3725, VIC

The area is far older than the state and national average, with 26.7% of people aged 65 or over—a figure that rose 12 points since 2011. Children under 15 make up 18.4% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas.

Most residents were born in Australia (81.2%), and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure at 9.0%. Those with overseas roots most commonly cite English, Irish or Scottish ancestry.

English is the primary language for 87.4% of residents. Only 3.4% use another language at home, and no one in the area reported speaking little or no English, which is well below the national average.

About 41.6% of people report having no religion, a figure that rose 15 points since 2011. Another 46.2% identify as Christian.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 41.2% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the Victorian average of 61.8%.

Typical weekly family income is $1,783, which is a little below the national figure. While personal incomes are lower than in most areas, the typical household income has risen $566 since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.2% of people. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, at 10.9%.

This is a highly active community where 25.2% of people volunteer, far above the national average. There is also a higher than usual rate of former Defence Force members at 4.3%.

Families are typically larger than in most areas, with 2.5 people per home. One-parent families are very rare here, making up only 4.7% of households.

The area is almost exclusively made up of separate houses (99.6%), with a very high 52.4% owned outright. Renting is rare at 10%, and typical weekly rents are far below the national figure at $200.

Cars are essential here, as every single home has at least one motor vehicle and no one commutes by public transport. The typical resident drives to work, and 19.4% work from home.

The population has become more mobile, with the proportion of people who moved in the last five years rising 11 points to 30.4%. Recent overseas arrivals make up 6.9% of the community.

Full-time employment is a little higher than the national average at 60.9%, and the unemployment rate is low at 3.3%. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

The area ranks better than about 60% of similar places for overall advantage, with a score of 990 compared to the national average of 1,000.

The area is completely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.6. There are no groceries, schools or health services within a 15-minute walk of any home.