Avoca

The community is far older than the national figure, with seniors making up 31.1% of the population. Conversely, children under 15 are well below the state average at 14.4%, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (9.5%) than the state average.

English is the dominant language, with only 2.2% of people using another tongue at home, which is far below the Victorian average.

A large number of residents report no religion (43.9%), a figure that rose 20 points since 2011 and sits well above the national average.

Academic qualifications are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 12.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and just 34.1% completing Year 12.

Typical incomes are far below the national figure, with the usual household earning $985 a week and only 6.6% of homes earning $3,000 or more weekly.

Long-term health conditions are very common here, affecting 37% of people, which is well above the state average. This is reflected in the 8.4% of residents who need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 21.2% of people giving their time. Unpaid care is also frequent, with 15.5% of the community providing support.

First Nations people make up 1.3% of the population, with a higher-than-average 6.5% speaking a First Nations language.

Many residents live alone (33.4%), which is well above the national average and consistent with the older age of the community.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (97.3%), and 55.1% of these are owned outright, far above the state figure. Renting is very rare at 11% and typical weekly rents are much lower than average at $200.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, with 37.1% owning two.

The population is relatively stable, with a far lower percentage of people moving in the last five years (25.9%) compared to the rest of Australia.

Working or looking for work is much less common here than elsewhere, at 46.6%. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is a key industry, employing 20.4% of the workforce.

The area ranks low for overall advantage and access to resources, with a score of 2 out of 10 compared to all other areas.

The region sees an average annual rainfall of 621mm, which is a little above the Victorian average.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 2.4, as very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services or groceries.