Wellington

Wellington is noticeably older than the national average, with 23.1% of people aged 65 and over—a figure that rose 6.3 points since 2011. Children under 15 make up 17.0% of the population, which is lower than most areas.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 81.2% born here and only 11.1% born overseas, a figure far below the Victorian average of 30.0%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the primary language for 87.2% of the population. Only 3.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

A large number of residents identify as having no religion, accounting for 45.8% of the population. This figure has risen sharply by 20 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 38.8% of residents completing Year 12 and 13.8% holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the area has a high number of schools per 1,000 children.

Typical incomes are much lower than across Victoria, with the usual family earning $1,663 a week. Only 12.8% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen 8.0 points since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 33.2% of people. This is consistent with the older population, as 7.1% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 17.4% of people pitching in. The community also has a higher rate of former Defence Force members than the state average.

First Nations people make up 2.0% of the population. This group faces significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 13.9% and Year 12 completion at 30.6%, which is far below the state average.

More people live alone here than in most areas, at 30.4%. While 51.1% of households are couples with children, the typical home is smaller, with 2.3 people per dwelling.

The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 91.7% of all dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 42.2% of homes owned outright, while typical weekly rents are much lower than the national figure.

Most people rely on cars, with 63.1% driving to work and only 0.3% using public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, and the drive time to the city is among the highest in the region.

The population is relatively stable, as only 35.2% of residents have moved in the last five years. This is well below the national figure of 40.7%.

The workforce is smaller than in similar areas, with only 53.5% of adults working or looking for work. The main industries are health care, agriculture, and construction.

Population growth since 2021 has been a slow 2.3%, which is well below the Victorian average of 8.0%.

The area receives 661mm of annual rainfall, which is well above the state average of 510mm.

Wellington is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.5. Many residents live far from essential services, as only 47.7% can walk to groceries within 15 minutes.