Urban Centre · Area profile
Clunes
4 km²
Far older than the state average, Clunes is a community where the typical resident is 53. The town has seen a significant shift toward an older population, with seniors now making up over a quarter of the people living here. This trend is reflected in a high number of people needing daily help and a large proportion of homes owned outright. While the population has shrunk since 2011, the area remains a quiet residential hub with a high rate of home ownership.
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The typical resident is 53, which is far older than the national figure of 38. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 28.4% of the population, a figure that has risen 11 points since 2011, while children under 15 have fallen to 14.1%.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 13.5% were born overseas, which is higher than in most similar areas. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the primary language for 91.5% of the community. Only 2.8% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A majority of residents, 54.1%, report having no religion, which is far above the national average. This figure has risen 26 points since 2011.
The community is more qualified than most similar areas, with 21.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is a significant increase from 2011, when the figure was 8.9%.
Incomes in Clunes are much lower than the state and national figures. The typical household earns $1,009 a week, and only 5.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Health challenges are common here, with 43.6% of people living with a long-term condition. About 16.4% of residents have a mental health condition, and 9.8% need help with daily activities, both of which are well above national levels.
Residents are more likely to volunteer than those in most other similar areas. About 18.0% provide unpaid care, which is well above the national figure of 11.9%.
Living arrangements are dominated by people living alone, who make up 38.9% of households. This helps explain why the typical home contains only 2.0 people, well below the national average of 2.5.
Home ownership is very strong, with 49.4% of homes owned outright. Most residents live in separate houses, and typical monthly mortgage payments of $1,000 are far below the national figure.
Cars are the primary way to get around, and no one in the area commutes using public transport. Around 18.7% of people work from home, a large increase from 2.9% in 2011.
Movement into the area is relatively high, with 38.6% of people having moved house in the last five years. However, there have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
The unemployment rate is 8.1%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%. Only 45% of adults are working or looking for work, and full-time employment has fallen since 2011.
The town is somewhat walkable, with 80.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a variety of amenities. Residents have excellent access to health services, parks, and groceries on foot.