Essendon West

Population growth drivers in Essendon West are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of Essendon West is around 1,764. This represents an increase of 205 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,559. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 1,749 residents following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 31 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,712 persons per square kilometer, which is above average national levels assessed by AreaSearch. Essendon West's growth rate of 13.1% since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA3 area (4.9%) and the state level, indicating it as a region with significant population growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.0% to overall population gains during recent periods in Essendon West.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods for areas not covered by the former data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Essendon West is expected to expand by 219 persons to reach a total population of 2,041 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 11.6% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Essendon West recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Essendon West has seen approximately 21 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 105 homes were approved, with a further 15 in FY-26. On average, one person has moved to the area per dwelling built over these years.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering more buyer choices and potential for population growth above projections. The average construction cost of new properties is $645,000, indicating a focus on premium segments. In FY-26, $3.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing limited commercial development focus compared to residential activity. Essendon West has 90.0% more building activity per person than Greater Melbourne, reflecting robust developer interest and ample buyer choice despite recent moderation in development activity. New developments consist of 32.0% standalone homes and 68.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 67.0% houses. This denser development trend caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Essendon West is projected to add 115 people per approval, reflecting its developing nature.

By 2041, it is estimated that Essendon West will gain an additional 204 residents, suggesting that current development rates should comfortably meet demand and support growth beyond current projections.

Essendon West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

AreaSearch has identified a single project likely to impact the area: LUMA Sunshine North. Other key projects include Niddrie (Keilor Road) Activity Centre Structure Plan, North Essendon Activity Centre Plan, and Maribyrnong River Master Plan Implementation.

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Essendon West performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Essendon West has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 0.6% as of December 2025. This rate is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.7%. Workforce participation was 73.9%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. A significant number, 37.4% of residents, work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Major industries for employment include construction, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Notably, the area has a strong specialization in construction with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance has limited presence at 9.6%, compared to the regional average of 14.2%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.7% while unemployment fell by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 2.4%, labour force expansion of 2.8%, and a rise in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Essendon West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.6% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on June 30, 2023, Essendon West had a median income among taxpayers of $65,612 and an average level standing at $85,920. This is among the highest in Australia compared to Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $71,924 (median) and $94,186 (average) as of March 2026. Census data from 2021 shows Essendon West's household incomes rank between the 81st and 85th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominated with 30.0% of residents (529 people), similar to Melbourne's 32.8%. Economic strength is evident through 36.9% of households earning over $3,000 weekly. Housing expenses account for 14.9% of income, and residents rank in the 85th percentile for disposable income. Essendon West's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Essendon West displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Essendon West, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.0% houses and 33.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Essendon West stood at 36.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.5% and rented ones at 27.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,682, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Weekly rent in Essendon West was $450, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Essendon West's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,682 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Essendon West has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.3% of all households, including 40.3% couples with children, 18.9% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.7%, with lone person households at 25.6% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Essendon West shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Essendon West is notably high, with 37.9% of residents aged 15+ having university qualifications compared to the SA4 region's 27.7% and Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 28.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 12.5% and certificates make up 15.5%. Educational participation is high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.5% in secondary, 8.4% in primary, and 7.5% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in secondary education, 8.4% in primary education, and 7.5% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Essendon West has eight active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that together facilitate 1,546 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 163 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Essendon West being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transportation at 86%, while only 6% use trains for their commutes. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in the area, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 37.4% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 220 trips per day, equating to approximately 193 weekly trips per individual stop.

Essendon West's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Essendon West's health outcomes show notable results, with AreaSearch's assessment indicating low mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, especially among younger cohorts. The prevalence of common health conditions is very low, with approximately 7.6% of residents having asthma and 6.3% having arthritis.

Around 73.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments. Private health cover is exceptionally high, at about 61% of the total population (1,070 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 16.8% (296 people) compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Although health outcomes among seniors are strong, they rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Essendon West was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Essendon West had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 21.5% of its residents born overseas and 23.0% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Essendon West, accounting for 66.0%, compared to 43.0% across Greater Melbourne. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (19.9%), English (18.8%), and Italian (13.6%), which was significantly higher than the regional average of 5.2%.

Notably, Maltese (2.3%) and Croatian (1.3%) populations were overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages of 1.1% and 0.7%, while Sri Lankan residents stood at 0.9%, slightly above the regional average of 0.8%.

Essendon West's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Essendon West is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, the 45-54 age cohort is notably over-represented in Essendon West at 15.7%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 14.6% to 16.3%, and the 55 to 64 cohort increased from 10.8% to 11.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 17.1% to 15.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Essendon West, with the 55 to 64 age group expected to grow by 30%, reaching 272 people from 209. Meanwhile, both the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.