CensusAtlas

Compare

Bells Beach vs Freshwater Creek

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 11 km apart · Bells Beach profile · Freshwater Creek profile

Bells Beach Freshwater Creek

Freshwater Creek and Bells Beach are two nearby Victorian areas with contrasting profiles. Bells Beach has a much more affluent and highly educated population, where 41.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher and typical weekly incomes are $1,114. Rent is also far higher in Bells Beach, with a typical price of $525 compared to $300 in Freshwater Creek. Residents in Bells Beach are more likely to have no religion (65.6%) and are slightly older, with a typical age of 48.

Everyday life is similar in both places, as they share the same average household size of 2.9 people and almost identical rates of working from home. Both areas are very car-dependent, with no one commuting by public transport. While Freshwater Creek has seen more people move in over the last five years, both areas maintain a similar proportion of children under 15, which sits around 17%.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Population: 303 larger in Freshwater Creek No religion: 20.2 pts higher in Bells Beach Limited English: 1.1 pts higher in Freshwater Creek No car: 3.3 pts higher in Freshwater Creek Year 12: 16.2 pts higher in Bells Beach

Demographics & Identity

Population in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +303 larger in Freshwater Creek gap steady
151 48th pct 454 63rd pct
Median age in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +3 yrs older in Bells Beach gap widening
48 yrs 62nd pct 45 yrs 50th pct
First Nations in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Aged 65+ in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +3.4 pts higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
25.8% 77th pct 22.5% 66th pct
Under 15 in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +0.2 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap narrowing
17.2% 51st pct 17.4% 52nd pct
De facto in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +3.7 pts higher in Bells Beach gap widening
13.2% 58th pct 9.5% 29th pct

Age structure

29.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.7 pts 28.4%
25.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.4 pts 22.5%
19.2% Young adults (25–44) +0.4 pts ▸ 19.6%
17.2% Children (0–14) +0.2 pts ▸ 17.4%
7.9% Youth (15–24) +4.4 pts ▸ 12.3%

Marital status

50.0% Married +4.3 pts ▸ 54.3%
36.7% Never married ◂ +6.7 pts 30.1%
5.5% Divorced +2.5 pts ▸ 8.0%
3.1% Widowed +1.9 pts ▸ 5.1%
0.0% Separated +2.9 pts ▸ 2.9%

Age & sex structure

Bells Beach Freshwater Creek

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +5.1 pts higher in Bells Beach gap widening
15.2% 65th pct 10.1% 44th pct

Country of birth

78.8% Australia +6.9 pts ▸ 85.7%
6.6% England ◂ +3.3 pts 3.3%
0.0% New Zealand +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.0% India even 0.0%
0.0% China even 0.0%
0.0% Philippines even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%
0.0% Nepal even 0.0%
0.0% Italy even 0.0%
0.0% South Africa even 0.0%

Ancestry

45.0% Australian ◂ +3.4 pts 41.6%
35.1% English +7.4 pts ▸ 42.5%
18.5% Irish ◂ +5.1 pts 13.4%
15.2% Scottish +0.8 pts ▸ 16.1%
6.0% Dutch ◂ +4.9 pts 1.1%
0.0% German +5.7 pts ▸ 5.7%
4.0% Italian ◂ +0.9 pts 3.1%
0.0% Greek +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Chinese even 0.0%
0.0% Indian even 0.0%
0.0% Filipino even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +4.2 pts higher in Bells Beach gap widening
6.6% 68th pct 2.4% 42nd pct
Limited English in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +1.1 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap widening
0.0% 0th pct 1.1% 77th pct

Language used at home

88.1% English only +3.8 pts ▸ 91.9%
0.0% Mandarin even 0.0%
0.0% Arabic even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%
0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%
0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Italian even 0.0%
0.0% Hindi even 0.0%
0.0% Tagalog even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +20.2 pts higher in Bells Beach gap widening
65.6% 100th pct 45.4% 66th pct

