VIC 3044 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Pascoe Vale

That combination gives Pascoe Vale a dense, established middle-ring profile: 48.7% of residents hold a university qualification, 32.0% were born overseas and household income sits at the 75.8th percentile. Compared with nearby Coburg and Essendon, its 48.8% semi-detached and 47.9% separate-house mix points to a more blended family and townhouse market than a purely apartment-led setting. The median age of 36 and 39.5% work-from-home share suit households seeking access without giving up space.

Pascoe Vale urban fabric map

Population

18,171

Median Age

36.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,025/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

91

Median House

$1.1M

October to December 2025

4.98 km²· 3,648.1 people/km²· Family income $2,472/wk

The typical mortgage payment is $2,100 monthly, while mortgage commitments equal 24.0% of household income and weekly rent is $400. Housing is split between 47.9% separate houses and 48.8% semi-detached dwellings, with 42.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 16.0% having 4 or more. Compared with a compact apartment market, that mix suits families and upgrader buyers. However, 34.8% of households already carry a mortgage and 35.3% rent, so competition for well-presented homes can remain meaningful.

For Buyers

The typical mortgage payment is $2,100 monthly, while mortgage commitments equal 24.0% of household income and weekly rent is $400. Housing is split between 47.9% separate houses and 48.8% semi-detached dwellings, with 42.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 16.0% having 4 or more. Compared with a compact apartment market, that mix suits families and upgrader buyers. However, 34.8% of households already carry a mortgage and 35.3% rent, so competition for well-presented homes can remain meaningful.

For Investors

Pascoe Vale has a sizeable rental base, with 35.3% of households renting compared with 28.8% owning outright, while weekly rent is $400. The 8.9% vacancy rate is relatively loose compared with a tightly supplied rental market, so investors should test holding costs rather than assume continuous rent escalation. Demand has a structural base because 32.0% of residents were born overseas and overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Development activity is notable, with 89 applications recorded across 12 months, including a 4-dwelling townhouse proposal.

Development Activity

Total DAs

122

Last 12 Months

91

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+550.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
46
New Dwelling
26
Other
14
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
11
Tree Removal
3
Renovation / Extension
2
Signage / Advertising
2
Commercial / Industrial
1

Schools in Pascoe Vale

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Pascoe Vale North Primary School

Primary Government

Pascoe Vale Primary School

Primary Government

St Oliver Plunkett's School

Primary Catholic

Westbreen Primary School

Primary Government

Pascoe Vale Girls Secondary College

Secondary Government

Demographics

Pascoe Vale's median age is 36, or 4.0 years below the national comparison, and its university-educated share is 48.7%, 18.6 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 32.0%, 10.4 points higher than nationally, helping explain the range of reported languages, including Italian at 520, Arabic at 335 and Greek at 332. English and Italian are the leading reported ancestries at 3,873 and 3,433 people, while average household size is 2.4, 0.1 below the national comparison. Compared with the more mixed urban character of nearby Coburg and the larger-lot identity associated with Essendon, Pascoe Vale combines a strong Italian cultural imprint with a substantial professional population.

Age Distribution

0-14
17.5%
15-24
10.3%
25-44
36.3%
45-64
22.1%
65+
13.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
2.7%
2 bed
38.9%
3 bed
42.4%
4+ bed
16.0%

Dwelling Structure

47.9%

Houses

48.8%

Townhouse

2.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 28.8% Mortgage 34.8% Rent 35.3% Other 1.1%

Tenure is finely divided, with 28.8% owning outright, 34.8% holding a mortgage and 35.3% renting. Compared with a detached-only suburb, Pascoe Vale's 48.8% semi-detached share is distinctive; 42.4% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 38.9% have 2. Mortgage costs consume 24.0% of household income, supporting established owners while affordability remains a consideration for new entrants.

Mortgage / mo

$2,100

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $400.

$550

Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $620 · units $500

HH Size

2.4

Personal Income / wk

$978

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

8.9%

Unoccupied

701

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.8%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

24.0%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
520
Arabic
335
Greek
332
Mandarin
153
Urdu
131
Nepali
127

Ancestry

English
3,873
Italian
3,433
Other
3,376
Irish
1,678
Scottish
1,206
Greek
1,086

Household Composition

45.9%

Couples with children

37.2%

Couples, no children

14.7%

Single parent

4,878

Total families

Economy & Employment

Pascoe Vale's economic base is anchored by healthcare at 16.3% of employment, followed by education at 12.3%, professional and technical services at 12.1%, construction at 9.1% and public administration at 8.5%. That spread reduces dependence on one employer type because essential services, knowledge work and trades all contribute. Professionals number 2,966, while managers and clerical/admin workers each number 1,380. Full-time employment accounts for 62.6% of employed residents and labour-force participation is 68.0%. Household income ranks at the 75.8th percentile, and SEIFA IEO sits in decile 8, but IER is only decile 5. Compared with its strong education and occupation profile, that middling economic-resources result suggests income is not evenly distributed across households. Unemployment is 4.8% across a labour force of 10,196.

