Bittern

The population is notably older than the state and national average, with 23.4% of residents aged 65 and over. This is well above the typical figure for Australia, and the average age is 8 years higher than the national person.

Most residents were born in Australia (80.8%), though 15.9% were born overseas, which is higher than in most similar areas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Scottish and Irish.

English is the primary language for 93.6% of the community. Very few people use another language at home (2.9%), a figure that is far below both the Victorian and national averages.

A majority of residents (55.0%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 38.2%.

The area has far fewer people with a bachelor degree or higher (15.8%) than the national average. Year 12 completion is also well below the national figure, with 49.2% of residents finishing school.

Typical weekly household income is $1,615, which is a little below the Victorian average. The community is generally mid-range for its level, though the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more per week is well below the national figure.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 34.3% of people. This is well above the national average, with arthritis and mental health being the most reported conditions.

A high number of residents provide unpaid care (15.2%) or perform significant unpaid housework, both of which are well above national figures. There is also a notably higher proportion of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.

There are 52 First Nations people in the area. This group sees much higher household incomes and lower unemployment (0.0%) than the state and national averages, though none report speaking a First Nations language.

Family homes are common, with 55% of households consisting of couples with children. The typical home holds 2.5 people, which is about the same as the figure for Victoria and Australia.

The area is defined by detached houses, and home ownership is strong, with 41.5% of homes owned outright. Renting is far less common here (12.1%) than it is across the state or nation.

Cars are essential for most, as 63.3% of workers drive to work and very few use public transport. While the area has more transit stops than many similar places, only 15.1% of people work from home.

The community has seen significant movement, with 38.6% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are few (1.3%), which is far below the national average.

Construction, health care, and manufacturing are the main industries for local workers. The unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is a little below the national figure.

The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.1, well below the state average. Many residents live far from essential services, with only 56.1% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.