Kerang

Kerang is far older than most areas, with a typical age of 51 and 30.8% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 17 points since 2011. The population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is 3.9%, which is a little above the Victorian average.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 86.4% born here. Only 5.8% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7% and has fallen since 2011.

English is the primary language for 90.5% of the population. Only 2.5% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national averages.

About 39.2% of people report having no religion, which is about the same as the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 17 points since 2011, while 50.4% of residents identify as Christians.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 9.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 31.3% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the Victorian average of 61.8%.

Typical incomes are well below the national figures, with typical weekly household income at $1,004. Only 6.9% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this has risen by 5.7 points since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 39.2% of people living with a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities make up 9.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure.

Volunteering is very strong in Kerang, with 24.5% of people volunteering, far above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid care is also more common here than in most areas, with 14.8% of people providing such support.

Many residents live alone, accounting for 39.3% of households, which is far above the national average. This is consistent with the older population, and the typical home is smaller, with 2.1 people per dwelling.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (89.5%) and a high rate of outright ownership at 46.1%. Both weekly rents ($200) and typical home-loan payments ($1,000) are far below the state and national figures.

Car use is essential as public transport use is very low at 0.2%. While most homes have vehicles, 7.8% of households have no motor vehicle, which is a rise of 5.2 points since 2011.

The area is relatively stable, with 31.6% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. However, recent overseas arrivals have risen by 4.5 points since 2011 to reach 9.7%.

Far fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state, at 46.6%. The most common industries for those employed are health care and social assistance, and retail trade.

The town is somewhat walkable, with nearly all homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. Residents have excellent access to health services and schools, though access to public transport is far below the state average.