Elwood, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Elwood VIC is 15,153 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Elwood is $1,364 per week ($70,928 per year). Median rent in Elwood is $415 per week ($1,798 per month). Elwood has a median age of 38 years, equal to the national median. Elwood has a population density of 5,839 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Elwood is England. The most common religion is No religion (56.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Spanish. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Elwood is $2,300.

There were 1,130 recorded offences in Elwood in 2025-25, a rate of 75 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (521 offences).

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

Elwood Map

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Elwood Population

15,153 residents at the 2021 Census.

Elwood Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$1,364/wk

$70,928 per year

Ranked 208 of 14,663

Median Rent

$415/wk

$1,798 per month

Ranked 1,663 of 14,663

Median Age

38years

Same as the national median

Mortgage

$2,300/mo

Avg household size: 1.9 · 0.9 per bedroom

Elwood Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.2% (7,154) Female 52.8% (8,004)

Population Density

5,839

people per km²

15,153 people · 2.6 km²

Households

1.9

Avg household size

0.9

Persons per bedroom

$3,210

Family income/wk

Elwood 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)

Elwood Housing Tenure

Other tenure type

0.9% 67 dwellings

Owned outright

20.8% 1,513 dwellings

Owned with a mortgage

26.1% 1,897 dwellings

Rented: Total

51.4% 3,731 dwellings

Tenure type not stated

0.8% 55 dwellings

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

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
Born elsewhere
New Zealand
United States of America
Ireland
India
Italy
South Africa

Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Elwood Religion

No religion

56.8%

Catholic

15.2%

Not stated

7.9%

Anglican

5.7%

Judaism

3.5%

Eastern Orthodox

2.3%

Buddhism

1.2%

Christian (other)

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Elwood Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

87.8%

Year 11 or equivalent

6.2%

Year 10 or equivalent

4.9%

Year 9 or equivalent

1.1%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Spanish
Greek
Italian
French
Russian
German
Mandarin

Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Elwood Employment

Employed full-time

52.0% 6,133 people

Employed part-time

23.2% 2,737 people

Unemployed

3.5% 408 people

Not in labour force

21.4% 2,525 people

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

Elwood Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

47.4%

Postgraduate Degree

19.4%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

14.4%

Certificate III/IV

11.3%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

6.5%

Certificate I/II

0.9%

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

Elwood Occupation

Professionals

45.1%

Managers

21.3%

Clerical & Administrative

9.4%

Community & Personal Service

7.6%

Technicians & Trade Workers

7.5%

Sales Workers

5.8%

Labourers

2.2%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.2%

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

Elwood Field of Study

Management & Commerce

26.0%

Society & Culture

18.1%

Creative Arts

11.7%

Health

11.5%

Engineering

7.5%

Education

6.9%

Architecture & Building

6.3%

Natural & Physical Sciences

4.0%

Information Technology

3.3%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

3.3%

Agriculture & Environment

1.4%

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

Elwood Dwelling Types

Separate house

51.1%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

29.0%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

19.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Elwood Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.4%

$1-$149/wk

0.6%

$150-$299/wk

1.1%

$300-$399/wk

2.0%

$400-$499/wk

3.4%

$500-$649/wk

3.6%

$650-$799/wk

3.6%

$800-$999/wk

4.8%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

6.6%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.0%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.7%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

13.4%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

5.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

7.0%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

3.7%

$4,000+/wk

22.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Elwood Marital Status

Married

29.3% 3,853

Separated

2.8% 364

Divorced

10.3% 1,361

Widowed

2.3% 309

Never married

55.3% 7,281

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Elwood Ancestry

English

36.7%

Australian

26.2%

Irish

15.9%

Scottish

12.7%

Italian

6.7%

German

4.9%

Greek

2.9%

Polish

2.6%

Chinese

2.2%

Dutch

2.1%

French

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

Elwood School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

29.0%

Vocational Education

16.8%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

14.9%

Secondary — Government

12.7%

Pre-school

11.8%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

5.7%

Primary — Catholic

4.8%

Secondary — Catholic

4.4%

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

Elwood Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance

91.3%

Has need for assistance

2.5%

Need for assistance not stated

6.3%

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

Elwood Volunteering

Volunteer

17.9% 2,205

Not a volunteer

82.1% 10,139

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Elwood Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

