Donald

The community is far older than the state and national average, with 31.7% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up 15.7% of the population, which is a little below the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a far lower proportion of overseas-born people (8.1%) than the national average. English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language for 87.1% of people. While 5.1% use another language at home, which is higher than in similar areas, this is still far below the Victorian average.

About half of the population identifies as Christian, while 39.6% of residents report having no religion, a figure that is about the same as the national average.

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 33.6% of residents completing Year 12. Just 9.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the state figure.

Incomes are well below the national average across the board. The typical weekly household income is $1,044, and only 6.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are more common here, with 39.7% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure, and 10.9% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteerism is very strong, with 28.1% of people volunteering, far above the national rate. Many residents also provide unpaid care or perform significant amounts of housework.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 2.5% of the population. Notably, 21.6% of First Nations residents speak a First Nations language, which is well above the national average.

Homes here are smaller than usual, with only 2.1 people per household. This is consistent with a high number of people living alone, who make up 38.2% of all households.

Separate houses are very common at 93.7%, and nearly half (49%) are owned outright. Rent and mortgage payments are far below state and national figures, with typical weekly rent at just $180.

Cars are the primary way to get around, as 0% of people commute by public transport. While most homes have vehicles, walking to the nearest transport stop can take up to 68 minutes.

About 30.7% of the population moved in the last five years. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas make up 21.0% of the community, which is well above the national average.

Working or looking for work is much less common here (48.1%) than in other areas. The most common industries are agriculture, forestry and fishing, followed by health care and social assistance.

The town is somewhat walkable, with 93.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, half of the residents live more than 15 minutes away from health services.