Kurunjang - Toolern Vale

The area is much younger than the national average, with a high proportion of children and far fewer seniors. About 2.2% of the population is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is a little above the Victorian figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 22.7% of the community, which is well below the state and national figures. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.

About 20.6% of people use a language other than English at home, though this is still well below the Victorian average. English remains the dominant language for nearly 74% of the population.

Nearly half of the community identifies as Christian, while 36% report no religion, a figure that is well below the state and national levels.

Educational attainment is far below the state average, with only 11.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 48% completing Year 12. The area also has a much lower school advantage score than most similar regions.

Typical incomes are lower than the national figure across the board, with the usual household earning $1,556 a week. Only 14.1% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is well below the state average.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 30.2% of people living with a long-term condition. This includes a higher-than-average rate of mental health conditions at 10.8%.

The community has a high rate of unpaid care, with 30% of people caring for children, which is well above the national figure. However, volunteering is much lower than in most other areas.

First Nations residents are notably younger than the national average, with a typical age of 20. Unemployment among this group is well below the national rate at 6.8%.

Homes are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per household and a high proportion of one-parent families. About 59% of families consist of couples with children.

The landscape is dominated by separate houses, with 94.2% of homes being detached and 93.7% having three or more bedrooms. Typical weekly rents are $321, which is a little below the state and national figures.

Car ownership is very high, with only 2.4% of homes having no motor vehicle. Public transport is limited, and the walk to the nearest stop is among the highest in the region.

The population is relatively stable, with 33% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the state average. Recent overseas arrivals also make up a lower percentage than the national figure.

While 60% of people are employed full-time, the unemployment rate of 6.9% is much higher than in most similar areas. Many residents work in construction, health, and transport.

The area is ranked as having low overall advantage, scoring a 2 out of 10. Population growth since 2021 has been 2.8%, which is well below the Victorian average.

The area receives 625mm of annual rainfall, which is a little above the state average. Maximum temperatures are among the lowest for similar areas.

This is a mostly car-dependent area with a low walkability score of 3.2. Residents have very limited access to health services and groceries within a 15-minute walk.