3608, VIC

The typical resident is 52, making the area far older than Victoria and Australia. Seniors make up 30.5% of the population, a figure that rose 4.8 points since 2011, while children under 15 are well below the state average at 14.7%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (10.6%) than the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 40.1% and 39.2% respectively.

English is the primary language for 86.3% of the community. Those using another language at home make up 5.1% of the population, which is far below the Victorian average but has risen 1.7 points since 2011.

Nearly half of residents identify as Christian, while 38.1% report no religion. This last group has grown significantly, rising 15 points since 2011 to reach a level about the same as the national figure.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 13.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, more people completed Year 12 in 2021 (38.8%) than in 2011.

Typical household incomes are much lower than the national figure, at $1,183 per week. While this is well below the state average, the number of households earning $3,000 or more weekly rose from 3.5% in 2011 to 13.2% in 2021.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 34.1% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition, and 6.5% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is well above the national average at 19.1%, and 4.9% of residents have served in the Defence Force. Unpaid care for others is also more common than in most areas.

The area has a high number of people living alone (34.6%) and smaller households, with just 2.1 people per home. This is much lower than the national average of 2.5.

Home ownership is very high, with 49.5% of houses owned outright—far above the national figure. Nearly 90% of dwellings are separate houses, and typical weekly rents are well below the state average at $290.

The area is highly dependent on cars, with only 0.2% of people commuting by public transport. Drive times to the city are much higher than in most areas, averaging 91 minutes.

Movement into the area is relatively high, with 38.9% of residents having moved in the last five years. Conversely, recent arrivals from overseas fell to 7.0% from 12.6% in 2011.

Full-time employment is a little above the national average, but only 52.0% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the state figure. Common industries include agriculture and healthcare.

The area ranks in the bottom 30% for overall advantage compared to all other areas. It also scores lower than most for access to money, resources, and job skills.

Most homes are car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.9, which is far below the state average. Only 34.2% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.