Council (LGA) · Area profile
Latrobe
1,426 km²
Nearly half of the population in Latrobe now report having no religion, a figure that has risen 21 points since 2011. This large community has grown to over 77,000 people and is noticeably older than the national average. It is a place where many residents live in their own detached homes and experience a lower typical income than most other areas. This combination of a maturing population and lower earnings is reflected in the community's higher need for health and disability support.
The area's schools rate above its broader socio-economic standing.
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The typical resident is 42, making the area noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 21.1% of the population, which is well above the state and national averages.
People born overseas make up 12.8% of the population, a figure far below the 30% seen across Victoria. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, each representing around 39% of residents.
English is the main language for 86% of households, and only 6.6% of people use another language at home. This is far below the Victorian average of 27.6%.
A striking 48.1% of residents report no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 40.4%.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 12.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the Victorian figure of 29.2%.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,260, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 13.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
The community faces significant health challenges, with long-term health conditions reported by 35.7% of people. Mental health conditions are particularly high at 12.2%, which is well above the national average.
Unpaid care is a common feature here, as 14.1% of people provide unpaid care, which is much higher than most similar areas.
First Nations people in the area are noticeably younger than the national average, with a typical age of 21. However, the unemployment rate for this group is 18.4%, well above the national figure of 12.3%.
Living arrangements are distinctive, with a much higher proportion of people living alone (32.2%) and one-parent families (18.6%) compared to the rest of the country.
Detached houses are very common, making up 88% of all homes. While the typical weekly rent of $236 is well below the national figure, 37.4% of homes are owned outright.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 66.9% of workers driving. Although there are many public transport stops, only 0.7% of people use them to commute.
Movement into the area has slowed, with 33.8% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
The job market is softer than average, with an unemployment rate of 6.6% and a lower proportion of adults working or looking for work compared to the state.
The area ranks low for overall advantage, with a score of 2 out of 10, placing it among the bottom 20% of similar areas for access to money and job skills.
The region is quite wet, with average annual rainfall of 769mm, which is well above the Victorian average of 510mm.
Recorded offences are much higher than in most areas, with theft being the most common crime and assault and property damage also appearing at high rates.
The area is only somewhat walkable, as far fewer homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services compared to the state average.