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 Thornton (NSW), accounting for 91.3% (9,733 people). This share was higher than Maitland (C) (90.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 2,191 people, while its share fell by 2.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Thornton (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Thornton (NSW) 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 Thornton (NSW), with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
English
2021 count
9,733
% of total
91.3%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
9,733
91.3%
-2.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
287
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
287
2.7%
-0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
62
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
62
0.6%
+0.5pp
Mandarin
2021 count
54
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
54
0.5%
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
2021 count
50
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
50
0.5%
+0.2pp
Urdu
2021 count
31
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
31
0.3%
+0.2pp
Tagalog
2021 count
27
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
27
0.3%
0.0pp
Nepali
2021 count
26
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
26
0.2%
-
Hindi
2021 count
24
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-
24
0.2%
-
Filipino
2021 count
21
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
21
0.2%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+2,191
-2.4pp
Not stated
+60
-0.1pp
Punjabi
+51
+0.5pp
Mandarin
+27
+0.2pp
Afrikaans
+28
+0.2pp
Urdu
+21
+0.2pp
Tagalog
+2
0.0pp
Filipino
+13
+0.1pp
Cantonese
+6
0.0pp
Italian
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Thornton (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 | 9,733 | 91.3% | 90.6% | 7,542 | 93.7% | 91.0% | +2,191 | -2.4pp |
| Not stated | 287 | 2.7% | 3.9% | 227 | 2.8% | 5.0% | +60 | -0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 62 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 11 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +51 | +0.5pp |
| Mandarin | 54 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 27 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Afrikaans | 50 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 22 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +28 | +0.2pp |
| Urdu | 31 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 10 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +21 | +0.2pp |
| Tagalog | 27 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 25 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Nepali | 26 | 0.2% | 0.1% | - | - | 0.0% | - | - |
| Hindi | 24 | 0.2% | 0.2% | - | - | 0.1% | - | - |
| Filipino | 21 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 8 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 10,660 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,049 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,611 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.