Yarram

The typical resident is 53, which is far older than the national figure of 38. This ageing trend is clear, as the proportion of seniors rose by 8.1 points since 2011, while the share of children under 15 fell to 13.8%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 11.2% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language for 88.8% of people, and only 2.8% use another language at home. This is far below the Victorian average, and very few people speak little or no English.

Nearly half of the community (48.0%) report having no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen by 21 points since 2011.

The area has lower levels of formal qualifications, with only 10.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 33.7%.

Incomes are generally low, with the typical household earning $1,012 a week, which is far below the national figure. Only 7.8% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.

Health challenges are more common here, as 37.2% of people have a long-term health condition. About 8.3% of residents need help with daily activities, which is higher than most areas.

Volunteer rates are high at 19.0%, well above the national figure. Many residents provide unpaid care (14.6%) or do significant unpaid housework, though fewer people are caring for children.

There are 97 First Nations people in the area. This group is generally younger than the wider population, but Year 12 completion is far below the national average at 17.3%.

Homes are smaller, with 2.2 people per dwelling. A high number of people live alone (32.7%), which is well above the national figure and has risen since 2011.

Housing is mostly detached houses, and 52.3% are owned outright, far above the state average. Rent is much lower than usual, with a typical weekly rent of $240.

The community is highly car-dependent, with 58.7% of workers driving to work. Public transport use is very low, and the walk to the nearest stop is among the longest for similar areas.

The population is relatively stable, with 31.5% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also far below the national average.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing is the biggest employer, making up 22.4% of jobs. The unemployment rate is 5.9%, which is slightly higher than the state figure.

Overall advantage is low, ranking in the bottom 20% of similar areas. This is linked to lower levels of education and job skills compared to the rest of the state.

The area is wetter than most of Victoria, with an average annual rainfall of 779mm. Temperatures are generally lower than the state average.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 2.7. Most homes are far from health services, schools, and groceries, though 61.2% are within a 15-minute walk of a park.