Hurtle Vale

The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with a high proportion of seniors and a typical age of 42. While the number of children has fallen since 2011, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen slightly to 2.0%.

The area is predominantly Australian-born, and the proportion of people born overseas is well below the national figure at 19.0%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 47.5% and 39.7% respectively.

English is the primary language for 89.2% of residents. The proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national figure, and very few residents speak little or no English.

A majority of residents—55.8%—report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 23 percentage points since 2011.

The area has lower levels of formal qualifications than most, with only 12.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national average and has fallen slightly since 2011.

Typical incomes are much lower than in most other areas, with the usual weekly household income sitting at $1,371. Only 11.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is well below the state figure.

Health challenges are more common here than elsewhere, as long-term health conditions affect 36.6% of the population. This includes a high rate of mental health conditions and a significant number of people needing help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a common part of life here, with 13.8% of people providing such support. There is also a higher rate of former Defence Force members compared to most areas, though volunteering has fallen since 2011.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 17.8% of households. About 26.7% of residents live alone, and the typical home holds 2.5 people.

The area is dominated by large separate houses, with 87.6% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Renting is much less common than the national average, and typical weekly rents are well below the national figure.

Cars are the primary way to travel, with 69.1% of people driving to work. Very few residents use public transport to commute, and only 7.4% of people work from home.

The population is very stable, with few people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also among the lowest for its level, falling to 4.7% in 2021.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, and the unemployment rate is slightly higher than the state average at 5.7%. Most residents work in health care, social assistance, or retail.

The suburb is reasonably walkable, with 88.7% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents also live within a short walk of a park and a school.