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Greater Brisbane vs Greater Perth

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

Capital City comparison ≈ 3,566 km apart · Greater Brisbane profile · Greater Perth profile

Greater Brisbane Greater Perth

Greater Brisbane and Greater Perth are both massive hubs, but they offer very different lifestyles. Greater Perth is far more connected by public transport, with 1,992 weekly departures per 1,000 people compared to 1,039 in Greater Brisbane, and a much higher share of homes (93.1% versus 81.5%) within a 10-minute walk of a stop. Greater Perth also has a larger overseas-born population at 36%. In contrast, Greater Brisbane has a higher proportion of renters at 35.1% and a much larger share of people working from home, at 17.4% compared to 7.6% in Greater Perth.

Typical household incomes are almost identical in both cities, sitting around $1,850 a week. They also share similar proportions of children under 15 and adults with university degrees. While some differences are steady, others are shifting; the gap in the number of people who have moved in the last five years has widened, as has the difference in the share of people working from home.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 9.8 pts higher in Greater Brisbane No car: 1.4 pts higher in Greater Brisbane Renting: 8.5 pts higher in Greater Brisbane One-parent: 1.6 pts higher in Greater Brisbane Born overseas: 8.8 pts higher in Greater Perth

Demographics & Identity

Population in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +409,591 larger in Greater Brisbane gap widening

2,526,238 87th pct 2,116,647 85th pct

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

36 yrs 14th pct 37 yrs 23rd pct

Age structure

29.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +0.2 pts 28.9%

23.9% Older adults (45–64) +0.5 pts ▸ 24.3%

19.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.2 pts 19.0%

14.8% Seniors (65+) +1.0 pts ▸ 15.8%

13.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.0 pts 12.1%

Marital status

45.0% Married +2.7 pts ▸ 47.6%

38.4% Never married ◂ +2.3 pts 36.1%

8.9% Divorced ◂ +0.2 pts 8.7%

4.3% Widowed +0.1 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.4% Separated ◂ +0.2 pts 3.2%

Age & sex structure

Greater Brisbane Greater Perth

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.3% Australia ◂ +8.9 pts 59.5%

3.8% England +4.3 pts ▸ 8.0%

4.4% New Zealand ◂ +1.6 pts 2.8%

2.0% India +0.7 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.1% South Africa +0.8 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.7% China ◂ +0.4 pts 1.3%

1.1% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.8% Vietnam even 0.8%

0.3% Italy +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Ancestry

36.5% English +0.6 pts ▸ 37.1%

31.6% Australian ◂ +3.5 pts 28.0%

11.1% Irish ◂ +2.3 pts 8.8%

10.1% Scottish ◂ +1.4 pts 8.7%

5.7% German ◂ +2.9 pts 2.8%

2.7% Italian +2.8 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.7% Chinese +0.7 pts ▸ 5.3%

2.7% Indian +0.8 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.6% Dutch +0.4 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.6% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

0.8% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Language

Language used at home

77.3% English only ◂ +3.3 pts 74.0%

2.5% Mandarin ◂ +0.2 pts 2.3%

0.4% Italian +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%

1.1% Vietnamese even 1.0%

0.9% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.9% Cantonese even 0.9%

0.5% Arabic +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.3% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.3% Christianity ◂ +2.5 pts 41.8%

41.9% No religion +0.3 pts ▸ 42.2%

6.7% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 6.6%

1.8% Islam +1.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.9% Buddhism +0.6 pts ▸ 2.5%

2.0% Hinduism +0.3 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.2% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.1% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

63.9% Year 12 ◂ +2.0 pts 61.8%

17.5% Year 10 +0.2 pts ▸ 17.7%

5.6% Year 11 +2.5 pts ▸ 8.2%

7.3% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.0 pts 6.3%

Highest qualification level

28.1% Bachelor degree even 28.1%

26.6% Certificate III / IV ◂ +0.2 pts 26.3%

15.3% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.1 pts 15.1%

9.8% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.7 pts 9.2%

4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

2.1% Certificate I / II +0.3 pts ▸ 2.4%

Field of qualification

20.7% Management & commerce ◂ +1.8 pts 18.9%

13.8% Engineering & related +3.0 pts ▸ 16.9%

12.8% Society & culture ◂ +1.4 pts 11.4%

10.9% Health +0.1 pts ▸ 11.0%

7.5% Education +0.4 pts ▸ 7.9%

5.3% Architecture & building ◂ +0.4 pts 4.9%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.2 pts ▸ 5.1%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +0.5 pts 3.5%

