Footscray · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A population surge of nearly 20% since 2021 has shaped the recent growth of Footscray. This is a place of contrast, where a highly skilled workforce and a strong overall advantage score of 1,030 sit alongside significant gaps in access to money and resources.
All statistical area 2 (sa2) areas, 2021. The marker is Footscray — higher than 64% of areas.
| Footscray | 7 |
|---|---|
| 3011, VIC | 8 |
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
While most residents are well-qualified with an education score of 8, access to money and resources is much lower than in 90% of similar areas. This creates a gap between the area's high job skills and its overall disadvantage level.
7
Higher than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the 10% most advantaged. IRSAD summarises both advantage and disadvantage, so a high score reflects relatively many high-income, well-educated households and few low-income, low-skill ones.
4
Lower than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the least disadvantaged. IRSD focuses on disadvantage alone (low income, low education, unemployment, unskilled occupations), so a higher decile means relatively less disadvantage.
1
Lower than 99% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
ABS Index of Economic Resources, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for economic resources in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IER reflects the income, housing costs, dwelling size and assets of households, so a higher decile means relatively greater economic resources.
8
Higher than 71% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
ABS Index of Education and Occupation, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for education and occupation in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IEO reflects residents' qualifications and the skill level of their jobs, so a higher decile means a more highly educated and skilled workforce.
1,030
Higher than 63% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a raw index score (standardised so the Australian average is about 1000). Higher scores indicate relatively greater advantage; lower scores greater disadvantage.
Annual population estimates and change since the census.
Footscray has grown by 19.9% since 2021, a rate far above the Victorian figure of 8.0%. With 20,882 residents, it is now larger than about 89% of areas at this level.
20,882
Higher than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
19.9%
Higher than 90% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
The area is a major commercial hub, with 2,459 businesses making it one of the largest business centres among similar areas.
2,459
Higher than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Footscray [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/213031348/footscray/topic/economy-advantage
