Council (LGA) · Area profile
Whitehorse
64 km²
A strong overseas presence defines Whitehorse, where 41.5% of residents were born outside Australia. This is a highly educated and prosperous community with a growing population of nearly 170,000 people. Many residents are young adults, though the number of seniors has risen to 18.5%. The area's high proportion of university degrees and professional jobs helps explain its typical household income, which is much higher than most similar areas.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
Rapid population growth here is outstripping school provision.
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The typical resident is 39 years old, which is slightly older than the national figure. While the population grew by 12% since 2011, the proportion of children under 15 fell slightly to 15.9%.
This area is far more diverse than the state or national average, with 41.5% of people born overseas. Chinese, English, and Australian are the most common ancestries.
About 40.5% of people use a language other than English at home, which is far above the national figure. Mandarin is the most common second language, and 8.2% of residents speak little or no English.
A large number of people report no religion, at 43.9%, which is well above the national figure. This figure rose 16 points since 2011.
Education levels are very high, with 41.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or more. This is far above the national figure, and 74% of residents have completed Year 12.
Prosperity is high here, as 26.8% of households earn over $3,000 a week. The typical weekly household income of $1,841 is much higher than in most similar areas.
Residents are slightly healthier than average, with a lower rate of long-term health conditions (25.2%) and mental health conditions (7.4%) compared to the state and nation.
Unpaid care is common, with 12.8% of people providing such support. However, the proportion of volunteers fell by 5.1 points since 2011 to 15.5%.
First Nations people make up 0.3% of the population. This group has a high rate of Year 12 completion at 56.9%, which is far above the national figure.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.6 people per household. Couples with children make up 61.8% of all families.
Detached houses are less common than in other areas, at 64.6%. Renting is more frequent (29%), and the typical weekly rent of $411 is much higher than most areas.
Working from home is very common for 34.3% of residents. The area is well-served by public transport, with 895 stops and a very short walk to the nearest one.
The community is quite mobile, with 38.6% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 18.4% of the population.
Most adults are working or looking for work, with professional roles being the most common occupation. The unemployment rate is 5.4%, which is slightly higher than the national figure.
The area is ranked among the most advantaged in the country. It has a very high score for education and job skills and a population that is growing faster than the state average.
The local climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 804mm and a typical maximum temperature of 20 degrees.
Overall crime is much lower than in most areas, though theft and burglary rates are higher. Property damage and sexual offences are among the lowest for this level.
This is a very walkable area, with 99% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a school and 97.3% within reach of groceries.