3687, VIC

Residents are far older than the state and national average, and the proportion of seniors has risen by 8.4 percentage points since 2011. Conversely, children under 15 make up 16.4% of the area, which is lower than most similar places.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 87.2% born here. Only 6.9% of people were born overseas, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%.

English is the dominant language, used by 92.8% of the population. Only 1.6% of people use another language at home, which is far lower than the state figure of 27.6%.

Religious affiliation is shifting, as the number of people reporting no religion rose by 21 percentage points since 2011 to reach 39.3%. Christianity remains the most common faith at 52.5%.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 35.5% of residents completing Year 12 and 10% holding a bachelor degree or higher. These figures are far below the Victorian averages.

Weekly incomes are lower than the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,280. This is well below the national average of $1,746, though income has risen by $380 since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 35.7% of people have a long-term health condition. Around 7.4% of residents need help with daily activities, which is higher than the national average.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 15.7% of people providing such support, which is well above the national figure. The area also has a higher proportion of Defence Force veterans than most similar places.

Families tend to be smaller, with 2.3 people per home. Couples without children make up 36.7% of households, and 27.1% of people live alone.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 89.1% of dwellings. A striking 43.6% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure of 31%.

Reliance on cars is almost total, with 71.5% of workers driving and 0% using public transport to commute. A typical home has two or more motor vehicles.

The population is very stable, as only 26.6% of people moved in the last five years, which is far lower than the national average of 40.7%.

Manufacturing is the largest industry for local workers at 21.8%. While the unemployment rate is quite low at 2.7%, the proportion of adults working or looking for work is lower than in most areas.

The area faces some challenges, with an overall advantage score of 946, which is lower than about 67% of similar areas. This is consistent with the lower levels of typical income and higher health needs.

While many homes are within walking distance of a school, health services are far less accessible, with only 5.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk. The overall walkability score is 5.2, making it somewhat walkable.