Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Melton
10 km²
A typical family income of $1,303 a week marks Melton as one of the lowest-earning areas in its class. It is a diverse community where a quarter of residents were born overseas and many speak a language other than English at home. The area is notably home to many seniors and one-parent families, contributing to a profile where health challenges and financial pressures are more common than the national average. Despite these struggles, most people live in separate houses with ample space.
The area's schools rate above its broader socio-economic standing.
Families are well catered for: 23 schools serve Melton.
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The population is a little older than the national figure, with 20.1% being seniors—a rate well above the Victorian average. It also has a higher than usual number of children under 15, at 18.8%.
More than a quarter of residents were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, each representing about 29% of the community.
About 22.5% of people use a language other than English at home, a figure higher than most similar areas. This is accompanied by a much higher rate of people who speak little or no English, at 4.3%.
Religious affiliation is more common here than in most areas, with 35.5% of people reporting no religion, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%.
Education levels are far below the state and national averages, with only 9.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 39.7% completing Year 12.
Incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with the typical personal weekly income being $538. Only 6.4% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, far below the 22.7% seen across Victoria.
Health challenges are very prevalent here, with 36.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. This includes 13.1% with a mental health condition, both of which are well above national figures.
While a higher than usual 14.7% of people provide unpaid care, volunteering is very low at 7.7%, which is well below the national average of 14.1%.
The First Nations community is younger than average, with a typical age of 22. However, they face significant hardship, with a 20.3% unemployment rate and household incomes well below the state average.
One-parent families are far more common here than across the country, at 24.4%. Conversely, 33.1% of people live alone, which is well above the Victorian average.
Most residents live in separate houses, and 84.2% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Typical weekly rent is $300, which is lower than both the state and national figures.
The area is well served by public transport with many stops, though only 1.8% of people use it to commute. About 9.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is higher than most areas.
The community is relatively stable, with 33.8% of people moving in the last five years, a figure well below the national average of 40.7%.
Unemployment is well above the national average at 9.6%. Furthermore, only 45.6% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the state figure of 62.4%.
Melton ranks among the lowest for overall advantage, with a score of 843. Population growth since 2021 has also been very slow at 0.5%, well below the state's 8.0%.
The area experiences a local climate with an average maximum temperature of 20.0 degrees and annual rainfall of 508mm.
The area is very walkable, with 93.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries—far above the state average of 74.0%. Most residents can also easily reach parks and public transport on foot.