Buffalo River

The community is significantly older than most areas, with 26% of residents aged 65 or over and a typical age of 54. Conversely, children under 15 make up only 9.1%, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia (80.7%), though 9.8% were born overseas. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, followed by Italian and Irish heritage.

English is the main language for 83.2% of the community. While 7% use another language at home, which is higher than similar areas, this is still far below the Victoria average of 27.6%.

Religion is split fairly evenly, with 47.4% identifying as Christian and 40.4% reporting no religion, a figure that is slightly above the national average.

About 19.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is more common than in similar areas. Half of the residents completed Year 12, though this is well below the state and national figures.

Incomes are generally around the middle for similar areas. The typical weekly household income is $1,421, which is a little below the national figure of $1,746.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than elsewhere, affecting 32.6% of residents. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 13.3%.

Residents are more likely to volunteer than those in most other areas, with 21.3% doing so. There is also a higher rate of people doing 15 or more hours of unpaid housework weekly compared to the state average.

There are three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here. The typical person in this group is 55, which is far older than the national figure of 24.

Homes are slightly smaller than usual, with 2.3 people per household. Most are couples, with 50.9% of families having children and 46% without.

The area consists entirely of separate houses, and 50.9% are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Rent is much lower here than elsewhere, with a typical weekly cost of just $130.

Every home has at least one motor vehicle, and most have two or more. Public transport is non-existent, and no one commutes using it.

The population is very stable, with only 25.3% moving in the last five years, far fewer than the 40.7% seen across Australia. No recent arrivals from overseas were recorded.

The unemployment rate is very low at 1.9%, well below the national figure. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the most common industries, alongside health care and professional services.

The area is entirely car-dependent due to the steep terrain and a total lack of walkable shops, schools or health services. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of a grocery store or public transport.