State Electorate · Area profile
Canterbury
21 km²
Rapid growth has transformed Canterbury since 2011, with the population climbing 35% to reach 94,065 people. It is now a highly diverse hub where nearly half the residents were born overseas and a majority speak a language other than English at home. This shift is reflected in a more educated community and a surge in high-density living, with many residents choosing apartments over traditional houses. The area is an exceptionally walkable urban center where almost every home is within a short stroll of parks, shops and health services.
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The typical resident is 38 years old, and the community has aged slightly since 2011. While the number of children under 15 has fallen, the proportion of seniors aged 65 and over rose 6.3 points over the last decade.
Nearly half the population (47.6%) were born overseas, a figure that rose 19 points since 2011 and is far above the national average. The most common ancestries are Chinese, Greek and Australian.
Language diversity is very high, with 58.3% of people using a language other than English at home, up 33 points since 2011. About 14.4% of residents speak little or no English, which is far above the national figure.
Christianity is the most common faith at 48.6%. Those reporting no religion make up 25.4% of the community, which is far below the national average, though this group grew 13 points since 2011.
The area has seen a significant rise in qualifications, with those holding a bachelor degree or higher increasing 16 points since 2011 to 27.4%. Year 12 completion is also well above the national average at 64.9%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,731, which is about the same as the national figure. Personal incomes are a little below the state and national averages, with 42.8% of people earning under $650 a week.
While 6.3% of people need help with daily activities, the rate of long-term health conditions (21.1%) and mental health conditions (5.3%) is much lower than in most other areas.
Volunteer rates are among the lowest for similar areas at 8.1%, falling 3.9 points since 2011. There is also a lower proportion of people providing unpaid care or looking after children compared to the rest of the state.
Homes here are more crowded than usual, with 2.7 people per home. One-parent families make up 15.0% of the community, which is a little above the state average.
The housing mix has shifted away from separate houses, which fell 31 points since 2011 to 48.8%. Renting is much more common than in most areas (38.1%), and typical weekly rent is $420.
Working from home is very common here at 36.7%, well above the national average. Public transport use for commuting is also higher than usual, and 13.4% of homes have no motor vehicle.
Recent overseas arrivals make up 15.1% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure. Meanwhile, 36.7% of residents moved house in the last five years, a rate lower than most areas.
The number of adults working or looking for work (52.1%) is much lower than in most areas. Unemployment is a little above the state average at 5.9%, and full-time employment has fallen 17 points since 2011.
Canterbury is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.0. Almost every home (99.8%) is within a 15-minute walk of public transport, a school, and a park.