# Villawood

Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Greater Sydney › Canterbury-Bankstown › 2163, NSW

Area: 4 km²

A huge 61% of people in Villawood use a language other than English at home, making it one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the region. The community is noticeably younger than the national average, with a high proportion of children and few seniors. Many residents were born overseas, and this cultural diversity is reflected in a strong religious presence, particularly Islam and Christianity. It is a place where large families often share homes, which helps explain the high number of people per household.

## Demographics & Identity

Villawood is a young community where the typical resident is just 34, which is noticeably younger than the national figure. Children under 15 make up 20.4% of the population, while seniors aged 65 and over are well below state and national levels at 12.5%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 7,051 | +32.9% since 2011 |
| Median age | 34 yrs | -5.6% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 1.2% | -4.2% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 12.5% | -1.7% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 20.4% | +1.9% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 3.5% | +21.2% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 28.6%, Older adults (45–64) 23.4%, Children (0–14) 20.4%, Youth (15–24) 15.0%, Seniors (65+) 12.5%

**Marital status** — Married 40.2%, Never married 39.5%, Divorced 10.5%, Separated 5.2%, Widowed 4.9%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Nearly half of all residents (48.7%) were born overseas, a figure far above the national average. Vietnamese is the most common ancestry at 14.5%, followed by Australian and Chinese backgrounds.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 48.7% | +2.8% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 41.6%, Vietnam 12.7%, China 3.4%, New Zealand 2.0%, Philippines 0.8%, England 0.4%, India 0.4%, Nepal 0.3%, Italy 0.3%

**Ancestry** — Vietnamese 14.5%, Australian 11.9%, English 9.1%, Chinese 9.1%, Irish 1.5%, Filipino 1.1%, Scottish 1.0%, Italian 1.0%, Indian 0.9%, Greek 0.8%, German 0.7%, Dutch 0.1%

## Language

Language diversity is very high, with 61% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure, and 17% of the population speak little or no English, with Arabic and Vietnamese being the most common languages.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 61.0% | +1.0% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 17.0% | -7.5% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — Arabic 23.5%, English only 22.7%, Vietnamese 15.1%, Mandarin 3.4%, Cantonese 2.9%, Hindi 0.9%, Greek 0.5%, Italian 0.4%, Tagalog 0.4%, Punjabi 0.1%

## Religion

Religious affiliation is strong here, and the proportion of people with no religion (12.8%) is far below the national figure. Islam is the most common religion at 32.8%, followed by Christianity at 25.5%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 12.8% | +102.7% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Islam 32.8%, Christianity 25.5%, Not stated 16.7%, No religion 12.8%, Buddhism 10.5%, Hinduism 1.2%, Other religions 0.4%

## Education & Qualifications

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 11.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure, and Year 12 completion (43.8%) is also far below the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 43.8% | +26.7% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 11.5% | +79.2% since 2011 |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 2.09 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 51 | — |
| Average school size | 512 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 960 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 43.8%, Year 9 or below 18.8%, Year 10 13.5%, Year 11 4.0%

**Highest qualification level** — Bachelor degree 16.8%, Certificate III / IV 15.7%, Advanced diploma / diploma 12.3%, Postgraduate degree 5.5%, Certificate I / II 2.4%, Graduate diploma / certificate 1.1%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 13.9%, Engineering & related 9.0%, Society & culture 8.3%, Health 5.3%, Education 4.7%, Architecture & building 4.3%, Food, hospitality & personal services 3.5%, Information technology 3.1%, Natural & physical sciences 1.9%, Creative arts 1.8%, Agriculture & environment 0.5%

## Income

Incomes are much lower than in most areas, with a typical family earning $1,230 a week. Only 9.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state and national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $435 | +39.9% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $951 | +62.3% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,230 | +55.9% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 2.5% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 9.3% | — |

**Household income distribution** — Under $650 31.6%, $650–$1,499 30.0%, $1,500–$2,999 21.4%, $4,000 or more 4.8%, $3,000–$3,999 4.5%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 53.8%, $650–$1,499 21.4%, $1,500–$2,999 5.3%, $3,000 or more 0.7%

## Health & Disability

While the number of people with long-term health conditions is well below the national figure, 8.9% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the state and national averages.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 21.6% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 6.0% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 8.9% | +0.6% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Other condition 7.1%, Asthma 6.7%, Diabetes 6.4%, Arthritis 6.4%, Mental health 6.0%, Heart disease 3.2%, Lung condition 1.4%, Cancer 1.2%, Stroke 1.0%, Dementia 0.5%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 60.1%, One condition 13.9%, Two conditions 4.6%, Three or more 3.1%

## Community Participation

Participation in unpaid work is lower than usual, with only 5.4% of people volunteering. This is well below the national figure, and the number of people providing unpaid care is also a little below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 5.4% | -19.1% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 9.9% | -19.2% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 19.4% | -5.2% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 0.8% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 14.0% | -5.4% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people represent a small part of the population, but those who are present often speak a traditional language (10.7%), which is well above the state average. Typical personal income for this group is well below the national figure at $404.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 84 | — |
| First Nations median age | 29 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 21.5% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $404 | — |
| First Nations household income | $674 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 10.7% | — |

