Dorset

This is an older community where the typical resident is 48, and 25.7% of people are seniors—a figure well above the national average. Meanwhile, the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 16.2% since 2011.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 82.7% born here. Only 8.9% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for the vast majority, with only 2.3% of people using another language at home. This is much lower than most other areas across the country.

Nearly half of the population (47.3%) report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 22 points since 2011. This is well above the national average.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 29.6% of residents completing Year 12. Only 10.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state and national figures.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical household earning $1,039 a week. Just 7.9% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the 22.6% seen across Australia.

A higher number of people live with health challenges here, as 34.7% have a long-term condition. This is reflected in the 7.5% of residents who need help with daily activities, which is higher than most areas.

Volunteering is more common here than elsewhere, with 20.7% of people giving their time. Unpaid care is also frequent, with 12.8% of the community providing unpaid support to others.

First Nations people make up 4.1% of the population. This group is notably older than the national average, with a typical age of 29, and faces lower typical personal incomes of $493 per week.

Homes tend to be smaller in occupancy, with 2.2 people per home. This is consistent with a higher proportion of people living alone (31.6%) compared to the national average.

The landscape is dominated by detached houses, making up 95.5% of dwellings. Home ownership is very strong, with 44.4% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute via public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 34.8% have two.

Residents are less likely to move than people in other areas, with 30.9% arriving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also few, at 9.2%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are major employers, accounting for 25.2% of jobs. The proportion of adults working or looking for work (53.0%) is well below the national average.

Dorset ranks low for overall advantage compared to other areas, scoring a 2 out of 10. This is linked to lower levels of education and job skills in the region.

The area is wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 925mm. It also experiences warmer maximum temperatures than the state typicals.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.1. Access to essential services is limited, as only 20.3% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.