Upper Yarra Valley

The community is small, with 238 people, and has seen a rise in children under 15 to 23.1%, which is well above the national figure. While the typical age is 43, the proportion of seniors is much lower than in most other areas.

People born overseas make up just 7.1% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011 and is far below the Victorian average. Most residents claim English or Australian ancestry.

English is the dominant language, with only 1.3% of people using another language at home. This is far below the state and national figures and represents a decline since 2011.

A large majority of residents—59.7%—report having no religion, which is far above the national average. This figure has risen by 19 percentage points since 2011.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 6.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 35% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the state average.

Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $900 a week. No one in the area earns $2,000 or more per week, placing it among the lowest for income at this level.

Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 10.5% of the population. Other health figures, such as the need for help with daily activities, are about the same as the state average.

Volunteering has fallen sharply since 2011 to just 7.9%, which is well below the national figure. However, a higher proportion of residents provide unpaid care compared to most areas.

There are 8 First Nations people in the area. The typical First Nations resident is 36, which is far older than the state and national averages of 24.

Single-person households are very common, making up 37% of the total, which is far above the national figure. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most other areas.

Housing is almost exclusively detached houses (96.7%), and rent is much lower than average at $260 a week. Ownership is high, with 35.9% of homes owned outright.

The area is entirely car-dependent, with no one using public transport to commute and every home owning at least one vehicle. It takes over four hours to drive to the city.

The community is relatively stable, with only 26.4% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen significantly since 2011.

Fewer people are working or looking for work compared to most areas, and the unemployment rate is 9.0%, which is well above the state average. Construction is the most common industry.

The area is ranked as disadvantaged in both overall advantage and job skills, scoring lower than about 80% to 90% of similar areas. There are only 9 businesses in the region.

The climate is very wet and cool, with annual rainfall far above the Victorian average. Maximum and minimum temperatures are also well below the state figures.

The area is considered completely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.3. There are no schools, health services, or groceries within a 15-minute walk for any resident.