Latrobe

Latrobe is much older than most similar areas, with 24.3% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population is well above the national figure of 17.2%. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is also much higher than most areas at 7.5%.

The community is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry, with 85.3% of people born in Australia. The proportion of people born overseas is 8.9%, which is far below the national average of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 90.5% of residents. Only 4.5% of people use another language at home, a figure that is far below the national average of 22.3%.

A majority of residents report having no religion, at 52.1%. This is far above the national figure of 38.9% and has risen sharply by 25 percentage points since 2011.

Education levels are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 30.0% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national average of 58.8%. Only 10.9% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical family incomes are much lower than most areas at $1,485 per week, well below the national figure of $2,120. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week is also much lower than most areas at 9.4%.

Health challenges are more common here, with 36.1% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average of 27.7%, and 9.1% of people need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a common part of life here, with 13.0% of people providing unpaid care. This is higher than most similar areas, and the proportion of people who served in the Defence Force is also much higher than most areas.

There are 405 First Nations people in the area. Year 12 completion for this group is 24.1%, which is far below the national average of 37.0%.

Homes are slightly smaller than the national average, with 2.3 people per household. There is a high proportion of people living alone at 29.0%, which is well above the national figure of 25.6%.

Separate houses are very common, making up 93.1% of all homes. While 36.3% of homes are owned outright, typical weekly rents are much lower than most areas at $250.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, as only 0.6% of people commute by public transport. Public transport access is limited, with a much higher than average walk to the nearest stop of 24 minutes.

Latrobe has seen significant movement, with 40.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much higher than most areas at 20.4%.

Full-time employment is at 58.1%, which is well above the state average of 54.9%. The most common industries for workers are health care, retail, and construction.

Overall advantage is low, with a score of 899 that is smaller than about 89% of similar areas. Access to money, resources, and job skills are also ranked among the lowest in the region.

The area is slightly wetter than the state average, with 923mm of annual rainfall. It experiences warmer average minimum temperatures than most other similar areas.

The town is somewhat walkable, with 80.4% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, access to groceries is a challenge, as only 34.5% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a store.