Howlong

The community is significantly older than most areas, with 29.6% of people aged 65 and over, which is far above the national figure. About 16.4% are children under 15, slightly below the state and national averages.

The population is overwhelmingly born in Australia (85.1%), with far fewer overseas-born residents than the state average. Those with overseas roots most commonly cite English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry.

English is the main language for 92.3% of residents, and the proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national average. Only 0.2% of the community speak little or no English.

About 48.7% of residents identify as Christian, while 42.7% report no religion, a figure that is well above the national average.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 10.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Those who completed Year 12 make up 33.4% of the population, far below the national figure.

Typical weekly incomes are well below the state and national averages, with the usual family earning $1,612. Only 10.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state average.

The area has a much higher rate of long-term health conditions than most places, at 39.4%. This is consistent with the older population, as 7.7% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is common here, with 16.4% of people volunteering, well above the national figure. There is also a high rate of former Defence Force members at 5.9%.

First Nations people make up a small part of the population, though they are far older than the national average with a typical age of 32. Unemployment in this group is exceptionally low at 0.0%.

Homes tend to be smaller than average, with 2.3 people per dwelling. People living alone make up 26.4% of the community, which is slightly above the state average.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (93.0%), and 43.3% of homes are owned outright, far above the national average. Typical weekly rent is $290, well below the national figure.

The town is heavily reliant on cars, with 69.5% of workers driving to work and almost no one using public transport to commute. Only 3.7% of homes have no motor vehicle.

The area has seen significant movement, with 39.1% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 10.4% of the population, which is well below the state average.

About 53.7% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national average. Many residents work in manufacturing, health care, or construction.

Howlong is somewhat walkable with a score of 4.7, though this is well below the state average. Over half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.