Bright - Mount Beauty

The area is much older than most, with 24.3% of residents aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. In contrast, children under 15 make up just 15.2% of the population, which is well below the Australian figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (14.2%) compared to the state and national figures. English and Australian ancestries are the most common.

English is the dominant language here, with only 5.3% of people using another tongue at home, which is far below the national figure. Consequently, very few residents speak little or no English.

A majority of the community (55.1%) report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This trend has grown significantly, rising 23 points since 2011.

The area has a high number of schools per child and has seen a rise in qualifications, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher increasing by 8.6 points since 2011.

Typical incomes are a little below the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,397 a week. However, the share of households earning $3,000 or more weekly has risen by 12 points since 2011.

Residents generally report fewer daily activity needs than most other areas. Long-term health conditions are about the same as the national average, with arthritis being the most common.

Volunteering is very common here, at 26.2%, which is far above the national figure. Many residents also spend significant time on unpaid housework, though fewer people provide unpaid care compared to other areas.

While the First Nations population is small, 25% of these residents speak a First Nations language, a figure far above the national average. Unemployment in this group is remarkably low at 0.0%.

Homes are typically smaller than average with 2.3 people per dwelling. There is a higher than usual proportion of people living alone, and one-parent families are much less common than elsewhere.

The area is dominated by detached houses, with a very high 45.3% owned outright. Renting is much less common here than in the rest of the state, and typical weekly rents are well below the national figure.

Car use is essential as public transport use is very low at 0.6%. While fewer people use trains or buses, nearly 20% of the workforce now works from home, a trend that has risen since 2011.

Migration patterns are typical for the region, with 38% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas account for 10.9% of the population.

The local workforce is heavily concentrated in accommodation and food services. While full-time employment is lower than the national average, the unemployment rate is exceptionally low at 1.8%.

The community generally has better access to money and job skills than about 60% of similar areas. Population growth has slowed recently and is well below the state average.

The region is much wetter and cooler than the state average, with annual rainfall far above the Victorian figure and much lower typical maximum and minimum temperatures.

The area is mostly car-dependent due to steep terrain and a lack of nearby amenities. Only about half of the homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school or grocery store.