Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Daylesford
38 km²
Far older than most similar areas, Daylesford is a town where the typical resident is 55. It is a place of contrasting demographics, blending a high proportion of seniors and retirees with a well-educated workforce. The community is notably secular and independent, with more than half the population claiming no religion. This unique character is reflected in a high rate of home ownership and a strong spirit of volunteering among its 2,781 residents.
Daylesford's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
Daylesford is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The population is significantly older than the national average, with 30.8% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 11.3%, which is well below the Victorian figure of 18.0%.
People born overseas make up 19.0% of the community, which is much higher than most similar areas, though still far below the 30.0% seen across Victoria.
English is the main language for 83.3% of residents, but 8.9% use another language at home, a figure that is much higher than in most similar areas.
More than half the community (53.1%) reports no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%.
The area is highly qualified, with 29.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, a rate well above the Australian average of 26.3%.
Typical household incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual weekly household income sitting at $1,185.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.5% of people living with a long-term health condition and 7.3% needing help with daily activities.
Volunteering is strong, with 20.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the 14.1% national average.
There are 19 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the area, with a typical age of 15, which is far younger than the national figure of 24.
Living arrangements are distinct, as 40.3% of people live alone, a rate far above the 25.6% national average.
Home ownership is high, with 45.3% of homes owned outright, far exceeding the national figure of 31.0%.
Cars are the primary way to get around, though 26.8% of people work from home, which is well above the Australian average of 21.0%.
The community is quite mobile, with 39.7% of people moving in the last five years, and 10.2% arriving recently from overseas.
Working or looking for work is less common here than in most areas, with only 49.4% of adults in the workforce, often employed in accommodation, food, or health care.
The town is somewhat walkable with a score of 5.3, though many homes are far from public transport, with 39.0% within a 10-minute walk compared to 83.9% across Victoria.