Council (LGA) · Area profile
Benalla
2,353 km²
A far older population than most similar areas defines Benalla, where the typical resident is 51. This Victorian community is marked by a significant number of seniors, with nearly 30% of people aged 65 and over. The area has a strong preference for detached housing and a high rate of outright home ownership. While the population has grown slightly since 2011, the community remains predominantly Australian-born and English-speaking.
Benalla's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
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Benalla is much older than the state or national average, with a typical age of 51 and nearly 30% of residents aged 65 and over. This senior population helps explain why the proportion of children under 15 is well below the national figure at 14.3%.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 81.8% born here. Only 9.3% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for 88.1% of the population. Only 3.6% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below the national average of 22.3%.
About 42.9% of people report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9% and has risen 18 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 45.0%.
Typical education levels are lower than the state average, with only 40.0% of residents completing Year 12. Around 13.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,192, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 11.0% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are very common here, affecting 37.7% of people—far above the national rate of 27.7%. Arthritis and mental health are the most reported conditions, and 7.8% of people need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is common, with 14.6% of people providing such support, which is above the national figure. Volunteering is also high at 18.6%, though this has fallen since 2011.
There are 284 First Nations people in the area. The typical age for this group is 23, and 36.7% have completed Year 12, which is about the same as the national figure.
Homes are smaller than usual, with 2.2 people per home. A high 33.1% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure of 25.6%.
Detached houses make up 89.4% of all homes, far above the national average. Ownership is strong, with 44.1% of homes owned outright, well above the 31.0% seen across Australia.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. While 13.9% of people work from home, most residents use a car to get to work.
Movement has remained steady, with 33.5% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals rose to 13.6% by 2021.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 51.9%. However, the unemployment rate is very low at 3.5%, which is below the national figure of 5.1%.
Overall advantage is lower than about 60% of similar areas, with a score of 938 against a national average of 1,000. Recent population growth has been much lower than the state average.
The area receives more rain than most of Victoria, with an average annual rainfall of 738mm. Minimum temperatures are also much lower than the state average.
Theft and property damage rates are higher than average, while motor vehicle theft is much lower than in most areas. General crime rates are around the middle for similar areas.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8, far below the Victorian average of 6.4. Many homes are far from health services and groceries.