Hastings
One of Hastings' more distinctive features is its 145.1 recorded offences per 1,000 residents, alongside a housing market centred on 72.8% separate houses. The suburb has 10,369 residents across 25.91 square kilometres, with a median age of 41, which is 1.0 year above the national comparison. University attainment is 15.0%, or 15.1 percentage points below national, while 17.5% were born overseas. Near Somerville and Bittern, Hastings reads as an established Western Port service suburb, with an aging trajectory and a detached-house focus rather than a high-rise pattern.
Population
10,369
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,197/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$740K
October to December 2025
For buyers, Hastings is structured around family-sized detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.4% and four-plus-bedroom homes 22.8%, while separate houses make up 72.8% versus only 1.4% apartments. A $320 weekly rent may also suit households testing the area before committing to a purchase.
For Buyers
For buyers, Hastings is structured around family-sized detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.4% and four-plus-bedroom homes 22.8%, while separate houses make up 72.8% versus only 1.4% apartments. A $320 weekly rent may also suit households testing the area before committing to a purchase.
For Investors
Hastings presents an established rental market, with 31.5% of households renting and a median weekly rent of $320. The 5.8% vacancy rate provides a measurable leasing variable, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver and may support continuing tenant demand. Eleven development applications in 12 months indicate a relatively limited near-term pipeline, which may support existing housing stock but restrict new rental supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
31
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+10.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hastings
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Hastings Primary School
St Mary's School
Wallaroo Primary School
Western Port Secondary College
Demographics
Hastings has a median age of 41, 1.0 year above the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.3, which is 0.2 below the national figure. The aging trajectory is visible in a senior-share increase of 7.3 percentage points and a young-share decline of 2.0 points. University attainment is 15.0%, 15.1 points below national, while the overseas-born share is 17.5%, 4.1 points lower. English ancestry is recorded for 4,602 residents, followed by Scottish at 1,052 and Irish at 1,045. No religion accounts for 5,171 people compared with 4,015 identifying with Christianity. Residential stability is relatively high, with 80.6% staying and 19.4% turning over.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.8%
Houses
24.7%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split across 33.1% owned outright, 33.4% with a mortgage and 31.5% renting. Compared with higher-density markets, Hastings is detached-dominant: 72.8% of dwellings are separate houses, while 48.4% have 3 bedrooms and 22.8% have 4 or more. Mortgage stress is flagged at 32.5% of household income, making the $1,687 monthly estimate important for purchasers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,687
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $320.
$580
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $595 · units $470
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$639
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
257
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.5% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.2%
Couples with children
40.6%
Couples, no children
23.5%
Single parent
2,732
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Hastings' largest industry at 17.6% and 452 workers, followed by construction at 15.9% and 410, public administration at 9.8% and 253, manufacturing at 9.2% and 236, and education at 9.2% and 236. The occupational mix reinforces this practical employment base, led by trades at 874 people, community and personal services at 593, and labourers at 581. Unemployment is 4.5%, compared with a 51.3% participation rate and a 56.7% full-time employment rate. Household income is $1,197 weekly and sits at the 25.0 percentile, below the national midpoint. SEIFA results vary from IEO decile 5 and IRSD decile 5 to IER decile 6 and IRSAD decile 4, suggesting economic resources are higher than the broader advantage and disadvantage position.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
4,343
Unemployed
197
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.7%
Part-time
35.2%
Participation
51.3%
Employed
4,146
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.0%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
17.5%
Dwellings
4,186
Transport to Work
Hastings is strongly car-oriented, with 77.7% driving to work compared with just 0.3% using public transport and 3.2% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 13.4%, which may reduce some commuting pressure but does not replace local transport access. Families have access to 4 nearby schools: 3 primary schools, including 2 government and 1 Catholic, plus 1 government secondary college. Enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address because they can cross suburb boundaries. The recorded crime rate is 145.1 per 1,000 residents across 1,505 offences, including 769 property and deception offences and 232 crimes against the person. IRSAD sits at decile 4, below the midpoint, so household circumstances and street context matter when comparing locations.
Drive
77.7%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
13.4%
Population Forecast
+0.93%/yr
(+221 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive, running at 0.93% annually across the wider area, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Hastings has an Aging trajectory: the senior share is 7.3 percentage points higher than its earlier level, while the young share is 2.0 points below it. Population change across the wider area is 18.1% over 10 years, and affordability remained broadly stable, moving from 44.5 in 2011 to 43.9 in 2021. Gentrification signals remain limited, with a score of 5 and a Not gentrifying stage, although the broader shift measure records a score of 32 and Early signs. This points to gradual demographic change rather than a rapid reinvention of the suburb.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+94
Net Internal / yr
-275
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +14% since 2011, Net internal outflow -275/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,505
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
145.1
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 Hastings compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hastings a good suburb to live in?
Hastings can suit households wanting detached housing, local schools and an established Western Port setting. It has 10,369 residents, 72.8% separate houses and 77.7% car commuting, so daily life is more car-dependent than transit-oriented.
What schools are in Hastings?
Local access includes 4 schools: 3 primary schools, including 1 Catholic and 2 government schools, plus 1 government secondary college. Check the exact enrolment zone for any address before buying or renting.
Is Hastings safe?
Hastings recorded 1,505 offences at a rate of 145.1 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 769, so review current local incident patterns and the exact street before deciding.
How is Hastings's population changing?
Hastings has 10,369 residents today, while the wider area's population change is forecast at 18.1% over 10 years and annual growth at 0.93%. The trajectory is Aging, with overseas migration the primary driver.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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