State Electorate · Area profile
Hawthorn (Southern Metropolitan)
19 km²
Daily life in Hawthorn (Southern Metropolitan) is defined by an exceptionally walkable environment where almost every home is within a short stroll of parks, shops and health services. This is a wealthy, highly educated community with a population of 64,418 that has seen a slight dip in size since 2016. The area is distinct for its professional workforce and high proportion of people living alone, creating a sophisticated urban character in the heart of Boroondara.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
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The typical resident is 38, which is about the same as the national figure. There are far fewer children under 15 than in most areas, at 14.7%, while the proportion of seniors has risen to 17.0% since 2016.
English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though 29.5% of people were born overseas, a figure slightly above the national average.
About 23.0% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is higher than most areas, with Mandarin being the most common non-English language at 6.7%.
A large number of residents report having no religion, at 47.4%, which is well above the national figure and has risen by 8.3 points since 2016.
This is an exceptionally well-qualified community where 55.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far above the 26.3% national average. This high level of education is reflected in a very strong school advantage score.
Typical weekly family incomes are $3,324, which is well above the national figure. This wealth is striking, with 37.6% of households earning $3,000 or more a week.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most areas, with only 3.9% needing help with daily activities and 8.0% reporting a mental health condition.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas at 19.4%, although this is down 7.0 points from 2016. About 13.2% of people provide unpaid care.
Homes are smaller than usual, with 2.3 people per home and a high 31.3% of people living alone. One-parent families are among the lowest at this level, at 8.8%.
The area has many apartments and townhouses, with only 40.5% of homes being separate houses. Rents are much higher than most areas, typically $421 a week, and typical monthly mortgage payments are very high at $2,600.
Working from home is incredibly common here, with 44.3% of people doing so. While 10.1% of homes have no car, the area has very high public transport usage, especially trams.
The community is quite mobile, with 44.4% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 18.0% of the population, though this has fallen since 2016.
Employment is high, with 67.7% of adults working or looking for work, and a low unemployment rate of 4.2%. Many residents are professionals or managers working in technical, health or education fields.
Hawthorn is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.7. Every single home has a 15-minute-city walkshed, meaning residents can reach groceries, parks and schools without needing a car.