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Greater Brisbane vs Greater Adelaide

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

Capital City comparison ≈ 1,575 km apart · Greater Brisbane profile · Greater Adelaide profile

Greater Brisbane Greater Adelaide

Greater Brisbane and Greater Adelaide are both large urban centres, but they differ in their layout and demographics. Greater Adelaide is more walkable, with 92.2% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport and a much denser network of streets. It also has an older population, with a typical resident aged 39 and 18.6% of people aged 65 or over. In contrast, Greater Brisbane has a younger typical age of 36 and a higher share of high-earning households, with 23.7% earning $3,000 or more per week compared to 18.2% in Greater Adelaide.

Both cities are remarkably similar in the makeup of their homes, with about 2.6 people per household and a nearly identical share of three-plus bedroom dwellings. While they share these domestic patterns, other gaps are shifting; for instance, the proportion of people working from home has grown significantly faster in Greater Brisbane. The age gap between the two has also narrowed slightly since 2016, as Greater Brisbane's typical resident is now only three years younger than the typical resident in Greater Adelaide.

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Where they differ most

Living alone: 4.1 pts higher in Greater Adelaide Population: 1,138,948 larger in Greater Brisbane Mortgage: $301 higher in Greater Brisbane Renting: 6.7 pts higher in Greater Brisbane Recent movers: 8.1 pts higher in Greater Brisbane

Demographics & Identity

Population in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +1,138,948 larger in Greater Brisbane gap widening

2,526,238 87th pct 1,387,290 79th pct

Median age in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +3 yrs older in Greater Adelaide gap narrowing

36 yrs 14th pct 39 yrs 40th pct

Age structure

29.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.8 pts 27.3%

23.9% Older adults (45–64) +0.9 pts ▸ 24.8%

19.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.0 pts 17.1%

14.8% Seniors (65+) +3.9 pts ▸ 18.6%

13.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.9 pts 12.2%

Marital status

45.0% Married +0.8 pts ▸ 45.7%

38.4% Never married ◂ +2.0 pts 36.4%

8.9% Divorced +0.4 pts ▸ 9.3%

4.3% Widowed +1.2 pts ▸ 5.5%

3.4% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Greater Brisbane Greater Adelaide

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.3% Australia +0.4 pts ▸ 68.7%

3.8% England +1.9 pts ▸ 5.7%

4.4% New Zealand ◂ +3.7 pts 0.7%

2.0% India +1.1 pts ▸ 3.1%

1.7% China +0.1 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.8% Vietnam +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.3% Italy +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

1.1% South Africa ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

0.3% Nepal +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Ancestry

36.5% English +0.4 pts ▸ 36.8%

31.6% Australian ◂ +1.3 pts 30.2%

11.1% Irish ◂ +3.5 pts 7.6%

10.1% Scottish ◂ +1.9 pts 8.2%

2.7% Italian +4.1 pts ▸ 6.8%

5.7% German +1.0 pts ▸ 6.7%

4.7% Chinese ◂ +0.6 pts 4.1%

2.7% Indian +0.3 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.8% Greek +1.9 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.6% Dutch even 1.7%

1.6% Filipino ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

1.1% Vietnamese +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

Language

Language used at home

77.3% English only ◂ +2.5 pts 74.8%

2.5% Mandarin ◂ +0.3 pts 2.2%

0.4% Italian +1.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.1% Vietnamese +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.3% Greek +1.2 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.9% Punjabi +0.5 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.5% Arabic +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.7% Hindi even 0.7%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

Religion

Religious affiliation

41.9% No religion +3.2 pts ▸ 45.1%

44.3% Christianity ◂ +4.5 pts 39.8%

6.7% Not stated ◂ +1.2 pts 5.6%

1.8% Islam +0.9 pts ▸ 2.8%

2.0% Hinduism +0.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.9% Buddhism +0.4 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.2% Other religions +0.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

