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Greater Melbourne vs Greater Brisbane

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

Capital City comparison ≈ 1,355 km apart · Greater Melbourne profile · Greater Brisbane profile

Greater Melbourne Greater Brisbane

Greater Melbourne and Greater Brisbane are two of Australia’s largest urban hubs, but they differ sharply in their layout and diversity. Greater Melbourne is far more multicultural, with 34.1% of people using a language other than English at home compared to 17.7% in Greater Brisbane. It also has a more connected urban design, where 82.6% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed and street connectivity is far higher. Greater Melbourne also has a larger share of people working from home at 28.8%, while Greater Brisbane is at 17.4%.

These two cities share a very similar financial profile, with typical weekly household incomes sitting at $1,901 in Greater Melbourne and $1,849 in Greater Brisbane. They also have the same average number of people per home. While many things remain similar, some gaps are shifting; for example, the difference in the share of people with a bachelor degree or higher has widened since 2016, as has the gap in people identifying as having no religion, which is well higher in Greater Brisbane.

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Where they differ most

Other language: 16.4 pts higher in Greater Melbourne People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Greater Melbourne Population: 2,391,512 larger in Greater Melbourne One-parent: 2.0 pts higher in Greater Brisbane Work from home: 11.4 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

Demographics & Identity

Population in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +2,391,512 larger in Greater Melbourne gap steady

4,917,750 99th pct 2,526,238 87th pct

Median age in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +1 yrs older in Greater Melbourne gap steady

37 yrs 23rd pct 36 yrs 14th pct

Age structure

31.0% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.9 pts 29.1%

23.6% Older adults (45–64) +0.3 pts ▸ 23.9%

18.1% Children (0–14) +1.0 pts ▸ 19.2%

15.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.3 pts 14.8%

12.3% Youth (15–24) +0.9 pts ▸ 13.1%

Marital status

47.0% Married ◂ +2.0 pts 45.0%

38.0% Never married +0.5 pts ▸ 38.4%

7.6% Divorced +1.3 pts ▸ 8.9%

4.5% Widowed ◂ +0.2 pts 4.3%

2.9% Separated +0.6 pts ▸ 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Greater Melbourne Greater Brisbane

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

59.9% Australia +8.4 pts ▸ 68.3%

4.9% India ◂ +2.9 pts 2.0%

1.7% New Zealand +2.7 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.7% England +1.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.4% China ◂ +1.7 pts 1.7%

1.8% Vietnam ◂ +1.0 pts 0.8%

1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

1.2% Italy ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

0.6% South Africa +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Ancestry

25.6% English +10.9 pts ▸ 36.5%

23.4% Australian +8.1 pts ▸ 31.6%

8.3% Irish +2.8 pts ▸ 11.1%

7.1% Scottish +3.0 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.3% Chinese ◂ +3.7 pts 4.7%

6.6% Italian ◂ +3.8 pts 2.7%

2.9% German +2.8 pts ▸ 5.7%

5.3% Indian ◂ +2.6 pts 2.7%

3.5% Greek ◂ +2.7 pts 0.8%

2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +1.3 pts 1.1%

1.7% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

1.5% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.6%

Language

Language used at home

61.1% English only +16.2 pts ▸ 77.3%

4.3% Mandarin ◂ +1.8 pts 2.5%

2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +1.3 pts 1.1%

2.1% Greek ◂ +1.8 pts 0.3%

2.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.1 pts 0.9%

1.8% Arabic ◂ +1.3 pts 0.5%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.3 pts 0.4%

1.6% Cantonese ◂ +0.8 pts 0.9%

1.3% Hindi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

40.1% Christianity +4.2 pts ▸ 44.3%

37.3% No religion +4.6 pts ▸ 41.9%

6.2% Not stated +0.5 pts ▸ 6.7%

5.3% Islam ◂ +3.4 pts 1.8%

4.1% Hinduism ◂ +2.1 pts 2.0%

3.9% Buddhism ◂ +2.0 pts 1.9%

2.1% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 1.2%

0.9% Judaism ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.9% Year 12 ◂ +3.1 pts 63.9%

