State Electorate · Area profile
Northcote (Northern Metropolitan)
21 km²
A staggering 50.2% of adults in Northcote hold a bachelor degree or higher, making it one of the most highly qualified areas in the region. This professional character is reflected in high typical incomes and a workforce heavily concentrated in professional and managerial roles. The community is generally younger than the national average, with a notable number of people in de facto relationships and a high proportion of residents living alone. It is a densely populated urban hub where high education and earnings align with a strong preference for walking and public transport.
Northcote (Northern Metropolitan)'s schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The typical resident is 37, a little younger than the national figure. While the population grew by 3.8% since 2016, there are fewer children and seniors here than in most similar areas, and 18.6% of people are in de facto relationships, which is well above the state average.
About 25.2% of residents were born overseas, a figure a little below the national average and slightly lower than in 2016. English, Australian, Irish, Scottish, and Italian are the most common ancestries.
Higher than most areas, 22.0% of people use a language other than English at home, though this fell 3.5 points since 2016. Greek is the most common non-English language spoken.
A large majority of the community—57.6%—report no religion, a figure far above the national average that has risen 11 points since 2016.
Education levels are exceptionally high, with 77.5% of adults completing Year 12 and over half holding a university degree. This is far above the national average and has continued to rise since 2016.
Typical weekly family income is $2,930, which is well above the national figure of $2,120. This wealth is evident in the 32.7% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, a significant increase of 12 points since 2016.
Mental health conditions are reported by 12.5% of residents, which is well above the national average. Other health trends, such as the need for help with daily activities, remain around the middle for similar areas.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 16.6% of people participating. Unpaid care for children and housework is less common than the state average, though 13.4% of people provide some form of unpaid care.
Homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.3 people per household. This is consistent with the fact that 32.3% of people live alone, a rate well above the national average.
Renters make up 39.2% of the market, far above the state average, and typical weekly rents are higher than usual at $411. Detached houses are much less common here than across Australia, with only 49.6% of dwellings being separate houses.
Working from home is very common, with 43.7% of the workforce doing so—far above the national figure. This is reflected in the 13.1% of homes that have no motor vehicle, among the highest for its level.
The area is quite mobile, with 42.8% of people having moved house in the last five years. However, the proportion of recent overseas arrivals fell 6.7 points since 2016 to 10.5%.
Northcote has a very active workforce, with 71.5% of adults working or looking for work, well above the national figure. Unemployment is lower than most areas at 4.3%.
Described as a walker's paradise, every single home is within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks, and groceries. Its walkability score of 8.8 is well above the state average.