5.6%

$300-$449/mo

2.3%

$450-$599/mo

1.6%

$600-$799/mo

1.6%

$800-$999/mo

2.8%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

12.4%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

14.5%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

25.8%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

16.5%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

16.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Elwood How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

58.7%

Did not go to work

19.6%

Walked only

4.8%

Bicycle

4.4%

Train

3.9%

Tram/Light Rail

3.1%

Car (passenger)

2.5%

Bus

1.0%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.6%

Other

0.6%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.6%

Truck

0.2%

Ferry

0.1%

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

Elwood Car Ownership

0 vehicles

11.3%

1 vehicle

55.8%

2 vehicles

26.7%

3 vehicles

4.4%

4+ vehicles

1.8%

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

Elwood Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

21.0%

2 bedrooms

50.2%

3 bedrooms

20.6%

4 bedrooms

6.5%

5 bedrooms

1.5%

6+ bedrooms

0.2%

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

Elwood Population Mobility

24.1%

moved in the last year

55.8%

moved in the last 5 years

4.1%

unemployment rate (Census)

74.7%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Elwood Indigenous Population

0.0%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Elwood Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

1,484

Asthma

523

Arthritis

245

Heart disease

210

Diabetes

178

Cancer

155

Lung condition

126

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

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

Elwood Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

6.0%

$1-$149/wk

2.8%

$150-$299/wk

3.3%

$300-$399/wk

1.9%

$400-$499/wk

2.0%

$500-$649/wk

2.2%

$650-$799/wk

5.5%

$800-$999/wk

7.5%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.2%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.6%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

9.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

7.9%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

15.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.6%

$3,500+/wk

11.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Elwood Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

39.3%

Couple — no children

37.3%

Couple — no children under 15

12.1%

One parent — children under 15

6.1%

One parent — no children under 15

5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Elwood Military Service

Current ADF — Regular

0.0% 4

Current ADF — Reserves

0.1% 10

Previously served

1.2% 144

Never served

98.7% 12,216

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Elwood Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

13.5% 1,668

Did not provide

86.5% 10,657

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Elwood Children Ever Born

No children

60.9%

1 child

13.5%

2 children

18.0%

3 children

6.3%

4 children

1.3%

5+ children

0.1%

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

Elwood When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

137

1961–1970

277

1971–1980

361

1981–1990

409

1991–2000

436

2001–2010

716

2011–2015

667

2016

154

2017

196

2018

199

2019

259

2020

2021

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

Elwood Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

28.5%

5–14 hours

37.7%

15–29 hours

10.9%

30+ hours

5.0%

Did not do domestic work

17.9%

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

Elwood Household Size

1 person

44.0%

2 persons

33.4%

3 persons

11.4%

4 persons

8.2%

5 persons

2.5%

6+ persons

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Elwood Where Residents Moved From

Same address

10,687

Moved from VIC

2,280

Moved — same area (SA2)

737

Moved from overseas

182

Moved from NSW

Moved from QLD

Moved from WA

Moved from ACT

Moved from SA

Moved from TAS

Moved from NT

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

Elwood Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

90.1%

Step family — no other children

7.3%

Blended family — no other children

2.2%

Intact family — other children present

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Elwood Crime Statistics

1,130 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft

521

Justice Procedures

149

Assault

142

Break & Enter

118

Drug Offences

Property Damage

Fraud

Public Order

Weapons

Robbery

Other

Total offences by year

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

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

Elwood Schools

schools nearby

government

1119

avg ICSEA score

15,311

total students

St Michael's Grammar School Independent

Combined · Prep-12 · 1,143 students

1180

ICSEA

Sholem Aleichem College Independent

Primary · Prep-6 · 96 students

1168

ICSEA

The King David School Independent

Combined · Prep-12 · 592 students

1165

ICSEA

Gardenvale Primary School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 617 students