Unemployment

4.8%

Labour Force

10,196

Unemployed

489

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
8
Disadvantage
7
Economic resources
5
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

62.6%

Part-time

30.6%

Participation

68.0%

Employed

9,707

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 2,966
Managers 1,380
Clerical/Admin 1,380
Trades 1,171
Community/Personal 923
Sales 692
Labourers 596
Machinery/Drivers 396

Top Industries

Healthcare 16.3%
Education 12.3%
Professional/Tech 12.1%
Construction 9.1%
Public Admin 8.5%

University

48.7%

Postgraduate

13.6%

Born Overseas

32.0%

Dwellings

7,132

Transport to Work

Daily life is car-oriented but increasingly compatible with home-based work: 50.7% drive, 5.1% use public transport and 39.5% work from home. Five local schools comprise 4 primary campuses and 1 secondary college across 4 government and 1 Catholic provider; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. The crime rate is 47.8 offences per 1,000 residents, with 868 total offences and 533 property and deception offences, so home security and vehicle precautions deserve attention. Pascoe Vale's IRSAD is in decile 8, above the midpoint, while IEO is also decile 8. Compared with lower-access areas, that socioeconomic position supports practical service access, although the 6.7% needing assistance remains relevant.

Drive

50.7%

Public Transport

5.1%

Walk / Cycle

1.7%

Work from Home

39.5%

Population Forecast

+1.25%/yr

(+233 people/yr)

Established

Pascoe Vale is an established market with a forecast annual trend of 1.25%, driven primarily by overseas migration. Across the wider area, population change is 21.9% over 10 years, while rent growth has reached 27.0%, supporting continued pressure on established housing. Compared with the COVID interruption, when activity dipped 3.1% before a 5.5% recovery, the trajectory is steadier but explicitly Mixed. The shift model labels gentrification Active with a score of 55, while the separate gentrification measure is at score 29 and Early signs. That combination suggests gradual upgrading rather than a completed repositioning: 89 development applications in 12 months can add renewal, while affordability moved from 55.1 in 2011 to 41.2 in 2021.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+344

Net Internal / yr

-160

29

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +27% since 2011, Net internal outflow -160/yr, Strong overseas inflow +344/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

868

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

47.8

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
533
Crimes against the person
138
Justice procedures offences
118
Drug offences
41

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Pascoe Vale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 1%
Household Income
Top 24%
Rent Level
Top 17%
Apartments
Top 15%
Renters
Top 15%
Uni Educated
Top 10%
Public Transport
Top 25%
Born Overseas
Top 12%
Density
Top 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What schools are in Pascoe Vale?

Pascoe Vale has 5 named schools: St Oliver Plunkett's School, Pascoe Vale Girls Secondary College, Pascoe Vale North Primary School, Pascoe Vale Primary School and Westbreen Primary School. The mix includes 4 government schools and 1 Catholic school, with 4 primary options and 1 secondary college.

Is Pascoe Vale safe?

Pascoe Vale recorded 868 offences at a rate of 47.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 533 incidents, compared with 138 crimes against the person. Prospective residents should review current local conditions and consider security for homes, cars and valuables.

How is Pascoe Vale's population changing?

The suburb has 18,171 residents, while the wider-area forecast records 21.9% population change over 10 years and an annual trend of 1.25%. Overseas migration is the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed, with gentrification assessed as Early signs at score 29, alongside a separate Active score of 55.

What languages are spoken in Pascoe Vale?

Italian is the most reported language among the listed options at 520 people, followed by Arabic at 335 and Greek at 332. Mandarin is reported by 153 people and Urdu by 131. The overseas-born share is 32.0%, which contributes to the suburb's multilingual profile.

What development is occurring in Pascoe Vale?

There were 89 development applications across 12 months, including planning permits and a 2-lot subdivision. One recorded proposal involves 4 double-storey side-by-side townhouses with onsite parking and landscaping, indicating continued renewal of established residential sites.

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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