Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Maffra
79 km²
A significant number of seniors live in Maffra, where 23.6% of the population is aged 65 and over. This high proportion of older adults helps explain why more people here need help with daily activities and have long-term health conditions compared to most areas. It is a larger town of over 5,000 people with a strong local presence of families and children. The community is mostly born in Australia, with a high rate of home ownership and a preference for detached housing.
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Maffra has a population of 5,384 people. It is noticeably older than the state and national figure, with a typical age of 42 and a higher-than-usual share of both children and seniors.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 8.1% born overseas, which is far below the figures for Victoria and Australia. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common after Australian.
English is the primary language for 91.8% of residents. Only 2.9% use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.
A high proportion of residents report having no religion at 46.7%, which is well above the national figure. Christianity is also common, accounting for 45.2% of the population.
Schooling levels are lower than most areas, with only 39.1% of people completing Year 12. This is far below the state and national figures, and only 13.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Typical incomes are lower than the state and national figures. The typical household earns $1,285 a week, and only 11.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas. Long-term health conditions affect 33.9% of people, and 7.5% of residents need help with daily activities, both of which are well above the state average.
Local residents are very active in their community; 19.7% volunteer, which is well above the state and national figures. Unpaid housework and care for children are also common activities.
There are 88 First Nations people in the area. While the unemployment rate for this group is well above the state average at 17.6%, their typical personal income is higher than the national figure.
Homes here are smaller than average, with 2.3 people per dwelling. There is a high number of people living alone (30.7%) and a higher share of one-parent families than in most areas.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 92.9% of dwellings. Many residents own their homes outright (39.6%), and typical weekly rents are well below the state and national figures.
The town is heavily reliant on cars, with 66.7% of people driving to work. Very few people work from home (8.9%), which is far below the state average, and no one commutes via public transport.
About 34.4% of residents moved in the last five years, which is higher than most areas but well below the state average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 14.4% of the population.
The workforce is smaller than in most areas, with 55.1% of adults working or looking for work. Common industries include health care, construction, and education, while technicians and trades are the most common occupations.
Maffra is somewhat walkable with a score of 5.0, though this is well below the state average. Residents have good access to health services and groceries, but fewer are within a short walk of parks or schools.