3525, VIC

The area is far older than most, with 33.5% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose nearly 10 points since 2011. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 14.0%, which is well below the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia (82.2%), and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the state and national averages at 6.3%.

English is the primary language for 86.5% of the community, meaning the proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national average.

Christianity is the most common faith at 53.8%, though the number of people reporting no religion rose by 13 points since 2011 to reach 32.4%.

Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 11.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 36.3% completing Year 12, which is far below the state average.

Incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the typical household earning $991 a week and only 7.2% of households earning $3,000 or more weekly.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, as 36.8% of people have a long-term health condition and 8.1% need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is very common, with 32.7% of people pitching in, far above the national figure. Many residents also provide unpaid care, reaching a rate among the highest for similar areas.

Homes are smaller than usual, with just 2.1 people per household. This is partly because a high number of people (34.1%) live alone, which is well above the state average.

Home ownership is very high, with 58.0% of houses owned outright, far above the national figure. Most people live in separate houses, and typical rents are much lower than in the rest of Victoria.

Cars are essential here, as no one commutes by public transport and public transport stops are far below the state average.

The population is relatively stable, with much fewer people moving in the last five years compared to most areas, although recent overseas arrivals have increased since 2011.

A quarter of the workforce is employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Overall, far fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average, consistent with the older population.

The area ranks lower than most similar regions for overall advantage, with a score of 933, which is below the national average.

The area is somewhat walkable, and while it is far below the state average for public transport access, it is well above the state average for health services within a 15-minute walk.