Urban Centre · Area profile
Lakes Entrance
19 km²
Tucked away in East Gippsland, Lakes Entrance is a coastal community where the population is ageing rapidly. It is a place of stark contrasts, with a high number of seniors and many people living alone, yet it remains a larger hub than most similar areas. The population shrank by 9% since 2011, and the typical resident is now 55, making it far older than the national average. This shift toward an older population is reflected in the local housing and health profiles.
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Seniors make up 36.3% of the community, which is far above the national figure, while children under 15 have fallen to 14.2%. The typical resident is 55, a jump of 7 years since 2011. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.7% of the population.
English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the number of people born overseas rose to 13.4% since 2011. This is still far below the national figure of 27.7%.
Most residents speak only English, but the proportion using another language at home rose to 5.1% over the last decade. This remains far below the state and national averages.
A growing number of people report having no religion, rising 21 points since 2011 to reach 44.2%. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.
Qualifications are generally lower than in most areas, with only 32.8% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%, though the number of adults with a bachelor degree rose to 10.4% since 2011.
Incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the typical family earning $1,222 a week, far below the national figure of $2,120. Only 5.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Health challenges are common here, as 38.4% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the national figure. This is consistent with the older population, with 9.3% of people needing help with daily activities.
More people provide unpaid care here than in most areas, at 14.1%. However, the number of volunteers fell by 5.2 points since 2011 to reach 14.9%.
Living arrangements are often solitary, with 37.1% of people living alone, far above the national figure. Homes are generally small, with only 2.1 people per household.
Home ownership is very strong, with 48.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Most people live in separate houses, and the typical weekly rent of $260 is well below the national figure.
Cars are essential, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. About 8.1% of the workforce now works from home, which is a rise of 5.5 points since 2011.
The area is relatively stable, with 35% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas also fell to 4.8% since 2011.
Working or looking for work is much lower than most areas, at 38.7%. Many people work in health care and social assistance or accommodation and food services, though full-time employment fell 9.1 points since 2011.
The area is somewhat walkable, though most homes are far from basic needs; only 35.8% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries. Public transport is the most accessible amenity for 84.8% of homes.