Eppalock

The typical resident is 43, which is noticeably older than the Victorian and national figures of 38. About 17.3% of the population are children under 15, and 16.8% are seniors aged 65 and over.

The area is very homogeneous, with 83.6% of people born in Australia. Only 6.7% were born overseas, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%.

English is the dominant language, with 88.1% of people using it exclusively at home. Very few people use another language (2.7%), which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

A large number of residents have no religion, at 45.8%, which is well above the national average of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 40.1%.

While 18.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, this is well below the national figure of 26.3%. Nearly half of the community (49.3%) completed Year 12, though this is also well below the national average.

Typical household income is $1,883 a week, which is about the same as the state average. About 23.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, a rate slightly above the national figure.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33% of people reporting a long-term condition. Mental health conditions are particularly high at 12.3%, well above the national average of 8.8%.

Unpaid work is a big part of life here, with 30.5% of people caring for children and 28.4% doing significant housework, both well above national figures. There is also a strong veteran presence, with 4.9% having served in the Defence Force.

The First Nations community is notably young, with a typical age of just 11. Household income for this group is $2,750, which is far above the national figure of $1,507.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per home and far fewer people living alone (15.3%) compared to the national average of 25.6%.

Rental properties are extremely rare at 1.7%, as most residents own their homes, with 38.1% owning theirs outright. Nearly 89% of homes have three or more bedrooms.

The area is entirely dependent on cars, with no one using public transport to commute and every home owning at least one vehicle. The drive time to the city is among the highest at 174 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with 28.7% moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%. No recent arrivals from overseas were recorded.

The unemployment rate is low at 2.1%, which is a little below the national figure of 5.1%. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, or education and training.

The area is almost entirely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.2. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools.