3620, VIC

Seniors make up 26% of the population, which is well above the national figure. The area has grown by 3.9% since 2011, while the number of children under 15 has fallen slightly to 17.3%.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 7.7% born overseas—a figure far below the state and national averages. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language for 88.5% of residents. Only 4.8% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Over half of residents identify as Christian, while 38.9% report no religion. This last group has grown significantly, rising 19 percentage points since 2011.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 36.1% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the Victorian average of 61.8%.

Incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,202 a week. Only 10.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.

Health challenges are common here, as 35% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 7.5% of residents need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is more common here than in most areas, with 15.1% of people providing support. However, the number of volunteers has fallen since 2011 to 17.2%.

Living arrangements are varied, with 30.2% of people living alone. One-parent families make up 15.6% of the community, which is higher than most similar areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (89.1%), and 42.3% of homes are owned outright. Weekly rent is far below the national average at just $220.

Public transport is rarely used for commuting, and 0% of people use it to get to work. Most residents rely on cars, and the drive to the city is among the longest in the region.

The area is relatively stable, as only 30.5% of people moved in the last five years. This is well below the Victorian average of 40%.

Adults working or looking for work make up 55% of the population, which is well below the national figure. Common industries include health care, manufacturing, and agriculture.

The area scores low for overall advantage and job skills, ranking lower than about 70% of similar areas.

Walkability is low, with a score of 4.3. Many homes are far from basic services; for example, only 50.2% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.