Toolamba

This is a young community where the typical resident is 38 and children make up over a quarter of the population, a figure well above the national average. The number of seniors has fallen sharply since 2011, while the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen slightly to 1.4%.

The area is predominantly Australian-born, with only 4.5% of people born overseas, which is far below the Victoria and national figures. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

English is the owny language for the vast majority of residents, and only 1.7% use another language at home. This is far below the state and national figures, and no one in the area reports speaking little or no English.

More than half of the community (52.7%) reports having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This represents a significant rise of 20 points since 2011.

While a higher number of residents have completed Year 12 compared to similar areas, the proportion with a bachelor degree or higher is well below the national average at 18.1%. Many residents hold Certificate III or IV qualifications.

Toolamba is a wealthy area where the typical weekly family income of $2,312 is above the state and national figures. High earners are common here, with 13.5% of people earning $2,000 or more per week.

A lower number of people need help with daily activities compared to most areas, though 31% of residents report a long-term health condition, which is well above the national average.

Family care is a major part of local life, as 39.6% of people provide unpaid childcare, far above the national figure. Volunteering is also common, with 21.5% of residents pitching in, though this is lower than in 2011.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.9 people per household and very few people living alone. The area is dominated by couples with children, who make up 74.2% of families.

Nearly every home is a separate house, and 91.8% have three or more bedrooms. Renting is very rare at 9.1%, far below the national figure, as most residents own their homes with a mortgage.

The community is entirely dependent on cars, as every single home has at least one vehicle and no one commutes by public transport. Most households own two or three cars.

The area is relatively stable, with 30.5% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the state average. However, there has been a significant rise in recent arrivals from overseas since 2011.

Employment is strong, with 68.5% of adults working or looking for work, well above the national figure. Most people work full-time, often in health care, manufacturing, or construction.

Residents can easily walk to schools, parks, and groceries, but the area is mostly car-dependent for other needs. There are no health services or public transport stops within a 15-minute walk.