St Arnaud East

The community is far older than most areas, with 26% of residents aged 65 and over. While children under 15 make up 18% of the population, there are very few young adults and a much lower rate of de facto relationships compared to the state and national figures.

People born overseas make up only 6% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry, and 83% were born in Australia.

English is the primary language for 88% of the community. Only 3% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below the 22.3% national average.

Religious affiliation is higher here than in most areas, with 59% of people identifying as Christian. Those with no religion account for 32%, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 11% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Around 42% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical incomes are well below the national average, with the typical household earning $1,375 a week. No households in the area earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state and national trends.

Health challenges are common here, as 34% of people have a long-term health condition and 9% need help with daily activities. Both figures are much higher than in most other areas.

Community spirit is high, with 23.2% of people volunteering, well above the national average of 14.1%. This is consistent with a high rate of unpaid care, with 18.3% of residents providing unpaid support.

There are no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people living in this area, which is lower than most similar areas.

Family structures are varied, with a much higher rate of one-parent families (20.3%) than the national average. Conversely, far fewer people live alone compared to most other areas.

Housing is almost entirely made up of separate houses, with 100% of homes being detached. Home ownership is very high, as 69.7% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%.

The area is entirely reliant on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes. Most homes have two or more vehicles, and 67.6% of workers commute by car.

The population is relatively stable, with 24.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Full-time employment is much higher than most areas at 67.6%, and there is no unemployment. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, or agriculture.

The area is strictly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.2. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools.