Buloke

The community is significantly older than the state and national average, with 28.8% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up 15.1% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 6.5%, which is far below the national figure. English and Irish are the most common ancestries after Australian.

English is the dominant language, with only 3.3% of people using another language at home. This is far below the 22.3% national average, and very few residents speak little or no English.

Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 35.8% report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 18 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are lower than most areas, with only 11.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion has risen to 36.4% since 2011.

Incomes are much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly household earning $1,088. Only 8.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.7% of people reporting a long-term health condition. About 8.4% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteerism is very high, with 33.1% of people volunteering, which is far above the national figure. Unpaid care for others is also more common than in most areas.

There are 92 First Nations people in the area, and 8.7% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the state average. Typical personal income for this group is lower than the national figure.

Many people live alone—34.6% of households—which is well above the national average. Because of this, there are typically only 2.2 people per home.

Housing is very stable, with 56.0% of homes owned outright and only 15.2% rented. Separate houses make up 93.9% of all dwellings, and typical weekly rent is much lower than the national figure at $158.

Cars are essential, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have at least two vehicles, and 15.8% of the workforce works from home.

The population is relatively stationary, with only 26.3% of people moving in the last five years. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas have risen to 22.2%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the main industries, employing 30.7% of the workforce. About 52.4% of adults are working or looking for work, which is lower than most areas.

The area has an overall advantage score of 5, placing it in the middle compared to other areas. Population growth has been among the lowest at this level, falling by 4.0% since 2021.

The region is drier than the rest of the state, with an average annual rainfall of 373mm. Average maximum temperatures are slightly higher than the Victorian average.

Crime rates are among the lowest for its level, particularly for assault, drug offences, and motor vehicle theft. Property damage is also much lower than in most areas.

While the area is considered somewhat walkable, only 54.3% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. This is far below the state average of 83.9%.