Avenel

Avenel is far older than most areas, with a typical resident aged 49 and 26% of the population aged 65 and over. This is well above the national figure of 17.2%. Around 16.2% of the population are children under 15.

The community is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry, with 85.3% of residents born in Australia. Only 11.3% were born overseas, which is far below the Victorian average of 30%.

English is the primary language for 93.1% of the population. Only 3.2% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below both the state and national averages.

About 42.6% of residents report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 47.8%.

While 18.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, this is well below the national average. About 48.6% of residents completed Year 12, which is also far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,414, which is a little below the national figure. However, 11.2% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, a rate higher than most similar areas.

A long-term health condition affects 34.2% of residents, which is well above the national average of 27.7%. Arthritis is the most common condition reported at 14.3%.

Community spirit is high, with 21.8% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. This is also a community with a high rate of former Defence Force members at 4.9%.

There are 6 First Nations people in the area. Those who identify as First Nations are far older than the state average, with a typical age of 46 compared to 24 years across Victoria.

Homes here are smaller than average, with 2.3 people per household. A high proportion of the community—28.4%—consists of people living alone.

Housing is very stable, with 47% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Most homes are large, with 84.2% having three or more bedrooms.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with 59.3% of workers driving to work. Only 0.0% of the population commutes by public transport, and the walk to the nearest stop is much longer than in most areas.

About 36.1% of residents moved here in the last five years. Only 5.6% of the population are recent arrivals from overseas, which is well below the national figure.

The unemployment rate is a low 2.2%, which is a little below the national average. Many residents work in construction (15.3%) or agriculture and forestry (13.9%).

Avenel is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.4. While most people can walk to groceries, no one lives within a 15-minute walk of health services.