3546, VIC

Seniors aged 65 and over make up 29.2% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also make up a much higher share of the community than in most areas, rising to 5.5% in 2021.

The area is predominantly Australian born, with only 7.5% of people born overseas, a figure far below the Victorian average of 30%. Most residents claim Australian, English, or Irish ancestry.

English is the primary language for 90.8% of the population, and only 4.3% use another language at home. This is far below the national average of 22.3%.

About 49.4% of residents identify as Christian, while 37.6% report no religion. This last figure has risen by 18 points since 2011.

The community has a lower rate of Year 12 completion than most areas, at 37.3%. However, 16.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, with many qualifications tied to agriculture, health, and education.

Typical weekly household income is $1,312, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Very few people earn high wages, with only 3.5% making $2,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are very common here, affecting 39.3% of people, which is far above the national average of 27.7%. Consequently, 8.1% of residents need help with daily activities.

This is a highly active community for volunteering, with 32.2% of people volunteering, far above the national rate of 14.1%. Many residents also provide unpaid care or do significant housework.

People are more likely to live alone here than in most areas, with 30.7% of households being single-person homes. Typical homes are smaller, averaging 2.3 people.

Home ownership is very high, with 58.6% of houses owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Most homes are large, detached houses with three or more bedrooms.

Cars are essential for most, as no one commutes by public transport and the walk to the nearest stop can take 83 minutes. However, 23.4% of workers operate from home.

The community is relatively stable, with 30.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Nearly half of the workforce is employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is lower than both the state and national figures.

The area ranks below many other regions for overall advantage, with a score of 950 compared to the national average of 1,000.

The area has a walkability score of 4.3, which is well below the state average. While parks are common, most residents live far from groceries, health services, and schools.