3732, VIC

The community is far older than most other areas, with over a quarter of people aged 65 and over. While the number of children has fallen since 2011, the population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has risen to 2.6%.

This area is much less diverse than the state average, with only 7.2% of people born overseas. Most residents claim English or Australian ancestry.

English is the primary language for 90.5% of the population, which is far above the national figure. Very few people use another language at home, and no one reported speaking little or no English.

A majority of residents—53.6%—report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This has become more common over time, rising 25 points since 2011.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 14.2% of the population, which is far below the state average. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 has risen by 13 points since 2011.

Typical family incomes are well below the national figure, and only 10.5% of households earn $3,000 or more a week. Despite this, typical personal and household incomes have all risen since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in the rest of the state, and mental health conditions are higher than in most areas. About 5.8% of people need help with daily activities.

Residents are very active in their community, with a volunteering rate well above the national figure. Unpaid care is also common, with 17.4% of people providing this support.

Most homes are occupied by couples, with 46.9% having children and 37.7% without. The number of people living alone has fallen by nearly 10 points since 2011.

Detached houses are the norm here, and 81.1% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Renting is much less common than elsewhere, with typical weekly rents far below the state average.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as no one commutes via public transport. However, working from home is very common, with about one in four people doing so.

The community is relatively stable, as far fewer people have moved house in the last five years compared to the state average. Recent overseas arrivals have risen to 9.1%.

Unemployment is much lower than most areas at 2.5%. Many people work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, and nearly 28% of the workforce are managers.

The area sits around the middle for overall advantage compared to other similar places. It scores slightly higher than average for access to money and resources.

The area is mostly car-dependent with very low walkability. Many homes are far from health services and schools, though about half are within a 15-minute walk of a park.