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Greater Melbourne vs Australian Capital Territory

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

Capital City comparison ≈ 416 km apart · Greater Melbourne profile · Australian Capital Territory profile

Greater Melbourne Australian Capital Territory

Greater Melbourne and the Australian Capital Territory are both major urban hubs, but they differ in their workforce and wealth. The Australian Capital Territory has a far more qualified population, with 43% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher compared to 32.8% in Greater Melbourne. This higher education level is consistent with a wealthier population; the typical weekly family income in the Australian Capital Territory is $2,872, which is well higher than the $2,243 seen in Greater Melbourne. In contrast, Greater Melbourne is far more likely to have people working from home, at 28.8% compared to just 10.9% in the Australian Capital Territory.

Everyday life shares many common features in both places, from the share of people living alone to the typical size of homes. They also have similar proportions of children under 15 and a similar share of households that rent. While some gaps have remained steady since 2016, others are shifting. The difference in typical weekly incomes has widened, and the gap in the number of people working from home has grown significantly over the last few years.

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Where they differ most

Population: 4,463,860 larger in Greater Melbourne Work from home: 17.9 pts higher in Greater Melbourne People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Greater Melbourne Personal income: $363 higher in Australian Capital Territory No car: 3.0 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

Demographics & Identity

Population in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +4,463,860 larger in Greater Melbourne gap steady

4,917,750 99th pct 453,890 72nd pct

Median age in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +2 yrs older in Greater Melbourne gap widening

37 yrs 23rd pct 35 yrs 10th pct

Age structure

31.0% Young adults (25–44) +1.4 pts ▸ 32.4%

23.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.2 pts 22.4%

18.1% Children (0–14) +0.1 pts ▸ 18.3%

15.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.4 pts 13.7%

12.3% Youth (15–24) +1.1 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

47.0% Married ◂ +0.2 pts 46.8%

38.0% Never married +1.2 pts ▸ 39.2%

7.6% Divorced +0.1 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.5% Widowed ◂ +0.8 pts 3.7%

2.9% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%

Age & sex structure

Greater Melbourne Australian Capital Territory

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

59.9% Australia +7.6 pts ▸ 67.5%

4.9% India ◂ +1.1 pts 3.8%

3.4% China ◂ +0.7 pts 2.7%

2.7% England +0.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.9 pts 0.9%

1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%

0.4% Nepal +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

1.2% Italy ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

0.6% South Africa even 0.5%

Ancestry

25.6% English +6.4 pts ▸ 32.0%

23.4% Australian +8.1 pts ▸ 31.5%

8.3% Irish +3.3 pts ▸ 11.6%

7.1% Scottish +2.9 pts ▸ 10.0%

8.3% Chinese ◂ +2.6 pts 5.7%

6.6% Italian ◂ +3.2 pts 3.4%

5.3% Indian ◂ +0.8 pts 4.5%

2.9% German +1.3 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.5% Greek ◂ +2.3 pts 1.2%

2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +1.1 pts 1.3%

1.5% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.7% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

Language

Language used at home

61.1% English only +10.2 pts ▸ 71.3%

4.3% Mandarin ◂ +1.2 pts 3.2%

2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +1.2 pts 1.1%

2.1% Greek ◂ +1.6 pts 0.6%

2.0% Punjabi ◂ +0.9 pts 1.1%

1.8% Arabic ◂ +0.9 pts 0.9%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.1 pts 0.6%

1.6% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.9%

1.3% Hindi ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

0.5% Tagalog even 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

37.3% No religion +6.8 pts ▸ 44.2%

40.1% Christianity ◂ +2.0 pts 38.1%

6.2% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 5.7%

5.3% Islam ◂ +2.0 pts 3.2%

4.1% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.9% Buddhism ◂ +1.1 pts 2.8%

2.1% Other religions ◂ +0.8 pts 1.3%

0.9% Judaism ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.9% Year 12 +10.1 pts ▸ 77.1%

