Cultural diversity
Language used at home
About this topic
Language used at home shows which languages people speak in their home life and whether English or another language is used most often. It is a key indicator of cultural diversity and language retention within communities.
This topic is useful for planning communication, multicultural services, and local engagement. It should be analysed together with proficiency in English and birthplace, because language alone does not show migration history or support needs.
Interpretation notes
- The Census records the language used most often at home, so it does not capture every language a person can speak.
- Language used at home is not a measure of English proficiency, literacy, or migration history on its own.
Key insight
In 2021, Vietnamese was the most common language used at home among residents in St Albans (Vic.), accounting for 29.2% (11,102 people). This share was higher than Brimbank (C) (18.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Vietnamese, which increased by 1,678 people and 3.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
St Albans (Vic.) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for St Albans (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for St Albans (Vic.), with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Vietnamese
2021 count
11,102
% of total
29.2%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
11,102
29.2%
+3.9pp
English
2021 count
8,202
% of total
21.6%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
8,202
21.6%
-1.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,644
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
3,644
9.6%
+2.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
1,592
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,592
4.2%
-1.5pp
Maltese
2021 count
1,011
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
1,011
2.7%
-0.7pp
Cantonese
2021 count
906
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
906
2.4%
-0.1pp
Arabic
2021 count
801
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
801
2.1%
+0.2pp
Greek
2021 count
685
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
685
1.8%
-0.5pp
Croatian
2021 count
659
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
659
1.7%
-0.5pp
Macedonian
2021 count
637
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
637
1.7%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+1,678
+3.9pp
English
-251
-1.1pp
Not stated
+799
+2.0pp
Punjabi
-545
-1.5pp
Maltese
-269
-0.7pp
Cantonese
-14
-0.1pp
Arabic
+90
+0.2pp
Greek
-187
-0.5pp
Croatian
-180
-0.5pp
Macedonian
-70
-0.2pp
Data table
Language used at home for St Albans (Vic.). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnamese | 11,102 | 29.2% | 18.5% | 9,424 | 25.3% | 16.2% | +1,678 | +3.9pp |
| English | 8,202 | 21.6% | 36.3% | 8,453 | 22.7% | 35.7% | -251 | -1.1pp |
| Not stated | 3,644 | 9.6% | 6.4% | 2,845 | 7.6% | 5.9% | +799 | +2.0pp |
| Punjabi | 1,592 | 4.2% | 2.2% | 2,137 | 5.7% | 2.9% | -545 | -1.5pp |
| Maltese | 1,011 | 2.7% | 2.1% | 1,280 | 3.4% | 2.6% | -269 | -0.7pp |
| Cantonese | 906 | 2.4% | 2.1% | 920 | 2.5% | 2.1% | -14 | -0.1pp |
| Arabic | 801 | 2.1% | 2.2% | 711 | 1.9% | 2.2% | +90 | +0.2pp |
| Greek | 685 | 1.8% | 2.4% | 872 | 2.3% | 2.7% | -187 | -0.5pp |
| Croatian | 659 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 839 | 2.2% | 1.8% | -180 | -0.5pp |
| Macedonian | 637 | 1.7% | 2.2% | 707 | 1.9% | 2.4% | -70 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 38,001 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 37,301 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +700 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.