ONE in three of Melbourne's residents today was born in another country. Almost as many speak a foreign language at home. Nearly one in five is of Asian ancestry, mostly Chinese or Indian.

You see it every day on the streets, but the 2011 census has confirmed that Melbourne has become a different city - different not only from what it used to be, but from the way the rest of Australia still is.

The census results show that more than just the ethnic make-up has changed. Migration has reinforced the city's traditional values, because the newcomers tend to be socially more conservative than those born here.

First, Melbourne has become much better educated: the census found 72 per cent of adult residents have completed year 11 at least, compared to just 60 per cent in the rest of Australia. The city has 18.6 per cent of Australia's population, yet almost a quarter of Australia's full-time university and TAFE students study here.