9.6% Year 10 +1.0 pts ▸ 10.5%

9.3% Year 9 or below ◂ +5.0 pts 4.2%

8.6% Year 11 ◂ +5.1 pts 3.5%

Highest qualification level

32.4% Bachelor degree +1.5 pts ▸ 33.9%

13.6% Postgraduate degree +6.3 pts ▸ 19.9%

19.3% Certificate III / IV ◂ +4.2 pts 15.0%

15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.4 pts 13.0%

4.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.8 pts ▸ 6.3%

1.3% Certificate I / II even 1.3%

Field of qualification

20.9% Management & commerce ◂ +0.9 pts 20.1%

12.5% Society & culture +7.6 pts ▸ 20.1%

12.4% Engineering & related ◂ +4.0 pts 8.4%

9.8% Health ◂ +1.1 pts 8.7%

5.2% Information technology +2.4 pts ▸ 7.5%

7.4% Education ◂ +0.5 pts 6.9%

3.8% Natural & physical sciences +1.8 pts ▸ 5.6%

5.2% Architecture & building ◂ +1.3 pts 3.9%

4.8% Creative arts ◂ +0.6 pts 4.2%

4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.2 pts 3.3%

1.2% Agriculture & environment +0.4 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +$363 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap widening

$841 45th pct $1,204 71st pct

Household income in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +$472 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap narrowing

$1,901 72nd pct $2,373 87th pct

Family income in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +$629 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap widening

$2,243 71st pct $2,872 100th pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 +1.7 pts ▸ 32.6%

23.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.4 pts 17.5%

14.2% $4,000 or more +7.7 pts ▸ 21.9%

11.2% $3,000–$3,999 +3.3 pts ▸ 14.5%

14.0% Under $650 ◂ +5.4 pts 8.6%

Personal income distribution

38.8% Under $650 ◂ +10.9 pts 27.8%

30.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.0 pts 29.7%

18.9% $1,500–$2,999 +10.9 pts ▸ 29.7%

5.6% $3,000 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.1% Mental health +1.9 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.8% Other condition +2.0 pts ▸ 9.7%

7.9% Asthma +1.1 pts ▸ 9.0%

6.9% Arthritis +0.8 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%

3.3% Heart disease ◂ +0.2 pts 3.1%

2.5% Cancer +0.2 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.2% Lung condition +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.5% None ◂ +1.5 pts 66.0%

17.9% One condition +1.9 pts ▸ 19.8%

5.1% Two conditions +0.7 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.4% Three or more even 2.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +24,044 larger in Greater Melbourne

32,952 78th pct 8,908 58th pct

Median age in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +1 yrs older in Greater Melbourne

25 yrs 43rd pct 24 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +$310 higher in Australian Capital Territory

$694 79th pct $1,004 88th pct

Household income in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +$480 higher in Australian Capital Territory

$1,809 81st pct $2,289 89th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +0.1 larger in Greater Melbourne gap narrowing

2.6 86th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

62.0% Couples with children ◂ +2.2 pts 59.8%

23.8% Couples without children +3.4 pts ▸ 27.2%

12.9% One-parent families ◂ +1.0 pts 11.9%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

Household size

31.3% 2 people +1.4 pts ▸ 32.7%

24.8% 1 person +1.0 pts ▸ 25.7%

17.2% 4 people ◂ +0.8 pts 16.5%

16.9% 3 people ◂ +0.4 pts 16.5%

6.6% 5 people ◂ +0.5 pts 6.0%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +$60 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap widening

$390 86th pct $450 97th pct

Mortgage in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +$80 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap narrowing

$2,000 81st pct $2,080 87th pct

People / bedroom in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +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 +3.2 pts ▸ 40.2%

30.2% Rented +0.5 pts ▸ 30.7%

29.7% Owned outright ◂ +3.1 pts 26.6%

1.6% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

1.4% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

67.8% Separate house ◂ +4.6 pts 63.2%

15.6% Flat or apartment +3.8 pts ▸ 19.4%

16.2% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.0 pts ▸ 17.2%

0.3% Other dwelling ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

39.4% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.3 pts 37.1%

27.0% 4 bedrooms +1.7 pts ▸ 28.8%

20.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.8 pts 17.5%

5.8% 1 bedroom +2.6 pts ▸ 8.4%

5.8% 5 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 7.1%

0.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

50.9% $350–$549 ◂ +5.2 pts 45.8%

23.8% $200–$349 ◂ +11.4 pts 12.4%

10.0% $550–$749 +11.2 pts ▸ 21.2%

7.0% Under $200 +5.4 pts ▸ 12.5%

4.7% $750 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

34.9% $1,800–$2,999 +3.6 pts ▸ 38.5%

25.3% $1,000–$1,799 +0.3 pts ▸ 25.6%

20.3% $3,000 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 20.9%

13.0% Under $1,000 ◂ +2.0 pts 11.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +18,784 more in Greater Melbourne

