Footscray
Footscray combines a current population of 17,131 with a 52.4% apartment share, 56.8% renting and a 21.1% vacancy rate, making it a dense, high-turnover inner-west market rather than a conventional family-house suburb. Its median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, while 45.0% were born overseas and 54.3% have university qualifications, 24.2 percentage points above nationally. Compared with nearby Yarraville and Seddon, Footscray reads as the more apartment-led, renter-oriented option because its housing mix and mobility favour smaller households.
Population
17,131
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,763/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$950K
October to December 2025
Buying in Footscray suits households prioritising location and apartment choice over detached space. Apartments account for 52.4% of dwellings, compared with 31.6% separate houses, and 45.0% of homes have 2 bedrooms. That mix supports singles, couples and smaller households because the average household size is 2.1, but buyers wanting 4-plus bedrooms face only 7.2% of stock. The affordability indicators moved from 54.4 in 2011 to 38.8 in 2021, so exact building condition, owners corporation costs and borrowing capacity matter more than headline price.
For Buyers
Buying in Footscray suits households prioritising location and apartment choice over detached space. Apartments account for 52.4% of dwellings, compared with 31.6% separate houses, and 45.0% of homes have 2 bedrooms. That mix supports singles, couples and smaller households because the average household size is 2.1, but buyers wanting 4-plus bedrooms face only 7.2% of stock. The affordability indicators moved from 54.4 in 2011 to 38.8 in 2021, so exact building condition, owners corporation costs and borrowing capacity matter more than headline price.
For Investors
Footscray has a renter-majority profile, with 56.8% renting, a median weekly rent of $355, 21.1% vacancy and a 38.6% turnover rate. That vacancy can increase tenant choice and leasing volatility, so investors should stress-test longer letting periods. Rents have grown 34.0%, while 13 planning applications were recorded over 12 months, potentially adding competition. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, supporting tenant demand because newcomers often seek flexible housing. Compared with ownership-led suburbs, the case is more exposed to apartments, strata costs and turnover than to land scarcity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
26
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+160.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Footscray
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Footscray City Primary School
Footscray North Primary School
Footscray Primary School
St John's School
St Monica's School
Demographics
Footscray's population of 17,131 is younger and more internationally connected than Australia overall: its median age is 34, 6 years below national, and 45.0% were born overseas, 23.4 points above the national share. University qualifications reach 54.3%, 24.2 points above national, helping explain demand for smaller homes. English at 3,852, Other at 3,420, Vietnamese at 1,718 and Chinese at 1,586 lead ancestry; no religion is recorded for 8,023 people versus 4,168 identifying with Christianity. Household size averages 2.1, below national by 0.4, while 38.6% turnover and 61.4% staying indicate a mobile population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
31.6%
Houses
15.3%
Townhouse
52.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is apartment-dominant and renter-heavy: 52.4% of dwellings are apartments, 31.6% separate houses and 15.3% semi-detached, while 56.8% rent. Across 20 quarters, CAGR was 2.4%. Tenure is tilted away from ownership, with 14.5% owning outright and 27.4% paying a mortgage, because compact homes suit an average household size of 2.1. Two-bedroom homes form 45.0% of stock and 0-1 bedroom homes 21.1%, making Footscray more compact than a detached-house market. Compared with nearby Yarraville and Seddon, its apartment share makes decisions more sensitive to strata fees and vacancy.
Mortgage / mo
$1,940
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $355.
$525
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $640 · units $560
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$916
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.1%
Unoccupied
1,968
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.3%
Couples with children
50.1%
Couples, no children
15.4%
Single parent
3,877
Total families
Economy & Employment
Footscray's economic base is anchored by healthcare at 15.0%, professional and technical work at 13.6%, education at 11.8%, public administration at 9.2% and hospitality at 7.1%. This mix supports varied local demand because 3,289 residents are professionals, alongside 1,244 clerical and administrative workers, 1,220 managers and 933 trades workers. Labour-force participation is 68.7%, unemployment is 6.6% and full-time work is 60.0%. Household income ranks at the 62nd percentile. SEIFA places education and occupation in decile 8 but income and economic resources in decile 1, an unusual gap indicating strong qualifications alongside financial pressure. Compared with the national benchmark, Footscray has a skilled profile, but capacity is uneven.
Unemployment
6.6%
Labour Force
10,527
Unemployed
691
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.0%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
68.7%
Employed
9,836
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.3%
Postgraduate
18.0%
Born Overseas
45.0%
Dwellings
7,358
Transport to Work
Footscray suits residents who value urban access and a low-car routine, although safety requires attention. Public transport is used by 10.9%, compared with 36.0% driving, while 44.6% work from home and 6.1% walk or cycle. Six nearby schools provide 5 primary and 1 secondary option across 4 government and 2 Catholic campuses. Check enrolment zones by address. Recorded crime is 222.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 3,803 total offences, including 2,493 property and deception offences and 585 against the person, so secure entry, lighting and parking matter. SEIFA IRSAD is decile 7, above the midpoint. Density is 3,392.3 people per sq km, supporting local services but increasing apartment and street pressure compared with quieter settings.
Drive
36.0%
Public Transport
10.9%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
44.6%
Population Forecast
+2.05%/yr
(+429 people/yr)
EstablishedFootscray's growth outlook is 2.05% a year across the wider area, with overseas migration as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area runs at 29.8% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Mixed, indicating continued movement without a simple straight-line pattern. Gentrification signals are at an Early signs stage with a score of 36, although the shift profile labels gentrification Active at 45, so redevelopment and demographic change are present but not uniform. Affordability moved from 54.4 in 2011 to 38.8 in 2021, while real income growth was 52.9% and rents grew 34.0%. COVID's 3.5% dip was followed by an 18.3% recovery because demand returned after the disruption. Compared with a flat-growth setting, the 2.05% annual rate is positive, but the Mixed trajectory argues for careful timing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+860
Net Internal / yr
-60
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +49% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +860/yr, COVID recovered (-4% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
3,803
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
222.0
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 Footscray compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Footscray?
Footscray has 6 nearby schools: 5 primary and 1 secondary. The mix is 4 government schools and 2 Catholic schools, including Footscray High School and several local primary campuses. Check the exact enrolment zone for the address, because school access can vary across nearby streets.
Is Footscray safe?
Safety is mixed rather than a simple yes or no. Recorded crime is 222.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 3,803 total offences; property and deception offences account for 2,493. Secure entry, lighting and parking checks are sensible, especially for apartment buyers and renters comparing buildings.
Is Footscray good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking renter demand, but the profile is not low-risk. Renting is 56.8%, median rent is $355 a week, vacancy is 21.1% and the turnover rate is 38.6%. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver and rents grew 34.0%, yet vacancy and apartment-specific costs warrant conservative cash-flow assumptions.
How is Footscray's population changing?
Footscray's current population is 17,131. Growth is forecast at 2.05% annually across the wider area, primarily driven by overseas migration, while population change over 10 years is 29.8%. The trajectory is Mixed and gentrification is at Early signs with a score of 36, suggesting change is continuing but uneven.
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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