Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Colac
38 km²
A much older population than the state average defines Colac, where over a quarter of residents are seniors. This large town is notably more affordable than most areas, with typical incomes and housing costs sitting well below national figures. It is a highly walkable community where most homes are detached houses, and many residents face long-term health challenges. While its population is among the largest for its level, the area feels distinct for its lower proportion of university qualifications and a strong presence of people living alone.
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The typical resident is 44, making the community noticeably older than the state and national averages. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 26.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 17.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, with only 10.9% born overseas, a figure far below the 30% seen across Victoria.
English is the main language for 86.3% of people, though 8.0% use another language at home, which is higher than most similar areas.
About 45.4% of people report having no religion, a figure well above the national average of 38.9%.
Educational attainment is far below state levels, with only 10.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree and 37.6% completing Year 12.
Incomes are well below the national average, with the typical household earning $1,108 a week and very few households earning $3,000 or more.
Health challenges are common here, with 34.8% of people having a long-term health condition and 10.3% needing help with daily activities, both well above state levels.
Volunteer rates are lower than most areas at 13.9%, while 13.4% of people provide some form of unpaid care.
The area has a larger First Nations population than 91% of similar places, and 6.4% of these residents speak a First Nations language, which is a little above the state average.
Living arrangements are unusual, with a very high 38.7% of people living alone and 20.0% of families being single-parent households.
Detached houses are very common at 85.9%, and the typical weekly rent of $260 is well below the national figure. Outright home ownership is also well above the state average.
The town is heavily reliant on cars, with only 5.5% of people working from home, far below the state average of 25.7%.
The community has seen a high number of recent overseas arrivals, which is far above the national average.
Working or looking for work is less common here than in other areas, with manufacturing as the top industry and labourers being the most common occupation.
Colac is very walkable, with 86% of homes having easy access to a variety of amenities and 95.3% located within a 10-minute walk of public transport.
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