Religious affiliation

65.6% No religion ◂ +20.2 pts 45.4%
22.5% Christianity +23.1 pts ▸ 45.6%
6.0% Not stated +1.5 pts ▸ 7.5%
0.0% Buddhism +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Other religions +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Islam even 0.0%
0.0% Hinduism even 0.0%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +16.2 pts higher in Bells Beach gap steady
79.0% 98th pct 62.8% 84th pct
Bachelor+ in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +13.2 pts higher in Bells Beach gap widening
41.4% 94th pct 28.2% 83rd pct
Schools/1k kids in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek
— 12.66 79th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +5 more in Freshwater Creek
1 43rd pct 6 74th pct
Avg size in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +129 larger in Bells Beach
492 71st pct 363 55th pct
ICSEA in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +30 higher in Bells Beach
1,119 95th pct 1,089 89th pct

Highest year of school

79.0% Year 12 ◂ +16.2 pts 62.8%
11.8% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 11.6%
0.0% Year 10 +11.1 pts ▸ 11.1%
0.0% Year 9 or below +7.7 pts ▸ 7.7%

Highest qualification level

42.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +13.1 pts 29.1%
15.5% Certificate III / IV +8.2 pts ▸ 23.6%
16.5% Advanced diploma / diploma even 16.5%
4.1% Postgraduate degree +4.5 pts ▸ 8.7%
8.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +4.3 pts 3.9%
0.0% Certificate I / II even 0.0%

Field of qualification

19.6% Society & culture ◂ +11.3 pts 8.3%
16.5% Education ◂ +3.1 pts 13.4%
6.2% Health +7.6 pts ▸ 13.8%
9.3% Engineering & related +2.5 pts ▸ 11.8%
3.1% Management & commerce +7.5 pts ▸ 10.6%
5.2% Architecture & building +4.7 pts ▸ 9.8%
8.2% Creative arts ◂ +3.9 pts 4.3%
6.2% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +5.0 pts 1.2%
3.1% Agriculture & environment +2.8 pts ▸ 5.9%
3.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.3 pts 2.8%
0.0% Information technology +2.0 pts ▸ 2.0%

Income

Personal income in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +$279 higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
$1,114 88th pct $835 64th pct
Household income in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +$513 higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
$2,600 91st pct $2,087 79th pct
Family income in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +$514 higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
$2,750 88th pct $2,236 71st pct
High earners in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +7.2 pts higher in Bells Beach gap widening
21.9% 91st pct 14.6% 78th pct
High-income homes in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +13.0 pts higher in Bells Beach gap widening
38.6% 92nd pct 25.6% 75th pct

Household income distribution

36.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.6 pts 30.8%
31.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +15.8 pts 16.0%
18.2% $650–$1,499 +1.0 pts ▸ 19.2%
6.8% $3,000–$3,999 +2.8 pts ▸ 9.6%
0.0% Under $650 +6.4 pts ▸ 6.4%

Personal income distribution

28.1% Under $650 +12.8 pts ▸ 41.0%
31.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.7 pts 29.5%
18.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.3 pts 15.7%
14.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.6 pts 8.5%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +6.1 pts higher in Freshwater Creek
22.5% 21st pct 28.6% 49th pct
Mental health in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +1.5 pts higher in Freshwater Creek
7.3% 42nd pct 8.8% 57th pct
Needs assistance in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +1.6 pts higher in Bells Beach gap steady
6.6% 72nd pct 5.1% 55th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

2.6% Arthritis +7.0 pts ▸ 9.7%
7.9% Asthma +1.3 pts ▸ 9.3%
7.3% Mental health +1.5 pts ▸ 8.8%
8.6% Other condition ◂ +0.5 pts 8.1%
5.3% Cancer ◂ +3.5 pts 1.8%
3.3% Heart disease +0.2 pts ▸ 3.5%
0.0% Diabetes +3.3 pts ▸ 3.3%
0.0% Stroke +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Dementia +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Lung condition +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

