broader than a detached-house market: 41.5% of dwellings are separate houses, 39.1% are semi-detached and 19.3% are apartments. Two-bedroom homes are more common than three-bedroom homes, at 43.6% versus 35.3%, which can suit singles, couples and smaller households. Compared with the 20.2% owning outright, the 24.1% paying a mortgage suggests a substantial group is already managing debt at current prices.
For Buyers
Housing choice is broader than a detached-house market: 41.5% of dwellings are separate houses, 39.1% are semi-detached and 19.3% are apartments. Two-bedroom homes are more common than three-bedroom homes, at 43.6% versus 35.3%, which can suit singles, couples and smaller households. Compared with the 20.2% owning outright, the 24.1% paying a mortgage suggests a substantial group is already managing debt at current prices.
For Investors
Dandenong has a renter majority, with 54.2% renting compared with 20.2% owning outright, supporting a large tenant pool for well-located homes. Weekly rent is $319 and the vacancy rate is 10.0%, higher than a tightly constrained rental market and therefore a factor to test carefully by property type and micro-location. Development activity is material, with 32 applications recorded over 12 months, including one-lot, two-lot and four-lot subdivision examples. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while rents have risen 36.4%, which can support demand because new arrivals often seek rental accommodation first. Compared with low-vacancy investment areas, the higher vacancy rate makes tenant retention, amenity and pricing discipline especially important.
Development Activity
Total DAs
99
Last 12 Months
44
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+144.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Dandenong
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Dandenong North Primary School
Dandenong Primary School
Dandenong South Primary School
Dandenong West Primary School
St Mary's School
Demographics
Dandenong's median age of 33 is 7 years younger than the national figure, and 66.2% of residents were born overseas, 44.6 percentage points above the national level. The population includes sizeable Indian and Chinese ancestry groups, numbering 2,389 and 1,422 people, while Punjabi, Sinhal, Mandarin, Arabic and Hindi are each used by at least 314 residents. Islam accounts for 10,260 people and Christianity for 7,581. University attainment is 33.7%, 3.6 percentage points above the national comparison, despite household income being at the 28.5th percentile. A turnover rate of 23.4% indicates a more mobile population than the 76.6% who stayed at the same address, while the average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national figure. Compared with older, less migrant-oriented suburbs, Dandenong's age and language profile sustains demand for accessible services and flexible housing.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
41.5%
Houses
39.1%
Townhouse
19.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is renter-led: 54.2% rent, compared with 24.1% paying a mortgage and 20.2% owning outright. The dwelling mix is more varied than a conventional detached market, with 41.5% separate houses, 39.1% semi-detached homes and 19.3% apartments. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 43.6%, higher than the 35.3% share of three-bedroom homes, because the suburb accommodates many smaller and recently arrived households. Mortgage repayments represent 27.7% of household income, while rent represents 25.2%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $319.
$520
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $560 · units $450
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$596
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.0%
Unoccupied
1,091
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.2%
Couples with children
30.0%
Couples, no children
20.0%
Single parent
6,771
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Dandenong's largest listed industry at 20.4%, followed by manufacturing at 13.3%, construction at 9.2%, retail at 7.6% and education at 7.0%. The leading occupations are trades with 2,133 workers, labourers with 2,048, machinery and drivers with 1,627, professionals with 1,447, and community and personal services with 1,293. This mix supports practical employment across health, production and construction, but it also helps explain why the unemployment rate is 9.4% and participation is 51.8%, with 59.0% of workers employed full-time. Weekly household income is $1,267, placing Dandenong at the 28.5th percentile. SEIFA results are low across every listed measure: IEO decile 2, IER decile 1, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 1. Compared with higher-income areas, the gap points to concentrated economic disadvantage even though university attainment is 33.7%, above the national comparison by 3.6 percentage points.
