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 Point Cook, accounting for 44.2% (29,551 people). This share was higher than Wyndham (C) (44%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 4,035 people, while its share fell by 6.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Point Cook - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Point Cook in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wyndham (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Point Cook, with comparison markers for Wyndham (C).
English
2021 count
29,551
% of total
44.2%
Change from 2016
-6.9pp
29,551
44.2%
-6.9pp
Mandarin
2021 count
5,960
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
5,960
8.9%
+0.5pp
Hindi
2021 count
4,272
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
4,272
6.4%
+2.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,031
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3,031
4.5%
0.0pp
Punjabi
2021 count
1,992
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,992
3.0%
+1.4pp
Urdu
2021 count
1,437
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,437
2.2%
+1.3pp
Telugu
2021 count
1,322
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,322
2.0%
+0.8pp
Cantonese
2021 count
1,290
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,290
1.9%
-0.4pp
Tamil
2021 count
1,212
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
1,212
1.8%
+0.8pp
Gujarati
2021 count
1,061
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
1,061
1.6%
+0.5pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4,035
-6.9pp
Mandarin
+1,767
+0.5pp
Hindi
+2,098
+2.0pp
Not stated
+805
0.0pp
Punjabi
+1,206
+1.4pp
Urdu
+964
+1.3pp
Telugu
+733
+0.8pp
Cantonese
+139
-0.4pp
Tamil
+696
+0.8pp
Gujarati
+536
+0.5pp
Data table
Language used at home for Point Cook. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wyndham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wyndham (C)% | Count | % | Wyndham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 29,551 | 44.2% | 44.0% | 25,516 | 51.1% | 53.1% | +4,035 | -6.9pp |
| Mandarin | 5,960 | 8.9% | 3.6% | 4,193 | 8.4% | 3.4% | +1,767 | +0.5pp |
| Hindi | 4,272 | 6.4% | 4.8% | 2,174 | 4.4% | 3.5% | +2,098 | +2.0pp |
| Not stated | 3,031 | 4.5% | 6.2% | 2,226 | 4.5% | 5.8% | +805 | 0.0pp |
| Punjabi | 1,992 | 3.0% | 7.1% | 786 | 1.6% | 3.6% | +1,206 | +1.4pp |
| Urdu | 1,437 | 2.2% | 2.9% | 473 | 0.9% | 1.7% | +964 | +1.3pp |
| Telugu | 1,322 | 2.0% | 2.5% | 589 | 1.2% | 1.3% | +733 | +0.8pp |
| Cantonese | 1,290 | 1.9% | 0.9% | 1,151 | 2.3% | 1.0% | +139 | -0.4pp |
| Tamil | 1,212 | 1.8% | 1.5% | 516 | 1.0% | 0.9% | +696 | +0.8pp |
| Gujarati | 1,061 | 1.6% | 2.4% | 525 | 1.1% | 1.5% | +536 | +0.5pp |
| Total | 66,821 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 49,915 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +16,906 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.