63.9% Year 12 ◂ +4.7 pts 59.2%

17.5% Year 10 ◂ +4.8 pts 12.7%

5.6% Year 11 +9.2 pts ▸ 14.8%

7.3% Year 9 or below +1.3 pts ▸ 8.5%

Highest qualification level

28.1% Bachelor degree +0.1 pts ▸ 28.3%

26.6% Certificate III / IV +0.7 pts ▸ 27.3%

15.3% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.5 pts 14.8%

9.8% Postgraduate degree +0.4 pts ▸ 10.2%

4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate even 4.1%

2.1% Certificate I / II even 2.1%

Field of qualification

20.7% Management & commerce ◂ +1.5 pts 19.2%

13.8% Engineering & related +0.2 pts ▸ 14.1%

12.8% Society & culture +0.9 pts ▸ 13.7%

10.9% Health +1.7 pts ▸ 12.5%

7.5% Education +0.5 pts ▸ 8.0%

5.3% Architecture & building ◂ +0.5 pts 4.8%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services even 5.0%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +0.4 pts 3.6%

3.5% Information technology ◂ +0.3 pts 3.2%

3.0% Natural & physical sciences +0.4 pts ▸ 3.4%

1.4% Agriculture & environment +0.2 pts ▸ 1.7%

Income

Personal income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +$80 higher in Greater Brisbane gap steady

$842 46th pct $762 27th pct

Household income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +$301 higher in Greater Brisbane gap steady

$1,849 66th pct $1,548 36th pct

Family income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +$187 higher in Greater Brisbane gap narrowing

$2,175 67th pct $1,988 55th pct

Household income distribution

31.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.3 pts 29.8%

25.2% $650–$1,499 +3.4 pts ▸ 28.6%

13.5% Under $650 +3.7 pts ▸ 17.2%

12.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.8 pts 9.0%

10.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.7 pts 9.2%

Personal income distribution

38.1% Under $650 +3.9 pts ▸ 42.0%

32.1% $650–$1,499 +1.0 pts ▸ 33.1%

18.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.3 pts 16.4%

4.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 3.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.1% Mental health ◂ +0.3 pts 9.8%

8.0% Arthritis +1.5 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.8% Other condition +0.1 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.9% Asthma ◂ +0.1 pts 8.7%

4.4% Diabetes +1.0 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.9% Heart disease +0.5 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.9% Cancer +0.2 pts ▸ 3.1%

1.9% Lung condition even 1.8%

0.9% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.0% None ◂ +0.4 pts 63.6%

19.3% One condition +0.7 pts ▸ 20.0%

6.0% Two conditions +0.6 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.1% Three or more +0.4 pts ▸ 3.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +53,181 larger in Greater Brisbane

76,942 89th pct 23,761 73rd pct

Median age in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide even

23 yrs 0th pct 23 yrs 0th pct

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

$623 69th pct $552 55th pct

Household income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +$276 higher in Greater Brisbane

$1,658 68th pct $1,382 35th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +0.1 larger in Greater Brisbane gap narrowing

2.6 86th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

58.1% Couples with children ◂ +1.4 pts 56.8%

25.7% Couples without children +1.3 pts ▸ 27.0%

14.9% One-parent families +0.1 pts ▸ 15.0%

1.3% Other families even 1.3%

Household size

33.5% 2 people even 33.5%

23.6% 1 person +4.1 pts ▸ 27.7%

16.7% 3 people ◂ +0.9 pts 15.9%

16.0% 4 people ◂ +1.1 pts 14.9%

6.5% 5 people ◂ +1.1 pts 5.5%

3.6% 6 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +$60 higher in Greater Brisbane gap narrowing

$380 78th pct $320 42nd pct

Mortgage in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +$301 higher in Greater Brisbane gap narrowing

$1,863 70th pct $1,562 31st pct

People / bedroom in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

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

35.1% Rented ◂ +6.7 pts 28.4%

25.9% Owned outright +5.0 pts ▸ 30.9%

1.5% Other tenure +0.9 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.3% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

73.4% Separate house +1.6 pts ▸ 75.0%

11.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +5.0 pts ▸ 16.3%

14.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +6.5 pts 8.2%

0.4% Other dwelling ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

36.1% 3 bedrooms +15.1 pts ▸ 51.3%

31.9% 4 bedrooms ◂ +10.7 pts 21.2%

16.1% 2 bedrooms +2.7 pts ▸ 18.7%

9.2% 5 or more ◂ +5.0 pts 4.1%

5.0% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.6 pts 3.3%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

51.6% $350–$549 ◂ +17.4 pts 34.3%

26.6% $200–$349 +14.9 pts ▸ 41.5%

8.2% Under $200 +8.4 pts ▸ 16.6%

8.4% $550–$749 ◂ +4.9 pts 3.5%

2.3% $750 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 1.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

