Urban Centre · Area profile
Macedon
21 km²
Large, detached houses and a high rate of working from home define daily life in Macedon. This is a wealthy community where the typical family earns well above the national figure, and many residents are highly qualified professionals. It has grown significantly since 2011, becoming a popular choice for families with children and retirees. Located in the Macedon Ranges, the area is characterized by its spacious homes and a population that is noticeably older than the state average.
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The community is older than most, with a typical resident aged 45 and 21% being seniors. However, there are also many children, with 21.1% under 15, which is well above the Victorian average.
Most residents were born in Australia, though the proportion of overseas-born people rose to 14.9% by 2021. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 90% of the community. Only 4.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
A majority of residents—55.1%—report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen sharply since 2011.
The area is very well qualified, with 37.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far above the national figure, and the number of people completing Year 12 has risen significantly since 2011.
Household incomes are among the highest at this level, with a typical family earning $2,868 a week. This high pay is consistent with the large number of professionals and managers living here.
Residents are generally healthy; those needing help with daily activities make up only 3% of the population, which is much lower than in most other areas.
Community participation is high, with 24.8% of people volunteering. There is also a high rate of unpaid care, with 32.7% of people caring for children.
Families are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per home. This is reflected in the fact that 62.9% of households are couples with children, while those living alone have become much less common since 2011.
Almost all homes are separate houses, and 89.1% have three or more bedrooms. Home ownership is strong, with 43.7% owned outright, though typical monthly mortgage payments are well above the state average.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.8% of people using public transport to commute. However, 35.4% of people now work from home, a massive increase since 2011.
The population is relatively stable, with 29.6% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure.
Unemployment is very low at 2.6%, and 63.1% of adults are working or looking for work. Professional and technical roles are the most common industries.
Macedon is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Only 30.7% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities, partly due to the steep terrain.