Marong

Marong is very young, with children under 15 making up 27.7% of the population—well above the national figure of 18.2%. People aged 65 and over are much less common here than in most similar areas, at just 10.6%.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 89.9% born here. Only 6.2% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the Victorian average of 30%.

English is the primary language for 92.6% of the population. Only 3.7% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below the national average of 22.3%.

More than half of the community (54%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 38.2%.

About 52.3% of residents completed Year 12, which is higher than in most similar areas but well below the Victorian average of 61.8%. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 15.4% of the population.

Typical household income is $1,989 a week, which is a little above the Victorian figure of $1,759. Personal income is also higher than in most similar areas, with the typical person earning $900 weekly.

Residents are generally healthier than those in similar areas, with only 3.7% needing help with daily activities. However, 9.6% of people report a mental health condition, which is higher than most similar areas.

Caring for children is a major activity here, with 43.1% of people providing unpaid childcare—far above the national figure of 26.3%.

First Nations residents in Marong earn a typical personal income of $1,166, which is far above the Victorian figure of $619. About 7.9% speak a First Nations language, a rate a little above the state average.

Homes are larger than usual, with 3.0 people per household compared to the national figure of 2.5. Couples with children make up 70% of families, while only 14.1% of people live alone.

The area is dominated by separate houses (97.5%), and 92.6% of homes have three or more bedrooms. This is far above the national figure of 73.8%. Renting is uncommon, with only 11.2% of households renting.

Car dependency is absolute, with 0% of residents commuting by public transport and every single home owning at least one motor vehicle. The typical drive to the city takes 94 minutes.

The population is quite mobile, with 47.2% of people having moved in the last five years. This is well above the national figure of 40.7%.

Employment is strong, with 72.9% of adults working or looking for work and a very low unemployment rate of 1.9%. Many residents work in health care and social assistance (16.1%) or construction (12.4%).

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.6, far below the Victorian average of 6.4. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.