Golden Plains - North

The typical resident is 43, which is noticeably older than the national figure. This trend is reflected in the senior population, which rose 5.6 points since 2011 to reach 19.1%, while children under 15 make up 19.5% of the community.

The area is far less diverse than the state average, with only 9.3% of people born overseas. Australian and English ancestries are the most common, and the proportion of overseas-born residents fell slightly since 2011.

English is the primary language for 90.2% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home is 2.6%, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Over half the population (50.7%) now report no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen by 20 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 14.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state average at 41.3%, though this has risen 8 points since 2011.

Typical weekly household incomes are a little below the national figure at $1,455. High earners are rare here, as only 12.5% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is far below the national rate of 22.6%.

Residents face more health challenges than most, with 34.8% reporting a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 12.5% of people live with a mental health condition.

Community spirit is evident through high rates of volunteering (16.6%) and unpaid care (15.7%), both of which are higher than the national average. There is also a stronger presence of Defence Force veterans compared to the state.

First Nations people make up 1.6% of the population, with a typical personal income of $840 that is well above the national figure. However, the unemployment rate for this group is 15.0%, which is much higher than in most areas.

Families tend to be slightly larger than average, with 2.6 people per home. Most households are couples with children (57.1%) or couples without children (30.0%).

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 99% of all dwellings. Home ownership is very strong, with 43% of homes owned outright, and renting is far less common here than across the state.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.4% of people commuting by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and the drive time to the city is among the highest at 111 minutes.

The community is very stable, as only 29% of people moved in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very rare at just 1.8%.

The workforce is slightly smaller than the state average, with 57.5% of adults working or looking for work. Common industries include health care, construction, and retail trade.

While residents generally have good access to money and resources, the area ranks lower than most for education and job skills. The overall advantage score is 955, which is below the national average.

The climate is cooler than most of Victoria, with an average maximum temperature of 18.7 degrees. Rainfall is well above the state average, averaging 676mm annually.

The area is highly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.6. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries (11.1%) or health services (9.8%).