## Family & Households

Homes here are larger than usual, with 3.0 people per home. This is a little above the national figure, and the area has a very high proportion of one-parent families (23.7%) compared to the rest of the state.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 3.0 | +11.1% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 23.7% | -11.8% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 28.7% | -12.0% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 62.3%, One-parent families 23.7%, Couples without children 12.6%, Other families 1.6%

**Household size** — 1 person 28.7%, 2 people 21.6%, 3 people 15.1%, 4 people 14.1%, 6 or more 11.5%, 5 people 9.8%

## Housing & Dwellings

Renting is very common, with 57.8% of households renting, far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $210, which is far below the national average, though home-loan payments are a little above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $210 | +61.5% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $2,167 | +25.0% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 1.00 | -16.7% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 57.8% | +1.4% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 15.8% | -7.2% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 72.9% | -2.1% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 64.8% | +9.4% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Rented 57.8%, Owned with a mortgage 21.3%, Owned outright 15.8%, Not stated 2.9%, Other tenure 2.3%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 72.9%, Flat or apartment 17.8%, Townhouse / semi-detached 7.2%, Other dwelling 1.8%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 39.4%, 2 bedrooms 21.9%, 4 bedrooms 17.3%, 1 bedroom 8.4%, 5 or more 8.2%, Studio / none 1.8%

**Weekly rent distribution** — Under $200 43.8%, $350–$549 20.8%, $200–$349 19.9%, $550–$749 9.1%, $750 or more 0.9%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 41.8%, $1,000–$1,799 18.1%, $3,000 or more 17.1%, Under $1,000 15.7%

## Transport & Vehicles

Public transport access is excellent, with 99.6% of homes within a 10-minute walk of a stop. However, 17.6% of homes have no motor vehicle, a figure far above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 17.6% | -28.2% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 20.6% | +1062.9% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 3.1% | -73.9% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 84 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 11.91 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 2,278.0 | — |
| Public transport routes | 7 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 5 | — |
| Drive time to the city (min) | 25 | — |
| People reachable in 30 min by transit | 49,835 | — |
| People reachable in 45 min by transit | 223,082 | — |
| Transit time to the city (min) | 66 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 48.9%, Worked at home 20.6%, Car (passenger) 4.2%, Train 2.2%, Walked 1.3%, Bus 0.9%, Bicycle 0.3%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 1 vehicle 38.0%, 2 vehicles 28.1%, No vehicle 17.6%, 3 vehicles 10.6%, 4 or more 5.9%

## Migration & Movement

The community is relatively stable, with 29.5% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas (8.7%) are also well below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 29.5% | +22.3% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 8.7% | +29.3% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Job challenges are evident here, with an unemployment rate of 14.1%, which is well above the national figure. Only 31.4% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the state and national averages.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 14.1% | -9.0% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 31.4% | -9.7% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 48.7% | -20.8% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 13.3%, Manufacturing 11.6%, Transport & warehousing 8.9%, Construction 8.9%, Retail trade 8.7%, Education & training 6.7%, Accommodation & food 5.2%, Wholesale trade 4.1%, Public administration & safety 3.9%, Professional & technical 3.7%, Administrative & support 3.7%, Other services 3.4%, Finance & insurance 3.4%, Media & telecommunications 1.4%, Rental & real estate 1.4%, Arts & recreation 0.5%, Electricity, gas & water 0.3%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.3%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 17.1%, Machinery operators & drivers 14.3%, Labourers 13.3%, Clerical & administrative 12.7%, Technicians & trades 11.6%, Community & personal service 11.2%, Sales workers 8.4%, Managers 6.8%

## Walkability

The area is very walkable, and almost all homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park or a school. However, access to health services is very poor, with only 9.6% of homes within a 15-minute walk of such services.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 6.3 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 6.0 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 75.2% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 70.5% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 99.6% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 92.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 99.6% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 9.6% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 16.5 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 143 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 4.6% | — |

## Schools serving Villawood

51 schools, 25,612 students, average ICSEA 960.

By sector: Government 38, Catholic 8, Independent 5

By type: Primary 33, Secondary 10, Combined 8

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School | Catholic | Primary | 0.7 km | 226 |
| Villawood East Public School | Government | Primary | 0.8 km | 301 |
| Carramar Public School | Government | Primary | 1.1 km | 227 |
| Villawood North Public School | Government | Primary | 1.1 km | 250 |
| Bass High School | Government | Secondary | 1.7 km | 874 |
| Chester Hill High School | Government | Secondary | 1.8 km | 1,056 |
| Chester Hill Public School | Government | Primary | 1.9 km | 578 |
| Old Guildford Public School | Government | Primary | 1.9 km | 411 |
| Verona School | Government | Combined | 2.0 km | 89 |
| Rowland Hassall School | Government | Combined | 2.0 km | 63 |

## Nearby areas

[Lansdowne](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL12281/lansdowne) · [Fairfield East](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL11481/fairfield-east) · [Chester Hill](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL10898/chester-hill) · [Bass Hill](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL10224/bass-hill) · [Carramar](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL10825/carramar) · [Old Guildford](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL13088/old-guildford) · [Georges Hall](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL11605/georges-hall) · [Lansvale](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL12284/lansvale)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL14092/villawood