3629, VIC

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.8% of the population, which is well above the state and national figures. The area is noticeably older than average, with 22% of residents aged 65 and over, a group that has grown by 6.4 points since 2011.

The community is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry, and is far less likely to be born overseas than the average Victorian, with only 11.5% born abroad.

English is the main language for 80.9% of the area, though the number of people using another language at home has risen to 8.6% since 2011.

About 44% of the population identify as Christian, while those with no religion now make up 39.9% of the community, a sharp increase of 17 points over the last decade.

Education levels are much lower than the national average, with only 34.4% of residents completing Year 12 and just 9.5% holding a bachelor degree or higher.

Household incomes are well below the state average, with the typical family earning $1,494 a week. Only 9.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this is an increase since 2011.

The area faces significant health challenges, with 36.8% of people reporting a long-term health condition and 12.9% reporting a mental health condition, both of which are well above the national figures.

Unpaid care for others is more common here than in most areas, though the number of people volunteering has fallen to 12.8% since 2011.

Single-person households are very common at 33.3%, and there is a high rate of one-parent families at 22.3%, which is well above the national average.

Most people live in separate houses, and 35.4% own their homes outright. Typical weekly rents are much lower than the state average at $250.

Living far from the city, almost 70% of workers drive to get to work, and only 8.3% work from home, which is far below the national figure.

While movement into the area is around the middle for similar regions, there has been a rise in recent arrivals from overseas, who now make up 16.4% of the population.

Working or looking for work is much less common here than in the state, with only 52% of adults in the workforce. Common industries include health care, manufacturing, and agriculture.

The area ranks among the most disadvantaged in the state, scoring 1 out of 10 for overall advantage and access to money and resources.

The area is only somewhat walkable, with many homes far from basic needs; only 29.1% of residents are within a 15-minute walk of health services.