Golden Plains - South

Families are a core part of the area, with children under 15 making up 21.8% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 18.2%. The typical resident is 40, and there has been a notable rise in people living in de facto relationships since 2011.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 9.7% of people born overseas—a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the primary language here, with only 2.8% of people using another tongue at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%. Very few people, just 0.3%, speak little or no English.

A majority of residents now report having no religion, at 51.1%, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. This represents a significant rise of 20 points since 2011.

Education levels are lower than in most similar areas, with 48.4% of people finishing Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%. Those with a bachelor's degree or higher make up 17.5% of adults.

Typical weekly household income is $1,898, which is a little above the national figure of $1,746. There has been a steady rise in earnings since 2011, with typical family incomes increasing by $750 per week.

About 29.3% of people have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national average of 27.7%. However, those needing help with daily activities are fewer than in most areas, at 4.5%.

Local residents are more likely to volunteer than the national average, at 18.2%. There is also a high level of unpaid work, with 28.3% of people doing over 15 hours of housework a week.

The First Nations community is small, numbering 103 people. This group has a very high Year 12 completion rate of 48.4% and an unemployment rate of 0.0%, both of which are far better than national figures.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.9 people per home compared to the national average of 2.5. Very few people live alone, and one-parent families are much less common than in other areas.

The landscape is dominated by separate houses, which make up 99.5% of all dwellings. Large homes are the norm, with 87.4% having three or more bedrooms, and renting is very rare at just 6.9%.

Car dependence is almost total, as 99.2% of homes own a motor vehicle and very few people use public transport. Most residents face a long commute, with a typical drive time to the city of 114 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with only 31.9% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals are also very rare.

A high number of residents are working or looking for work, at 65.6%. Common industries include construction, health care, and agriculture, with a low unemployment rate of 3.0%.

The area is seen as having high access to money and resources, ranking higher than 90% of similar areas. Population growth has remained strong, rising by 10.9% since 2021.

The local climate is slightly cooler than the state average, with a typical maximum temperature of 19.2 degrees. Annual rainfall is a little above the Victorian average at 568mm.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with a very low walkability score of 1.2. Only 9.5% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or the city's basic amenities.