Katunga

The community is younger than most similar areas, with a typical age of 38 and 18.9% of the population being children under 15. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 13.9%, which is well below the national figure of 17.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia (77.4%), and those born overseas make up 12.4%, which is far below the Victorian average of 30.0%. Common ancestries include English, Irish, and Scottish.

English is the main language for 83.8% of the population. While 7.2% of people use another language at home, which is higher than most similar areas, this is still far below the state and national figures.

A large portion of the community identifies with no religion (44.9%), a figure well above the national average of 38.9%. Christianity is also common, accounting for 42.7% of residents.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 38.3% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Qualifications often relate to the local landscape, with 16.6% in agriculture and environment.

Typical weekly family income is $1,618, which is well below the national figure of $2,120. Only 3.9% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, a rate much lower than most areas.

About 27% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is about the same as the national figure. However, 9.2% of people have a mental health condition, which is higher than most similar areas.

Local participation is strong, with 16.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the Victorian average. Unpaid care for children is also more common here (28.3%) than in most areas.

There are 9 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Katunga. First Nations personal income is higher than most areas, with a typical weekly amount of $850 compared to the national figure of $540.

Households are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per home, which is much higher than most areas. This is reflected in the family structure, as 59.8% of homes consist of couples with children.

Every single home in Katunga is a separate house. These are typically large, with 88.5% having three or more bedrooms, which is far above the national figure of 73.8%.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 0% of people commuting via public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and 36.6% of households own two cars.

While 32.8% of residents moved in the last five years, the area has seen a huge surge in recent arrivals from overseas (43.3%), a figure far above the national average.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 37.5% of the workforce. More adults are working or looking for work here (64.8%) than in most similar areas.

The area is entirely car-dependent with a very low walkability score. Most residents cannot walk to groceries, health services, or parks within 15 minutes.