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Greater Sydney vs Rest of Qld

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

Capital City comparison ≈ 1,349 km apart · Greater Sydney profile · Rest of Qld profile

Greater Sydney Rest of Qld

Greater Sydney and Rest of Qld are very different environments. Greater Sydney is a highly walkable (score 7.2) urban hub where 38.6% of people were born overseas and 37.4% use a language other than English at home. It has a much more qualified workforce, with 33.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, and 30.2% of households earn $3,000 or more a week. In contrast, Rest of Qld is more rural, with a higher share of separate houses (76.1% compared to 55.8% in Greater Sydney) and a typical resident who is older at 41.

Everyday life shares some common ground in both places, as they have nearly identical rates of full-time employment and population growth. They also have a similar share of children under 15 and people providing unpaid care. However, some gaps are growing; the difference in university qualifications and high-income households has widened since 2016, and the gap in working from home has flipped, with Greater Sydney now seeing a much higher share of people working from their own homes.

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Where they differ most

Other language: 28.5 pts higher in Greater Sydney Work from home: 28.2 pts higher in Greater Sydney Separate houses: 20.3 pts higher in Rest of Qld Born overseas: 20.3 pts higher in Greater Sydney De facto: 3.6 pts higher in Rest of Qld

Demographics & Identity

Population in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +2,616,111 larger in Greater Sydney gap steady

5,231,147 100th pct 2,615,036 88th pct

Median age in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +4 yrs older in Rest of Qld gap widening

37 yrs 23rd pct 41 yrs 60th pct

Age structure

30.4% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +5.5 pts 24.9%

23.8% Older adults (45–64) +2.3 pts ▸ 26.1%

15.2% Seniors (65+) +3.9 pts ▸ 19.1%

18.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.1 pts 18.3%

12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.6 pts 11.6%

Marital status

48.3% Married ◂ +3.2 pts 45.1%

36.4% Never married ◂ +0.8 pts 35.6%

7.8% Divorced +2.6 pts ▸ 10.4%

4.5% Widowed +0.7 pts ▸ 5.2%

2.9% Separated +0.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Greater Sydney Rest of Qld

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

56.8% Australia +17.6 pts ▸ 74.4%

4.6% China ◂ +4.0 pts 0.5%

1.6% New Zealand +2.1 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.9% England +0.7 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.6% India ◂ +2.8 pts 0.8%

1.8% Vietnam ◂ +1.6 pts 0.2%

1.7% Philippines ◂ +0.8 pts 0.9%

1.1% Nepal ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

0.8% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.7% Italy ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Ancestry

23.8% English +15.8 pts ▸ 39.6%

22.3% Australian +13.0 pts ▸ 35.3%

7.7% Irish +3.3 pts ▸ 10.9%

10.6% Chinese ◂ +8.9 pts 1.6%

6.0% Scottish +4.3 pts ▸ 10.4%

2.3% German +4.0 pts ▸ 6.3%

4.5% Indian ◂ +3.6 pts 1.0%

4.3% Italian ◂ +1.1 pts 3.2%

2.5% Filipino ◂ +1.2 pts 1.3%

2.4% Greek ◂ +1.9 pts 0.5%

2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +2.1 pts 0.2%

0.9% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

Language

Language used at home

57.3% English only +26.4 pts ▸ 83.7%

5.0% Mandarin ◂ +4.2 pts 0.7%

4.2% Arabic ◂ +4.0 pts 0.2%

2.8% Cantonese ◂ +2.5 pts 0.2%

2.2% Vietnamese ◂ +2.0 pts 0.2%

1.5% Hindi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.2%

1.4% Greek ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%

1.0% Italian ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

0.9% Tagalog ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Religion

Religious affiliation

45.8% Christianity +1.4 pts ▸ 47.2%

30.7% No religion +9.9 pts ▸ 40.6%

6.5% Not stated +2.6 pts ▸ 9.2%

6.3% Islam ◂ +5.8 pts 0.5%

4.8% Hinduism ◂ +4.1 pts 0.7%

3.8% Buddhism ◂ +2.8 pts 1.0%

1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

0.7% Judaism ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.9% Year 12 ◂ +16.1 pts 50.7%

14.8% Year 10 +9.1 pts ▸ 23.9%

8.2% Year 9 or below +1.0 pts ▸ 9.3%

3.9% Year 11 +3.5 pts ▸ 7.4%

Highest qualification level

18.0% Certificate III / IV +16.1 pts ▸ 34.1%

33.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +13.2 pts 20.0%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.3 pts ▸ 15.0%

