3870, VIC

The population has shrunk by 14% since 2011 and is far older than the national average. Seniors make up 22.4% of the community, a figure that has risen by 9 points over the last decade.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the state average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, totaling 82% of the population.

English is the primary language for 87.6% of the community. Only 3.6% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.

A majority of residents—55.8%—report having no religion, placing the area among the highest for this trait. This figure has risen by 19 points since 2011.

While 43.2% of residents completed Year 12, this is far below the state average. The number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has risen to 17.4%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,219, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 11.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.3% of residents. Mental health conditions are also a little above the national average at 11.8%.

Unpaid care is common, with 16.5% of people providing such support. Volunteers make up 19.2% of the community, which is well above the national figure.

People living alone make up 30.9% of households, which is well above the national average. Because of this, there are fewer people per home than in most areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, with 99% of homes being detached. Nearly half of all homes—48.5%—are owned outright, far above the national figure.

The area is highly reliant on cars, as no one commutes to work by public transport. It is one of the furthest areas from the city, with a typical drive time of 150 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the state average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much lower than in most areas.

Adults working or looking for work make up 53.7% of the population, which is well below the state average. The unemployment rate is 6.5%, slightly above the national figure.

The area has an overall advantage score of 959, which is lower than about 60% of similar areas.

Walkability is very low, with a score of 2.7, meaning the area is mostly car-dependent. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.