Pakenham - North West

The area is strikingly young, with 25.8% of people under 15, a figure well above the national average. Conversely, seniors aged 65 and over make up only 9.4% of the population, which is well below the Victorian figure of 16.8%.

There is a diverse mix of backgrounds here, with 28.9% of residents born overseas. English and Australian ancestries are most common, while India is the most frequent overseas birthplace at 6.6%.

About 26% of people use a language other than English at home, which is well above the national average. Punjabi is the most common non-English language spoken.

Religious patterns reflect the state average, with 40.2% of people reporting no religion. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 38.4%.

The community has a high rate of Year 12 completion at 61.5%, though the 22.1% of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is well below the national figure.

Typical weekly personal income is $879, which is a little above the national figure of $805. However, the proportion of people earning $2,000 or more a week is lower than in most similar areas.

Residents are generally healthier than the average, with only 24.6% reporting a long-term health condition, which is well below the national rate of 27.7%.

Caregiving is very common here; 37.1% of people provide unpaid childcare, a figure far above the national average. In contrast, volunteering is much lower than in most other areas.

The First Nations community is notably young, with a typical age of just 16. Education levels are strong, as 53.8% have completed Year 12, far above the national average.

Homes are crowded compared to most areas, with an average of 2.9 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 64.6% of families.

The landscape is dominated by separate houses, which make up 94.9% of homes. Most are large, with 91.8% of dwellings having three or more bedrooms, though very few are owned outright.

Car dependence is high, as 94.9% of homes have at least one vehicle and only 1.8% of people commute by public transport. Access is limited, with a long 30-minute walk to the nearest stop.

The area is seeing a massive influx of new residents, with 60.7% of the population moving in during the last five years. This far exceeds the 40.7% national average.

The workforce is very active, with 71.1% of adults working or looking for work, which is far above the national figure. Many residents work in health care, construction, and retail.

The area shows strong economic growth, with a population increase of 38.8% since 2021. It ranks higher than 80% of similar areas for access to money and resources.

The area receives far more rainfall than the Victorian average, with 999mm annually. Temperatures are generally mild, with a typical maximum of 19.9 degrees.

The neighbourhood is mostly car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 3.7. While most people live near a park, very few can reach health services or groceries within a 15-minute walk.