3559, VIC

The area is significantly older than most, with 26.8% of residents aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national 17.2%. Children under 15 make up 16.5% of the population, which is slightly below the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia (78.5%), and those born overseas make up only 6.4%, far below the national average of 27.7%. Australian, English, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for the vast majority, with only 3.6% of people using another language at home, far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Over half the community identifies as Christian, while 30.2% report no religion, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 38% of residents completing Year 12 and 11.4% holding a bachelor degree or higher, both far below the national average.

Typical weekly household income is $1,272, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, much lower than most areas.

A higher proportion of people need help with daily activities (7.1%) compared to the national figure of 5.8%. Arthritis is the most common long-term health condition reported.

This is a highly active community, with 33.1% of people volunteering, far above the national average of 14.1%. Unpaid care is also common, as 17.9% of residents provide unpaid care.

Homes are generally smaller than in other areas, with 2.3 people per home. About 27.5% of people live alone, and one-parent families make up 13.9% of households.

Housing is very stable, with 50% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Almost all residences (96.8%) are separate houses, and most have three or more bedrooms.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, with every single home owning at least one motor vehicle. Public transport use is non-existent for commuting, and the drive time to the city is very long at 120 minutes.

The population is very settled, as only 18.5% of people moved in the last five years, far below the national 40.7%. There were no recent arrivals from overseas.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the dominant industries, employing 41.6% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is very low at 1.5%, well below the national figure.

The area has a moderate level of advantage, scoring 6 out of 10 for overall advantage, which is higher than about 60% of similar areas.

The area is almost entirely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.9, far below the state average of 6.4. No one lives within a 15-minute walk of health services.