Federal Electorate · Area profile
Calwell
222 km²
Far more people use a language other than English at home in Calwell than in the rest of Victoria. This diverse community is also noticeably younger than the national average, with a typical resident aged 32. It is a rapidly growing area that has added about 53,200 people since 2011. These trends create a distinct environment where large families and young children are common, which is reflected in the high number of spacious, detached family homes.
A family-heavy area that's short on schools per child.
53 schools within reach make Calwell convenient for families.
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The area is very young, with children under 15 making up 23.7% of the population, a figure well above the national average. This has contributed to the population growing by 39% since 2011, while the proportion of seniors has fallen significantly to 9.1%.
Birthplaces are diverse, with 45.2% of residents born overseas, which is far above the Victorian average of 30.0%. The most common ancestries include Australian, English, Indian, and Italian.
Language diversity is very high, with 58.3% of people using a language other than English at home, far exceeding the national figure of 22.3%. Arabic is the most common non-English language, though 10.2% of residents still speak little or no English.
Religious affiliation is common here, as the 14.0% who report no religion is far below the state and national figures of around 39%. Christianity is the most common religion at 40.9%, followed by Islam at 23.8%.
Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 20.9% of the community, which is well below the national average. While 59.7% have completed Year 12, the area has a high number of school enrolments and very large average school sizes.
Typical personal weekly income is $623, which is well below the national figure of $805. While typical household incomes have risen since 2011, those earning $3,000 or more a week are much less common here than in most other areas.
A little more than 6.9% of people need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national average. However, the rates of long-term health conditions and mental health conditions are much lower than in most other areas.
Unpaid care for children is more common here than across Australia, while volunteering is among the lowest at 6.3%, well below the national figure of 14.1%.
Homes in Calwell are larger than usual, with 3.2 people per household compared to the national average of 2.5. This is consistent with the high proportion of couples with children, who make up 70.8% of families.
Detached houses are very common, with 88.4% of dwellings being separate houses. Most homes are large, with 89.8% having three or more bedrooms, though far fewer residents own their homes outright compared to the state average.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 60.8% of people drive to work and only 2.7% use public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, and 41.6% of households have two vehicles.
Calwell is a dynamic area where 43.5% of residents moved in the last five years, which is higher than most other areas. Recent overseas arrivals also make up a higher proportion of the population than the national average.
Unemployment is among the highest for its level at 8.4%, well above the national figure of 5.1%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, construction, and transport.
The area is somewhat walkable, and most residents live within a short walk of a park or school. However, access to groceries and health services is well below the state average.