Kaniva

The community is much older than the state and national averages, with 29.2% of residents aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up 15.5% of the population, which is a little below the national figure of 18.2%.

Kaniva is very homogenous, with 88.6% of people born in Australia and only 6.2% born overseas, a figure far below the Victorian average of 30%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 93% of residents. Only 2% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

About half of the population identifies as Christian (51.7%), while 40.3% report having no religion, which is slightly above the national average of 38.9%.

Year 12 completion is much lower than most areas at 35.8%, compared to 58.8% nationally. However, local qualifications often align with the town's character, with agriculture and education being the most common fields of study.

Incomes are well below the state and national figures, with the typical household earning $1,121 a week. Only 8.1% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the Victorian average of 22.7%.

Health needs are significant here, as 38.7% of people live with a long-term health condition—far above the national rate of 27.7%. This is consistent with the area's older population, with 9.1% requiring help with daily activities.

Volunteering is very common, with 39.9% of people helping out, far above the national figure of 14.1%. Residents also provide more unpaid care and do more unpaid housework than most other areas.

There are 7 First Nations people in the area, with a typical age of 47, which is far older than the national figure of 24. Weekly personal income is also much lower than the state average.

Living arrangements are often small, with 35.4% of people living alone—well above the national figure of 25.6%. The typical home has 2.1 people, which is much lower than most areas.

Home ownership is very high, with 60.3% of houses owned outright, far above the national average of 31%. This contributes to very low typical rents of $125 a week and modest mortgage payments.

Cars are essential for getting around, as 0% of the population commutes via public transport. While most homes have at least one vehicle, the walk to the nearest transport stop is among the longest in the region.

The population is very stable, with only 24.8% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national average of 40.7%. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing is the primary industry for 31% of workers. Full-time employment is slightly higher than the national average, though overall working or looking for work is well below the state figure.

The town is somewhat walkable, with 79.4% of homes within 15 minutes of groceries. However, it is far below the state average for those within a short walk of a school or public transport.