Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Thomastown
15 km²
Daily life in Thomastown is shaped by a strong multicultural presence, where over half the population was born overseas. It is a place of contrasting demographics, with a notably high proportion of seniors and a shrinking overall population of about 20,000 people. The community is very walkable and well-connected, though it faces significant economic challenges. These factors combine to create a residential area where many long-term homeowners live alongside a diverse group of recent arrivals.
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The area is notably older than the national figure, with 21.9% of people aged 65 and over—a figure that has risen by 4.3 percentage points since 2011. In contrast, the proportion of children under 15 is much lower than most similar areas.
A far higher share of the population was born overseas (51.6%) compared to the national figure of 27.7%. Italian, Australian, English, Greek, and Vietnamese are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is very high, with 65.5% of people using a language other than English at home, which is far above the Australian average. Arabic, Vietnamese, and Italian are common, and 15.3% of residents speak little or no English.
Religious affiliation is high, with only 16.5% of people reporting no religion, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%. The most common affiliations are Christianity and Islam.
Education levels are generally lower than the state average, with only 17.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 rose by 11 percentage points since 2011 to 52.3%.
Incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical household earning $1,225 a week, well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
A higher number of people need help with daily activities (10.7%) compared to the national figure of 5.8%. Long-term health conditions are reported at a similar rate to the rest of the country.
The area has a very low rate of volunteers at 5.6%, which is well below the national figure. Unpaid care for others is more common here than in most similar areas.
First Nations people in Thomastown are noticeably older than those in the rest of the state. While unemployment is much higher than the national figure at 17.9%, personal income is a little above the state average.
Homes here are slightly larger than usual, with 2.6 people per dwelling. One-parent families are much more common than in most areas, making up 18% of households.
Home ownership is very high, with 42.7% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Most dwellings are separate houses, and 83.1% have three or more bedrooms.
The area is well-served by public transport, with 115 stops and a higher number of weekly departures than most similar areas. About 9.3% of homes do not have a motor vehicle.
Residents are less likely to have moved in the last five years (30.4%) compared to the national figure of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals make up 13.1% of the population.
The unemployment rate is 8.0%, which is a little above the national figure. Working or looking for work is much less common here than in most similar areas, at 49.9% of adults.
Thomastown ranks very low for overall advantage and access to resources, sitting in the bottom 20% of similar areas. It is home to a large number of businesses, totalling 3,358.
The area sees more rainfall than the state average. Average maximum temperatures are about the same as the Victorian figure.
The neighbourhood is very walkable, with 95.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 98.8% within a short walk of a park.