Alford

The community is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with the typical resident aged 47. First Nations people make up 6.3% of the population, which is well above the national average of 3.2%.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 86.8% born here. Only 2.5% of residents were born overseas, a figure that is far below the national average.

English is the sole language used at home for 93.1% of residents. No one in the community uses another language at home, which is far below the national figure.

Nearly half of the residents (47.2%) report having no religion, which is well above the national average of 38.9%.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 6.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many residents hold a Certificate III or IV, which is the most common highest qualification at 42.5%.

Typical household incomes are well below the national figure, sitting at $1,286 per week. While personal incomes are about the same as the national average, only 4.6% of people earn $2,000 or more a week.

A little more than 32% of people live with a long-term health condition, which is well above the national average. However, very few people (1.9%) need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is incredibly common here, with 34.6% of people volunteering—a figure far above the national average of 14.1%. This spirit of service is seen alongside a high rate of people caring for children unpaid.

There are 10 First Nations people in the area, who are far older than the state and national average with a typical age of 52. Their typical personal income is $899, which is far above the national figure.

The community has a high number of people living alone (33.3%) and very few one-parent families. Most homes are occupied by couples, with 55.9% having children.

Every single home in Alford is a separate detached house. A huge 58% of these are owned outright, which is far above the national average, and typical rents are far below the national figure.

The area is entirely dependent on cars, with no one using public transport and every home owning at least one vehicle. The drive to the city is very long, taking about 119 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with 29.3% of people having moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the dominant industries, employing 36.6% of the workforce. About 55.4% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national average.

The area is strictly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. No residents live within a 15-minute walk of a school, grocery store, or health service.