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

Footscray's population was around 21,129 as of Feb 2026. This showed an increase of 3,998 people (23.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,131 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,756 in June 2024 and an additional 1,930 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 4,251 persons per square kilometer, placing Footscray in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth of 23.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both the national average (9.9%) and the state average. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 79.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, with the area expected to expand by 16,936 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, 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

Footscray has recorded approximately 501 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 2,507 homes were approved, with an additional 15 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 1.1 new residents have arrived per year for each new home over these five years, indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics.

The average construction cost value for new dwellings has been $275,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. This financial year, Footscray has registered $1.631 billion in commercial approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Footscray records 133.0% more new home approvals per person, offering ample choice for buyers despite recent moderation in development activity. This activity is well above the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction comprises 1.0% detached dwellings and 99.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns of 32.0% houses. This trend towards denser development caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, possibly due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 285 people per dwelling approval, Footscray shows a developing market with projected resident growth of 16,563 through to 2041.

Development is keeping pace with this projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

Footscray has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 49 projects likely impacting the region. Notable 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.

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.

Footscray has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Footscray has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 5.8% as of September 2021. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.3%.

As of September 2025, there were 14,284 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.9%, which is 1.2% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Footscray was 81.9%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. 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 has a notable concentration in accommodation & food services with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. However, construction has limited presence with 5.0% employment compared to the regional average of 9.7%. There were 0.9 workers per resident as at the Census, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 5.3%, while labour force increased by 6.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Footscray's employment mix, 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 Footscray SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $56,703 and an average income of $68,765 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is slightly above national averages, with Greater Melbourne's median income being $57,688 and average income being $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Footscray would be approximately $61,381 (median) and $74,438 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows personal income ranks at the 69th percentile ($916 weekly), while household income sits at the 51st percentile. Income brackets indicate that the largest segment comprises 34.3% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (7,247 residents). This mirrors the surrounding region where 32.8% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 48th percentile. The area'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, consisted of 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, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $355, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Footscray's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,940 against Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $355 compared to 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 constitute 52.1% of all households, consisting of 15.9% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 47.9%, with lone person households at 37.6% and group households making up 10.3% of the total. 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

Educational attainment in Footscray is notable, with 50.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.0% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 30.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 21.7% of qualifications, 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 tertiary education at 13.0%, primary education at 5.3%, and secondary education at 3.2%.

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

Footscray has 119 active public transport stops offering a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are served by 29 different routes, collectively facilitating 15,950 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 132 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport 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 2,278 trips per day across all routes, equating to around 134 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Footscray is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Footscray faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Notably, common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The area has approximately 53% private health cover, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues affect 12.2% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.1%. About 70.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally typical. The area has 10.2% residents aged 65 and over (2,159 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings higher than the general 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 population shows high cultural diversity, with 42.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 45.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Footscray, comprising 27.2%. Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 9.2% of Footscray's population versus 4.2%.

In terms of ancestry, English (18.0%), Other (16.0%), and Australian (14.8%) are the top three groups represented. Certain ethnic groups show notable divergences: Vietnamese is overrepresented at 8.0% compared to 1.9%, while Macedonian and Spanish each comprise 0.7% versus regional percentages of 0.7% and 0.4%, respectively.

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 proportion of Footscray's population aged 15-24 has increased from 11.0% to 12.9%, while the proportion aged 35-44 has risen from 18.4% to 20.0%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 30.3% to 28.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Footscray, with the strongest projected growth in the 25-34 age group, which is expected to increase by 63%, adding 3,846 residents to reach a total of 9,940.