Wangaratta Surrounds

The community is notably older, with 22.9% of people aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. This aging trend has grown since 2011, and the typical resident is now 48 years old.

The area is very traditional in its roots, with a high proportion of people claiming English or Australian ancestry. Only 7.5% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the Victorian and national figures.

English is the dominant language, used by 90.1% of the community. Only 3.6% of people use another language at home, a rate far below the state and national averages.

A large shift has occurred since 2011, with the number of people reporting no religion rising 18 points to 43.4%, which is now well above the national figure.

While 18.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree, the rate of Year 12 completion is far below the national average at 45.8%, though this has risen since 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $1,501, which is a little below the national figure. However, there has been a notable increase in prosperity, with the proportion of households earning over $3,000 a week rising 11 points since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most similar areas, affecting 31.6% of residents. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 11.5%.

This is a highly active community where 23.5% of people volunteer, a rate far above the national figure. Unpaid care is also common, with 16.4% of people providing unpaid support.

First Nations people make up 1.2% of the population. The unemployment rate for this group is 5.7%, which is much lower than most similar areas.

Families are the norm here, with 55.5% of households consisting of couples with children. One-parent families are much less common than in most other areas.

Housing is dominated by large, separate houses, with 84.9% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Nearly half (49.5%) of these homes are owned outright, and the rent is much lower than the national figure.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, with 98.9% of homes owning at least one vehicle. Only 0.3% of people use public transport to get to work.

The population is very stable, with only 25.7% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Jobs are concentrated in agriculture, health, and manufacturing. The unemployment rate is very low at 1.9%, which is well below the state and national figures.

The area is relatively prosperous, with a high number of businesses and an access to resources score that is higher than 80% of similar areas.

The region is wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 874mm, while winter temperatures are typically lower than in most other areas.

The area is very car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 1.5. Only 13.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far below the state average.