Avoca

The population is far older than the state and national average, with 33.6% of residents aged 65 or over. Marital status is varied, with 45.3% of people married and 28.8% who have never been married.

Most residents were born in Australia (83.1%) and have Australian or English ancestry. Only 8.0% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 91.1% of the community. Very few people use another language at home (1.3%), a figure far below the Victorian average of 27.6%.

A large portion of the community reports no religion (46.3%), which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 42.3%.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 31.8% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. Only 11.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figures, with a typical weekly household earning $923. Just 5.0% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, far below the national average of 22.6%.

Health challenges are common here; 37.8% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the national average of 27.7%. This is consistent with the older population, as 9.6% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is common, with 19.9% of people volunteering, well above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid care is also much more frequent here than in most areas, at 16.1%.

There are 21 First Nations people in Avoca, and 14.3% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the state average. Typical personal income for First Nations residents is $700, which is well above the national figure.

Living arrangements are unconventional, with 35.6% of people living alone—far above the national figure of 25.6%. One-parent families are also more common here than in most areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (94.5%), and over half of all homes (51.3%) are owned outright. Typical weekly rents are $210, far below the national figure of $375.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with 61.2% of people driving to work and very few using public transport (0.9%). It is a long commute to the city, taking about 115 minutes.

The community is relatively stable, with 29.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Only 43.2% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure of 61.1%. Common industries include agriculture, manufacturing, and health care.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.8. It is particularly lacking in nearby health services, as no homes are within a 15-minute walk of a clinic.