Cardinia

Cardinia is much younger than the state and national average, with a typical age of 34 and a high proportion of children under 15 at 22.6%. Conversely, seniors aged 65 and over make up only 12.6%, which is well below the national figure.

While 71.6% of residents were born in Australia, the share of people born overseas has risen to 23.5% since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Irish, Scottish, and Indian.

Language diversity is increasing, with 17.8% of people using a language other than English at home, up 11 points since 2011. English remains the primary tongue for 77.1% of the community, while Punjabi is the most common second language.

A high number of residents report no religion at 44.3%, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen 14 points since 2011. Christianity remains the next most common affiliation at 38.3%.

The area has seen a steady rise in qualifications, with those holding a bachelor degree or higher increasing to 19.1% since 2011. Year 12 completion has also risen significantly to 54.8%, though this remains well below the Victorian average.

Typical personal weekly income is $830, which is slightly above the national figure. Household incomes have climbed steadily, with the typical weekly family income rising by $618 since 2011 to reach $2,097.

Residents are slightly less likely to need help with daily activities (4.8%) compared to the state average. About 27.4% of people live with a long-term health condition, a rate consistent with the rest of Australia.

Unpaid childcare is very common here, with 32.6% of people caring for children—well above the national average. However, volunteering has fallen to 11.8%, which is much lower than in most similar areas.

The First Nations community is notably young, with a typical age of 20. This group also shows a lower unemployment rate (7.6%) and higher personal income compared to national figures.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per household and a very low 19.4% of people living alone. This reflects a strong prevalence of families, with 64% of households being couples with children.

The area is dominated by detached houses (91.1%) and large homes, with 88% having three or more bedrooms. While 50.1% of homes have a mortgage, only 23.5% are owned outright, which is well below the national average.

Car reliance is high, with 59.8% of people driving to work and only 1.5% using public transport. This is consistent with the fact that only 2.6% of homes have no motor vehicle.

Cardinia is a high-growth area where 45.5% of residents have moved house in the last five years, a rate well above the national average.

More adults are working or looking for work (67.1%) than in most similar areas. The workforce is concentrated in construction (13.8%) and health care and social assistance (13.4%).

Growth remains strong, with the population increasing by 11.6% since 2021, a rate that is well above the Victorian average.

The area receives a high amount of rainfall, averaging 963mm annually, which is far above the state average. Temperatures are generally moderate, with a typical maximum of 20.2 degrees.

Walkability is limited, with a score of 4.7 and far fewer amenities within a 15-minute walk than the state average. This is most evident in health services, which are within reach for only 37.2% of homes.