Urban Centre · Area profile
Foster
3 km²
Seniors have become the dominant presence in Foster, where the typical resident is now 62. The town has aged significantly since 2011, with the proportion of people aged 65 and over rising by 23 points to 45.5%. This shift has created a quiet community of 1,308 people, where nearly half of all households consist of a person living alone. It is a walkable service centre where most residents live close to health services and shops.
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The area is far older than the national average, with 45.5% of people aged 65 and over. Conversely, children under 15 make up only 10.2% of the population, a figure that has fallen nearly 8 points since 2011.
English and Australian ancestries are most common, though the share of people born overseas has risen to 14.1%. This is still far below the national figure of 27.7%.
Most residents speak only English, but those using another language at home rose to 4.7% by 2021. This is higher than in most similar areas, despite being far below the Victorian average.
A majority of people report no religion, at 45.6%, which is well above the national figure. This represents a 21 point increase since 2011.
More people have attained higher qualifications recently, with those holding a bachelor degree or higher rising 11 points since 2011 to reach 14.1%.
Incomes are much lower than the national average, with the typical household earning $846 a week. Only 7.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Health challenges are common here, with 46.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 10.9% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the state average.
Volunteering is very common, with 26.9% of people giving their time, far above the national figure of 14.1%. However, those caring for children unpaid have fallen to 12.8%.
Living alone is very common, with 48.2% of people in single-person households. This helps explain why the typical home contains only 1.8 people, well below the national average.
Home ownership is strong, with 52.1% of houses owned outright. Typical weekly rents are $240, which is well below the national figure of $375.
Cars are the primary way to get around, as 0% of the population commutes by public transport. About 8.7% of people work from home.
The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 40% of residents moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 9.2% of the population.
Fewer people are in the workforce here than in most areas, with only 37.2% working or looking for work. Health care and social assistance is the biggest employer at 20%.
Foster is very walkable, with 96.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a city-style walkshed. Nearly all residents can reach a park, school, or health service on foot within 15 minutes.