Urban Centre · Area profile
Merbein
5 km²
A noticeably older population defines Merbein, where the typical resident is 45 and nearly 25% of people are seniors. The community has grown by 26% since 2011 and is marked by a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence, which is well above the state and national figures. It is a predominantly Australian-born area with low overseas migration, which is reflected in the very low number of people speaking a language other than English at home. Most residents live in detached houses and experience a lower typical income than the national figure.
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The area has a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 6.0%, which has risen sharply since 2011. Seniors make up 24.9% of the community, making it noticeably older than the typical Victorian or Australian town.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (6.1%) than the national average. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, though the proportion of people born overseas has fallen since 2011.
English is the dominant language, with only 2.5% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the national average. Very few residents speak little or no English.
A majority of people (50.1%) report no religion, which is far above the national figure. This trend has grown steadily, with the number of non-religious residents rising by 15 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most other areas, with only 5.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree. The proportion of residents who completed Year 12 has also fallen since 2011.
Incomes are generally low, with a typical weekly household earning $1,072, which is far below the national figure. Only 5.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common here, with 40.4% of people living with a long-term condition. This is far above the national average, and 11.8% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteerism has dropped significantly since 2011, though 13.5% of people still provide unpaid care. The area also has a higher share of Defence Force veterans than most similar areas.
Homes are smaller than usual, with 2.2 people per dwelling. There is a high rate of one-parent families (22.2%) and a large number of people living alone.
Detached houses are very common, though the number of three-bedroom homes has fallen since 2011. Rent is far below the national average, with a typical weekly cost of $210.
Most people drive to work, and only 4.4% work from home, which is far lower than across Victoria. Very few residents use public transport for their daily commute.
The community is relatively stable, as the number of people moving in the last five years is around the middle for similar areas. Recent overseas arrivals have fallen since 2011.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (48.8%) compared to the state average. The unemployment rate is 6.4%, which is slightly higher than the national figure.
The area is very walkable, with most homes within a 15-minute walk of parks, schools, and groceries. However, no homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.