Merricks

The area is significantly older than the rest of the state, with 35.3% of people aged 65 or over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 12.0%, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.7% were born overseas, a figure higher than in most similar areas. English is the most common ancestry at 50.0%.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 92.4% of people at home. Very few people use another language, at just 3.3%, which is far below the Victoria average.

Almost half of the community (48.9%) reports having no religion, a figure far above the national average of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 42.4%.

The community is highly qualified, with 42.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national figure of 26.3%. Most residents finished Year 12, and many hold postgraduate degrees.

Incomes are very high here, with the typical household earning $2,750 a week, well above the national figure of $1,746. This wealth is reflected in the 43.6% of households earning $3,000 or more weekly.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 36.4% of people. This is consistent with the older population, and 7.1% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is very common, with 30.9% of people helping out, far above the state figure. Many residents also provide unpaid care or spend significant time on housework.

Five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live here. Their typical personal income of $575 is about the same as the national figure, though the typical age is much higher than in most areas.

Homes are generally small, with 2.2 people per household. Nearly half of all households consist of couples without children, and 26.9% of people live alone.

Every home in the area is a separate house, and 60.3% are owned outright, far above the national figure. Most are large homes with three or more bedrooms, and typical monthly mortgage payments are very high at $3,500.

Working from home is very popular, with 44.7% of the workforce doing so, far above the national average. Every home has at least one motor vehicle, and no one commutes by public transport.

The population is relatively stable, with 29.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%. No recent overseas arrivals were recorded.

Managers and professionals make up the bulk of the workforce, though full-time employment is much lower than in most areas at 46.8%. Agriculture and technical services are key industries.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.3, far below the state average. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, grocery store, or health service.