Neerim Junction

The community is significantly older than most areas, with 32.4% of people aged 65 and over, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 15.1% of the population.

Most residents were born in Australia (81.3%), and those with overseas origins are far fewer than in the state average. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, both at 39.6%, followed by Scottish at 25.2%.

English is the only language used at home by 92.8% of the population, and no one speaks little or no English. This makes the area far less linguistically diverse than the Victorian average.

A large majority of residents report no religion, at 59.0%, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the only other significant affiliation at 33.8%.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 32.7% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. However, 16.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are generally lower than in the rest of the state; the typical weekly household income is $1,312, well below the Victorian figure of $1,759. Only 11.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 37.4% of residents. Arthritis and mental health are the most frequently reported conditions.

Local participation is high, with 20.8% of people volunteering and 29.2% providing unpaid care, both of which are well above the national average. Additionally, 6.0% of the population served in the Defence Force.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 0.0% of the population, which is a little below the state average.

The area has a higher than usual rate of one-parent families at 17.0% and people living alone at 28.8%. Most homes are small, with a typical size of 2.2 people.

Almost all residents live in separate houses (98.3%), and 44.1% own their home outright, which is far above the national figure. Renting is very uncommon here, occurring in only 10.2% of households.

The community is highly dependent on cars, with no homes lacking a motor vehicle. While there is one public transport stop, 0.0% of residents use public transport to commute.

Movement into the area has been slower than in the rest of the state, with 29.6% of people moving in over the last five years compared to 40.0% in Victoria.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work (55.0%) than in most areas. The local workforce is concentrated in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which accounts for 20.6% of jobs.

The area is strictly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.5. Residents have very limited access to amenities on foot, with 0.0% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.