1164

ICSEA

St Joseph's School Catholic

Primary · Prep-6 · 347 students

1164

ICSEA

Caulfield Grammar School Independent

Combined · Prep-12 · 3,555 students

1157

ICSEA

Firbank Grammar School Independent

Combined · Prep-12 · 1,046 students

1152

ICSEA

St Columba's School Catholic

Primary · Prep-6 · 137 students

1152

ICSEA

Elsternwick Primary School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 463 students

1147

ICSEA

St Kilda Park Primary School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 314 students

1142

ICSEA

Our Lady of Lourdes School Catholic

Primary · Prep-6 · 162 students

1142

ICSEA

Ripponlea Primary School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 256 students

1141

ICSEA

St James' School Catholic

Primary · Prep-6 · 146 students

1133

ICSEA

Star of the Sea College Catholic

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,204 students

1132

ICSEA

Elwood Primary School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 618 students

1131

ICSEA

Showing 15 of 41 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 Elwood, with a map

Elwood Rent Prices & Affordability

20% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $2,096/wk

Median rent $415/wk

Rent to income 19.8%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Elwood against your income

Your weekly income

About $9,083 a month

Median rent $415/wk

Left after rent $1,681/wk

Rent share 19.8%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Moonee Ponds

Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $400/wk $15/wk less rent

Kingsville

Income: $1,202/wk Rent: $355/wk $60/wk less rent

Fairfield (Vic.)

Income: $1,093/wk Rent: $369/wk $46/wk less rent

South Kingsville

Income: $1,259/wk Rent: $381/wk $34/wk less rent

St Kilda (Vic.)

Income: $1,214/wk Rent: $381/wk $34/wk less rent

St Kilda West

Income: $1,314/wk Rent: $385/wk $30/wk less rent

Eynesbury

Income: $1,132/wk Rent: $380/wk $35/wk less rent

Balaclava (Vic.)

Income: $1,172/wk Rent: $386/wk $29/wk less rent

Elwood vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Elwood is $1,364 a week, 78% above the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 13th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $415 a week, $99 more than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 19.8% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 38, 5 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.
Measure	Elwood	Typical VIC	Typical Australia
Personal income	$1,364/wk	$767/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$2,096/wk	$1,687/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$415/wk	$316/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$2,300/mo	$1,723/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	38	43	42
Rent share of household income	19.8%	19.1%	20.3%

Suburbs near Elwood

The closest suburb to Elwood is Ripponlea, 0.8 km away.

Ripponlea

0.8 km away · income $1,190/wk · rent $391/wk

Balaclava (Vic.)

1.4 km away · income $1,172/wk · rent $386/wk

St Kilda (Vic.)

1.9 km away · income $1,214/wk · rent $381/wk

Elsternwick

1.9 km away · income $1,206/wk · rent $441/wk

St Kilda East

2.0 km away · income $1,183/wk · rent $396/wk

Gardenvale

2.8 km away · income $1,087/wk · rent $301/wk

Compare Elwood

Frequently Asked Questions About Elwood

What is the population of Elwood VIC?

The population of Elwood VIC is 15,153 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 5,839 people per km².Elwood is ranked #271 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Elwood?

The median personal income in Elwood VIC is $1,364 per week, or $70,928 per year.The median household income is $2,096 per week.Family income is $3,210 per week.Elwood is ranked #208 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Elwood?

Median rent in Elwood VIC is $415 per week ($1,798 per month).Rent represents 19.8% of household income, which is considered affordable.Elwood ranks #1,663 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Elwood?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Elwood VIC is $2,300. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Elwood?

The median age in Elwood VIC is 38 years.This is equal to the national median age of 38 years.

Is Elwood a good suburb to live in?

Elwood is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 15,153.The median income is $1,364/wk, which is above the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.8% 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: 20867. All dollar figures in AUD.