Winter Valley

This is a very young community where 26.1% of people are children under 15, a figure well above the national average. Seniors make up only 7.2% of the population, which is far below the Australian figure of 17.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas origins are far fewer than in the rest of Victoria. English, Scottish, and Irish ancestries are the most common following Australian.

While English is the main language for 87.6% of people, the proportion using another language at home is much higher than in most similar areas. Punjabi is the most common non-English language spoken.

More than half of the community—53.2%—report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 36.8%.

Year 12 completion is higher than in most similar areas, and 22.0% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. This is, however, well below the state and national averages.

Typical weekly household incomes of $2,013 are a little above the national figure. Personal incomes are also higher than the usual amount seen in similar areas.

The community is generally healthy, with fewer people reporting long-term health conditions than in most areas. However, 10.5% of people have a mental health condition, which is a little above the national average.

Unpaid childcare is very common here, with 37.7% of people caring for children, far above the national figure. In contrast, the volunteering rate is much lower than in most similar areas.

First Nations residents in Winter Valley have a much lower typical age of 16 and a far higher typical personal income of $1,053 than the national figures. Unemployment in this group is 0.0%.

Homes are typically larger than average, with 2.9 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 63.0% of all households.

The area is almost entirely made up of separate houses, with 98.4% having three or more bedrooms. Very few people own their homes outright, and 24.4% of households are renting.

Cars are essential here, as 68.8% of people drive to work and almost every home has at least one vehicle. Public transport use is very low, with 0.0% of people commuting by it.

Winter Valley has seen significant movement, with 65.2% of people arriving in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent overseas arrivals, at 21.5%.

A high proportion of adults—76.6%—are working or looking for work, which is far above the national figure. The most common industries for local workers are health care, retail, and construction.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. While nearly everyone lives within a short walk of a park, very few can walk to groceries, health services, or public transport.