OUTRIGHT home ownership is higher in Wonthaggi than Leongatha.

Personal income is lower in Wonthaggi, at an average of $569 weekly, compared to the Leongatha, with $674, but both are well below the state average weekly income for an individual of $803.

The number of households with a weekly income over $3000 is 8.6% in postcode 3995 as compared to 14.2% in Leongatha and district.

And you’re slightly more likely to volunteer for community work if you live in Leongatha (20.4%) as compared to Wonthaggi (16.4%) but both are ahead of the state average for volunteering of 13.3%.

It’s all part of the data handed down this week, probing every aspect of life, through information collected in the August 2021 Census.

According to the Census, there are a lot more unoccupied dwellings in the Wonthaggi 3995 postcode area, which also includes Cape Paterson and Kilcunda, likely be responsible for most of the unoccupied dwellings, with few if any available in Wonthaggi itself.

There are 1322 unoccupied dwellings in the 3995 postcode area, or 21.3% of the 6522 dwellings in the area, compared to Leongatha postcode 3953 at 9.6% or 340 unoccupied houses, out of a total of 3739 dwellings.

Meanwhile the Census reveals that people in regional areas like Leongatha and Wonthaggi have poorer health outcomes than average Victorians with 14.8% (Wonthaggi) and 11.9% (Leongatha) suffering from arthritis (average 8%), 9.9% (Wonthaggi) and 8.9% (Leongatha) asthma, 6.7% (Wonthaggi) and 5.6% (Leongatha) diabetes (average 4.7%) and 7.1% (Wonthaggi) and 5.2% (Leongatha) heart disease compared to the state average of 3.7%.

In fact, 49.6% of Wonthaggi people and 55% of Leongatha people say they have no long-term health problems, as compared to the state average of 61% which may be a symptom of an older age demographic but an indication that the area needs a higher level of health care than average.

It makes for interesting reading to compare the two towns which have as many similarities as they do differences. Here are a few comparisons to ponder:

Category              Wonthaggi        Leongatha

· Population             11,596           8194

· Dwellings              6522,            3739

· Household income       $1034            $1316

· Personal income        $569 (Ave $803)  $674

· Cars per dwelling       1.8              2

· Biggest age group       65-69 (8.3%)     70-74 (7.4%)

· Ancestry (Eng)         43.9%            44.3%

· Ancestry (Aust)        38.8% (27.2%)    42%

· Birth country (Aust)   79.1%            82.8%

· Stated ‘no religion’   48.5%            47.4%

· No health problems     49.6% (Ave 61%)  55%

· Home (owned outright)  46.3% (Ave 32.2%) 45%

· Home (own/mortgage)    26.7%            31.4%

· Home (rented);         23.1%            19.6%

Korumburra and Inverloch

Meanwhile, Korumburra has a population of 5133, average personal income of $619, 17.7% volunteer in the community regularly, 52% have no long-tern illness concerns compared to the state average of 61%, and there are 242 unoccupied dwellings in the Korumburra 3950 postcode area or 10.6% of the housing stock.

The housing tenure profile of Korumburra people is 18.5% renting, 41.8% own their dwelling outright and 35.9% own with a mortgage.

In Inverloch (postcode 3996), the 2021 Census population is listed as 6649, average personal income of $706, 22.7% volunteer in the community regularly, 53.3% have no long-tern illness concerns compared to the state average of 61%, and there are 1846 unoccupied dwellings in the Inverloch 3950 postcode area or 40.5% of the housing stock.

The housing tenure profile of Inverloch people is 17.8% renting, 54.6% own their dwelling outright and 24.8% own with a mortgage.