Bittern

Population growth drivers in Bittern are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population for Bittern is around 4,260, reflecting a decrease of 16 people since the 2021 Census. The ABS ERP estimate for surrounding areas applied to Bittern by AreaSearch in June 2024 was 4,220. This includes an additional 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 247 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed around 55% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas released in 2024, with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used, adjusted employing weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Bittern is projected to grow by 622 persons, reflecting a 14.5% increase over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Bittern is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Between FY21 and FY25, Bittern averaged approximately 4 new dwelling approvals annually, totalling an estimated 23 homes. In FY26 to date, there has been 1 approval recorded. Over these past five financial years, the area has seen an average of 0.1 people moving in for each dwelling built, indicating that supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand. The average construction value of new properties is $729,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market.

This year, there have been $4.8 million in commercial development approvals recorded, showing limited commercial development activity. Recent construction comprises 75% detached houses and 25% medium to high-density housing, maintaining Bittern's traditional low density character while indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyle preferences. The current estimated population per dwelling approval is 851 people.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Bittern is expected to grow by 617 residents through to 2041. If development rates remain constant, housing supply may struggle to match this population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Bittern has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects likely impacting the area. Key projects are Mornington Peninsula Residential Development Program, Western Port Marine Infrastructure, HMAS Cerberus Redevelopment, and Stony Point Line Service Improvements. The following details those most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Bittern has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Bittern has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is notably represented, with an unemployment rate of 4.6% and estimated employment growth of 3.2% in the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation.

As of June 2025, 2,105 residents are employed, matching Greater Melbourne's unemployment rate of 4.6%. However, workforce participation is lower at 59.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 4.5% versus the regional average of 10.1%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparison. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, while labour force grew by 4.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.2 percentage points in Bittern. In Greater Melbourne, employment grew by 3.5%, labour force expanded by 4.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Bittern's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Bittern has a median taxpayer income of $47,388 and an average income of $66,052 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is slightly above the national average, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761. According to Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $53,150 (median) and $74,084 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Bittern rank modestly, between the 33rd and 42nd percentiles. The income distribution shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.1% of the community (1,410 individuals), which is similar to regional levels where 32.8% occupy this range. After housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Bittern is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bittern's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.6% houses and 6.4% other dwellings. In contrast, Melbourne metro had 0.0% houses and 0.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bittern stood at 43.4%, with mortgaged properties at 43.8% and rented ones at 12.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, aligning with Melbourne metro's average. The median weekly rent was $366, unlike Melbourne metro's figures of $0 for both. Nationally, Bittern's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Bittern has a typical household mix, with a median household size of 2.5 people

Family households constitute 75.9% of all households, including 31.3% couples with children, 34.4% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.1%, with lone person households at 22.8% and group households making up 1.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people.

Educational outcomes in Bittern fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.6%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (3.1%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (30.4%). Educational participation is high at 25.1%, comprising primary education (8.9%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (2.6%).

Bittern Primary School serves the local area with an enrollment of 78 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 973) offering balanced educational opportunities for primary education only. Secondary options are available in nearby areas. The low ratio of 1.8 school places per 100 residents indicates many local students attend schools outside Bittern.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Bittern has ten operational public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by two distinct routes, collectively facilitating 376 weekly passenger trips. Residents' access to transport is limited, with an average distance of 600 meters to the nearest stop.

The service frequency averages 53 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 37 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Bittern is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Bittern faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older residents.

Private health cover is more prevalent here compared to the average SA2 area, at approximately 53% (~2,255 people). The most frequent medical conditions are arthritis (10.7%) and mental health issues (9.3%), while 62.9% report no medical ailments, contrasting with Greater Melbourne's 0%. Bittern has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 26.6% (1,133 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some difficulties but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

Bittern is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Bittern's population shows low cultural diversity, with 83.5% born in Australia, 92.3% being citizens, and 97.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 40.8% of Bittern's residents. Judaism, however, is overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to none reported across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (35.1%), Australian (30.9%), and Scottish (8.3%). Notably, Dutch (2.6%) Welsh (0.6%), and Maltese (0.5%) populations are overrepresented in Bittern compared to the regional averages of none.

Bittern hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Bittern is 46 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and also above Australia's median age of 38 years. Comparing Bittern with Greater Melbourne, the cohort aged 65-74 is notably over-represented at 14.3% locally, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 7.9%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population of those aged 75 to 84 has grown from 7.8% to 10.2%, while the percentage of those aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 9.9% to 7.9%. By 2041, Bittern's population is projected to undergo significant demographic changes. The cohort aged 75 to 84 is expected to grow by 266 people (61%), from 434 to 701. This aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 75% of the projected growth. Conversely, the cohorts aged 25-34 and 35-44 are expected to experience population declines.