Swan Hill

The area has a higher proportion of children under 15 than most similar places, though this fell 1.9 points since 2011. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.5% of the population, which is well above the Victorian figure of 1.0%.

The community is predominantly of Australian (35.6%) and English (33.1%) ancestry. The proportion of people born overseas has risen by 4.9 points since 2011 to 16.7%, though this remains far below the national figure of 27.7%.

People using a language other than English at home rose to 16.4% by 2021, which is much higher than most similar areas. This shift is alongside a rise in people who speak little or no English, now at 5.5%, a little above the national figure.

Christianity is the most common faith at 46.1%, while 36.0% of residents report no religion. The number of people claiming no religion rose by 15 points since 2011, though it remains lower than most similar areas.

Educational attainment is lower than most areas, with only 11.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far below the state figure of 29.2%. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 rose 10 points since 2011 to 40.7%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,379, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 9.0 points since 2011, this is still lower than most similar areas.

Long-term health conditions are reported by 28.5% of people, about the same as the national figure. Mental health conditions are slightly less common here than in the rest of the country at 7.6%.

Volunteering is more common here than in the rest of the state, with 16.9% of people volunteering, although this fell 8.4 points since 2011. Unpaid care for children is a little below the national figure at 24.1%.

First Nations people in the area have a typical age of 22, which is much lower than most areas. Unemployment is well above the national figure at 15.7%, and Year 12 completion is lower than most areas at 30.2%.

Homes here are larger than most, with 2.5 people per home. Couples with children make up the largest group at 53.8%, while 27.9% of people live alone.

Separate houses are far more common here than in the rest of the state, making up 87.3% of dwellings. Rent is far below the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $225.

Most people rely on cars, with 66.3% of workers driving to work and only 1.1% using public transport. Only 8.1% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure of 21.0%.

The area is seeing a high number of recent arrivals from overseas, at 34.9%, which is far above the national figure. However, overall movement is lower than most areas, with 32.7% of people having moved in the last five years.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are major employers, accounting for 20.7% of jobs. The unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is lower than both the state and national figures.

The area has a lower overall advantage score than 60% of similar areas, and its population growth since 2021 has been among the lowest in the state at -2.0%.

The region is much drier than most areas, with average annual rainfall of 313mm, far below the Victorian average of 510mm. Maximum temperatures are a little above the state figure at 24.9 degrees.

Theft is more common here than in most areas, making up 21.0% of offences. However, the rates of motor vehicle theft and burglary are lower than most similar areas.

Walkability is well below the state average, with only 55.5% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed. Residents are most likely to find parks within a 15-minute walk, but far less likely to find health services or schools.