Pakenham

The community is noticeably younger than the state and national average, with children under 15 making up 24.1% of the population. Seniors aged 65 and over are much less common here, at 11.9%, compared to the national figure of 17.2%.

People born overseas make up 28.0% of the population, which is much higher than most similar areas. The most common ancestries are English and Australian, though there is a significant Indian community.

Language diversity is high, with 23.2% of residents using a language other than English at home, which is much higher than in most areas. Punjabi is the most common non-English language spoken.

About 41.7% of residents report having no religion, a figure a little above the state and national averages. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 37.9%.

While more adults here hold a bachelor degree or higher than in most similar areas, this is still well below the national figure of 26.3%. Year 12 completion is also lower than the state and national averages.

Typical household income is about $1,664 a week, which is around the middle for its level. However, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week is well below the national average.

Mental health conditions are reported by 10.4% of the population, which is a little above the national figure of 8.8%. People needing help with daily activities are more common here than in most similar areas.

A very high 33.1% of residents provide unpaid childcare, which is well above the national average. In contrast, volunteering is much lower than in most areas, at 9.7%.

The First Nations community is among the largest at this level, with a typical age of 19, which is noticeably younger than the state and national figures.

Homes are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per household. There are also far more one-parent families here than in most other areas, at 17.3%.

Detached houses with three or more bedrooms are far more common than the state average. Renting is also much more frequent than in similar areas, while very few homes are owned outright.

Most people drive to work, though there are a high number of public transport stops. Only 3.6% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well below the national average.

The area has seen significant movement, with 46.7% of residents arriving in the last five years. This is well above the national average and is consistent with the high number of recent overseas arrivals.

More adults are working or looking for work compared to the national average. The local workforce is largely employed in health care, construction, and retail.

Almost all homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, but access to health services is far below the state average. The overall walkability score is 5.4, making it somewhat walkable.