Pemberton

Pemberton is far older than the state and national averages, with 27.9% of residents aged 65 and over. The number of children under 15 has fallen significantly since 2011 to 13.2%, which is well below the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 19.9% were born overseas, a figure that rose slightly since 2011. English is the most common ancestry at 45%, followed by Australian and Irish.

English is the dominant language, with only 5.3% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national average. Very few residents speak little or no English.

Nearly half the population (48.8%) reports having no religion, a figure that rose 17 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.

The area has a lower rate of formal qualifications than most, with only 14.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 43.3%.

Incomes are generally much lower than in most areas, with the typical household earning $1,112 a week. This is well below the national figure of $1,746.

About 29.9% of people have a long-term health condition, which is higher than most areas. Arthritis is the most common long-term condition reported at 11.4%.

Volunteering is very high here, with 28.1% of people helping out, far above the national figure. There is also a higher-than-average number of people who served in the Defence Force.

The First Nations community is small, with 113 people. This group is far older than the state average, with a typical age of 37, and unemployment is remarkably low at 0.0%.

Homes are smaller than average with 2.2 people per dwelling. About 29.8% of people live alone, which is higher than in most other areas.

The area is dominated by separate houses (96.1%), and half of all homes are owned outright. Rent is much lower than the national average at $240 a week.

Cars are essential for most, as only 1.4% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have two or more vehicles, and 16.2% of the workforce works from home.

The community is stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years (28.2%) compared to the national average. Recent overseas arrivals have risen slightly to 12.3%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the main industries, employing 27.6% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is quite low at 3.3%.

The area is generally less advantaged than most, scoring a 4 out of 10 for overall advantage. While it has more businesses than some similar areas, job skills and education levels are relatively low.

Pemberton is much wetter and cooler than the state average, with annual rainfall of 1,040mm and a typical maximum temperature of 21.2 degrees.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 2.4. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of public transport or health services.