Cowes

The community is far older than the state and national averages, with 34.9% of people aged 65 or over. Conversely, children under 15 make up only 14.3% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.

While 19.9% of residents were born overseas—a rate much higher than similar areas—this is still far below the Victorian average of 30.0%. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 85.5% of residents. Around 8.0% use another language at home, which is higher than in similar areas but far below the state average of 27.6%.

A large proportion of the community reports no religious affiliation at 46.8%, a figure well above both the state and national averages. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 42.4%.

Academic qualifications are lower than the state and national averages, with 15.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Around 44.2% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Weekly incomes are well below the national average, with the typical household earning $1,026. Only 9.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the Victorian average of 22.7%.

Health needs are high here, with 38.1% of people living with a long-term health condition—far above the national figure of 27.7%. This is reflected in the 8.4% of residents who need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is common, with 17.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the national average. There is also a higher than average presence of Defence Force veterans at 4.1%.

First Nations people make up 1.0% of the population. The typical person in this group is 33, which is far older than the Victorian average of 24.

Many residents live alone, accounting for 34.8% of households, which is well above the national average. Consequently, homes are smaller, with a typical size of 2.1 people.

Home ownership is very strong, with 46.3% of homes owned outright—far above the national figure of 31.0%. Separate houses dominate the landscape, making up 83.4% of all dwellings.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute via public transport. However, most homes are within a short 2-minute walk of a public transport stop.

The population is quite mobile, with 50.4% of people having moved in the last five years, a rate far above the national average of 40.7%.

Many fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average, at 43.8%. Those employed are most often found in health care, accommodation and food services, and retail.

The area is somewhat walkable, with 99% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, access to health services and schools within a 15-minute walk is well below the state average.