Paynesville

The area is far older than the state and national averages, with a typical age of 62. Children under 15 make up only 10% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 16.5% were born overseas, a figure higher than most similar areas. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.

English is the dominant language, with 93.7% of people using it exclusively at home. Only 3% of residents use another language, which is far below the Victorian average of 27.6%.

Nearly half of the community (47.1%) reports having no religion, a figure well above the national average. Christianity is also common, representing 46.2% of the population.

Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 40.1% of residents completing Year 12. About 14.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the Victorian figure of 29.2%.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with the typical household earning $987 a week. Only 8.2% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, far below the national figure of 22.6%.

Health needs are high here, with 46.3% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national average and is reflected in the 10.3% of residents who need help with daily activities.

Community spirit is evident in the 18.3% of people who volunteer, well above the national figure. There is also a strong connection to military service, with 6% of residents having served in the Defence Force.

About 48 First Nations people live here. While Year 12 completion is lower than the state average, the median personal income of $725 is well above the national figure for First Nations people.

Homes are smaller than usual, with a typical size of 2.0 people. This is consistent with the fact that 34% of people live alone, which is well above the national average.

A huge 56.9% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Most people live in separate houses, and the typical monthly mortgage payment is well below the state average.

The community relies heavily on cars, as 65.5% of workers drive to work and no one uses public transport for their commute. Very few homes (3.4%) are without a motor vehicle.

The area has seen significant movement recently, with 42.4% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are fewer than in most other areas.

Working life is less common here, as only 38.2% of adults are working or looking for work, among the lowest at this level. Many who are employed work in health care and social assistance.

The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.0. This is well below the Victorian average, and fewer than half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.