Bridgewater

The community is far older than the national figure, with a typical age of 49 and a high proportion of seniors. Children under 15 make up 15.0% of the population, which is well below the Australian average of 18.2%.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 3.0% of people born overseas, a figure far below the Victorian average of 30.0%. Most residents claim English, Australian, or Scottish ancestry.

English is the only language spoken at home for nearly all residents, with 0.0% of people using another language. This is far below the state and national figures.

About 39.1% of residents report having no religion, which is about the same as the figures for Victoria and Australia. Over half of the community identifies as Christian.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 39.8% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Qualifications are often linked to the land, with 24.5% in agriculture and environment.

Typical weekly personal income is $866, which is higher than most similar areas and slightly above the national figure. However, only 10.9% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, far below the state average.

Mental health conditions are much lower here than in most areas, at 3.8% compared to the national figure of 8.8%. Additionally, the rate of people needing help with daily activities is well below the state average.

Volunteering is very common, with 23.5% of people volunteering, which is far above the Victorian average of 13.3%. Unpaid housework is also more common here than in most other areas.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 0.0%, which is lower than most similar areas.

Most homes are occupied by couples, and there are no one-parent families in the area. Households are slightly smaller than average, with 2.3 people per home.

Home ownership is very high, with 58.2% of houses owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Most are separate houses, and typical weekly rent is among the lowest in the region at $115.

The area is highly car-dependent, with no public transport stops and a drive time to the city of 109 minutes. Despite this, 27.1% of people work from home, which is well above the national average.

The population is very stable, with only 6.2% of people moving into the area in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 38.6% of the workforce. While unemployment is very low at 0.0%, full-time employment is far below the state average.

The area is considered car-dependent with a walkability score of 0.7. Almost no homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools.