3550, VIC

The area has a population of 41,839, which grew by 4.2% since 2011. It is older than most areas, with people aged 65 and over making up 21.0% of the community, a figure well above the national level.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 11.2%, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

While 86.3% of people speak only English, those using another language at home make up 8.0%, which is higher than in similar areas. This language diversity is consistent with a recent increase in overseas arrivals.

A large number of residents report no religion, at 47.3%, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant shift, as the number rose by 21 points since 2011.

Education levels have risen, with 24.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Over half of residents have completed Year 12, though this is well below the state average.

The typical household income is $1,367 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more weekly rose by 9.5 points since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.6% of people having a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are particularly high at 14.0%, well above the national figure of 8.8%.

Unpaid care is a common part of life, as 14.4% of people provide unpaid care, which is much higher than in most areas. Volunteering has fallen since 2011 to 15.8%.

The area has a high proportion of people living alone (34.9%) and one-parent families (19.9%), both of which are well above national figures. Consequently, homes are smaller, with a typical 2.2 people per house.

Renting is very common at 37.6%, which is well above the state average. While 84.9% of homes are separate houses, the typical weekly rent of $285 is well below the national figure.

Most people drive to work (60.5%), and the drive to the city is much longer than in most areas. Despite this, the area has a high number of public transport stops, with 327 in total.

The community is quite mobile, with 42.0% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 21.1% of the population, which is well above the national average.

Full-time employment is lower than in most areas at 54.9%. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, which is the most common industry at 21.4%.

The area is ranked as less advantaged than about 60% of similar areas, particularly regarding access to money and resources, where it sits at the lower end of the scale.

The area is very walkable, with 95.9% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. While parks and schools are very accessible, 36.4% of homes are more than 15 minutes from groceries.