Federal Electorate · Area profile
Melbourne
40 km²
High weekly incomes and a strong professional workforce define Melbourne, where a typical personal income of $1,055 is well above the national figure. This is a young, fast-growing city of nearly 200,000 people, with a typical resident aged just 31. The community is highly international and educated, which is reflected in the high proportion of university degrees and the many languages spoken. It has shifted rapidly since 2011 into a hub for young adults and professionals living in high-density apartments.
Melbourne is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The area is noticeably younger than the rest of the state, with only 8.1% of people being children under 15. It is also a place where people are more likely to be in de facto relationships, at 20.4%, which is well above the national figure.
Birthplaces are diverse, with 44.2% of people born overseas, a figure far above the national average. English, Australian, and Chinese are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is high, and 36.0% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is well above the Victorian average. Mandarin is the most common non-English language spoken.
A majority of the population, 54.3%, report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This figure has risen by 32 percentage points since 2011.
The workforce is highly qualified, with 54.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national average. Most residents have completed Year 12, at 81.7%.
Typical personal incomes are well above the national figure, and 19.3% of people earn $2,000 or more per week, which is much higher than in most other areas.
Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with fewer people needing help with daily activities. However, mental health conditions are slightly more common here than in the rest of the state.
Unpaid care for children and housework is much lower here than in most areas, which is consistent with the very low number of children in the community.
Living arrangements are dominated by individuals, with 41.0% of people living alone. This is far above the national figure and helps explain why there are only 1.9 people per home.
The housing market is dominated by renters, who make up 63.0% of households. Most people live in flats or apartments, and only 6.1% live in separate houses.
Many residents avoid cars, as 38.0% of homes have no motor vehicle. This is supported by a high rate of working from home, at 41.7%, and a very high number of public transport departures.
The population is very mobile, with 64.1% of people moving in the last five years. This includes a large number of recent overseas arrivals, at 36.7%.
A high proportion of the population is working or looking for work, and 42.3% of jobs are held by professionals. Unemployment is a little higher here than the national figure at 6.4%.
This is a walker's paradise with a score of 9.5, where almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of parks, groceries, and health services.