21,386 93rd pct 2,602 44th pct

Stops/1k in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +1.38 more in Australian Capital Territory

4.35 40th pct 5.73 86th pct

Departures/1k in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +48.0 more in Greater Melbourne

1,514.2 78th pct 1,466.3 76th pct

PT routes in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +523 more in Greater Melbourne

623 87th pct 100 28th pct

How people get to work

46.5% Car (driver) +12.6 pts ▸ 59.0%

28.8% Worked at home ◂ +17.9 pts 10.9%

3.2% Car (passenger) +1.8 pts ▸ 5.0%

2.0% Walked +2.0 pts ▸ 4.0%

0.6% Bus +3.0 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.7% Bicycle +1.4 pts ▸ 2.1%

2.1% Train ◂ +2.0 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.2% 1 vehicle +2.0 pts ▸ 39.2%

37.0% 2 vehicles +1.7 pts ▸ 38.7%

11.1% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.2 pts 11.0%

8.6% No vehicle ◂ +3.0 pts 5.6%

6.1% 4 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

5.4% Public administration & safety +24.4 pts ▸ 29.8%

13.5% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.0 pts 11.5%

9.6% Professional & technical +1.3 pts ▸ 10.9%

8.8% Education & training +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%

9.4% Retail trade ◂ +2.9 pts 6.4%

9.3% Construction ◂ +2.6 pts 6.7%

6.9% Manufacturing ◂ +5.2 pts 1.7%

6.1% Accommodation & food +0.3 pts ▸ 6.3%

4.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.8 pts 2.1%

4.7% Finance & insurance ◂ +3.3 pts 1.4%

3.4% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 2.9%

3.2% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

26.8% Professionals +4.6 pts ▸ 31.5%

13.8% Managers +4.0 pts ▸ 17.9%

12.9% Clerical & administrative +1.7 pts ▸ 14.5%

12.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.5 pts 9.6%

10.5% Community & personal service +0.4 pts ▸ 10.9%

8.3% Sales workers ◂ +2.2 pts 6.1%

7.8% Labourers ◂ +2.8 pts 5.0%

5.8% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.4 pts 2.4%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +4,950,960 higher in Greater Melbourne

5,435,590 99th pct 484,630 39th pct

Growth in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +2.2 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

9.3% 87th pct 7.1% 70th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +83 higher in Australian Capital Territory

825 47th pct 908 61st pct

Max temp in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +0.7 higher in Greater Melbourne

20.4 29th pct 19.7 21st pct

Min temp in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +4.0 higher in Greater Melbourne

10.0 40th pct 6.0 8th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +0.2 higher in Greater Melbourne

7.1 97th pct 6.9 91st pct

Types ≤15 min in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +0.1 more in Greater Melbourne

6.6 97th pct 6.5 91st pct

15-min city in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +0.6 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

82.6% 94th pct 81.9% 90th pct

Walk to shops in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +2.0 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

82.0% 100th pct 80.0% 93rd pct

Walk to transit in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +6.6 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

91.0% 82nd pct 97.6% 100th pct

Walk to school in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +1.9 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

87.2% 98th pct 85.4% 92nd pct

Walk to a park in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +2.1 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

97.3% 92nd pct 99.4% 100th pct

Walk to health in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +8.7 pts higher in Greater Melbourne

73.0% 100th pct 64.3% 87th pct

Amenities/1k in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +5.3 more in Australian Capital Territory

13.9 18th pct 19.2 56th pct

Intersections/km² in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +32 higher in Greater Melbourne

76 100th pct 44 83rd pct

Mean slope in Greater Melbourne in Australian Capital Territory +0.8 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

4.8% 43rd pct 5.5% 54th 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 Australian Capital Territory with nearby areas

Greater Sydney Rest of NSW Greater Melbourne Rest of Vic. Rest of Tas. Greater Hobart Greater Brisbane Greater Adelaide Rest of Qld Rest of SA Rest of NT Rest of WA

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Greater Melbourne vs Australian Capital Territory [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/gccsa/2GMEL/greater-melbourne/vs/8ACTE/australian-capital-territory