Merricks Beach

The typical resident is 62, making the area far older than the national figure of 38. People aged 65 and over make up 47.8% of the population, which is far above the 17.2% seen across Australia.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.6% were born overseas, which is higher than in most similar areas. English is the most common ancestry at 45.2%.

English is the main language for 95.5% of residents. Only 4.5% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Nearly half of the community (49.7%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average of 38.9%.

This is a highly qualified community, with 46.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national figure of 26.3%.

Income is varied, but 29.7% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is well above the national figure. Typical personal weekly income is $843, which is about the same as the national figure.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than elsewhere, affecting 39.5% of residents compared to 27.7% nationally. Arthritis and cancer are the most frequent conditions.

Volunteerism is very high, with 38.8% of people volunteering, far above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid care is also common, with 23.1% providing support, which is far above the national figure.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 0.0% of the population, which is lower than most similar areas.

Homes are typically small, with only 2.0 people per home compared to the national figure of 2.5. This is consistent with the high number of couples without children, who make up 64.9% of families.

The area consists entirely of separate houses, and 59.5% are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Rents are slightly higher here than the national average at $436 per week.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, as there are no public transport stops. This is reflected in the workforce, where 42.6% of people work from home, far above the national figure of 21.0%.

About 40.4% of residents moved here in the last five years, which is about the same as the national figure. There were no recent arrivals from overseas.

Working or looking for work is much less common here, at 42.9% compared to 61.1% nationally. Many of those employed work as professionals or managers.

The area is car-dependent with a walkability score of 1.1, far below the Victorian average of 6.4. While every home is near a park, no one lives within a 15-minute walk of shops, health services, or schools.