Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Fawkner
5 km²
A much younger community than most in its class, Fawkner is a diverse suburb of Greater Melbourne with a high proportion of families. It stands out for its strong migrant roots and a population that is noticeably younger than both the state and national averages. This is a place where large households and multi-generational living are common, blending a high rate of overseas births with a professional and well-qualified workforce. Its high walkability and accessibility to services make it a convenient hub for its 14,274 residents.
A family-heavy area that's short on schools per child.
42 schools within reach make Fawkner convenient for families.
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The typical resident is just 35, which is noticeably younger than the national figure of 38. This young profile is reflected in the high number of children under 15, who make up 21.2% of the population.
Born overseas, 45.2% of residents come from outside Australia, a figure far above the national average of 27.7%. Italian, Indian, and English are among the most common ancestries.
Cultural diversity is very high, with 58.1% of people using a language other than English at home. This far exceeds the national figure of 22.3%, and 9.5% of residents speak little or no English.
Religious life is prominent here, as the 15.1% of people with no religion is far below the national average of 38.9%. Christianity and Islam are the most common faiths.
Education levels are strong, with 27% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is much higher than most similar areas and sits about the same as the national average.
Incomes are generally lower than the national figures, with the typical personal weekly income of $592 falling well below the Australian average of $805.
A much higher proportion of people need help with daily activities (8.9%) compared to the national figure of 5.8%, though the rate of long-term health conditions is a little below the state average.
Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level, with only 8.2% of people volunteering, which is well below the national figure of 14.1%.
The First Nations population is small, but 18.9% speak a First Nations language, which is far above the state average of 5.2%.
Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 2.8 people per household. This is a little above the national average, and 65.9% of households consist of couples with children.
Separate houses are very common at 83.6%, far above the national average. Renting is also more common than in most similar areas, with 30.8% of households renting.
Public transport use is among the highest at this level, and the area is well-served by 78 stops. However, 10.4% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is a little above the national figure.
The area sees significant movement, with 18.3% of residents being recent arrivals from overseas, a figure well above the national average of 14.5%.
The unemployment rate of 7.9% is a little above the national figure of 5.1%. Those working or looking for work make up 54.4% of adults, which is well below the national average.
Fawkner is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.2. Every single home is within a 15-minute walk of a school and a park, and 100% are within 10 minutes of public transport.