65.6% None ◂ +1.0 pts 64.5%
21.2% One condition +0.2 pts ▸ 21.4%
4.6% Three or more ◂ +2.2 pts 2.4%
0.0% Two conditions +3.7 pts ▸ 3.7%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +1.6 pts higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
26.6% 79th pct 25.0% 75th pct
Unpaid carers in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +4.4 pts higher in Bells Beach gap widening
18.8% 88th pct 14.4% 67th pct
Unpaid child care in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +0.7 pts higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
29.7% 72nd pct 29.0% 69th pct
Defence service in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +3.2 pts higher in Freshwater Creek
0.0% 0th pct 3.2% 59th pct
Housework 15h+ in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +3.1 pts higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
30.5% 80th pct 27.4% 68th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Median age in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek
— 58 yrs 93rd pct
Median income in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek
— $575 43rd pct
Household income in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek
— $2,250 71st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even gap narrowing
2.9 81st pct 2.9 81st pct
One-parent in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +7.6 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap widening
0.0% 0th pct 7.6% 31st pct
Living alone in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +9.8 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap widening
6.8% 2nd pct 16.7% 25th pct

Family composition

68.6% Couples with children ◂ +3.1 pts 65.4%
27.6% Couples without children ◂ +0.4 pts 27.2%
0.0% One-parent families +7.6 pts ▸ 7.6%
0.0% Other families +1.0 pts ▸ 1.0%

Household size

36.4% 2 people +0.8 pts ▸ 37.2%
9.1% 4 people +10.1 pts ▸ 19.2%
6.8% 1 person +9.8 pts ▸ 16.7%
11.4% 3 people +0.8 pts ▸ 12.2%
11.4% 6 or more ◂ +5.0 pts 6.4%
0.0% 5 people +9.0 pts ▸ 9.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +$225 higher in Bells Beach
$525 94th pct $300 57th pct
Mortgage in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +$455 higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
$2,600 88th pct $2,145 79th pct
People / bedroom in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +5.0 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap narrowing
9.1% 24th pct 14.1% 42nd pct
Owned outright in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +7.5 pts higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
56.8% 87th pct 49.4% 74th pct
Separate houses in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +5.8 pts higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
100.0% 100th pct 94.2% 42nd pct
3+ bedrooms in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +8.3 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap widening
79.5% 50th pct 87.8% 73rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

56.8% Owned outright ◂ +7.5 pts 49.4%
31.8% Owned with a mortgage +0.2 pts ▸ 32.1%
9.1% Rented +5.0 pts ▸ 14.1%
0.0% Not stated +3.8 pts ▸ 3.8%
0.0% Other tenure +1.9 pts ▸ 1.9%

Types of homes

100.0% Separate house ◂ +5.8 pts 94.2%
0.0% Townhouse / semi-detached even 0.0%
0.0% Flat or apartment even 0.0%
0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

34.1% 4 bedrooms +2.4 pts ▸ 36.5%
29.5% 3 bedrooms +6.4 pts ▸ 35.9%
15.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +8.9 pts 7.1%
15.9% 5 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 15.4%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%
0.0% 1 bedroom even 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

0.0% $200–$349 +18.2 pts ▸ 18.2%
0.0% $550–$749 +18.2 pts ▸ 18.2%
0.0% Under $200 +13.6 pts ▸ 13.6%
0.0% $350–$549 even 0.0%
0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

28.6% $3,000 or more +7.4 pts ▸ 36.0%
28.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +8.6 pts 20.0%
0.0% $1,800–$2,999 +26.0 pts ▸ 26.0%
0.0% $1,000–$1,799 +6.0 pts ▸ 6.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +3.3 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap widening
0.0% 0th pct 3.3% 65th pct
Work from home in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +1.0 pts higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
28.4% 78th pct 27.4% 76th pct
PT commute in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT stops in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stop walk in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek
21 60th pct —
Drive to city in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +6 longer in Bells Beach
70 50th pct 64 47th pct

