Shepparton

The population is a little older than the national figure, with seniors making up 19.2% of the community. Children under 15 account for 19.3%, which is a little above the Australian average, though this figure has fallen since 2011.

While 74.9% of people were born in Australia, there has been a rise in the overseas-born population to 17.4%. This remains far below the Victorian average of 30.0%.

People using another language at home have increased to 17.7% since 2011. This is higher than most similar areas, although it is still well below the state average.

The community is more religious than most, with 45.1% identifying as Christian. Those reporting no religion make up 34.8%, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 43.1% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Only 14.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are generally lower than the state and national figures, with a typical household earning $1,398 a week. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week has risen significantly since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 31.6% of people reporting a long-term health condition. Additionally, 7.2% of residents need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national average.

Unpaid care is a notable part of local life, as 13.6% of people provide unpaid care, which is much higher than in most similar areas.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, though they face challenges with a typical personal income of $518, which is lower than the national figure.

Families tend to be larger than usual, with 2.5 people per home. One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, accounting for 16.0% of households.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 88.3% of dwellings. Housing is relatively affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $260 and a typical monthly mortgage payment of $1,300, both of which are well below national figures.

Cars are essential for getting around, as 68.1% of people drive to work and only 0.3% use public transport. The drive time to the city is among the highest for similar areas at 155 minutes.

The area has seen a strong influx of new residents from abroad, with 21.1% of people arriving from overseas recently, a figure well above the national average.

About 57.2% of adults are working or looking for work, which is lower than in most areas. The largest employment sectors are health care and social assistance, retail, and manufacturing.

The population has grown by 2.1% since 2021, though this growth is much lower than the Victorian average of 8.0%.

The climate is relatively dry, with average annual rainfall of 489mm, which is lower than most other areas.

Walking is less practical here than in other parts of the state, as only 50.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of key amenities. This is far below the Victorian average of 74.3%.