Dandenong, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Dandenong VIC is 30,127 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Dandenong is $596 per week ($30,992 per year). Median rent in Dandenong is $319 per week ($1,382 per month). Dandenong has a median age of 33 years, younger than the national median of 38. Dandenong has a population density of 2,647 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Dandenong is Afghanistan. The most common religion is Islam (34.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Dandenong is $1,517.

There were 9,771 recorded offences in Dandenong in 2025-25, a rate of 324 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (3,351 offences).

Population
30,127
Census 2021
Median income
$596/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$319/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
33years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au), 2025-25.

Dandenong vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Dandenong is $596 a week, 22% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 1,117th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $319 a week, $3 more than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 25.2% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 33, 10 years younger than in the typical VIC suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureDandenongTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$596/wk$767/wk −22%$766/wk
Household income$1,267/wk$1,687/wk −25%$1,637/wk
Rent$319/wk$316/wk +1%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,517/mo$1,723/mo −12%$1,733/mo
Median age3343 −10 yrs42
Rent share of household income25.2%19.1% +6.1 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Dandenong, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Dandenong Population

30,127 residents at the 2021 Census.

Dandenong Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$596/wk
$30,992 per year
Ranked 7,149 of 14,663
Median Rent
$319/wk
$1,382 per month
Ranked 4,239 of 14,663
Median Age
33years
5 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,517/mo
Avg household size: 2.8 · 1.1 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Dandenong Rent Prices & Affordability

25% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,267/wk
Median rent $319/wk
Rent to income 25.2%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Dandenong against your income

About $5,490 a month
Median rent $319/wk
Left after rent $948/wk
Rent share 25.2%

Dandenong Schools

29
schools nearby
18
government
956
avg ICSEA score
7,906
total students
St Gerard's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 125 students
1049
ICSEA
St John's Regional College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 616 students
1001
ICSEA
St Mary's School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 154 students
993
ICSEA
Endeavour Hills Specialist School Government
Combined · U · 293 students
985
ICSEA
Holy Family School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 109 students
975
ICSEA
Lyndale Greens Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 446 students
974
ICSEA
Yarraman Oaks Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 214 students
965
ICSEA
Dandenong North Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 798 students
955
ICSEA
Emerson School Government
Combined · U · 371 students
953
ICSEA
Wooranna Park Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 263 students
953
ICSEA
Dandenong Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 479 students
935
ICSEA
Lyndale Secondary College Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 850 students
935
ICSEA
Dandenong West Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 311 students
931
ICSEA
Dandenong South Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 607 students
907
ICSEA
Doveton College Government
Combined · Prep-9 · 892 students
894
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 29 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Dandenong, with a map

Dandenong Map

Dandenong, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Dandenong, Victoria: 37.9857°S, 145.2139°E

Dandenong Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (29)

People in Dandenong

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 52.4% (15,785) Female 47.6% (14,348)

Population Density

2,647
people per km²
30,127 people · 11.4 km²

Households

2.8
Avg household size
1.1
Persons per bedroom
$1,413
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

Afghanistan
11.5%
India
9.5%
Sri Lanka
5.4%
Pakistan
4.0%
North Macedonia
2.7%
China
2.5%
Philippines
1.8%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Punjabi
4.4%
Tamil
3.5%
Sinhalese
3.1%
Mandarin
2.8%
Vietnamese
2.2%
Arabic
2.2%
Hindi
2.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
9.7%
Australian
9.1%
Indian
7.9%
Chinese
4.7%
Sri Lankan
2.2%
Filipino
2.1%
Serbian
2.1%
Vietnamese
2.1%
Irish
1.9%
Italian
1.8%
Scottish
1.8%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

Islam
34.1%
No religion
13.7%
Catholic
12.3%
Not stated
10.0%
Hinduism
7.4%
Buddhism
5.4%
Other religions
4.0%
Sikhism
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.5%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
47.1% 11,512
Separated
3.8% 936
Divorced
8.7% 2,122
Widowed
5.4% 1,329
Never married
34.9% 8,522

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
48.5%
Couple: no children
19.9%
Couple: no children under 15
14.1%
One parent: no children under 15
9.1%
One parent: children under 15
8.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
27.3%
2 persons
26.5%
3 persons
17.6%
4 persons
13.5%
5 persons
7.4%
6+ persons
7.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Dandenong

Housing Tenure

Of the 9,813 occupied private dwellings in Dandenong at the 2021 Census, 52.7% were rented, 19.7% owned outright and 23.4% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.5% 143 dwellings
Owned outright
19.7% 1,930 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
23.4% 2,300 dwellings
Rented
52.7% 5,175 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.7% 266 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
51.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
31.3%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
17.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
5.8%
2 bedrooms
43.8%
3 bedrooms
35.4%
4 bedrooms
11.4%
5 bedrooms
2.9%
6+ bedrooms
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.9%
$300-$449/mo
2.3%
$450-$599/mo
1.9%
$600-$799/mo
4.1%
$800-$999/mo
7.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
21.1%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
21.4%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
23.3%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
7.2%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
12.6%
1 vehicle
44.3%
2 vehicles
29.0%
3 vehicles
8.9%
4+ vehicles
5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Dandenong

