Boolite

The typical resident is 41, making the community noticeably older than the Victorian and national average. While children under 15 make up 15.8% of the population, the proportion of seniors is well below the state figure at 10.5%.

This is a community with very little diversity, as no one was born overseas. Most residents claim English ancestry (60.5%), followed by German and Australian heritage.

English is the main language for 86.8% of residents, though 10.5% use another language at home, which is much higher than in most similar areas. However, no one in the community speaks little or no English.

The majority of the community identifies as Christian (63.2%), while 36.8% of residents report having no religion, a figure slightly below the national average.

Half of the residents have completed Year 12, though this is well below the national figure. Only 10.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state and national averages.

Typical personal weekly income is $933, which is a little above the national figure. However, typical household and family incomes are both a little below those seen across Victoria and Australia.

Mental health conditions are reported by 15.8% of the population, which is well above the national rate. Long-term health conditions are also much more common here than in similar areas, though no one needs help with daily activities.

Volunteering is exceptionally common, with 72.4% of people pitching in, far above the national figure. This spirit of help extends to unpaid care, with 34.5% of residents providing care, among the highest in the region.

There are no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people living here, which is a smaller count than in about 60% of similar areas.

Homes are slightly larger than average with 2.6 people per dwelling. The community is almost entirely made up of families, with couples with children making up 91.7% of households.

Housing costs are very low, with typical weekly rents at $100 and monthly home-loan payments at $1,083, both of which are far below the state and national figures.

The area is entirely dependent on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes. No one works from home, and 50% of the workforce commutes by driving.

The community is very stable, with only 23.1% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national average of 40.7%.

Employment is very strong, with 89.7% of adults working or looking for work and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. Most people work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (61.5%), often in managerial roles.

Boolite is highly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. There are no groceries, health services, or schools within a 15-minute walk.