State Electorate · Area profile
Macquarie Fields
93 km²
Large family homes and a youthful energy define Macquarie Fields, where the typical resident is just 34. The community has grown rapidly, adding about 36,717 people since 2011. It is a diverse area with a high proportion of overseas-born residents and a strong presence of young children. This combination creates a residential character focused on family life, with many households managing larger homes and higher-than-average mortgage payments.
Macquarie Fields has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
Families are well catered for: 38 schools serve Macquarie Fields.
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The population is noticeably younger than the state and national figures, with 23% of residents being children under 15. This youthfulness is reflected in the age structure, as young adults aged 25 to 44 make up the largest group at 31.4%.
Born overseas, 41.9% of residents come from outside Australia, a figure far above the national average. This diversity has grown significantly, rising 34 points since 2011, with many residents tracing their ancestry to India, England, and China.
Language diversity is very high, as 46.2% of people use a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure, and the number of people speaking another language has risen 43 points since 2011.
Religious affiliation is common here, as the 17.6% who report no religion is far below the national average. Christianity is the most common faith at 44.7%, followed by Islam at 15.2% and Hinduism at 10.9%.
Educational attainment has risen, with 62.3% of residents completing Year 12 and 26.4% holding a bachelor degree or higher. The workforce is well-qualified, with many people working in management, commerce, and engineering.
Typical weekly household income is $1,928, which is a little above the national figure. While 22.9% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, the number of high earners making over $2,000 weekly is well below the state average.
Residents generally report better health than the national average, with much lower rates of long-term health conditions (23.4%) and mental health conditions (5.9%).
Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 29.8% of people caring for children, which is well above the national figure. However, volunteering is quite low at 8.5%, falling 6.7 points since 2011.
Homes are typically larger than average, with 3.1 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children (68.2%) and the fact that very few people live alone.
Large houses are the norm, with 85.4% of homes having three or more bedrooms. While 79.7% are separate houses, typical monthly mortgage payments of $2,184 are much higher than in most other areas.
Working from home is very common at 28.8%, which is well above the national figure. Most people use cars, but public transport use for commuting is a little above the national average.
The area is seeing significant movement, with 43.1% of residents having moved house in the last five years. This is higher than most other areas, though the proportion of recent overseas arrivals has fallen slightly.
The unemployment rate is 6.0%, which is much higher than in most similar areas. Local jobs are concentrated in health care and social assistance, retail, and transport.
Most homes are within a short walk of public transport, parks, and schools. However, the area is far below the state average for access to health services and groceries within a 15-minute walk.