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, English was the most common language used at home among residents in Sandhurst, accounting for 79.5% (4,134 people). This share was lower than Frankston (C) (83.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 252 people and 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Sandhurst - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Sandhurst in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Frankston (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sandhurst, with comparison markers for Frankston (C).
English
2021 count
4,134
% of total
79.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
4,134
79.5%
+1.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
132
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
132
2.5%
-1.2pp
Mandarin
2021 count
96
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
96
1.8%
-0.4pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
84
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
84
1.6%
-0.4pp
Greek
2021 count
79
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
79
1.5%
+0.2pp
Punjabi
2021 count
46
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
46
0.9%
+0.6pp
Spanish
2021 count
44
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
44
0.8%
+0.1pp
Hindi
2021 count
40
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
40
0.8%
-0.2pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
33
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
33
0.6%
+0.4pp
Tamil
2021 count
30
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
30
0.6%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+252
+1.4pp
Not stated
-53
-1.2pp
Mandarin
-14
-0.4pp
Afrikaans
-14
-0.4pp
Greek
+16
+0.2pp
Punjabi
+29
+0.6pp
Spanish
+7
+0.1pp
Hindi
-8
-0.2pp
Vietnamese
+23
+0.4pp
Tamil
-13
-0.3pp
Data table
Language used at home for Sandhurst. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Frankston (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Frankston (C)% | Count | % | Frankston (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 4,134 | 79.5% | 83.6% | 3,882 | 78.1% | 82.5% | +252 | +1.4pp |
| Not stated | 132 | 2.5% | 5.1% | 185 | 3.7% | 6.2% | -53 | -1.2pp |
| Mandarin | 96 | 1.8% | 1.0% | 110 | 2.2% | 0.8% | -14 | -0.4pp |
| Afrikaans | 84 | 1.6% | 0.2% | 98 | 2.0% | 0.2% | -14 | -0.4pp |
| Greek | 79 | 1.5% | 0.9% | 63 | 1.3% | 0.9% | +16 | +0.2pp |
| Punjabi | 46 | 0.9% | 0.3% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +29 | +0.6pp |
| Spanish | 44 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 37 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +7 | +0.1pp |
| Hindi | 40 | 0.8% | 0.3% | 48 | 1.0% | 0.4% | -8 | -0.2pp |
| Vietnamese | 33 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 10 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +23 | +0.4pp |
| Tamil | 30 | 0.6% | 0.2% | 43 | 0.9% | 0.3% | -13 | -0.3pp |
| Total | 5,200 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,972 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +228 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.