Footscray

Footscray lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of Footscray as of May 2026 is around 20,920. This reflects an increase of 3,789 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,131. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 20,891 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 1,937 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,046 persons per square kilometer, placing Footscray in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 22.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both state (9.3%) and national averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 for areas not covered by this data. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Exceptional growth is predicted over this period with Footscray expected to increase by 14,535 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 69.3% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Footscray among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Footscray recorded around 501 residential properties approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 2,507 homes. As of FY-26, 26 approvals have been granted. On average, 1.1 people moved to the area per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics. The average construction cost for new homes was $436,000.

This financial year, Footscray has seen $1.658 billion in commercial approvals, suggesting strong local business investment. New building activity predominantly comprises townhouses or apartments (99.0%), with standalone homes making up 1.0%. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 32.0% houses) reflects decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles. Footscray has around 55 people per approval, indicating a developing area.

By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Footscray will grow by 14,503 residents. Current construction rates appear aligned with future demand, fostering stable market conditions without excessive price pressure.

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

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 51 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Footscray Station Precinct Upgrade, Joseph Road Precinct, Kinnear's Precinct (Live City), and Victoria Square by Growland. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Footscray remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Footscray has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 5.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.6%. As of December 2025, 14,254 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.2% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was 80.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 41.2% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area specializes in accommodation & food services with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level, but construction shows lower representation at 5.0% compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

There were 0.9 workers per resident as at the Census, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 3.6%, labour force by 4.5%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Footscray's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The median income among taxpayers in Footscray, based on AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, is $54,151. The average income during this period was $66,186. Both figures are slightly below the national averages. In Greater Melbourne, the median income was $57,688 with an average of $75,164. Projecting forward using a 9.62% growth rate from the Wage Price Index, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $59,360 (median) and $72,553 (average). According to census data, personal income ranks at the 69th percentile with a weekly income of $916. Household income ranks at the 51st percentile. Income distribution shows that 34.3% of Footscray residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (7,175 individuals), closely mirroring regional levels where 32.8% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in the suburb, with only 81.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 48th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Footscray features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Footscray's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 31.6% houses and 68.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Footscray was at 14.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.7% and rented ones at 57.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,940, below Melbourne metro's $2,000. Weekly rent was $355 in Footscray, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Footscray's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Footscray features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 52.1% of all households, including 15.9% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 47.9%, with lone person households at 37.6% and group households comprising 10.3%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Footscray's residents aged 15 and above have a higher proportion with university qualifications at 50.6%, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 30.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 15.2% and graduate diplomas at 4.6%. Vocational pathways account for 21.7%, with advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 11.7%. Educational participation is high, with 31.0% currently enrolled in formal education, including 13.0% in tertiary, 5.3% in primary, and 3.2% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.0% in tertiary education, 5.3% in primary education, and 3.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Footscray has 126 active public transport stops offering a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are served by 30 individual routes, collectively facilitating 16,207 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 132 meters to the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode at 54%, followed by trains at 24% and buses at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.5 per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 41.2% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 2,315 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 128 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Health outcomes in Footscray are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Footscray's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among residents is somewhat typical but higher than the national average for older cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 53% of Footscray's total population (~11,089 people), leading the average SA2 area but lagging Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in Footscray, affecting 12.2 and 8.1% of residents respectively. 70.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are broadly typical. The area has 10.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,092 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Footscray is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Footscray's cultural diversity is notable, with 42.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 45.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Footscray, accounting for 27.2% of its population. Notably, Buddhism is more prevalent in Footscray at 9.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (18.0%), Other (16.0%), and Australian (14.8%). There are significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Vietnamese is overrepresented at 8.0% versus the regional average of 1.9%, Spanish is at 0.7% compared to 0.4%, and Macedonian stands at 0.7%.

Footscray hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Footscray's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. Footscray has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (29.7%) compared to Greater Melbourne but fewer residents aged 5-14 (5.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 18.4% to 20.5%, while those aged 15-24 have increased from 11.0% to 12.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 has declined from 8.4% to 7.4%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Footscray. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 54%, adding 3,383 residents to reach a total of 9,597.