Howqua

The area is far younger than the state and national average, with children under 15 making up 43% of the population. In contrast, seniors aged 65 and over are far less common here than in most other areas.

While most residents were born in Australia, 13.9% were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas. Chinese ancestry is notably present, accounting for 13.9% of the community.

About 20.3% of people use a language other than English at home, which is much higher than in most similar areas. Mandarin is the most common non-English language, spoken by 12.7% of residents.

A large majority of the community reports no religion, at 62%. This is far above the figures for both Victoria and Australia.

Residents are highly qualified, with 35.1% holding a bachelor degree or higher, well above the national figure. Year 12 completion is also far above the national average at 71.4%.

Typical family weekly income is $2,750, which is well above the national figure. However, typical personal weekly income is $420, which is among the lowest for its level.

People needing help with daily activities are much less common here than in most areas. Mental health conditions are reported by 10.8% of residents, which is a little above the national figure.

Volunteering is very common, with 28.7% of people helping out, far above the state average. Conversely, rates of unpaid childcare and housework are well below those of most other areas.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 2.5% of the population. The typical age for First Nations residents is 14, which is far younger than the state and national average of 24.

Family life is dominated by couples with children, who make up 65% of households. About 29.2% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure.

The area has a very low rate of outright home ownership compared to the state. No one in the community rents their home, and typical monthly mortgage payments are well below the national figure.

The community is entirely dependent on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes. Most people drive or walk to work, and 10.3% work from home.

Movement is very high, with 76.8% of people having moved house in the last five years. This is far above the national average, consistent with a high rate of recent overseas arrivals at 36.4%.

Adults working or looking for work are far fewer here than in the state average. Most of the workforce is employed in education and training, and 46.2% of workers are professionals.

The area is completely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.0. There are no shops, schools, or health services within a 15-minute walk, and the terrain is quite steep.