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Greater Sydney vs Greater Melbourne

Name: Greater Sydney vs Greater Melbourne — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Capital City comparison ≈ 652 km apart · Greater Sydney profile · Greater Melbourne profile

Greater Sydney Greater Melbourne

Greater Sydney and Greater Melbourne are both huge metropolitan hubs, but they offer different living patterns. Greater Melbourne has far more separate houses (67.8%) and larger homes, with three or more bedrooms being well higher than in Greater Sydney (64.0%). In contrast, Greater Sydney has a higher share of people working from home (38.9% compared to 28.8%) and a higher proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week (30.2% versus 25.4%).

Both cities share a similar demographic profile, with the typical resident in each being 37 years old. This age is close to the national figure. Since 2016, some gaps have grown; the difference in the number of people working from home has widened significantly, and Greater Melbourne's lead in separate housing has also increased. Other similarities include nearly identical rates of Year 12 completion and a similar share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 12.0 pts higher in Greater Melbourne Work from home: 10.0 pts higher in Greater Sydney 3+ bedrooms: 8.2 pts higher in Greater Melbourne Living alone: 1.5 pts higher in Greater Melbourne No religion: 6.6 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

Demographics & Identity

Population in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +313,397 larger in Greater Sydney gap steady

5,231,147 100th pct 4,917,750 99th pct

Median age in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne even gap steady

37 yrs 23rd pct 37 yrs 23rd pct

Age structure

30.4% Young adults (25–44) +0.6 pts ▸ 31.0%

23.8% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.3 pts 23.6%

18.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.3 pts 18.1%

15.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.1 pts 15.0%

12.2% Youth (15–24) +0.1 pts ▸ 12.3%

Marital status

48.3% Married ◂ +1.3 pts 47.0%

36.4% Never married +1.5 pts ▸ 38.0%

7.8% Divorced ◂ +0.2 pts 7.6%

4.5% Widowed even 4.5%

2.9% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 2.9%

Age & sex structure

Greater Sydney Greater Melbourne

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

56.8% Australia +3.1 pts ▸ 59.9%

3.6% India +1.3 pts ▸ 4.9%

4.6% China ◂ +1.2 pts 3.4%

2.9% England ◂ +0.2 pts 2.7%

1.8% Vietnam even 1.8%

1.7% Philippines ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

1.6% New Zealand +0.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.7% Italy +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

1.1% Nepal ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Ancestry

23.8% English +1.8 pts ▸ 25.6%

22.3% Australian +1.1 pts ▸ 23.4%

10.6% Chinese ◂ +2.2 pts 8.3%

7.7% Irish +0.6 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.0% Scottish +1.1 pts ▸ 7.1%

4.3% Italian +2.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

4.5% Indian +0.8 pts ▸ 5.3%

2.4% Greek +1.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.3% German +0.5 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.5% Filipino ◂ +0.8 pts 1.7%

2.3% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.9% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

Language

Language used at home

57.3% English only +3.8 pts ▸ 61.1%

5.0% Mandarin ◂ +0.6 pts 4.3%

4.2% Arabic ◂ +2.4 pts 1.8%

2.8% Cantonese ◂ +1.1 pts 1.6%

2.2% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.4% Greek +0.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.8% Punjabi +1.1 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.0% Italian +0.7 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.5% Hindi ◂ +0.2 pts 1.3%

0.9% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

45.8% Christianity ◂ +5.6 pts 40.1%

30.7% No religion +6.6 pts ▸ 37.3%

6.5% Not stated ◂ +0.3 pts 6.2%

6.3% Islam ◂ +1.0 pts 5.3%

4.8% Hinduism ◂ +0.7 pts 4.1%

3.8% Buddhism even 3.9%

1.3% Other religions +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.7% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.9% Year 12 +0.1 pts ▸ 66.9%

14.8% Year 10 ◂ +5.2 pts 9.6%

8.2% Year 9 or below +1.0 pts ▸ 9.3%

3.9% Year 11 +4.7 pts ▸ 8.6%

Highest qualification level

33.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +0.8 pts 32.4%

18.0% Certificate III / IV +1.2 pts ▸ 19.3%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.7 pts ▸ 15.4%

14.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.7 pts 13.6%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.4 pts ▸ 4.6%

