Urban Area · Area profile
Traralgon - Morwell
235 km²
A growing population of older adults and single-person households defines Traralgon - Morwell. The area has expanded rapidly, adding about 28,210 people since 2011 to reach a total of 43,252. It is a community where seniors are well represented, and many people live alone or in one-parent families. This social makeup, combined with a high number of detached houses, creates a residential landscape that is quieter and more aged than the state average.
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The typical resident is 40, slightly older than the national figure. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 20.8% of the population, which is well above the 17.2% seen across Australia.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 13.8% of the community, a figure far below the 27.7% national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 84.1% of people. While 8.3% use another language at home, this is far below the 22.3% national average, though the figure has risen since 2011.
A large proportion of the community identifies as having no religion, at 46.6%. This is well above the national figure of 38.9% and has risen by 14 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas. Only 13.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, and 40.8% completed Year 12, both of which are far below the national figures.
Typical weekly household income is $1,295, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. The typical personal weekly income is $676, a little below the national figure of $805.
Health challenges are much more common here than in similar areas. About 35.3% of people have a long-term health condition, and 12.2% have a mental health condition, both well above the national average.
While 13.5% of people provide unpaid care, which is higher than most areas, volunteering has fallen significantly to 12.5% since 2011.
The area has a high number of single-person households (32.8%) and one-parent families (19.4%), both of which are well above the national average. This helps explain why homes typically hold only 2.3 people.
Detached houses are very common at 86.1%, far above the national figure. Housing is relatively affordable, with typical weekly rents at $250 and typical monthly mortgage payments at $1,250, both well below the national average.
Most people rely on cars, with 66.5% driving to work. While 10.8% work from home, this is far below the 21.0% national figure.
The population is relatively stable, as only 36.2% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the 40.7% national average.
The unemployment rate is 6.5%, a little above the national figure of 5.1%. Those who are working or looking for work make up 54.7% of adults, which is well below the national figure of 61.1%.
The area is somewhat walkable, though 52.8% of homes lack a full 15-minute-city walkshed. Most people can walk to public transport or a park, but far fewer can reach groceries or health services within 15 minutes.