Sawmill Settlement

The typical resident is 42, which is noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Children under 15 make up 19.8% of the population, a little above the national average, while people in de facto relationships are well above the state and national figures.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 7% of people born overseas, a figure far below both the state and national averages. The most common ancestries are English and Australian.

English is the primary language used at home for 79.1% of residents. Only 4.7% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

A large majority of residents report having no religion at 58.1%, a figure that is far above both the state and national averages.

While 56.9% of residents completed Year 12, the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is 12.2%, which is far below the national figure of 26.3%.

Typical family weekly income is $1,468, which is well below the national figure of $2,120. Notably, no households earn $3,000 or more per week, a result far below the national average.

About 30.2% of people have a long-term health condition, a little above the national figure of 27.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most common reported conditions.

The area has a high proportion of former Defence Force members at 9.9%, which is well above the national average of 2.8%. However, the rate of people providing unpaid care is much lower than in most areas.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is very small, with only one person recorded, who is far older than the state and national typical ages.

Most homes are occupied by couples with children (64.9%) or couples without children (40.5%). One-parent families are much less common here than in most other areas.

Detached houses are very common, making up 79.4% of dwellings. Typical weekly rent is $289, which is well below the national figure of $375, and home loan payments are also far below the national average.

The area is entirely car-reliant, with every single home owning at least one motor vehicle. About 9.8% of people use a bus to get to work, which is well above the national figure.

About 35.4% of residents moved into the area in the last five years, which is a lower rate than seen across Victoria and Australia.

The workforce is primarily employed in transport and warehousing, as well as accommodation and food services. The unemployment rate is 0.0%, which is well below the national figure.

The area is strictly car-dependent with a walkability score of 0.2. There are no shops, schools, or health services within a 15-minute walk, and the terrain is notably steep.