Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Chirnside Park
22 km²
Tucked away in the Yarra Ranges, Chirnside Park is a growing residential suburb where detached family homes dominate the landscape. The community has expanded quickly, adding about 2,654 people since 2011. It is a relatively affluent area with a high proportion of families, which is reflected in the large home sizes and a high number of children. The neighbourhood feels spacious and suburban, with most residents relying on cars to get around.
Chirnside Park's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
Chirnside Park has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
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The population grew 29% since 2011, and the typical resident is now 38. It is a family-oriented area, with children under 15 making up 19.5% of the community, which is a little above the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 21.5% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 82.8% of the community. Those using another language at home make up 13.9% of the population, a figure that is far below the Victorian average.
A large portion of the community identifies as having no religion, at 46.1%. This is well above the national figure and has risen significantly by 21 points since 2011.
Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 22.8% of the area, which is well below the national average. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 rose 12 points since 2011 to reach 57.7%.
The area is relatively wealthy, with a typical weekly family income of $2,316. Those earning $3,000 or more a week make up 26.7% of households, which is well above the national figure.
People needing help with daily activities make up 4.8% of the population, which is lower than most similar areas. Long-term health conditions are reported by 28.4% of residents.
Unpaid care is common here, with 32.0% of people caring for children and 14.2% providing other unpaid care, both of which are much higher than in most other areas.
First Nations people make up 0.8% of the population. This group has a typical personal income of $949, which is far above the national figure, and a Year 12 completion rate of 52.5%, also well above the national average.
Homes here are larger than usual, with an average of 2.8 people per household. This is consistent with the fact that 63.3% of families are couples with children and very few people live alone.
The suburb is almost entirely made up of separate houses, with 97.9% of dwellings being detached. Large homes are the norm, as 93.9% of houses have three or more bedrooms, and renting is far less common than in the rest of the state.
Car travel is essential, as 55.8% of people drive to work and only 1.1% use public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, and the typical walk to the nearest stop takes 16 minutes.
About 38.0% of residents moved into the area in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 8.4% of the population, which is well below the national figure.
The area has a strong workforce, with 66.8% of adults working or looking for work, which is well above the national average. The unemployment rate is very low at 3.1%.
The community enjoys high levels of advantage, particularly regarding access to money and resources. It ranks higher than about 90% of similar areas in this regard.
The area is wetter than the Victorian average, with annual rainfall of 882mm. It also experiences lower average maximum temperatures compared to most other areas.
Walking is difficult due to the terrain slope, which is well above the state average. Only 60% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a '15-minute-city' walkshed, which is far below the Victorian figure.