Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Melton West
9 km²
A significantly younger population sets Melton West apart from the rest of the state, with the typical resident being just 36. This is a community of large families, where children under 15 make up 21.1% of the population. The area is dominated by spacious detached housing and a diverse mix of residents, many of whom were born overseas. It is a family-oriented suburb where home life often centres around children and larger households.
20 schools within reach make Melton West convenient for families.
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The area is much younger than most, with a typical resident aged 36 and a high proportion of children under 15 at 21.1%. This is well above the state figure of 18.0% and helps explain why households here are larger than average.
Born overseas, 26.5% of residents bring a diverse heritage to the area, which is much higher than most similar places. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, while India is the most frequent overseas birthplace.
Language diversity is high, with 21.8% of people using a language other than English at home. This is much higher than in most similar areas, though it remains well below the Victorian average of 27.6%.
Religious affiliation is more common here than in other areas; the proportion of people with no religion is 35.5%, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the most common faith at 45.6%.
Education levels are much lower than the state and national averages, with only 11.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 46.5% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state figure of 61.8%.
Incomes are generally low, with a typical family earning $1,658 a week, well below the state's $2,136. Only 4.8% of people earn $2,000 or more weekly, which is well below the national figure of 12.5%.
Health challenges are more prevalent here, as 31.7% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure of 27.7%, and the rate of people needing help with daily activities is also much higher than most areas.
Unpaid care is common, with 28.3% of people caring for children, which is higher than the national average. However, formal volunteering is very low at 8.3%, among the lowest for its level.
First Nations residents are typically younger than the state and national average at 21 years. This group faces higher unemployment at 13.2% and lower Year 12 completion rates of 31.3%.
Homes are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per home and a high rate of one-parent families at 21.2%. This is well above the national figure of 14.1%, while people living alone are much rarer than in other areas.
The suburb is almost entirely made up of separate houses, with 93.7% of homes being detached. Three-bedroom homes or larger are very common, far above the state average, though home ownership is a little below the national figure.
Most people rely on cars, with 61.3% driving to work and very few using public transport for their commute. While there are many bus stops and routes, the walk to the nearest stop is longer than in most areas.
Movement into the area is steady, with 33.4% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 8.1% of the population, which is well below the state average of 15.6%.
The local unemployment rate of 7.4% is a little above the national figure of 5.1%. Those who are working are most often employed in retail trade, construction, and health services.
While almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park or school, the area is poorly served for daily needs. Only 16.1% of homes are within a short walk of groceries, far below the state average of 74.0%.