Kerang

The typical resident is 51, making the area far older than the state and national average. This age profile is reflected in the high proportion of seniors, which rose to 30.9% by 2021, while the share of children under 15 has fallen slightly.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 5.7% of people born overseas—a figure far below the state and national averages. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, and the birthplace breakdown remains very stable.

English is the primary language for 90.2% of the town, and the share of people using another language at home is far below the national figure at just 2.4%. Consequently, very few residents speak little or no English.

Half of the population identifies as Christian, while those with no religion make up 39.3%. The number of people reporting no religion rose significantly by 17 points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 30.8% of residents completing Year 12 and 9.2% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Despite this, the area has a high number of schools per 1,000 children.

Typical weekly personal income is $573, which is well below the national figure of $805. Only 7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, placing the town among the lowest for income at this level.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 38.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities also sit well above the state average at 9.1%.

Volunteerism is a strong feature, with 24.2% of people volunteering—far above the national average. More people provide unpaid care here than in most areas, though the share of those caring for children has fallen.

First Nations people make up 3.9% of the population, which is a little above the Victorian average. This group faces significant hurdles, with an unemployment rate of 18.4% and a typical personal income of $507.

A high number of people live alone (38.6%), and one-parent families are much more common than in most areas. This helps explain why the typical home contains only 2.1 people, well below the national average.

Housing is very affordable and stable, with 46.3% of homes owned outright and typical weekly rents at just $200. Most residents live in separate houses, with 77.3% of homes having three or more bedrooms.

The town is heavily dependent on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute via public transport. Public transport is sparse, with very few stops and long walks for residents to reach the nearest one.

The population is relatively stable, as the share of people who moved in the last five years is much lower than in most other areas. Recent overseas arrivals remain low at 9.4%.

Working or looking for work is less common here than in the rest of the state, with only 46.9% of adults in the workforce. The local economy relies heavily on health care, social assistance, and retail trade.

The area is ranked as disadvantaged across most measures, with a low score for access to money and job skills. Since 2021, the population has fallen by 4.1%, one of the lowest growth rates in the region.

The local climate is drier than the state average, with annual rainfall of 390mm. Maximum temperatures are slightly higher than the Victorian average, reaching 24.1 degrees.

The town is somewhat walkable, with the vast majority of homes within a short stroll of a park or school. However, far fewer people can walk to groceries or public transport compared to the state average.