Skipton

The population is far older than the national figure, with 25.8% of residents aged 65 or over. Conversely, children under 15 make up only 13.8% of the community, which is well below the national average of 18.2%.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 82.3% born here. This is reflected in the fact that only 7.6% of people were born overseas, a figure far below the Victorian average.

English is the primary language for almost everyone, with only 1.3% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Religious views are split, with 45.6% identifying as Christian and 41.4% reporting no religion, which is slightly above the national average.

Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 34.1% of residents completing Year 12. While bachelor degrees are far less common than in the rest of Victoria, the area has a high number of schools per 1,000 children.

Incomes are much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly household earning $894. Only 10.5% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is far below the state average.

Health challenges are common here; 41.1% of people have a long-term health condition, and 10.3% need help with daily activities. Both figures are among the highest for similar areas.

Volunteering is very strong in Skipton, with 23.7% of people volunteering—far above the Victorian average of 13.3%. There is also a higher rate of people providing unpaid care compared to most areas.

There are 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the area. The typical person in this group is 40, which is far older than the national First Nations median age of 24.

Living arrangements are distinctive, as 44.5% of people live alone, far above the national figure. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most other areas.

Almost every home is a separate house, and 49.2% are owned outright, which is far above the state average. Rent is much lower than usual, with a typical weekly cost of $194.

The town is heavily reliant on cars, as 0.0% of people commute by public transport and the drive to the city takes 113 minutes. Most homes have at least one vehicle.

The population is relatively stable, with 30.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. There were no recent arrivals from overseas.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the biggest industry, employing 30.3% of the workforce. However, fewer people are working or looking for work compared to most other areas.

While the town is somewhat walkable and most homes are near a park, it is far less convenient for public transport than the state average, with a 38-minute walk to the nearest stop.