Ballarat

The typical resident is 39, slightly older than the state and national figures. While the proportion of children under 15 is higher than in most similar areas, the number of seniors has risen 3.8 points since 2011.

English and Australian are the most common ancestries, and the area is far less diverse than the state average, with only 11.3% of people born overseas.

English is the primary language for 88.1% of the community. The number of people using another language at home has risen to 7.0% since 2011, though this remains far below the national figure.

A large majority of the population now identifies as having no religion, reaching 48.0%. This is well above the national figure and represents a 21 point jump since 2011.

The area is highly qualified, with a much higher proportion of adults holding bachelor degrees or higher than in most similar areas. Over half of residents have completed Year 12, which is a rise of 9.5 points since 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $1,429, which is a little below the national figure. However, there has been a notable increase in wealth, with the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week rising 11 points since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 34.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are particularly prevalent, affecting 13.1% of the population.

Many residents are active in unpaid work, with a higher than average number of people caring for children and providing general unpaid care. However, the share of volunteers has fallen 5.2 points since 2011.

The First Nations community is larger than in about 80% of similar areas. This group is much younger than the general population, with a typical age of 22, and has a Year 12 completion rate well above the national average.

Family structures vary, with a high share of one-parent families (17.4%) compared to most areas. There is also a higher than average number of people living alone, which rose to 30.3% by 2021.

Large homes are common, with 79.7% of dwellings having three or more bedrooms. While separate houses dominate, the rental market is more active than the state average, with 31.6% of households renting.

Most people rely on cars, with 61.6% driving to work. While there are many public transport stops, a very low 0.8% of people use them to commute, and the average walk to a stop is much longer than in most areas.

The area is quite dynamic, with 43.1% of residents having moved house in the last five years. This is well above the national average, though the number of recent overseas arrivals has fallen slightly since 2011.

Health care and social assistance is the biggest employer, making up 19.1% of jobs. The proportion of people in full-time work is much lower than in most similar areas, though the unemployment rate is about the same as the national figure.

Ballarat is generally advantaged, scoring higher than 70% of all areas. It is particularly strong in education and job skills, though it ranks lower than 60% of areas for direct access to money and resources.

The local climate is cooler than the state average, with both minimum and maximum temperatures among the lowest for its level. It is also wetter, with average annual rainfall well above the Victorian figure.

Theft is among the highest concerns in the area, and burglary and motor vehicle theft rates are higher than most similar areas. Overall, the crime rate has risen by 48.1% over the last five years.

The area is somewhat walkable, though it falls short of the state average for access to groceries and health services. Most residents can easily reach a park within 15 minutes, but far fewer can walk to a clinic.