3984, VIC

The area is noticeably older than the state and national average, with 22.8% of residents aged 65 or over. People in de facto relationships are common here, making up 18.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 14.0% of the community, which is far below the 27.7% national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 89.2% of the population. Only 3.8% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the Victorian average of 27.6%.

More than half of residents (51.4%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9% and has risen by 22 points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 36.4% of residents having completed Year 12. Just 9.9% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the state average of 29.2%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,285, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.1% of residents. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, at 11.7%.

Unpaid housework is more common here than in most areas, with 24.4% of people doing 15 or more hours a week. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011 to 12.7%.

The area has a high number of people living alone (29.3%) and a higher rate of one-parent families (14.3%) compared to most similar areas. Typical homes are small, with 2.3 people per house.

Detached houses are the norm here, making up 95.8% of all homes. Renting is far less common than in the rest of the state, with only 16.1% of households renting.

Car use is dominant, as 65.2% of people drive to work and very few (0.3%) use public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and the typical drive to the city takes 60 minutes.

The area has seen significant movement, with 47.6% of residents moving in the last five years, which is well above the national average. Recent overseas arrivals are rare at 1.6%.

About 55.3% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the state average. The most common industries for local workers are construction, health care, and manufacturing.

The area ranks poorly for education and job skills compared to other regions. Overall, its advantage score is lower than about 72% of similar areas.

This is a mostly car-dependent area with a walkability score far below the state average. Many residents live far from health services and schools, with only 20.1% within a 15-minute walk of a school.