Fernbank

Residents are far older than the national average, with 21.6% aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up just 11.9% of the population, which is well below the figure for Victoria.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 83% born here. Only 6.2% were born overseas, a figure far below the state and national averages.

English is the only language used at home, as no residents report using another language. This is far below the 27.6% of Victorians who speak a second language.

Nearly half of the residents (46.9%) report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 7.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Around 40.1% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state average.

Personal incomes are well below the national figure, with a typical weekly income of $606. Only 8.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, far below the state average of 22.7%.

Mental health conditions are much more common here than in most areas at 10.8%. However, only 1.5% of people need help with daily activities, which is well below the state average.

Volunteering is a strong part of local life, with 22.2% of people volunteering, well above the national average. Unpaid housework is also more common here than in most other areas.

There are no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people recorded in this area.

Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per household. Families with children make up 52.3% of the community.

Almost all residents live in separate houses, and 47.1% own theirs outright, which is far above the state average. Renting is very rare at just 10.0%.

The area is entirely dependent on cars, as no one commutes by public transport and every home has at least one vehicle. Most households own three or more cars.

The population is stable, with only 25.1% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national average of 40.7%.

Full-time employment is well above the national average at 64.4%, though the unemployment rate is also very high at 13.4%. Many people work in agriculture, forestry, and construction.

The area is strictly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.3. There are no schools, health services, or public transport stops within a 15-minute walk.