Urban Centre · Area profile
Garfield
2 km²
A mostly residential pocket of Greater Melbourne, Garfield is a family-focused area where large homes and young children are common. The typical resident is 38, which is 12 years younger than in 2011. This shift toward young families is seen in the high number of children under 15 and the rise in people caring for them. While the total population shrank significantly by 63% since 2011, the remaining community is largely Australian-born and lives in spacious, separate houses.
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The area has a high proportion of children under 15, at 21.8%, which is well above the national figure. This trend is mirrored by a much younger typical age of 38 and a rise in people living in de facto relationships.
Australia is the primary birthplace for 83.7% of residents. The proportion of people born overseas is 9.5%, which is far below the national figure of 27.7% and has fallen since 2011.
English is the dominant language, with 91.9% of people using it at home. Very few residents use another language, at just 1.9%, which is far below the state and national averages.
A large number of residents report having no religion, at 47.6%, which is well above the national figure. This figure has risen by 17 points since 2011.
While 43.2% of residents finished Year 12, this is far below the state average. People with a bachelor degree or higher make up 14.1% of the population, and many hold certificates in trades and engineering.
Typical weekly household income is $1,647, which is much higher than in most similar areas. This is consistent with a rise in the number of households earning over $3,000 a week since 2011.
The area has a lower number of people needing help with daily activities than most similar areas, at 4.4%. About 29.6% of residents live with a long-term health condition, most commonly asthma.
Caring for children is very common here, with 33.6% of people doing so unpaid, well above the national average. Volunteers make up 17.7% of the community, which is also well above the state figure.
Families tend to be larger here, with 2.8 people per home. This is much higher than most areas and is reflected in the high number of couples with children, who make up 64.8% of households.
The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 92.8% of homes. Most are large, with 83.1% having three or more bedrooms, and very few people rent compared to the state average.
Cars are essential here, as only 1.6% of homes have no vehicle. While 15.7% of people work from home, only 0.9% of the workforce uses public transport to get to their jobs.
Movement into the area has slowed, with the proportion of people who moved in the last five years falling by 11 points since 2011. No new overseas arrivals were recorded in the latest census.
More people are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, at 62.1%. The local workforce is heavily concentrated in construction, health care, and retail trade.
Residents are well-positioned for parks, schools, and groceries, all of which are within a 15-minute walk for most. However, no health services are located within a 15-minute walk.