Towong

The community is far older than the state and national average, with 38.5% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 13.3% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 8.4% of the population, which is far below the 27.7% national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the only language used at home for 93% of residents. No one in the area speaks little or no English, a figure far below the national average.

Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 42% report having no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is slightly above the state and national figures.

Qualifications vary, but 18.3% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, which is higher than most similar areas but well below the national figure of 26.3%.

Typical household income is $1,291 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While typical personal incomes are lower than the national average, 12.7% of people earn $2,000 or more weekly.

Health needs are high here, as 7% of people need help with daily activities and 31.5% have a long-term health condition, both of which are above the national average.

Volunteering is very common, with 33.3% of people volunteering—far above the national figure of 14.1%. The area also has a higher rate of former Defence Force members than most others.

The First Nations population is very small. Those who are present have a typical personal income of $150, which is far below the national figure of $540.

Homes are generally small, with 2.2 people per dwelling. Most households consist of couples without children, and one-parent families are much less common than in other areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, with 68.3% of homes owned outright—far above the national figure of 31%. Renting is very rare at just 5%, and typical rents are much lower than the national average.

The area is highly reliant on cars, as every home owns at least one vehicle. While there is one public transport route, no one uses public transport to commute to work.

The community is relatively stable, with 28.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the main industries, employing 35.4% of the workforce. While full-time employment is slightly above the national average, the unemployment rate is also higher at 5.8%.

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