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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Footscray is around 21,129. This reflects an increase of 3,998 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,131. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 20,756 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 1,930 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 4,086 persons per square kilometer, placing Footscray in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 23.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 16,936 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 78.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Footscray shows approximately 501 new homes approved annually. Between financial years FY-21 to FY-25, around 2,507 homes were approved, with 15 more approved so far in FY-26. Each year, an average of 1.1 new residents is associated with each dwelling constructed during these five years.

This suggests a balanced supply and demand, maintaining stable market conditions. The average construction value of new dwellings is $436,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $1.658 billion, reflecting high local commercial activity. New development consists predominantly of medium and high-density housing (99.0%), with detached houses comprising only 1.0%.

This shift from the current housing pattern of 32.0% houses suggests decreasing developable land availability and responds to changing lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. Footscray's population growth is projected at around 55 people per approval, with an estimated increase of 16,563 residents by 2041. Construction pace is keeping up with projected growth, but increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population grows.

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 identified 49 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include New Footscray Hospital, Joseph Road Precinct, Footscray Station Precinct Upgrade, and Existing Footscray Hospital Site Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Footscray has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 5.8% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.3% over the past year. There were 14,284 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 1.2% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation in Footscray was 82.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 41.2% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training sectors. Notably, employment levels in accommodation & food are at 1.5 times the regional average, while construction has limited presence with 5.0% employment compared to 9.7% regionally.

The ratio of workers to residents is 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 5.3%, labour force grew by 6.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.0%, labour force grow by 3.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. 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, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The suburb of Footscray had a median income among taxpayers of $54,151 and an average income of $66,186 in the financial year 2023. These figures were just below those for Greater Melbourne, which were $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average). By September 2025, estimates based on an 8.25% increase from the Wage Price Index suggest median income could reach approximately $58,618 and average income around $71,646. Census data indicates personal income ranks at the 69th percentile ($916 weekly) and household income at the 51st percentile in Footscray. Income distribution shows that 34.3% of the population (7,247 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the surrounding region's 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 81.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 48th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th 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). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 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 in the area was $1,940, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure for Footscray was $355, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Footscray's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower 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 comprise 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 make up 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 educational attainment exceeds national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 50.6% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (30.8%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.2%) and graduate diplomas (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% 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 are served by 30 individual routes, collectively enabling 16,207 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 132 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the dominant mode at 54%, followed by train at 24% and bus at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.5 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 41.2% of residents work from home, possibly due to 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 centrepoint.

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 the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 53% of Footscray's total population (~11,200 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in Footscray, impacting 12.2% and 8.1% of residents respectively. 70.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. Footscray has 10.2% of residents aged 65 and over (2,155 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 42.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 45.0% born overseas. The predominant religion in Footscray is Christianity, comprising 27.2% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Footscray compared to Greater Melbourne, with 9.2% versus 4.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English at 18.0%, Other at 16.0%, and Australian at 14.8%. Certain ethnic groups show notable differences: Vietnamese is overrepresented at 8.0% compared to 1.9% regionally, Spanish at 0.7% versus 0.4%, and Macedonian at 0.7% compared to 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 national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Footscray has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (28.8%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.2%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.0% to 12.9%, while the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 18.4% to 20.0%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age cohort has decreased from 30.3% to 28.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Footscray. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 63%, adding 3,854 residents and reaching a total of 9,940 residents in this age bracket.