Irymple

The population has grown to 7,700 people and remains relatively balanced in age, though 20.3% are children, which is much higher than most areas. About 17.4% of residents are seniors, a figure that has risen by 3.8 points since 2011.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 8.6% of people born overseas, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. Italian ancestry is the most common non-British heritage, accounting for 12.7% of the population.

English is the dominant language, used by 84.4% of residents, while only 8.0% use another language at home. This is far below the Victorian figure of 27.6%.

A growing number of people report no religion, rising 16 points since 2011 to reach 41.1%. This is slightly above the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 13.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion has risen 8.9 points since 2011 to reach 41.5%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,716, which is about the same as the national figure. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week has risen sharply by 14 points since 2011.

Health profiles are typical for the region, with 27.1% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are reported by 6.9% of residents, which is a little below the national average.

Local residents are more likely to provide unpaid care than people in most areas, with 13.5% providing some form of support. About 23.8% spend 15 or more hours a week on unpaid housework, a figure well above the national average.

There are 185 First Nations people in the area. The community faces significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 14.7%, which is well above the state figure of 9.6%.

Homes here are larger than usual, with an average of 2.7 people per household. One-parent families are much less common here than in most areas, making up only 9.6% of households.

The area is dominated by detached houses, which make up 93.7% of all homes. Renting is very uncommon at 15.8%, and typical weekly rents of $250 are well below the national figure.

Car dependence is very high, as 98.1% of homes own at least one vehicle and only 0.5% of people commute by public transport. Most people drive to work, with 68.7% as the driver.

The population is relatively stable, with only 29.9% of people having moved in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%. However, recent overseas arrivals have risen to 14.3% since 2011.

Employment is strong, with 64.3% of adults working or looking for work and a very low unemployment rate of 3.1%. The workforce is spread across health care, agriculture, and construction.

The area has a high level of access to money and resources, ranking higher than 80% of similar areas. However, it ranks lower for education and job skills.

The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 25.2°C and annual rainfall of 271mm, which is far below the Victorian average.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8. Many residents live far from essential services, with only 32.1% within a 15-minute walk of health services.