Drysdale, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Drysdale VIC is 4,976 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Drysdale is $645 per week ($33,540 per year). Median rent in Drysdale is $340 per week ($1,473 per month). Drysdale has a median age of 52 years, older than the national median of 38. Drysdale has a population density of 126 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Drysdale is England. The most common religion is No religion (41.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Italian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Drysdale is $1,733.

There were 290 recorded offences in Drysdale in 2025-25, a rate of 58 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (83 offences).

Population
4,976
Census 2021
Median income
$645/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$340/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
52years
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.

Drysdale vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Drysdale is $645 a week, 16% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 995th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $340 a week, $24 more than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 26.7% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 52, 9 years older 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.
MeasureDrysdaleTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$645/wk$767/wk −16%$766/wk
Household income$1,273/wk$1,687/wk −25%$1,637/wk
Rent$340/wk$316/wk +8%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,733/mo$1,723/mo +1%$1,733/mo
Median age5243 +9 yrs42
Rent share of household income26.7%19.1% +7.6 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 Drysdale, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Drysdale Population

4,976 residents at the 2021 Census.

Drysdale Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$645/wk
$33,540 per year
Ranked 6,354 of 14,663
Median Rent
$340/wk
$1,473 per month
Ranked 3,592 of 14,663
Median Age
52years
14 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Drysdale Rent Prices & Affordability

27% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,273/wk
Median rent $340/wk
Rent to income 26.7%

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

Median rent in Drysdale against your income

About $5,516 a month
Median rent $340/wk
Left after rent $933/wk
Rent share 26.7%

Drysdale Schools

2
schools nearby
1
government
1016
avg ICSEA score
388
total students
Drysdale Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 388 students
1016
ICSEA
Christian College Geelong - Bellarine Campus Independent
Combined

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

All schools near Drysdale, with a map

Drysdale Map

Drysdale, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Drysdale, Victoria: 38.1692°S, 144.5996°E

Drysdale Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (2)

People in Drysdale

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.6% (2,368) Female 52.4% (2,605)

Population Density

126
people per km²
4,976 people · 39.5 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,779
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

England
6.1%
New Zealand
1.2%
Netherlands
0.7%
Scotland
0.7%
Germany
0.6%
South Africa
0.5%
India
0.4%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Italian
0.6%
Malayalam
0.4%
German
0.2%
Spanish
0.2%
Thai
0.2%
Mandarin
0.2%
Greek
0.2%

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

Ancestry

English
48.2%
Australian
38.0%
Irish
13.4%
Scottish
13.0%
German
4.4%
Italian
3.8%
Dutch
2.7%
Maltese
0.9%
Australian Aboriginal
0.8%
Polish
0.8%
Croatian
0.8%

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

No religion
41.1%
Catholic
23.3%
Anglican
13.0%
Uniting Church
6.3%
Not stated
5.2%
Christian (other)
2.5%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.4%
Baptist
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
54.1% 2,283
Separated
3.5% 148
Divorced
9.4% 397
Widowed
8.1% 343
Never married
24.8% 1,046

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
35.8%
Couple: children under 15
34.9%
Couple: no children under 15
17.4%
One parent: children under 15
6.2%
One parent: no children under 15
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
27.9%
2 persons
40.2%
3 persons
11.4%
4 persons
12.8%
5 persons
5.5%
6+ persons
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Drysdale

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,002 occupied private dwellings in Drysdale at the 2021 Census, 15.9% were rented, 47.4% owned outright and 30.3% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
4.3% 87 dwellings
Owned outright
47.4% 949 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
30.3% 606 dwellings
Rented
15.9% 318 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.6% 33 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
90.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
9.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.4%
2 bedrooms
19.0%
3 bedrooms
43.6%
4 bedrooms
30.8%
5 bedrooms
4.2%
6+ bedrooms
1.0%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
7.2%
$300-$449/mo
3.9%
$450-$599/mo
3.4%
$600-$799/mo
4.5%
$800-$999/mo
4.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
16.1%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.4%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
22.0%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
12.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.3%
1 vehicle
37.3%
2 vehicles
36.6%
3 vehicles
12.5%
4+ vehicles
9.4%

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

Work, income and education in Drysdale

Employment

Employed full-time
27.8% 1,063 people
Employed part-time
22.0% 844 people
Unemployed
2.4% 92 people
Not in labour force
47.8% 1,831 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
25.5%
Technicians & Trade Workers
17.9%
Community & Personal Service
16.2%
Managers
13.2%
Clerical & Administrative
11.1%
Labourers
7.0%
Sales Workers
5.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.1%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.6%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
0.8%
$300-$399/wk
2.0%
$400-$499/wk
9.4%
$500-$649/wk
7.0%
$650-$799/wk
10.0%
$800-$999/wk
8.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.1%
$4,000+/wk
8.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.3%
$1-$149/wk
5.3%
$150-$299/wk
7.0%
$300-$399/wk
6.4%
$400-$499/wk
4.9%
$500-$649/wk
5.2%
$650-$799/wk
10.2%
$800-$999/wk
10.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
7.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.0%
$3,500+/wk
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
74.4%
Did not go to work
15.9%
Car (passenger)
4.1%
Walked only
2.9%
Truck
0.7%
Other
0.6%
Train
0.5%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.3%
Bus
0.2%
Bicycle
0.2%
Tram/Light Rail
0.2%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
51.8%
Year 10 or equivalent
22.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
18.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
7.6%