14.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +9.0 pts 5.2%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.2 pts 3.0%

1.4% Certificate I / II +1.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

Field of qualification

24.6% Management & commerce ◂ +8.6 pts 16.1%

11.9% Engineering & related +3.3 pts ▸ 15.2%

12.2% Society & culture ◂ +1.3 pts 10.9%

8.8% Health +2.2 pts ▸ 11.0%

6.7% Education +1.6 pts ▸ 8.2%

4.9% Architecture & building +1.4 pts ▸ 6.2%

4.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.2 pts ▸ 6.2%

5.2% Information technology ◂ +3.7 pts 1.5%

4.8% Creative arts ◂ +2.2 pts 2.6%

3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.5 pts 1.9%

1.1% Agriculture & environment +1.3 pts ▸ 2.3%

Income

Personal income in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +$135 higher in Greater Sydney gap widening

$881 58th pct $746 23rd pct

Household income in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +$570 higher in Greater Sydney gap widening

$2,077 79th pct $1,507 28th pct

Family income in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +$506 higher in Greater Sydney gap widening

$2,374 81st pct $1,868 35th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.2 pts 28.9%

21.7% $650–$1,499 +7.0 pts ▸ 28.7%

18.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +10.4 pts 8.1%

13.3% Under $650 +3.5 pts ▸ 16.8%

11.7% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.9 pts 8.8%

Personal income distribution

37.3% Under $650 +3.2 pts ▸ 40.5%

29.4% $650–$1,499 +2.1 pts ▸ 31.5%

19.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.3 pts 15.4%

7.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.7 pts 3.3%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.7% Arthritis +2.9 pts ▸ 9.7%

6.6% Mental health +2.6 pts ▸ 9.1%

6.8% Asthma +1.4 pts ▸ 8.1%

7.4% Other condition +0.7 pts ▸ 8.0%

4.6% Diabetes even 4.6%

3.4% Heart disease +1.1 pts ▸ 4.5%

2.4% Cancer +0.9 pts ▸ 3.3%

1.2% Lung condition +1.1 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.7% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

69.1% None ◂ +8.4 pts 60.7%

16.7% One condition +2.6 pts ▸ 19.2%

4.6% Two conditions +1.7 pts ▸ 6.4%

2.3% Three or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +68,240 larger in Rest of Qld

90,939 90th pct 159,179 97th pct

Median age in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +1 yrs older in Greater Sydney

24 yrs 29th pct 23 yrs 0th pct

Median income in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +$136 higher in Greater Sydney

$674 76th pct $538 52nd pct

Household income in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +$334 higher in Greater Sydney

$1,779 78th pct $1,445 45th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +0.2 larger in Greater Sydney gap narrowing

2.7 90th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

62.5% Couples with children ◂ +9.8 pts 52.7%

23.3% Couples without children +7.2 pts ▸ 30.4%

13.1% One-parent families +2.7 pts ▸ 15.8%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

Household size

30.7% 2 people +6.2 pts ▸ 36.9%

23.2% 1 person +2.4 pts ▸ 25.6%

17.3% 4 people ◂ +3.7 pts 13.6%

17.2% 3 people ◂ +2.4 pts 14.9%

7.3% 5 people ◂ +1.5 pts 5.8%

4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +$125 higher in Greater Sydney gap narrowing

$470 100th pct $345 55th pct

Mortgage in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +$772 higher in Greater Sydney gap widening

$2,427 100th pct $1,655 45th pct

People / bedroom in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +0.10 higher in Greater Sydney gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.9% Rented ◂ +4.8 pts 31.1%

33.3% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.5 pts 32.8%

27.8% Owned outright +4.3 pts ▸ 32.0%

1.7% Other tenure +0.5 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.3% Not stated +0.5 pts ▸ 1.8%

Types of homes

55.8% Separate house +20.3 pts ▸ 76.1%

30.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +20.3 pts 10.4%

12.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.8 pts 12.0%

0.4% Other dwelling +0.6 pts ▸ 1.0%

Bedrooms per home

30.9% 3 bedrooms +7.8 pts ▸ 38.8%

24.1% 4 bedrooms +5.9 pts ▸ 29.9%

25.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +7.8 pts 17.9%

9.0% 5 or more ◂ +2.4 pts 6.7%

8.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.7 pts 4.4%

0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

Weekly rent distribution

43.0% $350–$549 ◂ +5.4 pts 37.6%

12.6% $200–$349 +21.2 pts ▸ 33.8%

22.1% $550–$749 ◂ +14.1 pts 8.0%

8.1% Under $200 +6.3 pts ▸ 14.5%

10.9% $750 or more ◂ +8.6 pts 2.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

