3518, VIC

The area is far older than the state and national average, with 32.0% of people aged 65 and over. Meanwhile, children under 15 make up just 12.3%, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 76.5% born here. Only 10.4% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 85.2% of residents. Only 2.2% use another language at home, and no one reported speaking little or no English.

People with no religion make up 42.5% of the population, a figure that rose 17 points since 2011. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.

Qualifications are much lower than most areas, with only 9.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 28.7% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.

Typical incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical weekly household earning $932. Only 5.7% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, far below the national figure of 22.6%.

Health challenges are common here; 41.1% of people have a long-term health condition, which is far above the national average. About 7.9% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 24.8% of people participating. Unpaid care is also high at 16.1%, while child care is far below the national average.

Small households are the norm, with 37.5% of people living alone and only 2.1 people per home. This is much lower than the national figure of 2.5.

Home ownership is very high, with 61.1% of homes owned outright. Rents are much lower than most areas, typically costing $170 a week.

Cars are essential, as 0.0% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, with 35.0% having two and 18.1% having three.

The population is very stable, with only 24.5% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are also very low at 3.6%.

Working life is less common here, as only 42.1% of adults are working or looking for work. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the main industry, employing 29.2% of the workforce.

The area ranks among the lowest for overall advantage, scoring just 1 out of 10. This reflects significant gaps in access to money, resources, and job skills.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.3. No one lives within a 15-minute walk of health services, and only 50.7% can walk to groceries in that time.