How people get to work

51.4% Car (driver) ◂ +3.4 pts 48.0%
28.4% Worked at home ◂ +1.0 pts 27.4%
6.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +3.9 pts 2.8%
0.0% Walked +2.8 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.0% Bicycle +1.2 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bus even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

36.4% 2 vehicles +7.0 pts ▸ 43.3%
36.4% 4 or more ◂ +11.0 pts 25.3%
6.8% 3 vehicles +15.2 pts ▸ 22.0%
11.4% 1 vehicle +1.3 pts ▸ 12.7%
0.0% No vehicle +3.3 pts ▸ 3.3%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +11.3 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap narrowing
22.1% 20th pct 33.4% 59th pct
Recent arrivals in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +1.2 pts higher in Bells Beach gap narrowing
3.9% 55th pct 2.7% 41st pct
Participation in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +8.5 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap widening
60.2% 48th pct 68.6% 77th pct
Full-time in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +4.2 pts higher in Freshwater Creek gap widening
44.6% 8th pct 48.8% 13th pct

Industries people work in

0.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +15.3 pts ▸ 15.3%
4.1% Construction +9.7 pts ▸ 13.7%
4.1% Education & training +8.4 pts ▸ 12.5%
12.2% Professional & technical ◂ +6.9 pts 5.2%
10.8% Retail trade ◂ +3.6 pts 7.3%
6.8% Accommodation & food +2.9 pts ▸ 9.7%
9.5% Manufacturing ◂ +6.6 pts 2.8%
4.1% Health care & social assistance +2.8 pts ▸ 6.9%
5.4% Public administration & safety +0.2 pts ▸ 5.6%
5.4% Rental & real estate ◂ +3.8 pts 1.6%
4.1% Wholesale trade ◂ +2.4 pts 1.6%
4.1% Arts & recreation ◂ +2.4 pts 1.6%

Occupations people work in

35.1% Professionals ◂ +15.0 pts 20.2%
20.3% Managers +4.7 pts ▸ 25.0%
10.8% Technicians & trades +1.7 pts ▸ 12.5%
10.8% Community & personal service +0.9 pts ▸ 11.7%
9.5% Clerical & administrative +0.6 pts ▸ 10.1%
9.5% Sales workers ◂ +2.2 pts 7.3%
4.1% Labourers +4.4 pts ▸ 8.5%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers +5.6 pts ▸ 5.6%

Walkability

Walk score in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +0.3 higher in Bells Beach
1.4 62nd pct 1.1 60th pct
Types ≤15 min in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even
1.1 60th pct 1.1 59th pct
15-min city in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +11.8 pts higher in Freshwater Creek
0.0% 0th pct 11.8% 66th pct
Walk to transit in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +14.7 pts higher in Bells Beach
14.7% 62nd pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +5.6 pts higher in Freshwater Creek
0.0% 0th pct 5.6% 59th pct
Walk to a park in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +1.5 pts higher in Freshwater Creek
85.3% 77th pct 86.8% 78th pct
Walk to health in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +15.6 more in Bells Beach
92.7 87th pct 77.1 86th pct
Intersections/km² in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +7 higher in Bells Beach
9 72nd pct 1 55th pct
Mean slope in Bells Beachin Freshwater Creek +1.3 pts higher in Bells Beach
5.5% 48th pct 4.2% 31st pct

Compare Bells Beach with nearby areas

Jan Juc Bellbrae Torquay Freshwater Creek Paraparap Anglesea Mount Duneed Breamlea

Compare Freshwater Creek with nearby areas

Bellbrae Mount Duneed Paraparap Torquay Moriac Mount Moriac Waurn Ponds Jan Juc

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Bells Beach vs Freshwater Creek [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL20200/bells-beach/vs/SAL20954/freshwater-creek