Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Cranbourne West
13 km²
A massive surge in population has seen Cranbourne West grow by 146% since 2011, making it one of the largest and youngest communities in its class. The area is a primary hub for young families, with a typical resident aged just 32 and a very high proportion of children. This rapid growth is matched by a diverse, multicultural population with a strong connection to India and a high rate of overseas birth. Together, these features create a dynamic, expanding suburb defined by young households and evolving cultural identities.
A family-heavy area that's short on schools per child.
Rapid population growth here is outstripping school provision.
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The area is exceptionally young, with a typical resident aged 32 and children under 15 making up 26.5% of the population, which is well above the national figure. Conversely, seniors aged 65 and over are few, representing just 7.4% of the community.
Cultural diversity is high here, with 41.4% of residents born overseas—far above the national average. Indian ancestry is particularly prominent, accounting for 11.8% of the population.
A wide variety of languages are spoken, with 42.6% of people using a language other than English at home, a figure far above the national average. Punjabi is the most common non-English language at 9.2%.
People with no religion make up 31.3% of the community, which is well below the figures seen in Victoria and across Australia. Other significant groups include Christians (34.3%), Muslims (8.6%), and Hindus (7.8%).
Education levels have risen, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher climbing 13 points since 2011 to reach 21.0%. Year 12 completion is also relatively high at 61.5%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,903, which is a little above the national figure. However, the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week is well below the national average at 16.9%.
Residents are generally healthier than those in similar areas, with a long-term health condition rate of 22.1%, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%.
Unpaid care for children is very common, with 36.8% of people providing this support, far above the national average. In contrast, volunteering is low at 7.5%.
First Nations residents are typically much younger than the state average, with a typical age of 20. Their unemployment rate is also very low at 4.0%, well below the national figure.
Homes are larger and more crowded than usual, with an average of 3.1 people per dwelling. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 69.4% of families.
Large homes are the norm, as 92.2% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms. Most people own their home with a mortgage (63.2%), while only 12.1% own their home outright.
Cars are essential here; only 1.8% of homes have no motor vehicle, and 65.2% of workers commute by driving. Public transport use is low, with only 1.6% of people using it for commuting.
The area is highly transient, with 51.1% of residents having moved in the last five years, which is far above the national average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 13.6% of the population.
Employment is strong, with 69.8% of adults working or looking for work, which is well above the national figure. Those who are employed are often in health care, manufacturing, or construction.
The area is a significant economic hub with 2,310 businesses and population growth that is well above the state average. Its overall advantage score is around the middle for similar areas.
Annual rainfall is 810mm, which is well above the Victorian average. The area's average maximum temperature is slightly lower than most other regions.
The suburb is very walkable, with 84.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a 'city walkshed'. Residents have excellent access to parks, with 99.3% of homes within a short walk of one.