Gannawarra

The area is far older than most, with a typical age of 52 and a high proportion of seniors at 29.8%. Children under 15 make up only 15.2% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia (85.3%), and the area has one of the lowest proportions of overseas-born people at 5.4%, which is far below the national figure.

English is the primary language for 89.3% of the community. Only 2.4% of people use another language at home, a rate far below the state and national averages.

About 47.5% of people identify as Christian, while those with no religion now make up 41.4% of the population, an increase of 19 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are much lower than most areas, with only 9.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 29.4% completing Year 12.

Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,114 a week. Only 8.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than elsewhere, affecting 35% of residents, with arthritis being the most frequent at 13.9%.

Volunteering is very common, with 22.2% of people helping out, which is well above the national figure. Unpaid care for others is also more frequent than in most areas.

First Nations people make up 1.8% of the population. This group is noticeably older than the state average, with a typical age of 30.

Homes are generally smaller, with 2.2 people per house, and 30% of people live alone, which is higher than most areas.

The area is dominated by separate houses (96.3%), and 54.2% of homes are owned outright, a figure far above the national average. Rents are also very low, with a typical weekly cost of $180.

Cars are essential here; 62.9% of people drive to work and only 0.2% use public transport. Very few homes (3.1%) are without a motor vehicle.

The community is quite stable, as the 27.8% of people who moved in the last five years is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Nearly 30% of the workforce is employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is lower than the state and national figures.

The area ranks lower than most for overall advantage, with a score of 934 compared to the national average of 1,000.

Gannawarra is quite dry, with average annual rainfall of 380mm, which is well below the Victorian average of 510mm.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.0. Many residents live far from basic services, including health services and groceries.