Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
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.
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 Chisholm (NSW), accounting for 86.1% (3,904 people). This share was lower than Maitland (C) (90.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 2,556 people, while its share fell by 5.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Chisholm (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Chisholm (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chisholm (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
English
Malayalam
Not stated
Punjabi
Korean
Mandarin
Shona
Spanish
Vietnamese
Tagalog
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,556
-5.9pp
Malayalam
+177
+3.6pp
Not stated
+56
-0.4pp
Punjabi
+41
+0.4pp
Mandarin
+12
-0.2pp
Tagalog
+15
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
+8
-0.1pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Chisholm (NSW). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,904 | 86.1% | 90.6% | 1,348 | 92.0% | 91.0% | +2,556 | -5.9pp |
| Malayalam | 185 | 4.1% | 0.4% | 8 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +177 | +3.6pp |
| Not stated | 91 | 2.0% | 3.9% | 35 | 2.4% | 5.0% | +56 | -0.4pp |
| Punjabi | 53 | 1.2% | 0.4% | 12 | 0.8% | 0.2% | +41 | +0.4pp |
| Korean | 43 | 0.9% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Mandarin | 22 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 10 | 0.7% | 0.2% | +12 | -0.2pp |
| Shona | 21 | 0.5% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Spanish | 20 | 0.4% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.2% | - | - |
| Vietnamese | 20 | 0.4% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Tagalog | 18 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +15 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 4,533 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,465 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,068 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.