3505, VIC

The typical resident is 43, making the area older than the state and national figures. About 4.7% of the population are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which is well above the Victorian average of 1.0%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people at 6.2% compared to 30% in Victoria. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 86.6% of the community, which is far above the national figure. Only 3.9% of people use another language at home.

A large number of residents report having no religion, accounting for 46.3% of the population. This figure is well above the national average and has risen by 19 points since 2011.

Formal qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 34.5% of residents completing Year 12. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 9.2%, which is far below the Victorian average of 29.2%.

Typical weekly household incomes are well below the national figure at $1,338. However, there has been a notable increase in wealth since 2011, with the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week rising by 9 points.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.6% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 7.3% of residents need help with daily activities, which is higher than the national average.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 14.4% of people providing unpaid care—a figure much higher than most areas. This is alongside a higher than average rate of people doing unpaid housework.

Families are generally larger than the national average, with 2.5 people per home. Over half of all households are couples with children.

Separate houses make up 93.9% of dwellings, far above the state average. Renting is much less common here than in the rest of Victoria, and typical weekly rents of $220 are far below the national figure.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 68.6% of workers driving to work and very few using public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 39.2% have two.

The community is relatively stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is lower than in most areas. Recent arrivals from overseas rose to 8.7% by 2021.

About 56.5% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national figure. Common industries include health care, agriculture, and retail.

The area ranks as less advantaged than most other regions, particularly in terms of education and job skills. Its overall advantage score of 922 is lower than the national average.

The community is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the Victorian average. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.