Maffra

The typical resident here is 43, and with 22.9% of people aged 65 and over, the population is noticeably older than the national figure. In recent years, the number of seniors has risen by 5.6 points since 2011.

Ancestry is predominantly Australian (44.1%) and English (42.5%). Only 8.2% of people were born overseas, which is far below the 30% seen across Victoria.

English is the primary language for 90.5% of the community. Only 2.6% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the national average.

A large number of residents report having no religion, accounting for 47.5% of the population. This is well above the national figure and has risen 21 points since 2011.

Higher education is less common here, with only 12.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree, far below the state average. However, Year 12 completion rose 7.0 points since 2011 to reach 37.6%.

Typical household incomes are well below the national figure, sitting at $1,324 a week. Only 11.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.9% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 10.9%.

Volunteerism is much higher than the national average, with 19.5% of people volunteering. Unpaid care is also common, as 14.1% of residents provide unpaid support.

There are 242 First Nations people in the area. While unemployment for this group is 8.9%, Year 12 completion is well below the state average at 35.9%.

Most homes consist of couples with children (53.4%) or couples without (33.2%). About 28% of people live alone, which is a little above the national figure.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 95.4% of all dwellings. Renting is far less common than in the rest of the state, and 41.7% of homes are owned outright.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 64.8% of workers driving to work and only 0.4% using public transport. Very few homes, just 3.1%, have no motor vehicle.

Residents tend to stay put, with 32.5% moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 9.6% of the population.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are major employers, alongside health and construction. Fewer adults are working or looking for work here compared to the state average.

The area has a larger number of businesses than most similar places, though its overall advantage score is lower than about 74% of other areas.

The area is wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 812mm. Maximum and minimum temperatures are both lower than most other areas.

Maffra is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.4, far below the state figure. Only 39.9% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a variety of amenities.