Unemployment
9.4%
Labour Force
12,646
Unemployed
1,184
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
34.6%
Participation
51.8%
Employed
11,462
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.7%
Postgraduate
10.3%
Born Overseas
66.2%
Dwellings
9,784
Transport to Work
Dandenong provides access to 9 nearby schools across 7 government and 2 Catholic settings, covering primary, secondary and special education. The mix includes Dandenong High School, several government primary schools, St John's Regional College, St Mary's School and Emerson School. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. Transport is more car dependent than transit-led: 71.1% drive, compared with 6.7% using public transport, 2.4% walking or cycling and 12.5% working from home. Reported crime totals 7,808 incidents at 259.2 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 4,021, higher than crimes against the person at 1,207. Safety perceptions may therefore vary considerably by street and time of day. IRSAD and IRSD are both in decile 1, below the top decile, indicating disadvantage that can affect amenity and household resources. Compared with a lower-density, higher-income suburb, Dandenong offers stronger service access but requires careful address-level assessment.
Drive
71.1%
Public Transport
6.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
12.5%
Population Forecast
+1.66%/yr
(+167 people/yr)
EstablishedDandenong has an established profile, but growth remains above zero at an annual trend of 1.66%, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 36.9% over 10 years, while the trajectory is classified as Mixed rather than consistently upward or downward. The area also recovered from a COVID dip of -5.0%, followed by a 5.3% recovery, showing resilience after disruption. Gentrification indicators are split: a score of 49 is labelled Active, while a score of 33 is labelled Early signs. Rent growth of 36.4% and real income growth of 36.2% point to substantial change in living costs and earnings. The affordability measure moved from 71.2 in 2011 to 58.0 in 2021 and is classified as Improving. Compared with a static established suburb, Dandenong has stronger population and migration momentum, but its mixed trajectory means renewal is likely to remain uneven across neighbourhoods.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+327
Net Internal / yr
-306
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +39% since 2011, Net internal outflow -306/yr, Strong overseas inflow +327/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
7,808
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
259.2
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dandenong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dandenong a good suburb to live in?
Dandenong can suit residents who value multicultural services, schools and employment access, with 30,127 people and a median age of 33. It is more renter-oriented than owner-heavy suburbs, with 54.2% renting, while the crime rate of 259.2 per 1,000 means street-level inspection is important.
What schools are in Dandenong?
Dandenong has 9 nearby schools across government and Catholic sectors, including primary, secondary and special education. Key examples include Dandenong High School, Dandenong Primary School, Dandenong North Primary School, St John's Regional College and St Mary's School. Check the exact enrolment zone before buying or renting.
Is Dandenong safe?
Safety is mixed and should be assessed at street level. There were 7,808 reported offences, equivalent to 259.2 incidents per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences numbered 4,021, higher than crimes against the person at 1,207, so lighting, parking and immediate surroundings deserve close attention.
Is Dandenong good for property investment?
Dandenong has a large tenant base, with 54.2% renting, weekly rent of $319 and 32 development applications in 12 months. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but the 10.0% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market. Investors should compare property types carefully because tenant demand and vacancy can vary.
How is Dandenong's population changing?
Growth is continuing at an annual trend of 1.66%, primarily driven by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 36.9% over 10 years, and the trajectory is Mixed. The area also recovered 5.3% after a -5.0% COVID dip, indicating renewed momentum without a uniformly even growth pattern.
What languages are spoken in Dandenong?
Dandenong is strongly multilingual, with 66.2% of residents born overseas. Punjabi is used by 714 people, more than Sinhal at 459, while Mandarin is used by 419, Arabic by 339 and Hindi by 314. These patterns support access to culturally specific shops, services and community networks.
What development is occurring in Dandenong?
There were 32 development applications in the past 12 months, indicating active change. Recent examples include a one-lot consolidation, a two-lot subdivision and a four-lot subdivision. Buyers should check the planning history of nearby blocks because redevelopment can change parking, traffic and local housing supply.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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