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

3.5% Information technology ◂ +0.7 pts 2.8%

1.4% Agriculture & environment +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +$17 higher in Greater Perth gap steady

$842 46th pct $859 52nd pct

Household income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +$16 higher in Greater Perth gap narrowing

$1,849 66th pct $1,865 68th pct

Family income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +$84 higher in Greater Perth gap narrowing

$2,175 67th pct $2,259 72nd pct

Household income distribution

31.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.0 pts 29.1%

25.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.9 pts 23.3%

13.5% Under $650 +0.8 pts ▸ 14.3%

12.8% $4,000 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 13.5%

10.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.1 pts 10.8%

Personal income distribution

38.1% Under $650 +0.3 pts ▸ 38.3%

32.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.0 pts 29.1%

18.7% $1,500–$2,999 +1.3 pts ▸ 20.0%

4.8% $3,000 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 6.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.1% Mental health ◂ +1.8 pts 8.4%

8.9% Asthma ◂ +1.6 pts 7.3%

8.8% Other condition ◂ +1.3 pts 7.6%

8.0% Arthritis ◂ +0.6 pts 7.4%

4.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.1 pts 4.3%

3.9% Heart disease ◂ +0.4 pts 3.5%

2.9% Cancer ◂ +0.2 pts 2.7%

1.9% Lung condition ◂ +0.3 pts 1.5%

0.9% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.0% None +2.4 pts ▸ 66.4%

19.3% One condition ◂ +1.1 pts 18.2%

6.0% Two conditions ◂ +0.8 pts 5.3%

3.1% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +34,859 larger in Greater Brisbane

76,942 89th pct 42,083 84th pct

Median age in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth even

23 yrs 0th pct 23 yrs 0th pct

Median income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +$22 higher in Greater Brisbane

$623 69th pct $601 64th pct

Household income in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth even

$1,658 68th pct $1,657 68th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth even gap narrowing

2.6 86th pct 2.6 86th pct

Family composition

58.1% Couples with children +1.9 pts ▸ 60.0%

25.7% Couples without children ◂ +0.2 pts 25.5%

14.9% One-parent families ◂ +1.6 pts 13.3%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Household size

33.5% 2 people ◂ +0.6 pts 32.9%

23.6% 1 person +1.3 pts ▸ 24.9%

16.7% 3 people ◂ +0.3 pts 16.4%

16.0% 4 people +0.5 pts ▸ 16.5%

6.5% 5 people ◂ +0.2 pts 6.4%

3.6% 6 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 2.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +$30 higher in Greater Brisbane gap widening

$380 78th pct $350 58th pct

Mortgage in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +$44 higher in Greater Perth gap narrowing

$1,863 70th pct $1,907 73rd pct

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

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.1% Owned with a mortgage +5.8 pts ▸ 41.9%

35.1% Rented ◂ +8.5 pts 26.6%

25.9% Owned outright +2.5 pts ▸ 28.5%

1.5% Other tenure +0.2 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.3% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

73.4% Separate house +4.4 pts ▸ 77.8%

14.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +7.0 pts 7.6%

11.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.8 pts ▸ 14.2%

0.4% Other dwelling ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

31.9% 4 bedrooms +7.3 pts ▸ 39.2%

36.1% 3 bedrooms +0.6 pts ▸ 36.7%

16.1% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.5 pts 12.6%

9.2% 5 or more ◂ +2.7 pts 6.5%

5.0% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.4 pts 3.6%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

51.6% $350–$549 ◂ +8.4 pts 43.3%

26.6% $200–$349 +7.7 pts ▸ 34.3%

8.2% Under $200 +2.2 pts ▸ 10.4%

8.4% $550–$749 ◂ +2.0 pts 6.4%

2.3% $750 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 2.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

34.9% $1,800–$2,999 +0.6 pts ▸ 35.5%

31.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +1.1 pts 30.4%

15.1% $3,000 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 15.9%

13.1% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.4 pts 12.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +2,543 more in Greater Perth

