Council (LGA) · Area profile
Greater Shepparton
2,422 km²
A growing mix of cultures and ages defines Greater Shepparton, where the population has risen 13% since 2011 to over 68,000 people. This community is notably diverse, with a high number of recent overseas arrivals and a significant proportion of residents who speak a language other than English at home. Families are common here, and the area has a higher share of children and larger homes than most. It is a regional centre where traditional Australian roots blend with expanding international migration.
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The area is slightly older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 39. Seniors make up 19.2% of the population, a figure that has risen by 4.3 percentage points since 2011.
About 17.4% of people were born overseas, which is higher than in most similar areas. While English and Australian are the most common ancestries, there is a growing international presence, with India as the most common non-Australian birthplace.
Language diversity is a striking feature; 17.6% of people use a language other than English at home, a figure that rose 5.1 percentage points since 2011. Punjabi and Arabic are the most common non-English languages.
Christianity remains the most common faith at 45.1%, while those with no religion make up 34.8%. This latter group has grown significantly, rising 15 percentage points since 2011.
The number of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher is higher than in most similar areas, though still far below the Victorian average. Year 12 completion rose 8.7 percentage points since 2011 to reach 43.1%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,400, which is well below the Victorian figure of $1,759. However, the number of households earning over $3,000 a week has risen by 9.4 percentage points since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 31.6% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This includes a higher than average rate of mental health conditions and arthritis.
Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 13.6% of people providing unpaid care, which is much higher than in most areas. Volunteering has fallen, with only 14.3% of residents now volunteering.
The First Nations community is larger than in about 86% of similar areas. This population is notably young, with a typical age of 22, and 30.3% have completed Year 12.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.5 people per dwelling. One-parent families are also more common than in most areas, accounting for 16% of households.
Detached houses dominate the landscape, making up 88.4% of all homes. Most dwellings are large, with 79% having three or more bedrooms, and typical weekly rent is $260, well below the state average.
Cars are essential for most, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. While there are many public transport stops, the drive time to the city is among the highest for this level of area.
The area is a hub for migration, with 21% of residents being recent arrivals from overseas. This is well above the national figure of 14.5%.
Health care and social assistance is the biggest employer, making up 17.3% of jobs. About 57.2% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the state average.
Greater Shepparton has a strong business presence with over 7,300 businesses. However, its overall advantage score is lower than about 66% of other areas.
The area is generally drier than the state average, with annual rainfall of 489mm. It also records lower average minimum temperatures than most areas.
Crime rates are higher than in most areas, particularly for theft and burglary. Recorded offences per 100,000 people stand at 10,643.
Walkability is low, with only 50.7% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed. Access to health services is particularly limited, with only 37.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk.