Urban Area · Area profile
Sale
46 km²
A massive 32% drop in population since 2011 marks the recent trajectory of Sale. This Victorian town is now a smaller community where residents are noticeably older than the national average. It is a place with a high proportion of seniors and a strong history of military service, which blends with a very walkable layout. Despite the population decline, it remains a central hub with easy access to essential services.
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The community is noticeably older than most, with the typical resident aged 42 and 22% of people aged 65 or over. This senior population is well above the state and national figures, and has grown since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the Victorian average. English and Irish ancestry are the most common roots after Australian.
English is the dominant language here, with only 6.3% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure, though the proportion of people using other languages has risen since 2011.
A large number of residents report no religion, at 45.8%, which is well above the national average. This figure has risen by 16 percentage points since 2011.
A higher number of people have a bachelor degree or higher compared to similar areas, though this is still well below the national average. The proportion of adults who finished Year 12 has fallen since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,331, which is well below the national figure. While personal incomes are a little below the average, the share of people earning $2,000 or more per week has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35% of people living with a long-term health condition. People needing help with daily activities are also more common than the state average.
Sale has a very strong connection to the military, with 7.7% of people having served in the Defence Force. Volunteering is more common than in most areas, although the rate has fallen since 2011.
Single-person households are much more common than usual, with 32.9% of people living alone. There are also more one-parent families here than in most similar areas.
Separate houses are far more common than in the rest of the state, and three-bedroom homes are more frequent than usual. Typical weekly rent is $280, which is well below the national figure.
Cars are the primary way to get around, as very few people use public transport to commute. Working from home is far less common here than in the rest of Victoria.
The area is relatively mobile, with 41.8% of people having moved house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 13.3% of the population.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, and the unemployment rate is slightly higher than the state average. Health and public administration are the main industries.
The town is very walkable, with most homes within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, or health service. Public transport and parks are the most common amenities available on foot.