9,923 73rd pct 12,466 79th pct

Stops/1k in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +1.96 more in Greater Perth

3.93 28th pct 5.89 87th pct

Departures/1k in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +952.6 more in Greater Perth

1,039.4 60th pct 1,992.0 100th pct

PT routes in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +176 more in Greater Brisbane

532 78th pct 356 62nd pct

How people get to work

55.1% Car (driver) +6.9 pts ▸ 62.0%

17.4% Worked at home ◂ +9.8 pts 7.6%

4.1% Car (passenger) +0.3 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.5% Bus +0.5 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.2% Walked ◂ +0.6 pts 1.6%

2.0% Train +0.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.7% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Motor vehicles per home

37.8% 2 vehicles +2.0 pts ▸ 39.9%

36.3% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.2 pts 35.1%

12.5% 3 vehicles +0.5 pts ▸ 13.0%

7.0% 4 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 7.1%

6.4% No vehicle ◂ +1.4 pts 5.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.3% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.2 pts 14.1%

9.0% Education & training ◂ +0.2 pts 8.8%

9.0% Retail trade ◂ +0.1 pts 8.9%

8.6% Construction +0.3 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.5% Professional & technical ◂ +0.7 pts 7.8%

6.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.7 pts 6.0%

1.1% Mining +5.5 pts ▸ 6.6%

6.4% Accommodation & food even 6.5%

6.1% Manufacturing ◂ +0.8 pts 5.3%

5.4% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.8 pts 4.5%

3.8% Other services +0.1 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.2 pts 3.1%

Occupations people work in

24.7% Professionals ◂ +1.0 pts 23.7%

12.3% Technicians & trades +2.4 pts ▸ 14.7%

13.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.0 pts 12.5%

12.6% Managers ◂ +0.7 pts 11.9%

11.6% Community & personal service +0.4 pts ▸ 12.0%

8.9% Labourers ◂ +0.3 pts 8.7%

8.2% Sales workers ◂ +0.3 pts 7.9%

6.3% Machinery operators & drivers +0.6 pts ▸ 7.0%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +380,759 higher in Greater Brisbane

2,833,524 79th pct 2,452,765 68th pct

Growth in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +1.6 pts higher in Greater Perth

10.4% 94th pct 11.9% 100th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +216 higher in Greater Brisbane

1,009 82nd pct 793 43rd pct

Max temp in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +0.6 higher in Greater Brisbane

25.6 58th pct 25.0 43rd pct

Min temp in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +0.1 higher in Greater Brisbane

13.0 59th pct 12.9 57th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +0.0 higher in Greater Brisbane

6.1 72nd pct 6.0 71st pct

Types ≤15 min in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth even

5.8 71st pct 5.8 72nd pct

15-min city in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +0.5 pts higher in Greater Perth

71.3% 71st pct 71.8% 72nd pct

Walk to shops in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +3.8 pts higher in Greater Brisbane

71.9% 74th pct 68.1% 69th pct

Walk to transit in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +11.6 pts higher in Greater Perth

81.5% 63rd pct 93.1% 87th pct

Walk to school in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +3.2 pts higher in Greater Perth

75.9% 71st pct 79.1% 77th pct

Walk to a park in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +2.8 pts higher in Greater Perth

92.5% 71st pct 95.3% 81st pct

Walk to health in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +3.6 pts higher in Greater Brisbane

57.7% 76th pct 54.1% 71st pct

Amenities/1k in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +1.9 more in Greater Perth

13.6 11th pct 15.5 37th pct

Intersections/km² in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +31 higher in Greater Perth

17 62nd pct 48 86th pct

Mean slope in Greater Brisbane in Greater Perth +0.0 pts higher in Greater Perth

6.0% 68th pct 6.1% 70th 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 Perth with nearby areas

Rest of WA Rest of SA Rest of NT Greater Adelaide Other Territories Greater Darwin Rest of Vic. Greater Melbourne Rest of Qld Rest of NSW Rest of Tas. Greater Hobart

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Greater Brisbane vs Greater Perth [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/gccsa/3GBRI/greater-brisbane/vs/5GPER/greater-perth