Macedon Ranges

The population is noticeably older than the state and national average, and has grown by 24% since 2011. While children under 15 make up a higher proportion of the community than most areas, there has been a slight decline in their numbers over the last decade.

This is a very homogenous area where 83.1% of people were born in Australia. The proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure, and has fallen slightly since 2011.

English is the dominant language here, with 90.9% of people using it at home. The share of people using another language is far below the national average, and very few residents speak little or no English.

A large number of residents report no religion, which is well above the national figure. This trend has grown significantly, with a 20 point increase since 2011.

The community is well-qualified, with a higher rate of people completing Year 12 than most similar areas. The number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has also risen by 6.0 points since 2011.

Incomes are much higher than most areas, with the typical family earning $2,468 a week. This wealth is striking, as the share of households earning over $3,000 a week has risen by 19 points since 2011.

Residents generally require less help with daily activities than people in most other areas. Long-term health conditions are reported at a rate around the middle for its level, with asthma and arthritis being the most common.

Participation in unpaid work is very high, with more people caring for children and doing housework than in most other areas. Volunteering is also much more common here than the national average, though it has fallen since 2011.

The First Nations community is small but experiences significantly higher household and personal incomes than the state or national figures. Unemployment among First Nations people is also among the lowest for similar areas.

Families tend to be larger here, with more people per home than in most areas. There are far fewer people living alone compared to the state average, and one-parent families are among the lowest at this level.

Housing is dominated by large, separate houses, with 90.4% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Renting is far less common than across Australia, and a higher share of people own their homes outright.

Cars are essential, as very few homes lack a motor vehicle and public transport use is low. This is consistent with a high rate of people working from home, which rose by 19 points since 2011.

The population is relatively stable, with far fewer people moving into the area in the last five years compared to the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also among the lowest at this level.

The area has a very high rate of adults working or looking for work, and the unemployment rate is among the lowest at this level. Construction and health care are the primary industries for the workforce.

The population has grown by 7.6% since 2021, which is higher than most similar areas.

The region is cooler than most, with an average minimum temperature that is much lower than other areas. Annual rainfall is well above the state average.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Residents have very limited access to groceries, health services, and schools within a 15-minute walk.