Employment

Employed full-time
31.6% 6,760 people
Employed part-time
18.5% 3,959 people
Unemployed
5.5% 1,185 people
Not in labour force
44.3% 9,456 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
19.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
17.5%
Community & Personal Service
15.1%
Labourers
13.4%
Clerical & Administrative
11.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
11.0%
Managers
6.8%
Sales Workers
5.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
3.0%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
1.8%
$300-$399/wk
3.1%
$400-$499/wk
7.9%
$500-$649/wk
6.1%
$650-$799/wk
7.9%
$800-$999/wk
8.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.3%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.5%
$4,000+/wk
4.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
17.9%
$1-$149/wk
3.6%
$150-$299/wk
8.0%
$300-$399/wk
5.2%
$400-$499/wk
4.7%
$500-$649/wk
4.7%
$650-$799/wk
10.1%
$800-$999/wk
13.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.0%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
2.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.5%
$3,500+/wk
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
71.8%
Did not go to work
9.0%
Car (passenger)
7.4%
Bus
3.5%
Train
3.2%
Walked only
2.0%
Truck
0.9%
Other
0.8%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.6%
Bicycle
0.5%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
74.7%
Year 10 or equivalent
12.2%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
5.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
31.6%
Certificate III/IV
26.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
21.8%
Postgraduate Degree
13.9%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.0%
Certificate I/II
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
23.7%
Engineering
18.9%
Society & Culture
13.8%
Health
9.5%
Information Technology
9.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.8%
Education
5.6%
Architecture & Building
5.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.7%
Creative Arts
2.4%
Agriculture & Environment
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
31.5%
Secondary: Government
23.6%
Vocational Education
20.7%
Pre-school
8.4%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.0%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.6%
Primary: Catholic
3.6%
Secondary: Catholic
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
82.8%
Has need for assistance
8.0%
Need for assistance not stated
9.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
2,175
Diabetes
876
Asthma
703
Heart disease
555
Arthritis
515
Lung condition
319
Stroke
277
Kidney disease
268
Cancer
213
Dementia
93

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
10.9% 2,370
Did not provide
89.1% 19,406

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
7.3% 1,594
Not a volunteer
92.7% 20,335

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 12
Current ADF: Reserves
0.0% 5
Previously served
0.8% 173
Never served
99.1% 21,887

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
38.8%
1 child
16.4%
2 children
23.1%
3 children
13.1%
4 children
5.9%
5+ children
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
62
1951: 1960
234
1961: 1970
596
1971: 1980
725
1981: 1990
1,387
1991: 2000
1,958
2001: 2010
4,026
2011: 2015
3,980
2016
827
2017
940
2018
1,075
2019
1,281
2020
424
2021
219

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

16.8%
moved in the last year
49.9%
moved in the last 5 years
9.4%
unemployment rate (Census)
51.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
22,581
Moved from VIC
2,748
Moved: same area (SA2)
1,141
Moved from overseas
489
Moved from NSW
68
Moved from SA
33
Moved from QLD
18
Moved from WA
9
Moved from NT
3
Moved from ACT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
16.4%
5: 14 hours
18.2%
15: 29 hours
7.5%
30+ hours
7.2%
Did not do domestic work
50.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
92.7%
Step family: no other children
4.3%
Blended family: no other children
1.6%
Intact family: other children present
1.2%
Blended family: other children present
0.1%
Step family: other children present
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Dandenong Crime Statistics

9,771 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
3,351
Justice Procedures
2,194
Assault
1,517
Property Damage
845
Break & Enter
514
Drug Offences
502
Fraud
290
Weapons
264
Public Order
175
Robbery
95
Traffic
17
Other
7

Total offences by year

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Flora Hill
Income: $705/wk Rent: $290/wk $29/wk less rent
Braybrook
Income: $622/wk Rent: $312/wk $7/wk less rent
Corio
Income: $537/wk Rent: $280/wk $39/wk less rent
Mount Pleasant (Vic.)
Income: $690/wk Rent: $280/wk $39/wk less rent
Melton South
Income: $568/wk Rent: $300/wk $19/wk less rent
Albion (Vic.)
Income: $708/wk Rent: $301/wk $18/wk less rent
Heidelberg West
Income: $612/wk Rent: $306/wk $13/wk less rent
Robinvale
Income: $615/wk Rent: $220/wk $99/wk less rent

Suburbs near Dandenong

The closest suburb to Dandenong is Doveton, 2.3 km away.

Doveton
2.3 km away · income $581/wk · rent $320/wk
Eumemmerring
3.0 km away · income $597/wk · rent $323/wk
Dandenong North
3.4 km away · income $605/wk · rent $341/wk
Noble Park
3.9 km away · income $628/wk · rent $341/wk
Endeavour Hills
4.1 km away · income $677/wk · rent $375/wk
Noble Park North
4.3 km away · income $596/wk · rent $351/wk

Compare Dandenong

Frequently Asked Questions About Dandenong

What is the population of Dandenong VIC?

The population of Dandenong VIC is 30,127 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,647 people per km². Dandenong is ranked #45 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Dandenong?

The median personal income in Dandenong VIC is $596 per week, or $30,992 per year. The median household income is $1,267 per week. Family income is $1,413 per week. Dandenong is ranked #7,149 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Dandenong?

Median rent in Dandenong VIC is $319 per week ($1,382 per month). Rent represents 25.2% of household income, which is considered moderate. Dandenong ranks #4,239 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Dandenong?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Dandenong VIC is $1,517. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Dandenong?

The median age in Dandenong VIC is 33 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Dandenong a good suburb to live in?

Dandenong is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 30,127. The median income is $596/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (25.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Melbourne Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 20707. All dollar figures in AUD.