Ballarat

The typical resident is 38 years old, and the population has grown 22% since 2011. While the number of children under 15 is higher than in most similar areas, there is also a rising senior population, with those aged 65 and over increasing by 3.9 percentage points over the decade.

Ballarat is much less diverse than the state average, with only 11.2% of people born overseas. English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish ancestries remain the most common roots for residents.

English is the primary language for 88.3% of the community. Only 6.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the Victorian figure of 27.6%.

A striking 48.2% of residents identify as having no religion, a figure well above the national average. This represents a significant shift in the community, as this proportion rose 21 percentage points since 2011.

The area has a higher share of university graduates than most similar areas, though at 23.1%, it remains well below the state average. Year 12 completion rose 9.4 percentage points since 2011 to reach 52.6%.

Typical weekly household incomes are a little below the national figure at $1,441. While 15.9% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, this is lower than most similar areas.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. This includes a mental health rate of 13.0%, which is among the highest for its level.

Local residents are more likely to provide unpaid care than people in most similar areas. While 15.2% of the community volunteer, this is a drop of 5.2 percentage points since 2011.

The First Nations community is younger than the wider population, with a typical age of 22. Unemployment is higher than most areas at 11.8%, though Year 12 completion is well above the national average.

One-parent families (17.2%) and people living alone (29.9%) are both much more common here than in most similar areas. Most homes contain two people.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 85.4% of dwellings. While 80.1% of homes have three or more bedrooms, typical weekly rents at $300 are well below the national figure.

Driving is the primary way to get to work, as only 0.8% of people use public transport. Working from home has become much more common, rising 12 percentage points since 2011.

The community is quite mobile, with 42.8% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 15.1% of the population.

Full-time employment is lower than in most similar areas at 56.0%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, social assistance, and education.

The region continues to expand, with a population growth of 8.0% since 2021, which is higher than most similar areas.

The local climate is cooler than most of the state, with an average minimum temperature of 7.8 degrees. Annual rainfall is 739mm, well above the Victorian average.

The area is considered somewhat walkable, though 15-minute access to health services (48.8%) and groceries (64.8%) is far below state levels. Most homes are within a short walk of a park.