Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Highton
12 km²
Higher education and incomes set Highton apart from much of the state, making it a prosperous residential hub. The area is defined by its well-qualified workforce and a high proportion of families with children. With a typical resident aged 39, the community is slightly older than the national figure but remains active. This is a place where professional careers and spacious family living meet in a leafy, well-serviced setting.
Highton's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
Families are well catered for: 37 schools serve Highton.
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Highton has a population of 20,736 people, making it one of the largest areas of its kind. While the typical age is 39, there is a notable presence of children, with 18.8% of residents under 15, which is higher than in most similar areas.
About 19.4% of the community was born overseas, a figure much higher than most similar areas, though it remains well below the Victorian average of 30.0%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 83.4% of residents. While 13.0% of people use another language at home—which is much higher than in similar areas—this is still far below the state-wide figure of 27.6%.
Religion is less prominent here than in other parts of the country, as 42.2% of residents report having no religion. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.
The community is highly educated, with 36.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is well above the national figure of 26.3%. Year 12 completion is also much higher than in most similar areas.
Prosperity is a key feature here, with 30.0% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, well above the national average of 22.6%. Typical weekly family incomes are also a little above the state and national figures.
Health outcomes are generally in line with other areas, with 27.6% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is about the same as the national figure of 27.7%.
Local residents are more active in unpaid work than those in most similar areas, with 30.4% caring for children and 17.3% volunteering. Both figures are well above the state and national averages.
The First Nations community here is small but prosperous, with a typical household income of $2,250, which is well above the national figure. Unemployment among First Nations people is 0.0%, far below the national rate.
Families are the mainstay of the area, with 64.0% of households consisting of couples with children. This helps explain why there are 2.6 people per home, which is higher than in most similar areas.
The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 87.3% of dwellings. Homes here tend to be large, with 83.4% having three or more bedrooms, and typical monthly mortgage payments are around $2,000.
Cars are the primary way to get around, and 46.9% of homes have two vehicles. While 23.3% of people work from home, only 1.0% use public transport for their commute.
The area is quite dynamic, with 39.8% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 17.3% of the population, which is a little above the national figure.
Professional roles are common, with 30.2% of the workforce in professional occupations. The most common industries are health care and social assistance, followed by education and training.
Highton is somewhat walkable, and every single home is within a 15-minute walk of a park. Almost all homes (95.8%) are within 10 minutes of public transport, though the terrain is steeper than the state average.