Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Merbein
34 km²
A changing population defines Merbein, where the community is now noticeably older than the national average. It is a predominantly Australian-born area with a significant First Nations presence. The town is largely residential, with most people living in separate houses. While the typical resident is older, there is a strong presence of children, creating a mixed age profile in a quiet, regional setting.
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The typical resident is 44, which is noticeably older than the Victorian and national figures of 38. This older trend is reflected in the 22.9% of people aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 84.0% born here and only 6.2% born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 88.1% of the community. Only 3.0% of people use another language at home, a proportion far below the 22.3% seen across Australia.
About half of the population (49.8%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 38.6%.
Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 30.7% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. Similarly, the 7.5% of adults with a bachelor degree is far below the national average.
Incomes are generally lower than in other areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,147, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 7.0% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 37.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. Additionally, 10.1% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average.
More people provide unpaid care here than in most areas, at 14.5%. This is alongside a slightly higher rate of former Defence Force members (3.7%) compared to the national figure.
First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, though they face challenges; the typical age is much younger (17) and unemployment is well above the national rate at 17.0%.
The area has a higher proportion of one-parent families (19.1%) and people living alone (31.3%) than most other areas. However, couples with children still make up the largest group at 49.8%.
Most people live in separate houses (89.8%), and while 41.0% have a mortgage, the typical monthly payment of $1,025 is far below the national figure.
Cars are essential for most, as 71.7% of people drive to work and only 6.5% work from home. Despite this, the area has a very high number of public transport stops per 1,000 people.
The population is relatively stable, with 31.9% moving in the last five years, which is well below the national rate of 40.7%.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (52.3%) compared to the national average of 61.1%. The main industries for locals are health care, retail, and agriculture.
The area is considered somewhat walkable, with 90.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, access to health services on foot is non-existent.