Red Cliffs

The typical resident here is 41, which is noticeably older than the national figure of 38. While the proportion of children has dipped slightly, the number of people aged 65 and over has risen to 18.1%.

Red Cliffs is much less diverse than most areas, with only 9.3% of people born overseas, far below the national figure of 27.7%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the dominant tongue, with only 7.7% of people using another language at home, which is far below the Victorian average. However, the proportion of people who speak little or no English rose slightly to 1.9% by 2021.

A striking 47.2% of the community report no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen by 18 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 9.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also much lower than the national figure, though it rose by 7.9 points since 2011.

Weekly incomes are much lower than usual; the typical family earns $1,682, which is well below the Victorian figure of $2,136. Only 10.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are more common here, as 32.7% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 8.1% of residents need help with daily activities.

Local residents are more likely to provide unpaid care and do heavy housework than people in most other areas. Volunteering has fallen since 2011, now sitting at 13.4%.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.9% of the population. This group is noticeably younger than the wider community, and 7.1% speak a First Nations language, which is higher than most areas.

Family life is typical for the region, with 2.5 people per home. One-parent families are slightly more common here than in most other areas.

The area is almost entirely made up of separate houses, with 92.9% of homes being detached. Rent is much lower than the national figure, and 35.5% of people own their homes outright.

Cars are essential here, as only 0.7% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have two or more vehicles, and those who do use public transport rely entirely on buses.

The community is relatively stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the rest of Australia. However, there has been a big jump in recent arrivals from overseas since 2011.

Working life is tied to the land, with 15.3% of people employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The number of adults working or looking for work is well below the national average.

Red Cliffs faces significant disadvantage, ranking in the bottom 20% of areas for overall advantage and job skills. Recent population growth has also slowed, falling slightly since 2021.

The setting is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 25.2 degrees. Annual rainfall is among the lowest in the state, far below the Victorian average.

The town is only somewhat walkable, as many homes are far from groceries, health services, and schools. However, there are more walkable amenities per person than in the state average, mostly in the form of parks.