3223, VIC

Seniors aged 65 and over make up 38.8% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. In contrast, children under 15 are well below the state average at 10.5%, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia (75.8%), and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the state average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries reported.

English is the primary language for 85.6% of the community, meaning those using another language at home are far below the national figure. Only 0.8% of residents speak little or no English.

About 40.4% of people report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 16 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 49.2%.

The proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is 18.4%, which is higher than most similar areas but still well below the state average. Year 12 completion has risen to 42.0% since 2011.

Incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,139 a week. Only 11.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, although this has risen since 2011.

Health needs are high here, with 39.3% of people reporting a long-term health condition, far above the national average. This is reflected in the 7.3% who need help with daily activities, which is much higher than most areas.

Unpaid care is common, with 14.8% of people providing care and 26.7% doing significant housework, both figures well above the state average. This is consistent with the high number of older residents.

Homes are typically small, with just 2.1 people per dwelling. About 31% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure of 25.6%.

Detached houses are the norm for 92.1% of residents, and 52.6% of these homes are owned outright, far above the state average. Most homes are large, with 83.2% having three or more bedrooms.

The area is very car-dependent, as only 0.8% of people commute by public transport and the drive to the city takes 87 minutes. However, 23.2% of workers now work from home, a sharp rise since 2011.

The area has seen significant movement, with 45.2% of people moving house in the last five years, which is well above the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas remain very low at 3.4%.

Working age participation is far below the state average, with only 42.8% of adults working or looking for work. Health care, construction, and retail are the most common industries.

The area sits around the middle for overall advantage compared to similar regions, with a score of 5 out of 10 for access to money and resources.

Walkability is low, as only 32.3% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed. While most people live near a park, far fewer can walk to groceries or health services compared to the state average.