State Electorate · Area profile
Ovens Valley (Northern Victoria)
9,628 km²
Daily life in Ovens Valley revolves around a slower pace in a landscape of large, detached homes and open space. The area is far older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 47 and a high proportion of retirees. This senior population helps explain why many homes are owned outright and why there is a strong culture of volunteering. It is a predominantly Australian community that has grown by 4.8% since 2016, maintaining a quiet, residential feel across its vast area.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The community is notably older than the rest of the state; 26% of residents are seniors, a figure well above the national average. Children under 15 make up 16.7% of the population, which is a little below the Australian figure.
People born overseas make up 10.6% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. Most residents claim English or Australian ancestry, and 82.5% were born in Australia.
English is the primary language for 87.7% of the community. Only 6% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.
About 40.9% of residents report having no religion, a figure that rose 12 points since 2016. Christianity remains the most common religious affiliation at 48.8%.
Educational attainment is lower than the national average, with only 15.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, 41.8% of residents have completed Year 12, which is an increase of 5.7 points since 2016.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with a typical weekly household earning $1,286. While these figures are low, typical family income rose by $338 since 2016.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 34.6% of people have a long-term health condition. Around 7.3% of residents need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national figure.
Volunteering is very common, with 18.6% of people helping out, well above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid care for others is also more frequent here than in most areas.
Homes tend to be smaller in size with a typical 2.3 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, who make up 30% of the community.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 89.9% of dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 43% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.3% of people commuting by public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 38.5% have two.
The population is relatively stable, as the 35.1% of people who moved in the last five years is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas account for 12.5% of the population.
The unemployment rate is very low at 2.9%, though the number of adults working or looking for work is well below the national average. Health care and manufacturing are the most common industries.
Walking to services is difficult for many, as only 50.4% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries. The overall walkability score of 4.1 is well below the state average.