Merrylands - Holroyd

The community is noticeably younger than the national average, with 20.3% of the population being children under 15. Seniors make up only 11.4% of the area, which is well below the 17.2% figure for Australia.

A very high proportion of residents were born overseas, at 51.1%, which is far above the national figure of 27.7%. The most common ancestries include Australian, Chinese, and English.

Language diversity is a defining feature, with 62.8% of people using a language other than English at home. Arabic is the most common non-English language at 17.9%, and 13.3% of residents speak little or no English.

Religious affiliation is high here, with only 12.9% of people reporting no religion, which is far below the national average of 38.9%. Christianity and Islam are the most common faiths.

About 59.7% of residents completed Year 12, which is about the same as the state and national figures. However, the share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is 23.2%, which is well below the national average.

Typical incomes are much lower than in most other areas, with the typical weekly family income sitting at $1,668. Only 6% of people earn $2,000 or more per week, compared to 12.5% nationally.

Long-term health conditions are well below the national figure, affecting 18.4% of people. However, 6.5% of residents need help with daily activities, which is higher than in most similar areas.

Community participation is low, with only 6.4% of people volunteering, which is well below the national average of 14.1%. Rates of unpaid childcare and housework are also much lower than most areas.

First Nations people make up 0.6% of the population. This group is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical age of 30, and 15.5% speak a First Nations language, which is far above the state average.

Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 2.9 people per home. This is consistent with the high number of children in the area and a high proportion of couples with children, who make up 65.9% of families.

Renting is very common, with 50.6% of households renting, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Detached houses are less common here, and 43.3% of people live in flats or apartments.

Public transport use is higher than in most areas, and 14% of homes have no motor vehicle. This is supported by a high number of transit stops, and 28.8% of people work from home.

The area is quite dynamic, with 40.2% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 18.5% of the population, which is well above the national figure.

The unemployment rate is 9.3%, which is well above the national average of 5.1%. Only 46.3% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure of 61.1%.

The area has one of the largest business counts at this level, with 3,277 businesses. However, it ranks low for overall advantage, with a score of 942 compared to the national average of 1,000.

The area receives significantly more rainfall than the state average, with 1,089mm annually. Temperatures are around the middle for the state, with an average maximum of 24.6 degrees.

This is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.4. Every home in the area is within a 15-minute walk of a park, a school, and public transport.