3043, VIC

The area is older than the state and national average, with 21.1% of residents aged 65 and over, a figure that has risen by 5.5 points since 2011. The population of 17,912 grew by 3.2% over the last decade.

Overseas birthplaces are common here, with 32.5% of people born abroad, which is well above the national figure. Italian ancestry is especially prominent, accounting for 14.7% of the population.

Language diversity is high, with 33.6% of residents using another language at home, far above the Australian average. This is reflected in the community, where Arabic and Italian are the most common languages after English.

Religious affiliation is much more common here than in other similar areas; 60.1% of people identify as Christian, while the proportion with no religion is far below the state and national figures.

Education levels have risen since 2011, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher increasing to 18.4%. This is still well below the state average of 29.2%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,505, which is a little below the national figure. However, there has been a notable increase in wealth, with the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week rising 11 points since 2011.

The need for support is higher here than in most areas, with 7.9% of people requiring help with daily activities. This is a little above the state average and has risen since 2011.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, as 14.3% of people provide unpaid care, which is higher than most areas. Conversely, the volunteer rate is among the lowest for its level at 8.1%.

Families tend to be larger here, with 2.5 people per home. The area also has a much higher share of one-parent families compared to most other areas.

Homes are typically large, with 83.9% having three or more bedrooms, far above the national average. While 36.4% of homes are owned outright, typical weekly rents have risen by $90 since 2011 to reach $375.

Public transport is highly accessible, with 95.2% of homes within a 10-minute walk of a stop. Since 2011, there has been a huge shift in work habits, with 20.9% of people now working from home.

The community is relatively stable, as the share of people who moved in the last five years is lower than in most areas. However, recent overseas arrivals make up 11.1% of the population.

Full-time employment is a little above the national average at 61.5%. However, the unemployment rate of 6.2% is much higher than in most similar areas.

The area sits right in the middle of the scale for overall advantage, with a score of 5 out of 10. This places it at a similar level to about half of all other areas.

The community is very safe, with only 6 recorded offences per 100,000 people, which is much lower than most areas.

The area is very walkable, with 89.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. This far exceeds the state average, though access to health services is far below the state figure.