3563, VIC

The community is far older than the national average, with 23.3% of people aged 65 and over. There is a notable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 3.3%, which has risen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 6.4% were born overseas, a figure far below the national average. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common.

English is the dominant language, with only 2.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the state and national figures, and no one reported speaking little or no English.

About 42.8% of people report having no religion, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 23 percentage points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 26.8% of residents completing Year 12. Just 8.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the state average.

Typical incomes are well below national levels, with the typical family earning $1,523 a week. Only 9% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this is an increase from 2011.

Health challenges are common here, as 35.4% of people have a long-term health condition and 13.1% live with a mental health condition, both of which are well above national figures.

The area has a very high rate of volunteering at 24.1%, far above the national average. Residents also provide more unpaid care than most other areas, at 16.8%.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 17.1% of households. Around 28.6% of people live alone.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, with 97.4% of homes being detached. Many residents own their homes outright (45.3%), and typical weekly rents are much lower than the state average at $200.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as no one commutes by public transport. It is a long way from the city, with a typical drive time of 138 minutes.

The population is very stable, with only 28% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national average. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the main industry, employing 38.2% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is about the same as the national figure.

The area ranks low for overall advantage, with an overall score of 897, which is lower than about 89% of similar areas.

Walkability is low, as no homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services. While there are some parks and schools nearby, the overall walkability score is well below the state average.