Golden Beach

Seniors make up 34.0% of the population, a figure far above the national average of 17.2%. Children under 15 are very rare here at 2.8%, which is far below the 18.2% seen across Australia.

About 21.3% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than in similar areas, though well below the Victoria state figure of 30.0%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language for 87.6% of the community. While 4.8% of people use another language at home—a higher rate than most similar areas—this is still far below the state average of 27.6%.

People with no religion make up 43.5% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the other primary affiliation at 48.0%.

Educational attainment is far below state and national levels, with only 10.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 27.5% of residents completed Year 12, which is much lower than most similar areas.

Incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical household earning $714 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 3.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.

Health challenges are common, with 48.6% of people living with a long-term condition—far above the national rate of 27.7%. This is reflected in the 11.5% of residents who need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is relatively common at 16.9%, which is well above the state average of 13.3%. Very few people care for children unpaid (9.0%), consistent with the small number of children in the area.

First Nations residents are older than average with a typical age of 54. Their typical personal income of $325 is among the lowest at this level and far below the national figure of $540.

Living arrangements are distinct, with 44.6% of people living alone, far above the national average of 25.6%. Most homes are small, with a typical size of 1.7 people.

Home ownership is strong, with 59.8% of homes owned outright—far above the national figure of 31.0%. Rents are also low, with a typical weekly cost of $200.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 0.0% of people commute using public transport. This is linked to poor access, with the nearest stop being a 60-minute walk away for some.

The community has seen significant movement, with 40.8% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are few at 3.9%, far below the national rate of 14.5%.

Only 33.4% of adults are working or looking for work, which is among the lowest rates for similar areas. The unemployment rate is 10.4%, well above the national figure of 5.1%.

Golden Beach is highly car-dependent with a walkability score of 0.9. There are no schools or health services within a 15-minute walk for any resident.