Bell Post Hill

The community is noticeably older than the state and national average, with a typical resident aged 42 and 23.8% of the population aged 65 or over. This helps explain why children under 15 make up a smaller share of the population at 15.1%.

People born overseas make up 27.5% of the population, which is much higher than most similar areas. While Australian, English, Scottish, and Irish ancestries are most common, Italian heritage is also prominent.

Language diversity is high, with 26.1% of residents using a language other than English at home. This is well above the national figure, and 4.9% of people speak little or no English, which is among the highest for its level.

Religious affiliation is more common here than in other similar areas. About 55.4% of residents identify as Christian, while 33.2% report no religion, a figure well below the state and national averages.

Educational qualifications are far below the state and national averages, with only 14.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 47.6% completing Year 12. However, the area is well served by schools, with 20 within 3 km.

Household incomes are lower than most areas, with a typical family earning $1,700 a week, which is well below the Victorian figure of $2,136. Typical personal weekly income is $674, also slightly below the national average.

Residents experience higher rates of health issues than most areas. Long-term health conditions affect 31.6% of people, and 7.9% need help with daily activities, which is a little above the state and national figures.

Unpaid care is common, with 14.8% of people providing unpaid care, which is higher than most similar areas. However, the volunteering rate is 11.1%, which is well below the national figure.

The First Nations population is small but distinct, with 14.3% speaking a First Nations language, well above the state average. This group is noticeably younger, with a typical age of 19.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, at 19%. There is also a higher than average number of people living alone, at 27.7%.

Housing is dominated by large separate houses, with 92% of homes being detached and 88.1% having three or more bedrooms. Many residents have high security of tenure, with 42.9% owning their home outright.

The area is very car-dependent, with 63.4% of workers commuting by car. Working from home is less common here than in the rest of the state, at 14.3%.

The community is relatively stable, with 32.6% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the state and national figures. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 5.6% of the population.

Adults working or looking for work make up 56.6% of the population, which is well below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 5.2%, slightly above the state average.

The suburb is very walkable, with 98.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. Almost every home is also within 15 minutes of a park and a school.