Buchan

Buchan is far older than most areas, with a typical age of 54 and a high proportion of seniors. Children under 15 make up only 11.9% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 8% born overseas, a figure far below the Victorian average of 30%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

English is the sole language used at home, with 0% of residents using another language, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

About 43.3% of people report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 40.8%.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 32.5% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. Only 9.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical household earning $1,083 a week. Only 7.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state figure.

More people here need help with daily activities than in most areas, at 8.0%. However, the rate of long-term health conditions at 25.9% is a little below the national average.

Volunteering is very common here, with 24.9% of people helping out—far above the national figure of 14.1%. This high level of participation extends to unpaid care and housework.

There are five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the area. The typical First Nations resident is 52, which is far older than the national figure of 24.

Living alone is common, with 35.4% of people in single-person homes, well above the state average. Homes are generally smaller, with only 2.1 people per dwelling.

Home ownership is very high, with 53.2% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Every single home in Buchan is a separate house.

The area is entirely dependent on cars, as 0% of people commute via public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, with 39.2% owning two cars.

The population is very stable, with only 17.2% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national rate of 40.7%.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to other areas, at 54.1%. Jobs are concentrated in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, as well as hospitality.

Buchan is highly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 1.7. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services, and the terrain is steeper than average.