State Electorate · Area profile
Preston (Northern Metropolitan)
25 km²
Much more diverse and better connected than most similar areas, Preston (Northern Metropolitan) is a high-density hub for migrants and young professionals. It is a place of high educational attainment, where a third of adults hold a university degree. The community is notably international, with a strong presence of people from Italy and Greece, and a high proportion of residents who speak a language other than English at home. This diversity, paired with a walkable urban layout, creates a distinct, cosmopolitan character in the northern suburbs.
Explore Preston (Northern Metropolitan) by topic
The typical resident is 37, which is a little younger than the national figure. While the population has grown slightly to 69,342, there are fewer children and seniors here than in most similar areas.
This is a highly international community where 34.9% of people were born overseas, a figure well above the national average. Italian, English, and Australian are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is far above the national level, with 38.4% of residents using another language at home. This is reflected in the local population, though the number of people who speak little or no English has fallen since 2016.
The number of people reporting no religion has risen nearly 10 points since 2016 to 38.1%, which is slightly lower than the Victorian average.
The area is well-qualified, with 32.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, well above the national figure. This is consistent with the high number of professionals working in the area.
Typical weekly household income is $1,623, which is about the same as the national figure. There has been a notable increase in the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week since 2016.
A higher number of people here need help with daily activities compared to most areas. Mental health conditions are also more common here than in the rest of the state.
Volunteering is much lower than in most similar areas, and fewer people spend time on unpaid housework or childcare. However, more people provide unpaid care overall.
The area has a high number of people living alone, at 30.6%, which is well above the national average. One-parent families are also more common here than in most other areas.
Renting is far more common here than in the rest of Victoria, with 39.1% of households renting. Homes are generally smaller, with far fewer three-bedroom properties than the national average.
Public transport is a major feature, with 442 stops serving the area and 12.2% of homes having no car. Working from home has also become very popular, rising sharply since 2016 to 30.1%.
The area attracts new residents, with 17.3% of the population arriving from overseas recently, which is a little above the national figure.
While the unemployment rate of 5.9% is higher than in most similar areas, the proportion of adults working or looking for work is about the same as the state average.
Described as a walker's paradise, every single home is within a 15-minute walk of public transport, a park, and groceries. This makes the area far more walkable than the Victorian average.