9.6% Year 10 +8.0 pts ▸ 17.5%

9.3% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.0 pts 7.3%

8.6% Year 11 ◂ +3.0 pts 5.6%

Highest qualification level

32.4% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.3 pts 28.1%

19.3% Certificate III / IV +7.3 pts ▸ 26.6%

15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.1 pts 15.3%

13.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.8 pts 9.8%

4.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.5 pts 4.1%

1.3% Certificate I / II +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

Field of qualification

20.9% Management & commerce ◂ +0.3 pts 20.7%

12.4% Engineering & related +1.4 pts ▸ 13.8%

12.5% Society & culture +0.3 pts ▸ 12.8%

9.8% Health +1.0 pts ▸ 10.9%

7.4% Education +0.1 pts ▸ 7.5%

5.2% Architecture & building +0.1 pts ▸ 5.3%

5.2% Information technology ◂ +1.7 pts 3.5%

4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.5 pts ▸ 5.0%

4.8% Creative arts ◂ +0.9 pts 4.0%

3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 3.0%

1.2% Agriculture & environment +0.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane even gap narrowing

$841 45th pct $842 46th pct

Household income in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +$52 higher in Greater Melbourne gap widening

$1,901 72nd pct $1,849 66th pct

Family income in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +$68 higher in Greater Melbourne gap widening

$2,243 71st pct $2,175 67th pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 +0.2 pts ▸ 31.1%

23.9% $650–$1,499 +1.3 pts ▸ 25.2%

14.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 12.8%

14.0% Under $650 ◂ +0.5 pts 13.5%

11.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.2 pts 10.9%

Personal income distribution

38.8% Under $650 ◂ +0.7 pts 38.1%

30.6% $650–$1,499 +1.5 pts ▸ 32.1%

18.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.2 pts 18.7%

5.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 4.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.1% Mental health +2.0 pts ▸ 10.1%

7.9% Asthma +1.0 pts ▸ 8.9%

7.8% Other condition +1.1 pts ▸ 8.8%

6.9% Arthritis +1.1 pts ▸ 8.0%

4.5% Diabetes even 4.4%

3.3% Heart disease +0.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.5% Cancer +0.4 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.2% Lung condition +0.7 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.8% Stroke even 0.9%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.5% None ◂ +3.5 pts 64.0%

17.9% One condition +1.4 pts ▸ 19.3%

5.1% Two conditions +0.9 pts ▸ 6.0%

2.4% Three or more +0.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +43,990 larger in Greater Brisbane

32,952 78th pct 76,942 89th pct

Median age in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +2 yrs older in Greater Melbourne

25 yrs 43rd pct 23 yrs 0th pct

Median income in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +$71 higher in Greater Melbourne

$694 79th pct $623 69th pct

Household income in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +$151 higher in Greater Melbourne

$1,809 81st pct $1,658 68th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane even gap narrowing

2.6 86th pct 2.6 86th pct

Family composition

62.0% Couples with children ◂ +3.9 pts 58.1%

23.8% Couples without children +1.8 pts ▸ 25.7%

12.9% One-parent families +2.0 pts ▸ 14.9%

1.3% Other families even 1.3%

Household size

31.3% 2 people +2.2 pts ▸ 33.5%

24.8% 1 person ◂ +1.1 pts 23.6%

17.2% 4 people ◂ +1.2 pts 16.0%

16.9% 3 people ◂ +0.2 pts 16.7%

6.6% 5 people even 6.5%

3.2% 6 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 3.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +$10 higher in Greater Melbourne gap steady

$390 86th pct $380 78th pct

Mortgage in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +$137 higher in Greater Melbourne gap widening

$2,000 81st pct $1,863 70th pct

People / bedroom in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +0.10 higher in Greater Melbourne gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.0 pts 36.1%

30.2% Rented +4.9 pts ▸ 35.1%

29.7% Owned outright ◂ +3.8 pts 25.9%

1.6% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%

1.4% Not stated even 1.3%

Types of homes

67.8% Separate house +5.6 pts ▸ 73.4%

16.2% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +4.8 pts 11.4%

15.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.9 pts 14.7%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

39.4% 3 bedrooms ◂ +3.3 pts 36.1%

27.0% 4 bedrooms +4.9 pts ▸ 31.9%

20.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +4.3 pts 16.1%

5.8% 5 or more +3.4 pts ▸ 9.2%

5.8% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.9 pts 5.0%

0.3% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

50.9% $350–$549 +0.7 pts ▸ 51.6%

23.8% $200–$349 +2.8 pts ▸ 26.6%

10.0% $550–$749 ◂ +1.6 pts 8.4%

7.0% Under $200 +1.2 pts ▸ 8.2%

4.7% $750 or more ◂ +2.4 pts 2.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

