Federal Electorate · Area profile
Hotham
78 km²
Highly walkable and well-connected, Hotham is a large, multicultural suburb of Greater Dandenong. It is defined by a massive shift in its makeup, with the number of people born overseas rising to 52.9%. This international character is reflected in the high number of residents who speak a language other than English at home. The community is growing quickly and generally young, with the typical resident aged 37.
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The population grew by 25% since 2011 to reach 195,590 people. While the typical age is 37, the area has fewer children and a lower rate of de facto relationships than most other regions.
Over half of residents were born overseas, a figure far above the national average. Chinese, English, Australian, and Vietnamese are the most common ancestries.
A striking 56.7% of people use a language other than English at home, which is far above the national figure. About 13% of residents speak little or no English, a number that has risen since 2016.
Religion is less common here than in most areas, with 28.3% of people reporting no religion. This is far below the national figure of 38.9%.
Hotham is well-qualified, with 30.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion has also risen significantly since 2011 to 66.4%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,672, which is about the same as the national figure. However, typical personal weekly income is $695, which is much lower than in most areas.
The area has a much lower rate of long-term health and mental health conditions than most of the country. Conversely, the proportion of people needing help with daily activities is higher than usual.
Volunteering is much lower here than in other areas, at 9%. There are also fewer people providing unpaid childcare or housework compared to the state and national figures.
Homes here are more crowded than usual, with 2.7 people per home. This is consistent with the fact that people living alone are less common than in most other areas.
Renters are more common here than in most areas, and the typical weekly rent is $383. Detached houses are also less common than the state average.
Public transport is widely used, and 23.1% of people now work from home. About 8.2% of homes do not have a motor vehicle, which is much higher than in most areas.
Recent overseas arrivals make up 19% of the population, a figure well above the national average. This contributes to the area's high level of cultural diversity.
The unemployment rate is 6.2%, which is a little above the national figure. Many residents work in health care and social assistance or manufacturing.
Hotham is very walkable, with almost every home within a 15-minute walk of public transport, groceries, parks, and schools.