Upper Goulburn Valley

The community is ageing, with 24.9% of people aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. This trend has grown since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 16.0%.

The area is predominantly Australian-born, with 80.5% born here. Only 11.0% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 87.5% of the population. Very few people speak little or no English, at just 0.5%, which is well below the state average.

A large number of residents report having no religion, at 45.3%. This figure is well above the national average and has risen significantly by 18 percentage points since 2011.

Educational attainment is lower than most areas, with only 14.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the percentage of people who completed Year 12 rose to 43.2% since 2011.

Incomes are generally lower than the state average, with a typical household earning $1,328 a week. The number of households earning $3,000 or more weekly is also much lower than in most other areas.

Health challenges are more common here, as 33.2% of people have a long-term health condition, which is well above the national figure. Long-term conditions like arthritis and mental health issues are most frequent.

Volunteerism is much higher than most areas, with 18.4% of people volunteering, though this is down from 2011. The region also has a high proportion of former Defence Force members at 5.3%.

There are 1,144 First Nations people in the area. Their unemployment rate is 9.0%, which is well below the national average of 12.3%.

Homes tend to be smaller in occupancy, with 2.3 people per home, and a high 30.1% of people living alone. This is well above the national figure of 25.6%.

Housing is dominated by separate detached houses, making up 93.4% of all homes. Ownership is high, with 43.1% of homes owned outright, far above the state average.

The area is highly car-reliant, as only 0.5% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and the drive time to the city is among the highest at 126 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with 37.2% of people moving in the last five years, slightly lower than the national average. Recent overseas arrivals are also less common at 9.9%.

The unemployment rate is very low at 3.7%, which is lower than both the state and national figures. Many residents work in construction, health care, or public administration.

The population grew by 5.0% since the 2021 census, which is well below the Victorian growth rate of 8.0%.

The region is cooler than most, with an average maximum temperature of 18.7 degrees. It is also much wetter than the state average, receiving 840mm of annual rainfall.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.1. Only 37% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services, far below the state average.