Bentleigh East - South

The typical resident is 40 years old, and the area has a higher proportion of children under 15 than most similar places. While the population grew by 6.2% to reach 14,057 people, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population remains much lower than in most other areas.

Overseas births are common here, with 33.4% of people born abroad, a figure well above the national average. The most frequent ancestries are Australian and English, followed by Irish, Greek, and Chinese.

Language diversity is high, as 29.9% of people use a language other than English at home. This is well above the national figure, and the most common non-English languages are Greek, Mandarin, and Italian.

Religious affiliation is lower than in most areas, with 36.7% of residents reporting no religion. However, this figure has risen by 7.1 points since 2016, while Christianity remains the most common faith at 44.2%.

The community is highly qualified, with 36.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is far above the national average. Most residents finished Year 12, and degrees in management and commerce are the most common qualifications.

Earnings are much higher than typical, with the typical weekly family income reaching $2,627. This is supported by a high number of top earners, as 18.8% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.

Residents are generally healthier than those in most other areas, with lower rates of long-term health conditions and mental health conditions. About 5.4% of people need help with daily activities, which is about the same as the state average.

More people provide unpaid care here than in most areas, including 30.8% who care for children. However, the proportion of volunteers has fallen by 6.0 points since 2016 to reach 12.3%.

The First Nations community is small, numbering 64 people. Those living here tend to be noticeably older than those in other areas, with a typical personal income and Year 12 completion rate that are both well above the national figures.

Families with children make up the majority of households at 65.9%. Homes tend to be larger than average, with 2.6 people per dwelling and fewer people living alone compared to the state average.

Housing is expensive, with typical weekly rents at $490 and typical monthly mortgage payments reaching $2,512. Most homes are large, as 81.8% have three or more bedrooms, and 35.8% of properties are owned outright.

Working from home is very common, with 36.2% of the workforce doing so—a massive increase of 31 points since 2016. While most households have two or more cars, the area has more public transport stops than most similar places.

The population is relatively stable, with 37.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is a little below the state average. Recent arrivals from overseas have fallen by 3.1 points since 2016.

Employment rates are strong, with 66.6% of adults working or looking for work, well above the national figure. Many residents work as professionals or managers, particularly in health care, professional services, and retail.

This is a highly advantaged area, ranking in the top 10% for overall advantage across all areas. This status is reflected in its high access to resources and strong job and education scores.

The area experiences lower average maximum temperatures than most other areas. Annual rainfall is slightly above the state average at 562mm.

The neighbourhood is a walker's paradise, with 100% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, or public transport. Almost every home is also within a short walk of groceries and health services.