Creswick - Daylesford - Ballan

The population is significantly older than the national figure, with 23.7% of residents aged 65 and over. While children under 15 make up 16.3% of the community, this figure has fallen since 2011.

The area is less diverse than the state, with only 12.7% of people born overseas. English, Australian, Irish and Scottish ancestries are the most common.

English is the dominant language, with 88.5% of residents using it exclusively. Only 4.3% of people use another language at home, which is far below the Victorian average of 27.6%.

A large proportion of the community reports no religion, at 49.3%. This figure has risen by 20 percentage points since 2011 and is well above the national average.

The area has a higher number of schools per 1,000 children than most similar areas. While 21.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, Year 12 completion is well below the state average at 49.2%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,454, which is a little below the national figure. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week has risen by 12 percentage points since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 33% of residents. Arthritis and mental health are the most frequently reported conditions.

Volunteering is very common, with 20% of people helping out, well above the national rate. Unpaid care is also high, with 15.2% of the community providing support.

First Nations people make up 1.2% of the population. This group has a much lower unemployment rate (6.0%) than most similar areas and higher household incomes than the state average.

Living arrangements are diverse, with 28.4% of people living alone. The most common household type is a couple with children, making up 52.7% of families.

The area is dominated by detached houses (95.9%) and high rates of outright ownership at 44.5%. Renting is far less common here than across the state, at just 12.7%.

Residents rely heavily on cars, as only 0.6% of people commute by public transport. This car dependence is reflected in the 76-minute typical drive time to the city.

The community is relatively stable, as 31.9% of people have moved in the last five years, which is well below the national average of 40.7%.

Full-time employment is lower than most areas at 54.6%, though the unemployment rate is quite low at 3.6%. Many residents work in health care, construction, and education.

The population has grown by 3.0% since 2021, which is much lower than the 8.0% growth seen across Victoria.

The climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with an average maximum temperature of 16.6°C and annual rainfall of 1,012mm.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.8. Most homes are far from groceries, health services and public transport.