1.4% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

24.6% Management & commerce ◂ +3.7 pts 20.9%

12.2% Society & culture +0.3 pts ▸ 12.5%

11.9% Engineering & related +0.5 pts ▸ 12.4%

8.8% Health +1.1 pts ▸ 9.8%

6.7% Education +0.8 pts ▸ 7.4%

4.9% Architecture & building +0.4 pts ▸ 5.2%

5.2% Information technology even 5.2%

4.8% Creative arts +0.1 pts ▸ 4.8%

4.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.6 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.4% Natural & physical sciences +0.4 pts ▸ 3.8%

1.1% Agriculture & environment +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

Income

Personal income in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +$40 higher in Greater Sydney gap steady

$881 58th pct $841 45th pct

Household income in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +$176 higher in Greater Sydney gap narrowing

$2,077 79th pct $1,901 72nd pct

Family income in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +$131 higher in Greater Sydney gap narrowing

$2,374 81st pct $2,243 71st pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 +1.7 pts ▸ 30.9%

21.7% $650–$1,499 +2.2 pts ▸ 23.9%

18.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +4.3 pts 14.2%

13.3% Under $650 +0.7 pts ▸ 14.0%

11.7% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.5 pts 11.2%

Personal income distribution

37.3% Under $650 +1.4 pts ▸ 38.8%

29.4% $650–$1,499 +1.2 pts ▸ 30.6%

19.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.8 pts 18.9%

7.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 5.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.6% Mental health +1.5 pts ▸ 8.1%

6.8% Asthma +1.1 pts ▸ 7.9%

7.4% Other condition +0.4 pts ▸ 7.8%

6.7% Arthritis +0.2 pts ▸ 6.9%

4.6% Diabetes ◂ +0.1 pts 4.5%

3.4% Heart disease even 3.3%

2.4% Cancer +0.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.2% Lung condition even 1.2%

0.7% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

69.1% None ◂ +1.6 pts 67.5%

16.7% One condition +1.3 pts ▸ 17.9%

4.6% Two conditions +0.5 pts ▸ 5.1%

2.3% Three or more +0.2 pts ▸ 2.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +57,987 larger in Greater Sydney

90,939 90th pct 32,952 78th pct

Median age in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +1 yrs older in Greater Melbourne

24 yrs 29th pct 25 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +$20 higher in Greater Melbourne

$674 76th pct $694 79th pct

Household income in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +$30 higher in Greater Melbourne

$1,779 78th pct $1,809 81st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +0.1 larger in Greater Sydney gap steady

2.7 90th pct 2.6 86th pct

Family composition

62.5% Couples with children ◂ +0.5 pts 62.0%

23.3% Couples without children +0.6 pts ▸ 23.8%

13.1% One-parent families ◂ +0.2 pts 12.9%

1.2% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

30.7% 2 people +0.6 pts ▸ 31.3%

23.2% 1 person +1.5 pts ▸ 24.8%

17.3% 4 people ◂ +0.1 pts 17.2%

17.2% 3 people ◂ +0.3 pts 16.9%

7.3% 5 people ◂ +0.7 pts 6.6%

4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +$80 higher in Greater Sydney gap narrowing

$470 100th pct $390 86th pct

Mortgage in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +$427 higher in Greater Sydney gap widening

$2,427 100th pct $2,000 81st pct

People / bedroom in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne even gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.3% Owned with a mortgage +3.8 pts ▸ 37.1%

35.9% Rented ◂ +5.7 pts 30.2%

27.8% Owned outright +2.0 pts ▸ 29.7%

1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

1.3% Not stated even 1.4%

Types of homes

55.8% Separate house +12.0 pts ▸ 67.8%

30.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +15.2 pts 15.6%

12.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +3.4 pts ▸ 16.2%

0.4% Other dwelling ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

30.9% 3 bedrooms +8.5 pts ▸ 39.4%

24.1% 4 bedrooms +3.0 pts ▸ 27.0%

25.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.4 pts 20.4%

9.0% 5 or more ◂ +3.2 pts 5.8%

8.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.3 pts 5.8%

0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

43.0% $350–$549 +7.9 pts ▸ 50.9%

12.6% $200–$349 +11.2 pts ▸ 23.8%

22.1% $550–$749 ◂ +12.1 pts 10.0%

10.9% $750 or more ◂ +6.2 pts 4.7%

8.1% Under $200 ◂ +1.1 pts 7.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

32.5% $1,800–$2,999 +2.4 pts ▸ 34.9%

33.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +13.3 pts 20.3%

16.4% $1,000–$1,799 +8.8 pts ▸ 25.3%

10.9% Under $1,000 +2.1 pts ▸ 13.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +5,562 more in Greater Sydney