34.9% $1,800–$2,999 even 34.9%

25.3% $1,000–$1,799 +6.2 pts ▸ 31.5%

20.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.2 pts 15.1%

13.0% Under $1,000 +0.1 pts ▸ 13.1%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +11,463 more in Greater Melbourne

21,386 93rd pct 9,923 73rd pct

Stops/1k in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +0.42 more in Greater Melbourne

4.35 40th pct 3.93 28th pct

Departures/1k in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +474.8 more in Greater Melbourne

1,514.2 78th pct 1,039.4 60th pct

PT routes in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +91 more in Greater Melbourne

623 87th pct 532 78th pct

How people get to work

46.5% Car (driver) +8.6 pts ▸ 55.1%

28.8% Worked at home ◂ +11.4 pts 17.4%

3.2% Car (passenger) +0.9 pts ▸ 4.1%

0.6% Bus +1.9 pts ▸ 2.5%

2.0% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.2%

2.1% Train even 2.0%

0.7% Bicycle even 0.7%

Motor vehicles per home

37.0% 2 vehicles +0.9 pts ▸ 37.8%

37.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.0 pts 36.3%

11.1% 3 vehicles +1.4 pts ▸ 12.5%

8.6% No vehicle ◂ +2.2 pts 6.4%

6.1% 4 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 7.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.5% Health care & social assistance +1.8 pts ▸ 15.3%

9.6% Professional & technical ◂ +1.1 pts 8.5%

9.4% Retail trade ◂ +0.4 pts 9.0%

9.3% Construction ◂ +0.7 pts 8.6%

8.8% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 9.0%

6.9% Manufacturing ◂ +0.8 pts 6.1%

5.4% Public administration & safety +1.2 pts ▸ 6.7%

6.1% Accommodation & food +0.4 pts ▸ 6.4%

4.9% Transport & warehousing +0.4 pts ▸ 5.4%

4.7% Finance & insurance ◂ +1.4 pts 3.3%

3.4% Other services +0.4 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.2% Administrative & support +0.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

Occupations people work in

26.8% Professionals ◂ +2.2 pts 24.7%

13.8% Managers ◂ +1.2 pts 12.6%

12.9% Clerical & administrative +0.7 pts ▸ 13.5%

12.1% Technicians & trades +0.2 pts ▸ 12.3%

10.5% Community & personal service +1.1 pts ▸ 11.6%

7.8% Labourers +1.1 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.3% Sales workers even 8.2%

5.8% Machinery operators & drivers +0.5 pts ▸ 6.3%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +2,602,066 higher in Greater Melbourne

5,435,590 99th pct 2,833,524 79th pct

Growth in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +1.1 pts higher in Greater Brisbane

9.3% 87th pct 10.4% 94th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +184 higher in Greater Brisbane

825 47th pct 1,009 82nd pct

Max temp in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +5.2 higher in Greater Brisbane

20.4 29th pct 25.6 58th pct

Min temp in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +3.0 higher in Greater Brisbane

10.0 40th pct 13.0 59th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +1.0 higher in Greater Melbourne

7.1 97th pct 6.1 72nd pct

Types ≤15 min in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +0.9 more in Greater Melbourne

6.6 97th pct 5.8 71st pct

15-min city in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +11.3 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

82.6% 94th pct 71.3% 71st pct

Walk to shops in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +10.1 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

82.0% 100th pct 71.9% 74th pct

Walk to transit in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +9.5 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

91.0% 82nd pct 81.5% 63rd pct

Walk to school in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +11.3 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

87.2% 98th pct 75.9% 71st pct

Walk to a park in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +4.8 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

97.3% 92nd pct 92.5% 71st pct

Walk to health in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +15.3 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

73.0% 100th pct 57.7% 76th pct

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

13.9 18th pct 13.6 11th pct

Intersections/km² in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +59 higher in Greater Melbourne

76 100th pct 17 62nd pct

Mean slope in Greater Melbourne in Greater Brisbane +1.3 pts higher in Greater Brisbane

4.8% 43rd pct 6.0% 68th pct

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

Compare Greater Brisbane with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Greater Melbourne vs Greater Brisbane [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/gccsa/2GMEL/greater-melbourne/vs/3GBRI/greater-brisbane