Seymour

The population is older than usual, with 23.9% of residents aged 65 or over, which is well above the national figure. Meanwhile, children under 15 make up only 15.1% of the community, a figure well below the Australian average.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a far lower proportion of overseas-born people (11.3%) compared to the state and national averages. English, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries alongside Australian.

English is the primary language here, with only 6.6% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national figure. Very few residents speak little or no English.

People with no religion make up 44.0% of the community, a figure that has risen by 19 points since 2011 and is well above the national average. Christianity is equally common at 44.0%.

Education levels are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 10.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 36.8% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the state figure.

Incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical family earning $1,483 a week. Only 9.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are common here; 37.6% of people have a long-term health condition, and 9.2% need help with daily activities, both of which are well above national figures. Mental health is a significant concern, affecting 13.3% of residents.

The area has a very high proportion of former Defence Force members (6.9%) compared to the rest of the state. Around 13% of people provide unpaid care, which is a little above the national average.

First Nations residents are noticeably younger, with a typical age of 21. However, they face significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 22.1% and lower Year 12 completion rates than the state average.

Homes here are smaller than usual, with 2.2 people per home. There is a high number of people living alone (34.1%) and a very high rate of one-parent families at 24.4%, which is far above the national average.

The town is dominated by separate houses (90.1%), and 36.8% of homes are owned outright. Typical weekly rents are $250, which is well below the national figure.

Most people drive to work, and very few (0.7%) use public transport. While there are many public transport stops available, the drive time to the city is much higher than in most areas.

The community is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years than is typical. However, there has been a rise in recent arrivals from overseas, who now make up 23.6% of the population.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work (51.3%) compared to the state average. The unemployment rate is 6.0%, and many residents work as labourers, technicians, or in health care and social assistance.

Seymour is ranked among the most disadvantaged areas, with very low scores for overall advantage, access to resources, and job skills relative to other similar places.

The area receives more rainfall than the state average, with an annual average of 664mm. Temperatures are generally in line with the rest of Victoria.

The town is somewhat walkable, and nearly 90% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, residents struggle more to reach groceries, schools, and health services on foot compared to the state average.