Bruthen

The typical resident is 43, making the area noticeably older than the Victorian and national averages. About 18.7% of the population are children under 15, and there is a much higher share of people in de facto relationships compared to most similar areas.

Most of the community was born in Australia, with only 6.1% born overseas—a figure far below the state and national levels. Those with overseas ancestry are primarily of English, Irish, or Scottish descent.

English is the dominant language, used by 90.1% of residents at home. Only 2.4% use another language, which is far below the figures for Victoria and Australia.

A large majority of the community reports no religion (58.9%), a figure that is far above the national and state averages. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 28.2%.

Education levels are lower than the state and national figures, with 15.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 42.7% completing Year 12. Local schooling is exclusively government-run primary education.

Incomes are generally lower than in most areas; the typical weekly household income is $1,198, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 12.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Residents experience more health challenges than the state average, with 32.8% having a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also more common here, affecting 10.5% of the population.

There is a high level of community support, with 17.8% of people providing unpaid care and 30.4% doing significant unpaid housework. Additionally, a much higher share of residents have served in the Defence Force compared to most areas.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.0% of the population, which is well above the Victorian average. The First Nations community here is slightly younger than the state average, with a typical age of 22.

Homes are smaller than average, with 2.3 people per dwelling. There is a higher-than-usual proportion of people living alone (29.6%) and one-parent families (15.4%).

The area is dominated by detached houses (95.5%), many of which are owned outright (40.8%). Renting is far less common here than elsewhere in the state, and typical mortgage payments are much lower than the national figure.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 60.1% of workers driving to work and 0.0% using public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and it takes a typical resident 63 minutes to walk to the nearest stop.

The population is relatively stable, with only 26.8% of people moving in the last five years—far below the national average. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

Working or looking for work is common for 59.2% of adults, though full-time employment is much lower than the state average. Local jobs are concentrated in health care, social assistance, and construction.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.8, far below the state average. This is influenced by a steeper terrain and the fact that no homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.