Urban Centre · Area profile
Ararat
14 km²
Typical weekly household incomes in Ararat are well below the national figure, reflecting a more affordable regional lifestyle. This community of 7,015 people is noticeably older than the state and national averages, with over a quarter of residents aged 65 or over. It is a place where people largely live in detached houses and often own their homes outright. The town's character is shaped by a growing number of people who identify as having no religion and a high proportion of residents managing long-term health conditions.
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The population is noticeably older than the state average, with a typical age of 45 and 25.3% of residents aged 65 or older. While the total population has stayed steady since 2011, the number of children under 15 has fallen to 15.7%.
Most residents were born in Australia (83.0%), and those born overseas make up 11.1% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English, Scottish, and Irish are the most common ancestries alongside Australian.
English is the main language for 87.5% of the community, though the proportion of people using another language at home rose to 7.0% by 2021. This is still far below the Victorian average.
A large portion of the community reports no religion at 48.4%, a figure that has risen by 21 points since 2011. This is well above the national average of 38.9%.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 11.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, more people have completed Year 12 since 2011, now totaling 38.7%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,183, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While incomes have risen since 2011, only 4.5% of people earn $2,000 or more a week.
Health challenges are much more common here than in most similar areas, with 38.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 9.6% of residents need help with daily activities, well above the national figure.
Volunteering has fallen since 2011 to 16.0%, though this remains a little above the national average. Unpaid care for children is also lower than most areas at 22.5%.
Single-person households are common, making up 35.6% of the community, which is well above the national figure. One-parent families also make up a much higher proportion of households than usual at 19.7%.
The area is dominated by separate houses (89.0%) and high rates of outright ownership at 39.7%. Rents and mortgage payments are well below the state average, with typical weekly rent at $250.
Most people rely on cars, with 65.4% driving to work and only 0.8% using public transport. Very few people work from home (5.8%), which is far below the national figure.
The community is relatively mobile, with 37.7% moving in the last five years. Notably, recent overseas arrivals make up 27.1% of the population, a figure far above the national average.
Working or looking for work is common for 53.5% of adults, though this is well below the state average. The local workforce is concentrated in health care, manufacturing, and public administration.
Ararat is very walkable, with 97.6% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can also reach a school or park within 15 minutes on foot.