26,948 100th pct 21,386 93rd pct

Stops/1k in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +0.80 more in Greater Sydney

5.15 66th pct 4.35 40th pct

Departures/1k in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +223.9 more in Greater Sydney

1,738.2 91st pct 1,514.2 78th pct

PT routes in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +186 more in Greater Sydney

809 100th pct 623 87th pct

How people get to work

34.2% Car (driver) +12.2 pts ▸ 46.5%

38.9% Worked at home ◂ +10.0 pts 28.8%

2.6% Car (passenger) +0.6 pts ▸ 3.2%

2.5% Train ◂ +0.4 pts 2.1%

2.3% Walked ◂ +0.3 pts 2.0%

1.2% Bus ◂ +0.6 pts 0.6%

0.4% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

Motor vehicles per home

40.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.8 pts 37.2%

32.8% 2 vehicles +4.2 pts ▸ 37.0%

11.3% No vehicle ◂ +2.7 pts 8.6%

10.1% 3 vehicles +1.0 pts ▸ 11.1%

5.8% 4 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 6.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.4% Health care & social assistance +0.1 pts ▸ 13.5%

10.9% Professional & technical ◂ +1.3 pts 9.6%

8.8% Retail trade +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%

8.2% Construction +1.1 pts ▸ 9.3%

8.5% Education & training +0.3 pts ▸ 8.8%

7.0% Finance & insurance ◂ +2.3 pts 4.7%

5.4% Manufacturing +1.5 pts ▸ 6.9%

5.5% Accommodation & food +0.6 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.5% Public administration & safety even 5.4%

5.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.1 pts 4.9%

3.2% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

3.2% Administrative & support +0.1 pts ▸ 3.2%

Occupations people work in

29.3% Professionals ◂ +2.4 pts 26.8%

15.2% Managers ◂ +1.4 pts 13.8%

13.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.9 pts 12.9%

10.5% Technicians & trades +1.6 pts ▸ 12.1%

9.3% Community & personal service +1.2 pts ▸ 10.5%

7.8% Sales workers +0.5 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.8% Labourers +1.1 pts ▸ 7.8%

5.6% Machinery operators & drivers +0.2 pts ▸ 5.8%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +203,240 higher in Greater Sydney

5,638,830 100th pct 5,435,590 99th pct

Growth in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +2.1 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

7.2% 72nd pct 9.3% 87th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +206 higher in Greater Sydney

1,031 86th pct 825 47th pct

Max temp in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +5.0 higher in Greater Sydney

25.3 57th pct 20.4 29th pct

Min temp in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +0.7 higher in Greater Sydney

10.7 46th pct 10.0 40th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +0.1 higher in Greater Sydney

7.2 100th pct 7.1 97th pct

Types ≤15 min in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +0.1 more in Greater Sydney

6.7 100th pct 6.6 97th pct

15-min city in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +1.5 pts higher in Greater Sydney

84.1% 100th pct 82.6% 94th pct

Walk to shops in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +1.9 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

80.2% 94th pct 82.0% 100th pct

Walk to transit in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +5.0 pts higher in Greater Sydney

96.0% 97th pct 91.0% 82nd pct

Walk to school in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +0.8 pts higher in Greater Sydney

88.0% 100th pct 87.2% 98th pct

Walk to a park in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +0.6 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

96.7% 88th pct 97.3% 92nd pct

Walk to health in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +4.0 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

69.0% 95th pct 73.0% 100th pct

Amenities/1k in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +0.4 more in Greater Melbourne

13.5 10th pct 13.9 18th pct

Intersections/km² in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +44 higher in Greater Melbourne

32 75th pct 76 100th pct

Mean slope in Greater Sydney in Greater Melbourne +2.4 pts higher in Greater Sydney

7.1% 81st pct 4.8% 43rd pct

Compare Greater Sydney with nearby areas

Australian Capital Territory Rest of NSW Greater Melbourne Greater Brisbane Rest of Vic. Rest of Tas. Greater Hobart Greater Adelaide Rest of Qld Rest of SA Rest of NT Greater Darwin

Compare Greater Melbourne with nearby areas

Rest of Vic. Australian Capital Territory Rest of Tas. Rest of NSW Greater Hobart Greater Sydney Greater Adelaide Rest of SA Greater Brisbane Rest of Qld Rest of NT Rest of WA

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Greater Sydney vs Greater Melbourne [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/gccsa/1GSYD/greater-sydney/vs/2GMEL/greater-melbourne