Maryborough - Pyrenees

The community is significantly older than the state and national average, with 27.9% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 6.1 percentage points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 9.4% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for the vast majority of the population. Only 2.6% of people use another language at home, a figure far below both the state and national averages.

A growing number of residents identify as having no religion, which now accounts for 45.5% of the population. This is well above the national figure and represents a 20 percentage point increase since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 11.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 35.0% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the Victorian average of 61.8%.

Incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,027. This is far below the national figure of $1,746, though typical incomes have risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 38.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. Around 8.9% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the state average.

Residents are more likely to volunteer than those in other areas, with 17.4% participating. Unpaid care is also common, with 14.8% of the population providing unpaid care for others.

First Nations people make up 2.0% of the population. Those in this group experience a typical weekly personal income of $476, which is well below the national figure of $540.

The area has a high number of people living alone, at 33.5%. Households tend to be smaller than average, with a typical size of 2.2 people per home.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 93.5% of all dwellings. Home ownership is very strong, with 47.7% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%.

Car use is essential, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and the typical drive time to the city is 113 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with only 28.9% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to other areas, at 47.2%. The most common industries for those employed are health care, agriculture, and manufacturing.

The population grew by 3.0% since 2021, which is much lower than the Victorian growth rate of 8.0%.

The region receives an average annual rainfall of 599mm, which is a little above the Victorian average of 510mm.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.1. Only 34.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far below the state average of 74.0%.