3558, VIC

This is a far older community than most, with a typical age of 52 and a growing proportion of seniors, who now make up 29.2% of the population. Conversely, children under 15 are less common here than in most areas, falling to 15.1% since 2011.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 81.6% born here and only 5.6% born overseas—a figure far below the Victorian average of 30%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the primary language for 84.6% of the community. Very few people use another language at home (3.5%), and the proportion of people who speak little or no English is well below the national figure.

Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 48.6%. However, there has been a significant shift since 2011, with the share of people reporting no religion rising by 20 points to 35.3%.

Educational attainment is among the lowest for its level, with only 29.9% of residents having completed Year 12, which is far below the state average of 61.8%. Only 11.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the usual household earning $972 a week. Only 9.8% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are common here, with 36.9% of people living with a long-term condition—well above the national figure. This is reflected in the 7.9% who need help with daily activities, which is much higher than most areas.

Volunteering is a standout feature, with 26.6% of people contributing their time, far above the national average of 14.1%. Unpaid care is also more common here than in most areas.

Living arrangements are distinct, with 36.1% of people living alone and a higher-than-usual 17% of families led by a single parent. This leads to smaller average households of 2.1 people.

The area is dominated by detached houses (96.5%), and home ownership is very high, with 48.6% of homes owned outright. Rent is far below the national average at $220 a week.

Cars are essential, as 0% of people commute by public transport and the drive time to the city is very long at 118 minutes. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 34.9% have two.

While few people have moved into the area recently compared to the state average, there has been a sharp rise in recent arrivals from overseas, which jumped 19 points since 2011 to reach 24.1%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the main industries for 27.7% of workers. While full-time employment is slightly above the national average, the proportion of adults working or looking for work is far below the state figure.

The area ranks low for overall advantage, scoring a 2 out of 10. This reflects significant gaps in access to money, resources, and job skills compared to most other areas.

The community is somewhat walkable, with a high number of amenities like health services and groceries within a 15-minute walk. However, access to public transport is poor, with over half of homes located more than 10 minutes away from a stop.