16.4% $1,000–$1,799 +19.1 pts ▸ 35.6%

33.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +23.3 pts 10.4%

32.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 29.5%

10.9% Under $1,000 +7.5 pts ▸ 18.3%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +21,435 more in Greater Sydney

26,948 100th pct 5,513 54th pct

Stops/1k in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +3.04 more in Greater Sydney

5.15 66th pct 2.11 13th pct

Departures/1k in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +1,321.3 more in Greater Sydney

1,738.2 91st pct 416.9 28th pct

PT routes in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +578 more in Greater Sydney

809 100th pct 231 51st pct

How people get to work

34.2% Car (driver) +30.0 pts ▸ 64.2%

38.9% Worked at home ◂ +28.2 pts 10.6%

2.6% Car (passenger) +2.3 pts ▸ 4.9%

2.3% Walked +0.7 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.5% Train ◂ +2.3 pts 0.2%

1.2% Bus ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

0.4% Bicycle +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

Motor vehicles per home

40.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.7 pts 35.3%

32.8% 2 vehicles +5.6 pts ▸ 38.4%

10.1% 3 vehicles +3.4 pts ▸ 13.5%

11.3% No vehicle ◂ +6.1 pts 5.2%

5.8% 4 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 7.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.4% Health care & social assistance +2.0 pts ▸ 15.4%

10.9% Professional & technical ◂ +6.1 pts 4.8%

8.2% Construction +1.5 pts ▸ 9.6%

8.8% Retail trade +0.8 pts ▸ 9.6%

8.5% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 8.7%

5.5% Accommodation & food +2.5 pts ▸ 8.0%

7.0% Finance & insurance ◂ +5.1 pts 1.8%

5.5% Public administration & safety +0.2 pts ▸ 5.6%

5.4% Manufacturing even 5.4%

5.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.0 pts 4.1%

0.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +3.9 pts ▸ 4.3%

3.2% Other services +0.9 pts ▸ 4.1%

Occupations people work in

29.3% Professionals ◂ +11.3 pts 18.0%

15.2% Managers ◂ +2.7 pts 12.4%

10.5% Technicians & trades +4.6 pts ▸ 15.1%

13.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.0 pts 11.8%

9.3% Community & personal service +3.8 pts ▸ 13.0%

6.8% Labourers +4.5 pts ▸ 11.2%

7.8% Sales workers +1.4 pts ▸ 9.1%

5.6% Machinery operators & drivers +1.7 pts ▸ 7.3%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +2,802,590 higher in Greater Sydney

5,638,830 100th pct 2,836,240 79th pct

Growth in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +0.1 pts higher in Greater Sydney

7.2% 72nd pct 7.1% 70th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +654 higher in Greater Sydney

1,031 86th pct 377 16th pct

Max temp in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +7.8 higher in Rest of Qld

25.3 57th pct 33.1 86th pct

Min temp in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +5.4 higher in Rest of Qld

10.7 46th pct 16.1 86th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +3.1 higher in Greater Sydney

7.2 100th pct 4.2 41st pct

Types ≤15 min in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +2.6 more in Greater Sydney

6.7 100th pct 4.1 39th pct

15-min city in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +35.1 pts higher in Greater Sydney

84.1% 100th pct 49.0% 41st pct

Walk to shops in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +28.9 pts higher in Greater Sydney

80.2% 94th pct 51.2% 42nd pct

Walk to transit in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +47.0 pts higher in Greater Sydney

96.0% 97th pct 49.0% 33rd pct

Walk to school in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +38.8 pts higher in Greater Sydney

88.0% 100th pct 49.2% 30th pct

Walk to a park in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +19.8 pts higher in Greater Sydney

96.7% 88th pct 77.0% 43rd pct

Walk to health in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +29.3 pts higher in Greater Sydney

69.0% 95th pct 39.7% 43rd pct

Amenities/1k in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +0.2 more in Greater Sydney

13.5 10th pct 13.3 0th pct

Intersections/km² in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +32 higher in Greater Sydney

32 75th pct 0 17th pct

Mean slope in Greater Sydney in Rest of Qld +1.2 pts higher in Greater Sydney

7.1% 81st pct 5.9% 63rd 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 Rest of Qld with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Greater Sydney vs Rest of Qld [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/gccsa/1GSYD/greater-sydney/vs/3RQLD/rest-of-qld