3956, VIC

Seniors make up 27.4% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. The area is much older than most, with the typical age rising by 4 years since 2011 to reach 51.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower percentage of overseas-born people (12.7%) compared to Victoria's 30.0%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 89.6% of the community. Only 4.2% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.

A majority of residents (54.2%) report having no religion, a figure far above the national average of 38.9%. This has seen a significant increase of 21 percentage points since 2011.

The area has seen a rise in higher education, with 20.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While this is higher than most similar areas, it remains well below the Victorian average.

Typical weekly household income is $1,138, which is much lower than the national figure of $1,746. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week has risen since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.5% of residents. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 11.2%.

Volunteering is very common, with 26.3% of people participating, which is far above the national rate of 14.1%. Unpaid care for others is also much higher than in most areas.

The area has a high proportion of people living alone (33.0%) and a low typical household size of 2.2 people, consistent with its older population.

Housing is overwhelmingly dominated by separate houses (98.1%), and a far higher share of homes are owned outright (51.4%) compared to the national figure of 31.0%.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 51.5% of workers driving and almost no one using public transport to commute. Working from home is common, accounting for 26.3% of jobs.

Movement into the area is steady, with 35.6% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are much less common here than in the rest of the state.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are major employers for nearly 20% of the workforce. Full-time employment is among the lowest for its level at 49.1%.

The area sits around the middle for overall advantage compared to other similar areas, with a score of 978.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of public transport or health services.