3874, VIC

This is an ageing community where the typical resident is 58, far older than the national figure of 38. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 33.4% of the population, a figure that has risen 13 points since 2011, while children under 15 have fallen to just 9.3%.

Most residents were born in Australia, with 80% of the population born here. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries, and the number of people born overseas has risen slightly to 12.0% since 2011.

English is the primary language here, with 89.5% of people using it exclusively at home. This is far below the national and state figures for language diversity, and the share of people using another language fell to 2.5% by 2021.

A large number of residents report no religion, accounting for 48.2% of the community. This is well above the national figure and represents a significant increase of 22 points since 2011.

The area has lower levels of formal qualifications than most, with only 30.8% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the Victorian average of 61.8%, though the share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose to 11.8% since 2011.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $1,062. Only 7.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state figure of 22.7%.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 39.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. Additionally, 9.2% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the national figure of 5.8%.

While 13.2% of people provide unpaid care, the share of those caring for children is much lower than most areas at 17.0%. More people spend significant time on housework than elsewhere, with 27.9% doing 15 or more hours a week.

Homes tend to be small, with a typical size of 2.1 people, which is lower than the national figure. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone (33.7%) and couples without children (49.1%).

Home ownership is very high, with 56.1% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Renting is uncommon at 10.6%, and the typical weekly rent of $230 is far below the national average.

The area is entirely reliant on cars, with zero people commuting via public transport. Almost every home has a motor vehicle, and 25.6% of those who work do so from home.

The community is relatively stable, with only 30.8% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. There were no recent arrivals from overseas reported.

About 47.6% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far lower than the state average. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (25.6%) or health care and social assistance (18.0%).

The area ranks lower than most for overall advantage, with a score of 3 out of 10. This reflects the lower typical incomes and lower levels of formal education compared to other regions.

This is a car-dependent area with a walkability score of 1.1, far below the Victorian average. There are no grocery stores or health services within a 15-minute walk, though 79.4% of homes are near a park.