3857, VIC

The community is far older than the state and national averages, with 22.9% of people aged 65 and over. In contrast, the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 16.2% since 2011, and there is almost no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander population.

Most residents were born in Australia (81.0%), and the area has far fewer overseas-born residents than the national figure. Those with overseas heritage primarily cite English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry.

English is the dominant language, with only 0.8% of people using another tongue at home. This is far below the national and state figures, and virtually no one in the area speaks little or no English.

About 41.6% of residents report having no religion, a figure that has risen 16 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 43.2%.

Qualifications are lower than the state average, with only 39.4% of residents completing Year 12. Around 13.3% hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure.

Typical weekly household income is $1,571, which is a little below the national figure. Higher earners are rare here, with only 10.1% of households earning $3,000 or more per week.

People needing help with daily activities are more common here than in most areas, at 6.4%. Long-term health conditions are about the same as the national figure, with arthritis being the most reported issue.

Unpaid housework is much more common here than in most areas, with 27.2% of people doing over 15 hours a week. Volunteering has fallen sharply since 2011, though it remains well above the national average.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per dwelling. Very few people live alone (13.2%), which is far below the national figure, while over half of households are couples with children.

The area is made up entirely of separate houses, and 55.0% are owned outright, which is far above the state average. Renting is very rare at 8.5%, and typical weekly rents are far below the national figure.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, and the drive time to the city is much higher than most areas. No one commutes by public transport, despite having more stops per 1,000 people than the state average.

The population is very stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the rest of Australia. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas since 2011.

Unemployment is much higher than most areas at 7.3%. Full-time employment has fallen by 10 points since 2011, and the local workforce is spread across agriculture, healthcare, and education.

The area ranks higher than 60% of similar places for overall advantage, largely driven by strong access to money and resources. However, its score for education and job skills is only in the middle of the pack.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Many homes lack a 15-minute walk to basic services, and there is no health service within a 15-minute walk.