Boolarra

The area is far older than the state and national average, with 21.7% of people aged 65 and over. This age profile is reflected in the family structure, as the number of children under 15 is well below the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots mostly cite English, Scottish, or Irish ancestry. Only 11.4% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national average.

English is the primary language here, with only 3.5% of people using another language at home. This is far below the figures for Victoria and Australia.

A striking 58.1% of residents have no religion, a figure that is far above the national average of 38.9%.

The community has lower levels of formal qualifications than the state average, with only 16.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The local primary school is very small, with an average size of 28 students.

Incomes are generally lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly household income of $1,200. Only 11.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state average.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 36.2% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This includes mental health conditions, which affect 12.7% of the population.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 16.5% of people providing care and 30.1% spending 15 or more hours a week on housework. This is well above the national figures.

There are 18 First Nations people in the area. This group is far younger than the rest of the community, with a typical age of just 14 years.

Living arrangements are diverse, with 34.1% of people living alone, which is well above the state average. However, couples with children still make up 50.5% of households.

Housing is almost exclusively made up of separate houses, and 47% of these are owned outright. Typical weekly rents are $218, far below the national figure of $375.

The area is highly car-dependent, with 62.1% of workers commuting by car. Public transport use for commuting is non-existent, and the drive time to the city is quite long at 113 minutes.

The community is relatively stable, with 29.5% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national rate of 40.7%.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average, and the unemployment rate of 6.6% is a little above the national figure. Health and education are the most common industries for local workers.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.4. Many residents live far from essential services, as no homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.