3673, VIC

The area is significantly older than most, with over a quarter of residents aged 65 or more. This shift is clear in the data, as the senior population rose by 8.2 percentage points since 2011, while children under 15 now make up just 14% of the community.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people compared to the rest of the state. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while the share of people born overseas fell slightly since 2011.

English is the primary language for the vast majority of the community, with only 1.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%, and virtually no one in the area speaks little or no English.

A shift away from organised religion is evident here, as the share of people reporting no religion rose by 17 percentage points since 2011. At 45.4%, this is well above both the Victorian and national figures.

Education levels are lower than the state average, with 44.1% of people completing Year 12. While the share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is 17.1%, this is far below the Victorian average of 29.2%.

Typical weekly household incomes are well below the national figure, sitting at $1,351. However, there has been a notable increase in wealth since 2011, with the share of households earning over $3,000 a week rising by 10 percentage points.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.5% of residents. Arthritis and asthma are the most frequent conditions reported.

Volunteering is a standout feature, with 23.8% of people contributing their time, which is far above the national figure. This high level of community spirit is seen alongside a very high rate of unpaid carers.

Family sizes are typical for the region, though one-parent families are much less common than in most other areas. About 23.8% of people live alone, a figure that has risen since 2011.

Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 98% of the community living in separate houses. The area is also far more likely to own homes outright than most, with 48.9% of properties held without a mortgage.

The area is entirely dependent on cars, with no one using public transport to commute and 99.3% of homes owning at least one vehicle. Working from home is relatively common, accounting for 23.3% of the workforce.

The population is very stable, as the share of people who moved in the last five years is far below the national average. Similarly, there are very few recent arrivals from overseas.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries for 21.2% of workers. The local job market is strong, with an unemployment rate of 2.4%, which is much lower than the state average.

Residents generally have good access to money and resources, ranking higher than about 80% of similar areas. Overall, the community sits above the middle for general advantage compared to all areas.

The area is almost entirely car-dependent, with no homes within a 15-minute walk of public transport or health services. Only 3.1% of households are within walking distance of groceries.