Footscray

The area is much younger than most, with a typical age of 34 and very few children or seniors compared to the state. While the population grew by 3,928 people since 2011, there has been a sharp rise in people living in de facto relationships, now at 18.9%.

Cultural diversity is a defining feature, with 41.6% of people born overseas, which is far above the national figure. Vietnamese and Chinese ancestries are prominent, and Vietnam is the most common country of birth outside Australia at 8.5%.

Nearly 40% of residents use a language other than English at home, a figure far above the Australian average. Vietnamese is the most common non-English language, though the proportion of people speaking little or no English has fallen slightly since 2016.

A significant 47.8% of residents report having no religion, which is well above the national figure and has risen by 22 points since 2011. Other notable groups include Buddhists at 8.2% and Hindus at 4.7%.

The community is highly qualified, with 43.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the state average. Since 2011, the proportion of people completing Year 12 has risen by 12 points to 72.9%.

Typical weekly personal incomes are a little above the national figure at $916. While the typical family income is higher than in most areas, a significant 34.1% of individuals still earn under $650 a week.

Mental health conditions are reported by 12.9% of residents, which is well above the national average. Additionally, 6.4% of people need help with daily activities, a figure slightly higher than in most areas.

Participation in unpaid care and housework is among the lowest for its level, which is consistent with the area's young, working-age population. Volunteers make up 11.7% of the community, slightly lower than the state average.

The First Nations community here is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical age of 29. It also shows strong educational outcomes, with Year 12 completion at 59.4%, far above the national figure.

Homes are generally small, with just 2.1 people per household, and 37.6% of people live alone. This high rate of single-person living is far above the state and national averages.

Rental properties dominate the market at 55.9%, far above the national average. Apartments are the most common dwelling type (52.3%), and very few residents own their homes outright.

The area is a transit hub where 21.3% of homes have no car, far above the state average. Working from home has exploded, rising from 2.7% in 2011 to 36.2% in 2021.

The population is highly mobile, with 55.2% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 23.4% of the community, though this is 13 points lower than in 2011.

More adults are working or looking for work (68.7%) than in most other areas. While the unemployment rate is a little above the national figure at 6.6%, full-time employment remains strong at 60%.

The area is a major economic centre with 2,459 businesses and has seen population growth of 19.9% since 2021, far exceeding the state average.

The local climate sees an average annual rainfall of 623mm, which is a little above the Victorian average. Minimum temperatures are generally warmer than the state figure.

Footscray is a walker's paradise, with every single home within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks, schools, and groceries. Its walkability score of 9.4 is well above the state average.