State Electorate · Area profile
Hastings (Eastern Victoria)
474 km²
A larger population than 71% of similar areas, Hastings is a growing community that has seen its numbers rise by 34% since 2011. It is a place of detached houses and larger families, where the typical resident is 40 years old. The area is notably defined by a strong shift away from organised religion and a high proportion of people in de facto relationships. Residents generally lead a car-dependent life in a setting where many have a long-term health condition.
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The community is a little older than the state and national figures, though it grew younger by 3 years since 2011. De facto relationships are much more common here than in most similar areas, while the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is about the same as the Victorian average at 1.4%.
People born overseas make up 15% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. The most common ancestries are English and Australian, and this low level of overseas birth is reflected in the community's heritage.
English is the dominant tongue, with only 4.6% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the Victorian average of 27.6%. Consequently, very few residents—just 0.5%—speak little or no English.
A majority of residents (53.7%) now report no religion, a figure far above the national average and one that has risen by 26 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than in most similar areas, with only 14.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, more people have completed Year 12 since 2011, rising 15 points to 48.4%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,713, which is about the same as the national figure. While the proportion of high earners is lower than in most areas, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 15 points since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.5% of people. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, affecting 11.1% of the population.
Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 14.2% of people providing care, among the highest for its level. There is also a much higher proportion of former Defence Force members compared to the state average.
Families tend to be larger here, with 2.6 people per home and 58.9% of households consisting of couples with children.
The area is dominated by separate houses (84.5%), and three-bedroom homes or larger are far more common than in the rest of the state. Renting is much less common here than elsewhere, at only 18.1%.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 60.7% of workers driving to work and only 0.6% using public transport. Very few homes (3.1%) have no motor vehicle, which is well below the national average.
The population is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to most areas. Recent arrivals from overseas are also among the lowest for this level at 4.1%.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, and the unemployment rate is among the lowest at 3.4%. The local workforce is led by technicians and trades people.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.1, which is well below the state average. Access to health services is particularly low, as only 44.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a clinic.