3564, VIC

The population is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with the typical age being 45. While children under 15 have fallen to 17.0% since 2011, the number of seniors has risen significantly to 23.7%.

The area is far less diverse than the rest of the state, with 85.3% of people born in Australia. Most residents identify with Australian or English ancestry, and those born overseas make up only 8.0% of the population.

English is the primary language for 89.5% of the community. Only 4.2% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Nearly half of the population identifies as Christian, while 42.9% report having no religion. This lack of religious affiliation has risen by 20 points since 2011, placing the area well above the national average.

The area has far fewer residents with a bachelor degree or higher (13.8%) than the state average. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure, though it has risen to 39.1% since 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $1,371, which is well below the national figure. However, incomes have risen since 2011, with the typical household earning $427 more per week.

Health challenges are more common here, with 33.1% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 7.2% of residents need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a common part of life here, with 13.3% of people providing support. While volunteering has fallen since 2011, it remains slightly above the state average at 14.4%.

One-parent families are much more common here (15.8%) than in most similar areas. Additionally, 28.8% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure.

Homes here are typically large, with 79.0% having three or more bedrooms. Detached houses are far more common than in the rest of the state, and 38.2% of homes are owned outright.

Reliance on cars is very high, with 66.8% of people driving to work and almost no one commuting by public transport. The drive time to the city is among the highest at this level, averaging 145 minutes.

While 36.8% of residents moved in the last five years, the area has seen a recent influx of people from overseas, with 17.0% arriving from abroad since 2016.

Full-time employment is lower than the national average at 56.1%. The workforce is concentrated in health care, construction, and retail, and the unemployment rate is lower than the state figure at 3.6%.

The area ranks lower than most similar places for overall advantage and job skills. It sits at a 4 out of 10 for access to money and resources.

The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.8. Residents have far less access to health services and parks within a 15-minute walk compared to the state average.