3847, VIC

The typical resident is 43, making the area noticeably older than the state and national averages. This trend is driven by seniors, who now make up 21.8% of the population—a jump of 7 points since 2011.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian or English in ancestry, and only 8.9% of people were born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 85% of the population. Only 3.3% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the Victorian average.

A large proportion of the community reports having no religion, at 45.4%. This figure is well above the national average and has risen by 18 points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 33.6% of residents completing Year 12. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up just 9.9% of adults, far below the state average.

Typical weekly family incomes are $1,660, which is well below the national figure of $2,120. Personal incomes are also much lower than most areas, with 44.5% of people earning under $650 a week.

Residents experience higher rates of health issues, with 33.7% having a long-term condition and 11.1% reporting a mental health condition. This is much higher than most other areas.

Unpaid care is common here, as 14.4% of people provide unpaid care—a rate much higher than most areas. There is also a higher proportion of Defence Force veterans compared to the state.

Family structures are varied, with 52% being couples with children and 13.5% being one-parent families. About 26.7% of people live alone.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 95.1% of homes. Renting is far less common here than in the rest of the state, with only 14.6% of households renting.

Cars are essential, as 63.2% of people drive to work and only 0.9% use public transport. The drive time to the city is among the highest in the region at 129 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, as only 29.5% of people have moved in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry and fishing, which accounts for 16.1% of jobs. While full-time work is higher than average, the unemployment rate is also higher at 6.3%.

The area ranks low for overall advantage and job skills, sitting in the bottom 20% of similar areas. Its overall advantage score of 917 is well below the national average.

Walkability is low, with a score of 4.3. Many homes are far from basic needs, as only 52.5% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.