Port Albert

The community is significantly older than the state and national figures, with 35.2% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 11.2% of the population, which is well below the national average of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, with only 11.2% born overseas, a figure far below the 27.7% national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Scottish and Irish.

English is the primary language here, with only 2.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

A high proportion of residents—47.1%—report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 31.7% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. Only 10.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $981. Very few households earn $3,000 or more a week, at just 4.1%.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 37% of people live with a long-term health condition and 6.9% need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is high at 20.2%, well above the national figure of 14.1%. This is a community where people are more likely to do unpaid housework and serve in the Defence Force than those in similar areas.

There are 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the area. The First Nations community here is much older than average, with a typical age of 53, and reports much lower incomes than the state average.

Homes are smaller than usual, with only 1.9 people per home. This is consistent with the older population, as 31% of people live alone and 54.7% of families are couples without children.

The area is dominated by separate houses, and 50.3% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure of 31%. Typical weekly rents are $260, well below the national average.

The town is almost entirely car-dependent, with no public transport routes or stops available. Residents face a long drive to the city, taking about 147 minutes.

The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 42% of people moving in the last five years. However, there have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

While full-time employment is around the middle for its level, only 40.1% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure of 61.1%. The unemployment rate is 8.3%, well above the national average.

The town is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 2.8, far below the state average. While many people can walk to a park, no homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school or health service.