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 Melton (C), accounting for 54.4% (97,261 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (61.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 14,274 people, while its share fell by 6.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Melton (C) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Melton (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melton (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
English
2021 count
97,261
% of total
54.4%
Change from 2016
-6.9pp
97,261
54.4%
-6.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
11,977
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
11,977
6.7%
+0.1pp
Punjabi
2021 count
10,639
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
10,639
5.9%
+4.0pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
4,557
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
4,557
2.5%
+0.5pp
Arabic
2021 count
3,668
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3,668
2.0%
+0.2pp
Hindi
2021 count
3,490
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
3,490
2.0%
+0.6pp
Tagalog
2021 count
2,997
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
2,997
1.7%
+0.2pp
Macedonian
2021 count
2,691
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
2,691
1.5%
-0.2pp
Urdu
2021 count
2,499
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
2,499
1.4%
+0.7pp
Maltese
2021 count
2,316
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,316
1.3%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+14,274
-6.9pp
Not stated
+3,103
+0.1pp
Punjabi
+8,026
+4.0pp
Vietnamese
+1,825
+0.5pp
Arabic
+1,183
+0.2pp
Hindi
+1,572
+0.6pp
Tagalog
+917
+0.2pp
Macedonian
+375
-0.2pp
Urdu
+1,544
+0.7pp
Maltese
-216
-0.6pp
Data table
Language used at home for Melton (C). Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| English | 97,261 | 54.4% | 61.1% | 82,987 | 61.3% | 62.0% | +14,274 | -6.9pp |
| Not stated | 11,977 | 6.7% | 4.8% | 8,874 | 6.6% | 5.6% | +3,103 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 10,639 | 5.9% | 2.0% | 2,613 | 1.9% | 1.2% | +8,026 | +4.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 4,557 | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2,732 | 2.0% | 2.3% | +1,825 | +0.5pp |
| Arabic | 3,668 | 2.0% | 1.8% | 2,485 | 1.8% | 1.7% | +1,183 | +0.2pp |
| Hindi | 3,490 | 2.0% | 1.3% | 1,918 | 1.4% | 1.1% | +1,572 | +0.6pp |
| Tagalog | 2,997 | 1.7% | 0.5% | 2,080 | 1.5% | 0.5% | +917 | +0.2pp |
| Macedonian | 2,691 | 1.5% | 0.6% | 2,316 | 1.7% | 0.6% | +375 | -0.2pp |
| Urdu | 2,499 | 1.4% | 0.7% | 955 | 0.7% | 0.5% | +1,544 | +0.7pp |
| Maltese | 2,316 | 1.3% | 0.3% | 2,532 | 1.9% | 0.4% | -216 | -0.6pp |
| Total | 178,940 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 135,409 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +43,531 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.