31.5% $1,000–$1,799 +7.9 pts ▸ 39.4%

34.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +8.3 pts 26.5%

13.1% Under $1,000 +6.1 pts ▸ 19.2%

15.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.0 pts 10.1%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +2,370 more in Greater Brisbane

9,923 73rd pct 7,553 63rd pct

Stops/1k in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +1.52 more in Greater Adelaide

3.93 28th pct 5.44 75th pct

Departures/1k in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +623.6 more in Greater Adelaide

1,039.4 60th pct 1,663.0 87th pct

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

532 78th pct 441 69th pct

How people get to work

55.1% Car (driver) +8.2 pts ▸ 63.3%

17.4% Worked at home ◂ +7.7 pts 9.8%

4.1% Car (passenger) +0.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.5% Bus +1.3 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.2% Walked ◂ +0.3 pts 1.9%

2.0% Train ◂ +1.2 pts 0.8%

0.7% Bicycle +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.9 pts 36.9%

36.3% 1 vehicle +0.8 pts ▸ 37.1%

12.5% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.6 pts 11.8%

6.4% No vehicle +1.2 pts ▸ 7.7%

7.0% 4 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 6.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.3% Health care & social assistance +1.8 pts ▸ 17.1%

9.0% Retail trade +0.7 pts ▸ 9.7%

9.0% Education & training +0.1 pts ▸ 9.0%

8.6% Construction ◂ +0.2 pts 8.4%

8.5% Professional & technical ◂ +1.4 pts 7.1%

6.7% Public administration & safety +0.5 pts ▸ 7.1%

6.1% Manufacturing +0.7 pts ▸ 6.8%

6.4% Accommodation & food +0.1 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.4% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.2 pts 4.1%

3.8% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.4% Administrative & support +0.5 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.1 pts 3.2%

Occupations people work in

24.7% Professionals ◂ +1.1 pts 23.6%

13.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.4 pts 13.2%

11.6% Community & personal service +1.5 pts ▸ 13.2%

12.3% Technicians & trades +0.6 pts ▸ 12.9%

12.6% Managers ◂ +0.5 pts 12.1%

8.9% Labourers +0.4 pts ▸ 9.3%

8.2% Sales workers +0.3 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.8 pts 5.5%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +1,342,509 higher in Greater Brisbane

2,833,524 79th pct 1,491,015 56th pct

Growth in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +4.0 pts higher in Greater Brisbane

10.4% 94th pct 6.4% 52nd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +95 higher in Greater Adelaide

1,009 82nd pct 1,104 88th pct

Max temp in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +6.5 higher in Greater Brisbane

25.6 58th pct 19.1 14th pct

Min temp in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +3.3 higher in Greater Brisbane

13.0 59th pct 9.7 29th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +0.5 higher in Greater Adelaide

6.1 72nd pct 6.6 82nd pct

Types ≤15 min in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +0.5 more in Greater Adelaide

5.8 71st pct 6.3 83rd pct

15-min city in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +8.8 pts higher in Greater Adelaide

71.3% 71st pct 80.1% 84th pct

Walk to shops in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +4.5 pts higher in Greater Adelaide

71.9% 74th pct 76.4% 82nd pct

Walk to transit in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +10.8 pts higher in Greater Adelaide

81.5% 63rd pct 92.2% 85th pct

Walk to school in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +5.4 pts higher in Greater Adelaide

75.9% 71st pct 81.4% 81st pct

Walk to a park in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +3.3 pts higher in Greater Adelaide

92.5% 71st pct 95.8% 83rd pct

Walk to health in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +5.0 pts higher in Greater Adelaide

57.7% 76th pct 62.7% 84th pct

Amenities/1k in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +1.0 more in Greater Adelaide

13.6 11th pct 14.5 26th pct

Intersections/km² in Greater Brisbane in Greater Adelaide +37 higher in Greater Adelaide

17 62nd pct 54 90th pct

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

6.0% 68th pct 4.7% 41st pct

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

Compare Greater Adelaide with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Greater Brisbane vs Greater Adelaide [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/gccsa/3GBRI/greater-brisbane/vs/4GADE/greater-adelaide