Whittlesea

The population is a little younger than the state and national figures, with nearly 20% of residents being children under 15. This is a growing community of 10,661 people, where about 17% are seniors aged 65 and over.

About 18.7% of residents were born overseas, which is well below the national figure. While English and Australian are the most common ancestries, there has been a rise in people moving here from other countries since 2011.

English is the main language for 76.7% of the community, though the number of people using another language at home rose 8.2 points since 2011. Punjabi is the most common second language.

Christianity is the most common faith at 44.2%, while 37.6% of residents report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 13 points since 2011.

Education levels are lower than in most similar areas, with 50.5% of residents completing Year 12 and 17.4% holding a bachelor degree or higher, though both figures have risen since 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $1,855, which is about the same as the state and national figures. Weekly personal incomes have risen by $197 since 2011 to reach a typical $780.

A slightly higher than average 6.2% of people need help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions are reported at 28.4%, with arthritis and asthma being the most common.

Unpaid care is common here, as 13.5% of people provide unpaid care and 29.2% look after children. However, the number of volunteers has fallen 7.3 points since 2011.

There are 134 First Nations people in the area. This group has a very low unemployment rate of 0.0% and a Year 12 completion rate that is well above the national figure.

Homes here are larger than in most areas, with a typical 2.8 people per household. Most families consist of couples with children, making up 62.8% of households.

The area is dominated by detached houses (91.7%) and large homes, with nearly 90% having three or more bedrooms. Renting is much less common here than across Australia, at just 15.9%.

Most people rely on cars, with 59.3% driving to work and only 1.2% using public transport. However, working from home has become more popular, rising 13 points since 2011.

The community is quite mobile, with 40.2% of residents moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals have also increased, now making up 11.2% of the population.

The unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is much lower than in most similar areas. Many residents work in construction, health care, or education.

The area has seen massive population growth since 2021, rising 68.9%. It is generally well-resourced, with a high number of businesses and an overall advantage score that is higher than about 60% of similar areas.

The local climate is cooler than the state average, with a typical maximum temperature of 19.8 degrees. Annual rainfall is well above the state average at 761mm.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 3.2. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries (12.4%) or health services (10.2%).