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

Certificate III/IV
40.5%
Bachelor Degree
24.3%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.4%
Postgraduate Degree
5.9%
Certificate I/II
2.4%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
18.7%
Engineering
15.1%
Health
15.1%
Society & Culture
14.4%
Education
10.2%
Architecture & Building
8.8%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.5%
Agriculture & Environment
3.1%
Creative Arts
3.1%
Information Technology
1.5%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
26.0%
Secondary: Government
15.9%
Secondary: Catholic
15.1%
Primary: Catholic
13.5%
Vocational Education
9.5%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
7.0%
Pre-school
7.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.9%

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
87.5%
Has need for assistance
8.5%
Need for assistance not stated
3.9%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
523
Arthritis
260
Asthma
214
Heart disease
192
Diabetes
155
Lung condition
127
Cancer
96
Stroke
73
Kidney disease
57
Dementia
31

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.5% 610
Did not provide
84.5% 3,327

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
17.6% 697
Not a volunteer
82.4% 3,270

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 4
Previously served
4.6% 182
Never served
95.3% 3,799

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
24.6%
1 child
9.5%
2 children
34.2%
3 children
21.9%
4 children
7.3%
5+ children
2.5%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
32
1951: 1960
127
1961: 1970
148
1971: 1980
81
1981: 1990
83
1991: 2000
46
2001: 2010
79
2011: 2015
49
2016
21
2017
14
2018
6
2019
8
2021
4

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

Population Mobility

12.1%
moved in the last year
41.0%
moved in the last 5 years
4.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
50.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,136
Moved from VIC
325
Moved: same area (SA2)
189
Moved from overseas
11
Moved from QLD
11
Moved from NT
10
Moved from NSW
9
Moved from SA
4
Moved from TAS
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.6%
5: 14 hours
29.7%
15: 29 hours
16.1%
30+ hours
11.0%
Did not do domestic work
22.6%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
86.5%
Step family: no other children
8.4%
Blended family: no other children
3.0%
Other couple: children only
1.3%
Intact family: other children present
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Drysdale Crime Statistics

290 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
83
Justice Procedures
70
Assault
42
Property Damage
29
Drug Offences
22
Break & Enter
20
Fraud
11
Weapons
7
Other
3
Public Order
2
Traffic
1

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

Ouyen
Income: $614/wk Rent: $165/wk $175/wk less rent
Dimboola
Income: $575/wk Rent: $170/wk $170/wk less rent
Donald
Income: $604/wk Rent: $180/wk $160/wk less rent
St Arnaud
Income: $560/wk Rent: $188/wk $152/wk less rent
Corryong
Income: $589/wk Rent: $200/wk $140/wk less rent
Yarrawonga (Vic.)
Income: $625/wk Rent: $290/wk $50/wk less rent
Grantville
Income: $625/wk Rent: $300/wk $40/wk less rent
Castlemaine
Income: $668/wk Rent: $300/wk $40/wk less rent

Suburbs near Drysdale

The closest suburb to Drysdale is Clifton Springs, 3.0 km away.

Clifton Springs
3.0 km away · income $683/wk · rent $350/wk
Portarlington
6.0 km away · income $575/wk · rent $331/wk
Curlewis (Vic.)
6.4 km away · income $848/wk · rent $405/wk
St Leonards (Vic.)
7.1 km away · income $629/wk · rent $350/wk
Indented Head
10.0 km away · income $616/wk · rent $346/wk
Wallington
10.3 km away · income $754/wk · rent $325/wk

Compare Drysdale

Frequently Asked Questions About Drysdale

What is the population of Drysdale VIC?

The population of Drysdale VIC is 4,976 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 126 people per km². Drysdale is ranked #1,573 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Drysdale?

The median personal income in Drysdale VIC is $645 per week, or $33,540 per year. The median household income is $1,273 per week. Family income is $1,779 per week. Drysdale is ranked #6,354 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Drysdale?

Median rent in Drysdale VIC is $340 per week ($1,473 per month). Rent represents 26.7% of household income, which is considered moderate. Drysdale ranks #3,592 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Drysdale?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Drysdale VIC is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Drysdale?

The median age in Drysdale VIC is 52 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Drysdale a good suburb to live in?

Drysdale is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 4,976. The median income is $645/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (26.7% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 20802. All dollar figures in AUD.