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 Rutherford, accounting for 89.9% (11,754 people). This share was lower than Maitland (C) (90.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 994 people, while its share fell by 0.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Rutherford - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Rutherford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rutherford, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
English
2021 count
11,754
% of total
89.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
11,754
89.9%
-0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
650
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
650
5.0%
-0.8pp
Punjabi
2021 count
61
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
61
0.5%
+0.4pp
Tagalog
2021 count
56
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
56
0.4%
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
38
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
38
0.3%
0.0pp
Spanish
2021 count
31
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
31
0.2%
0.0pp
Mandarin
2021 count
26
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
26
0.2%
0.0pp
Italian
2021 count
23
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
23
0.2%
+0.1pp
Hindi
2021 count
23
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
23
0.2%
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
23
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
23
0.2%
-
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+994
-0.6pp
Not stated
-37
-0.8pp
Punjabi
+47
+0.4pp
Tagalog
+30
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
+1
0.0pp
Spanish
+8
0.0pp
Mandarin
+2
0.0pp
Italian
+6
+0.1pp
Hindi
+6
+0.1pp
Malayalam
-9
-0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Rutherford. 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 | 11,754 | 89.9% | 90.6% | 10,760 | 90.5% | 91.0% | +994 | -0.6pp |
| Not stated | 650 | 5.0% | 3.9% | 687 | 5.8% | 5.0% | -37 | -0.8pp |
| Punjabi | 61 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 14 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +47 | +0.4pp |
| Tagalog | 56 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 26 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +30 | +0.2pp |
| Afrikaans | 38 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 37 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Spanish | 31 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 23 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Mandarin | 26 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 24 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Italian | 23 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 17 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Hindi | 23 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 17 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +6 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 23 | 0.2% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Total | 13,069 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,884 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,185 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.