Bairnsdale

Bairnsdale is much older than most areas, with 26.6% of residents aged 65 and over—a figure that rose 6.0 points since 2011. The First Nations population is also well above the state average at 4.8%.

The community is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry, and far fewer people were born overseas (11.3%) compared to the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for the vast majority, with only 5.3% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national average.

A significant 47.0% of residents report having no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen 20 points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than typical, with only 13.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 40.8% completing Year 12, both far below the national figures.

Typical incomes are well below the state and national averages, with the typical household earning $1,194 a week, though this has risen by $354 since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 34.8% of people have a long-term health condition and 8.2% need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is more common than in most areas, though the rate fell 5.8 points since 2011. Unpaid care for others is also more frequent than the state average.

The First Nations community is relatively large, though it faces challenges with a 13.8% unemployment rate and a Year 12 completion rate far below the national average.

Homes here are smaller and more likely to be occupied by one person (32.3%) or one-parent families (17.8%), both of which are well above national levels.

Most residents live in separate houses, and 40.1% own their homes outright, which is well above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is much lower than the state average at $280.

Car travel is essential as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport, and the number of weekly public transport departures is far below the state average.

Movement is steady, with 39.3% of people having moved in the last five years, and a slight increase in recent overseas arrivals to 12.4%.

Workforce participation is much lower than most areas, with 52.2% of adults working or looking for work. Health care and retail are the most common industries.

The area has a low overall advantage score of 2 out of 10, reflecting lower access to money and job skills compared to most other areas.

Bairnsdale receives 723mm of annual rainfall, which is well above the Victorian average of 510mm.

The town is only somewhat walkable, as far fewer homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services compared to the state average.