Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
South Melbourne suburb profile
South Melbourne, VIC · Postcode 3205
This South Melbourne suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for South Melbourne, VIC (postcode 3205). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare South Melbourne with nearby suburbs.
South Melbourne at a glance
Population
11,548
Median rent
$421/wk
Household income
$2,101/wk
Median age
39
South Melbourne trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+24.4% over 10 years
Population
11,548
was 10,920 in 2016
+628 · +5.8%
Median rent
$421/wk
was $438/wk in 2016
$17 · -3.9%
Household income
$2,101/wk
was $1,842/wk in 2016
+$259 · +14.1%
Median age
39
was 36 in 2016
+3 · +8.3%
Dig deeper: South Melbourne population growth · South Melbourne then and now
South Melbourne people
- Population
- 11,548
- Median age
- 39
- Born overseas
- 35.3%
- Average household size
- 1.9
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
South Melbourne income
- Median household income
- $2,101/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,307/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
South Melbourne housing
- Median rent
- $421/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,200/mo
- Separate houses
- 3.8%
- Flats & apartments
- 47.2%
- Owned outright
- 15.3%
- Mortgaged
- 18.8%
- Rented
- 44.3%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 19.3%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
South Melbourne work
- Employment to population
- 64.8%
- Unemployment rate
- 5.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 76.9%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3205)
Compare South Melbourne with nearby suburbs
About this South Melbourne suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching South Melbourne. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Melbourne