Watsonia

The typical resident is 39, and the area has seen a slight increase in seniors, with 18.3% of people now aged 65 or over. Total population grew by 2.8% since 2011 to reach 9,236 people.

About 21.5% of residents were born overseas, which is well below the national figure. Australian, English, Irish, and Italian ancestries are the most common backgrounds in the community.

English is the main language for 77.7% of the population, though the proportion of people using another language at home has risen to 19.5%. Mandarin and Italian are the most common non-English languages.

A significant number of residents report having no religion, accounting for 43.4% of the population. This figure has risen sharply by 19 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.

The area is well-qualified, with 30.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, a figure that rose 12 points since 2011. Most residents finished Year 12, which is well above the national average.

Household incomes are high, with 26.5% of homes earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical family weekly income of $2,410 is higher than both the state and national figures.

Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 30.2% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 6.6% of residents need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a common part of life here, as 15.2% of people provide unpaid care, which is well above the national average. Many residents also care for children, with 28.9% doing so unpaid.

There are 65 First Nations people living here. This group is noticeably older than the state and national average, with a typical age of 28, and 7.7% speak a First Nations language.

Families tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. Most households consist of couples with children or couples without children.

Watsonia is dominated by separate houses, which make up 91% of dwellings. Homes are typically large, with 85.1% having three or more bedrooms, and 37.8% of homes are owned outright.

Working from home is very common, with 29.8% of the workforce doing so. While most use cars, the area has more public transport stops per 1,000 people than the state average.

The community is very stable, as only 29% of people moved in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals make up 9.3% of the population.

The workforce is active, with 64.7% of adults working or looking for work, a rate higher than most similar areas. Many residents work in health care, construction, and education.

The area is generally advantaged, scoring 7 out of 10 for overall advantage. This is higher than about 70% of similar areas, reflecting the local trends in education and income.

The local climate is slightly cooler than other areas, with an average maximum temperature of 20.6 degrees and an average annual rainfall of 720mm.

The neighbourhood is very walkable, with 95% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a 'city' environment. Almost every home is within 15 minutes of a park, a school, and health services.