State Electorate · Area profile
Bentleigh (Southern Metropolitan)
21 km²
Walking to local shops and services is a core part of daily life in Bentleigh, where every home is within a 15-minute stroll of public transport and parks. This is a prosperous, well-educated community with a growing population that has increased by 9.4% since 2016. Its residents are generally older than the national average and often highly qualified, contributing to an area where typical incomes are well above state figures. The neighbourhood blends a strong professional workforce with a significant migrant population, creating a diverse and affluent suburban character.
Bentleigh (Southern Metropolitan)'s schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
Bentleigh (Southern Metropolitan) has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
Explore Bentleigh (Southern Metropolitan) by topic
The typical resident is 40 years old, which is slightly older than the national figure. Families with children are common, as the proportion of those under 15 is higher than most areas.
A strong international presence defines the area, with 35.8% of people born overseas—well above the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Chinese are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is high, and 31.7% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is well above the national average. Mandarin is the most common non-English language spoken.
About 40.6% of people report having no religion, a figure that rose 7.5 percentage points since 2016. Christianity and Judaism are the next most common affiliations.
The area is far more qualified than most, with 40.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This trend has grown since 2016, and 75.4% of residents have completed Year 12.
Typical weekly family incomes are $2,732, well above the national figure of $2,120. This wealth is reflected in the 34.2% of households earning over $3,000 a week, a figure that rose 12 percentage points since 2016.
Residents generally report better health than the national average, with fewer people living with long-term health conditions (24.5%) or mental health conditions (7.2%).
The community is very active in unpaid care, with 30.1% of people caring for children—well above the national rate. However, the proportion of volunteers fell 6.3 percentage points since 2016.
Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per household. Most are family homes, with 66.1% being couples with children.
Housing is expensive, with typical weekly rents at $481 and monthly mortgage payments at $2,500, both of which are well above state figures. Separate houses are less common here than in most other areas.
Working from home has become very common, with 38.3% of the workforce doing so—far above the national average. This shift is accompanied by a sharp drop in public transport commuting since 2016.
About 40.1% of people moved house in the last five years, which is about the same as the rest of the country. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 12.9% of the population.
Employment is strong, with 66.8% of adults working or looking for work—well above the national figure. Professionals and managers make up the largest share of the workforce.
Described as a walker's paradise, the area has a walkability score of 8.2. Every single home is within a 15-minute walk of public transport and a park.