Federal Electorate · Area profile
Bean
1,914 km²
Young families and professionals make up the heart of Bean, where 19% of the population are children. This is a prosperous community with a typical weekly family income of $2,797, which is well above the national figure. While the total population shrank by 9.4% since 2011, the area remains a hub for high earners and well-qualified residents. It is a place where large family homes and high employment levels create a stable, affluent atmosphere.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
49 schools within reach make Bean convenient for families.
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The typical resident is 38, which is noticeably older than the ACT average. While children make up a higher proportion of the population than in most areas, there has been a rise in seniors, who now account for 16% of the community.
About 24.7% of people were born overseas, a figure that rose 2.9 points since 2011. This is well below both the ACT and national averages, with English and Australian being the most common ancestries.
Nearly 20% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is higher than in most similar areas. This diversity has grown by 5.3 points since 2011, although the proportion of people speaking little or no English remains low.
A large shift has occurred here, with the share of people reporting no religion rising 15 points since 2011 to reach 42%. This is well above the national figure, though slightly lower than the ACT average.
The area is highly qualified, with 35.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national average. This is reflected in the fact that 72.2% of residents completed Year 12, a trend that has risen since 2011.
Earnings are significantly higher than across Australia, with 35% of households earning $3,000 or more a week. This is a notable increase from 2011, and the typical weekly personal income of $1,183 is much higher than in most areas.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 30.2% of residents. Mental health conditions are also slightly more frequent than the national average, though only 5.2% of people need help with daily activities.
Community spirit is evident in the high number of volunteers and carers; 30.2% of people provide unpaid childcare, which is well above the national figure. Additionally, 5.6% of residents served in the Defence Force, among the highest rates for its level.
Families with children are common, making up 59.6% of households. Because of this, homes tend to be larger than usual, with an average of 2.6 people per dwelling.
The area is dominated by large homes, with 81.2% having three or more bedrooms. Renting is much less common here than in most areas, and 30.7% of homes are owned outright.
Most residents rely on cars, as only 3.5% commute by public transport and very few homes have no vehicle. It is a long trip to the city, with a typical drive time of 51 minutes.
The community is relatively stable, with 38.9% of people moving in the last five years, which is lower than both the ACT and national figures. Recent overseas arrivals also fell slightly to 12.1% since 2011.
Job prospects are strong, with an unemployment rate of 3.5% and a very high percentage of adults working or looking for work. Many residents are employed in public administration and safety, accounting for 29.3% of jobs.
The area is very walkable with a score of 6.3, and nearly all homes are within a short walk of a park. However, it is harder to reach groceries and health services on foot compared to the ACT average.