Penshurst

The community is notably older than the national figure, and it has a First Nations population that is well above the state average at 5.0%. Seniors make up 27.0% of the residents.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 7.1% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. Those with overseas roots most commonly cite English, Scottish, or Irish ancestry.

English is the primary language for nearly everyone here. Only 2.2% of people use another language at home, a figure far below that of Victoria.

Religious affiliation is more common here than in most areas, with 57.6% of people identifying as Christian and 34.3% reporting no religion, which is well below the national figure.

Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 9.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many residents have a Certificate III or IV as their highest qualification.

Incomes are much lower than the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,014 a week. Only 6.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 34.3% of people have a long-term health condition and 9.6% need help with daily activities.

Volunteerism is very high at 26.7%, far above the national figure. There is also a strong presence of former Defence Force members, at 4.6%.

The First Nations community is relatively small with 34 people. This group is far younger than the state average, with a typical age of just 15 years.

Many people live alone here—about 33.8% of households—which is well above the state average. Typical homes are smaller than average, with 2.3 people per household.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 98.1% of dwellings. A striking 52.4% of homes are owned outright, and typical weekly rents are very low at $175.

Cars are essential for most, though 25.3% of people work from home. While there are a few bus stops, no one uses public transport to commute to work.

The population is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the state average. No recent overseas arrivals were recorded.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing are the main industries, employing 33.1% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is 6.8%, which is a little above the national figure.

The area is somewhat walkable for schools and parks, but it lacks basic amenities; no homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.