Urban Centre · Area profile
Bridgewater
2 km²
Daily life in Bridgewater is defined by a quiet, older pace of living in a small community of 341 people. The area has become far older than the national average, with a typical resident now aged 50 and more than a quarter of the population being seniors. This shift is reflected in the housing, where nearly half of the homes are owned outright and there are very few children compared to the rest of the state. It is a stable, predominantly Australian community where most people live in detached houses.
Explore Bridgewater by topic
The population has aged significantly, with the typical resident now 50 and the proportion of seniors rising 13 points since 2011. Conversely, children under 15 now make up only 13.5% of the community, which is well below the Victorian average.
Bridgewater is very homogenous, with 83.6% of people born in Australia. Only 5.9% were born overseas, a figure far below the national average and one that has fallen since 2011.
English is almost universally spoken here, with only 0.9% of people using another language at home. This is among the lowest rates for its level and far below the Victorian average.
A large portion of the community reports no religion, at 44.3%, which is well above the national figure. This represents a 10 point increase since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than the state average, with only 10.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 33.7% having completed Year 12.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical weekly household earning $1,242. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week rose to 7.4% since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 38.4% of people. Those needing help with daily activities rose to 7.9% by 2021.
Volunteering is a strong feature of the area, with 23.2% of people volunteering, which is well above the national average. However, the number of people caring for children unpaid fell 15 points since 2011.
Homes are generally small, with a typical size of 2.2 people, which is slightly lower than the Australian average. Nearly half of all households consist of couples without children.
The area is almost entirely made up of separate houses, and 46.3% are owned outright, which is far above the national average. Typical weekly rents are much lower than the state figure at $215.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with no one using public transport to commute. About 10.2% of the workforce works from home, which is higher than in most similar areas.
The community is very stable, with no recent arrivals from overseas reported. About 33% of residents moved in the last five years, which is well below the national rate.
About 51.9% of adults are working or looking for work, a figure that fell 16 points since 2011. Many locals work in manufacturing, construction, or agriculture.
Most homes are within a short walk of groceries and schools, but there is no access to health services within a 15-minute walk. This makes the area somewhat walkable overall.