Brandon

The typical resident is 47, making the area far older than the national figure of 38. This shift is reflected in the senior population, which rose 12 points since 2011 to 22.9%, while children under 15 fell by 10 points to 16.8%. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 8.9% of the community, which is well above the state average.

Born overseas, just 6% of residents, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. This stability is seen in the ancestry data, where Australian and English heritage are most common, and there has been very little change in the birthplace of residents since 2011.

English is the primary language for 87.1% of people, and only 0.4% of the community speak little or no English. While the proportion of people using another language at home rose slightly to 5.7%, this remains far below the national average.

The community is more religious than the national average, with 64.9% identifying as Christian. Only 25.6% of residents report no religion, a figure that is far below the national figure of 38.9% despite rising since 2011.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most similar areas, with only 8.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%, and only 33.6% of residents completed Year 12.

Typical household income is $1,357 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While typical personal and family incomes have risen since 2011, the area has far fewer high-earners than the state or national average.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than nationally, affecting 32.1% of people. However, the community has a much lower rate of mental health conditions, at 6.0%, compared to the national figure of 8.8%.

A higher than average 4.7% of residents have served in the Defence Force. While 13.1% of people provide unpaid care, the number of volunteers fell significantly since 2011 to 12.1%, which is much lower than most similar areas.

People living alone make up 28.9% of the community, a figure that rose 11 points since 2011. This trend is consistent with the older age profile and a decrease in average household size to 2.3 people.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 95.9% of dwellings. A striking 48.6% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%, which helps keep typical weekly rents and mortgage payments much lower than the state average.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 73.9% of workers driving to their jobs. Working from home is very rare at only 4.0%, and no one in the community uses public transport to commute.

The population is very stable, with only 26.0% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%. There were no recent arrivals from overseas in the latest census.

Full-time employment is much higher here than in most similar areas, at 65.4%. The local workforce is concentrated in manufacturing, retail, and agriculture, with machinery operators and labourers being the most common jobs.

Most homes are within a short walk of a park or school, but the area is otherwise very car-dependent. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services, leading to a walkability score far below the state average.