Diggers Rest

The area is much younger than most, with children under 15 making up 21.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 18.2%. Seniors aged 65 and over are much less common here than in other areas, representing only 8.2% of residents.

About 23.8% of people were born overseas, a figure well below the state and national averages. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Irish, Indian, and Italian.

Language diversity is higher than in most similar areas, with 23.6% of people using a language other than English at home. Punjabi is the most common non-English language spoken.

Religious affiliation is slightly lower than the national average, with 36.7% of residents reporting no religion. Christianity remains the most common faith at 44.1%.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 22.9% of the population, which is well below the national average. While most residents finished Year 12, there is only one primary school in the area, meaning there are far fewer schools per child than in other areas.

Typical household and personal incomes are higher than most similar areas. The typical weekly household income is $2,009, which is a little above the Victorian figure of $1,759.

Residents are generally healthier than average, with a lower rate of long-term health conditions and far fewer people needing help with daily activities. However, mental health conditions are more common here than in most similar areas.

A high number of people provide unpaid childcare, which is well above the national average of 26.3%. Conversely, the volunteering rate is much lower than in most other areas.

The First Nations community is small, but those living here have a far higher typical personal income and unemployment rate that is much lower than both the state and national figures.

Families tend to be larger here, with 2.6 people per home. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children and a lower rate of people living alone compared to the state average.

Housing is dominated by large separate houses, with 94.5% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Most residents are paying off a mortgage, as the rate of outright home ownership is far below the national average.

Cars are essential here, as very few homes have no motor vehicle. While public transport stops are more numerous than in similar areas, it takes much longer to walk to the nearest stop.

The area has seen significant movement, with 60.1% of people moving in the last five years—a rate far above the national average. Recent overseas arrivals also make up a higher share of the population than in most similar areas.

Working life is strong here, with a far higher rate of adults working or looking for work than the national average. Full-time employment is also much more common, particularly in healthcare, construction, and transport.

Population growth since 2021 has been far above the state average, rising by 40.2%. The area is generally well-resourced, ranking higher than 80% of similar areas for access to money and resources.

The local climate is characterized by annual rainfall that is a little above the Victorian average, though maximum and minimum temperatures are much lower than in most similar areas.

While most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, the area is generally less walkable than the state average. This is especially true for groceries, with far fewer homes within a 15-minute walk of a shop.