St Albans - North

The population has grown by 9.0% since 2011 to reach 20,581 people. Residents are slightly younger than the national average, with a typical age of 36, and there are fewer children and people in de facto relationships than in most similar areas.

Born overseas, 58.1% of residents come from abroad, a figure far above the national average of 27.7%. Vietnamese ancestry is the most common at 22.5%, followed by English, Australian, Chinese, and Indian heritage.

Language diversity is very high, with 66.9% of people using a language other than English at home, far above the national figure of 22.3%. Vietnamese is the most common non-English language, and 18.5% of residents speak little or no English.

Religious affiliation is much higher here than in most areas, with only 19.7% of people reporting no religion, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the most common faith at 42.7%, followed by Buddhism at 13.4%.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 16.5% of the population, which is well below the national average of 26.3%. However, Year 12 completion has risen by 9.7 pts since 2011 to reach 53.1%.

Financial hardship is common, with the typical weekly household income of $1,183 falling well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 9.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

People needing help with daily activities are more common here at 8.3% than in most areas. Conversely, the rates of mental health conditions (5.7%) and long-term health conditions (22.8%) are well below the national average.

Community participation is low, with only 5.7% of people volunteering, which is well below the national average. Rates of unpaid childcare and housework are also well below those seen in most similar areas.

First Nations people make up 0.3% of the population. Notably, 13.2% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the national average, and the unemployment rate for this group is 0.0%.

Household sizes are higher than most areas, with 2.7 people per home. One-parent families are very common at 22.5%, which is well above the national average of 14.1%.

Renting is much more common here than in most areas, with 37.7% of households renting. While 70.3% live in separate houses, the typical weekly rent of $330 is lower than the national figure.

Public transport use is much higher than in most areas, and 10.5% of homes have no car, which is well above the national figure. 11.8% of people work from home, a figure that has risen sharply since 2011.

Recent overseas arrivals make up 18.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 14.5%. However, the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is lower than in most areas.

Job security is a challenge, with an unemployment rate of 10.7%, which is well above the national average of 5.1%. Only 48.8% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the national figure of 61.1%.

The area ranks as one of the most disadvantaged in the region, with an overall advantage score of 863. This is reflected in very low rankings for access to money, resources, and job skills.

The area receives an average annual rainfall of 570mm, which is a little above the state average. Maximum temperatures are about the same as the state average, while minimums are slightly higher.

The neighbourhood is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks, and schools. Most residents (95.6%) can also reach groceries on foot within 15 minutes.