Bittern
At a median age of 46, Bittern sits 6 years above the national figure, making it one of the older suburban populations on the Mornington Peninsula. Its 4,276 residents live almost entirely in separate houses (93.6%), own-or-mortgage their properties at an 87.3% combined rate, and 84.5% have not moved in the past five years. Household income lands at the 53rd percentile nationally, placing Bittern in the broad middle band rather than at either extreme. The suburb's relative stability, low renter share of 12.7%, and median house price of $810,000 as of April-June 2024 define its character: an established, owner-occupied enclave where long-term residents are the norm.
Population
4,276
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,615/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$810K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $810,000 in April-June 2024 is a 10.2% pullback from the peak of $902,500 in late 2023. Prices have risen 101.5% from $402,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 5.1% over 14 years. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 93.6%, with 38.6% at four or more bedrooms and 40.1% at three, so family-sized homes are standard. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Apartments are virtually absent at 0.2%, making semi-detached dwellings at 6.2% the only lower-price alternative.
For Buyers
The median house price of $810,000 in April-June 2024 is a 10.2% pullback from the peak of $902,500 in late 2023. Prices have risen 101.5% from $402,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 5.1% over 14 years. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 93.6%, with 38.6% at four or more bedrooms and 40.1% at three, so family-sized homes are standard. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,842, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Apartments are virtually absent at 0.2%, making semi-detached dwellings at 6.2% the only lower-price alternative.
For Investors
A 12.7% renter share is low compared to most Melbourne metropolitan suburbs, limiting the tenant pool but signalling strong owner-occupier demand. Weekly rent of $366 and a rent-to-income ratio of 22.7% keep affordability comfortable for tenants. Vacancy at 5.5% is elevated relative to tighter city markets, partly reflecting the Peninsula's holiday-let segment. Only 4 development applications in 12 months means new supply is minimal and stock constraint supports prices. The 14-year price CAGR of 5.1%, growing from $402,000 to $810,000, is the primary investment argument, as the gross rental yield at current rents is low.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+500.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bittern iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bittern Primary School
Prep-6 · 78 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, reflecting a community weighted toward established families and pre-retirees. Only 16.5% of residents were born overseas, which is 5.1 percentage points below the national rate, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (2,075), Scottish (492) and Irish (482) lead. University qualifications at 21.8% are 8.3 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a trade and healthcare employment base. Couples with children (1,319 families) and couples without children (1,172) are the dominant household types. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.6%
Houses
6.2%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers dominate tenure: 43.5% own outright and 43.8% carry a mortgage, leaving only 12.7% as renters. The high outright ownership rate reflects the older median age of 46. Separate houses account for 93.6% of stock, with bedrooms skewing large: 38.6% at four or more and 40.1% at three. Prices doubled from $402,000 in 2013 to $810,000 today, peaking at $902,500 in late 2023 and easing 10.2% since. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,842 are manageable with the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% below the 30% stress threshold. Density of 248 per km2 across 17.22 km2 gives a genuinely semi-rural character.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,842
Rent / wk
$366
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$725
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
94
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.1%
Couples, no children
3,542
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 17.7% (229 workers), followed by Construction at 16.5% (214) and Education at 12.4% (161). Manufacturing (9.7%) and Public Administration (8.3%) round out the top five, forming a mix skewed toward service delivery and trades rather than knowledge-sector offices compared to inner-Melbourne suburbs. By occupation, Professionals (311) lead ahead of Community/Personal Services (273) and Managers (237). The unemployment rate of 3.6% is low, full-time employment reaches 59.1%, and the participation rate of 54.6% reflects 1,314 residents not in the labour force due to the older age profile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.1%
Part-time
37.3%
Participation
54.6%
Employed
1,867
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.8%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
16.5%
Dwellings
1,616
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-absolute: 93.6% of residents drive to work, well above the national average, with only 2.0% walking or cycling. The crime rate of 35.8 per 1,000 residents covers 153 offences, led by property and deception offences (81) and justice procedures offences (36). No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on surrounding Mornington Peninsula localities. Mortgage-to-income of 26.3% and rent-to-income of 22.7% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, better than many metropolitan suburbs nationally. Only 6.5% of residents (269 people) require daily assistance despite the older median age of 46.
Drive
93.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
153
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
35.8
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bittern compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bittern a good suburb to live in?
Bittern suits buyers wanting a stable, owner-occupier community on the Mornington Peninsula. With 84.5% of residents not having moved in five years, turnover is low. Household income sits at the 53rd national percentile, mortgage-to-income is 26.3% and the crime rate is 35.8 per 1,000 residents. The main trade-off is high car dependency at 93.6% and limited local services.
What is the median house price in Bittern?
The median house price was $810,000 in April-June 2024, down 10.2% from the peak of $902,500 in October-December 2023. Over 14 years from 2013 the price has risen 101.5% from $402,000, a 5.1% compound annual rate. Weekly rent averages $366 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,842.
What schools are in Bittern?
No schools are recorded within the Bittern suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 4,276 spread across 17.22 square kilometres, families typically use schools in surrounding Mornington Peninsula localities. University qualifications are held by 21.8% of local residents, which is 8.3 points below the national average.
Is Bittern safe?
Bittern recorded 153 total offences in the latest period, a rate of 35.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences led at 81 incidents, followed by justice procedures offences at 36, crimes against the person at 22 and drug offences at 8. This rate is moderate and consistent with low-density semi-rural areas rather than urban centres.
Is Bittern good for property investment?
The 14-year price CAGR is 5.1%, with the median rising from $402,000 in 2013 to $810,000 in mid-2024. New supply is minimal with only 4 DAs in 12 months and 93.6% of stock already separate houses. Weekly rent of $366 against the $810,000 median gives a low gross yield, so the investment case depends on capital growth rather than rental income. Vacancy at 5.5% is above tight city levels.
How is Bittern's population changing?
Bittern has 4,276 residents with a high stability rate: 84.5% have not moved in the past five years, and annual turnover is just 15.5%. The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, suggesting an aging profile over time. Construction activity is low at 4 development applications in 12 months, so population growth from new dwellings will remain limited.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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