Werribee - West

The area is noticeably younger than the state and national figures, with 23.1% of people being children under 15. Seniors aged 65 and over are much fewer here than in most other areas, making up only 8.1% of the population.

People born overseas make up 35.4% of the community, a figure that rose 11 points since 2016 and is well above the national average. Indian ancestry is particularly prominent, representing 9.9% of the population.

Language diversity has increased rapidly, with 32.6% of people using a language other than English at home, which is far above the national figure. Punjabi and Hindi are the most common non-English languages spoken.

Religious affiliation is higher than in most areas; 40.1% of residents identify as Christian and 8.4% as Hindu. Those with no religion make up 32.6% of the community, which is well below the state and national levels.

Qualifications have risen sharply, with those holding a bachelor degree or higher increasing 11 points since 2016 to 25.8%. Year 12 completion is also higher than most areas at 61.1%.

Typical weekly personal income is $889, which is a little above the national figure. Household incomes have grown significantly since 2016, with typical weekly household income rising by $499 to $1,995.

Residents here are generally healthier than most, with a long-term health condition reported by 23.4% of people, which is well below the national average. Only 4.5% of people need help with daily activities.

Caring for children is a major part of local life, with 32.4% of people providing unpaid childcare, well above the national figure. However, volunteering is much lower than in most areas at 9.5%.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 1.7% of the population. This group is younger than the national average and has a much lower unemployment rate at 5.6%.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of families with children and a much lower rate of people living alone compared to the state.

The area is dominated by large separate houses, with 90.3% of homes being detached and 90.9% having three or more bedrooms. Very few residents own their homes outright, at only 19.0%.

Most people rely on cars, with 54.2% driving to work and 42.9% of homes having two vehicles. While 22.8% work from home, the walk to the nearest public transport stop is among the longest in the region.

The community is highly mobile, with 59.3% of people having moved in the last five years. This is far above the national average and is supported by a high rate of recent overseas arrivals at 17.7%.

Working or looking for work is much more common here than in most areas at 69.4%. Full-time employment is also well above the national figure, with 63.0% of the workforce in full-time roles.

The area is a significant business hub with 2,050 businesses and has seen massive population growth of 45.2% since 2021, far exceeding the state average.

The local climate is slightly cooler and drier than average, with an average maximum temperature of 20.1 degrees and annual rainfall of 526mm.

While almost everyone can walk to a park or school, the area is not very walkable for other needs. Only 23.5% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, far below the state average.