3610, VIC

The area is far older than the state average, with 23.3% of people aged 65 and over. This trend has grown since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 12.9%, which is well below the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia (81.7%), and the population of overseas-born people is far below the national average at 10.4%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 79.6% of the community. Only 3.4% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state average of 27.6%.

Religious views are split almost evenly, with 40.2% identifying as Christian and 39.8% reporting no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 19 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is among the lowest for its level, with only 30.2% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%, and only 10.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are generally well below the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $1,122. Only 11.4% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, although this has risen since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 33.6% of the population. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 13.1%.

Volunteer rates are a little above the national figure at 15.7%, though this has fallen since 2011. About 3.7% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is higher than most areas.

Homes here are smaller than usual, with 2.2 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, who make up 33.1% of the population.

Home ownership is very strong, with 47.1% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rents are far below the national average at $231.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 0.0% of people commute by public transport. It is a long trip to the city, with a typical drive time of 99 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, as only 26.2% of people have moved in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work (48.1%) compared to the national average of 61.1%. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the most common industries, employing 19.4% of the workforce.

The area ranks lower than most for overall advantage and access to resources, with an overall advantage score of 934, which is below the national average of 1,000.

Walkability is very low, with a score of 2.5, meaning the area is mostly car-dependent. Many homes are far from basic services; for example, only 39.7% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.