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Blue Mountains vs Penrith

Name: Blue Mountains vs Penrith — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 31 km apart · Blue Mountains profile · Penrith profile

Blue Mountains Penrith

Penrith and Blue Mountains are nearby neighbours with very different profiles. Penrith is a younger area where the typical resident is 35, while in Blue Mountains the typical resident is 10 years older at 45. There is a sharp contrast in housing and education; Blue Mountains has a far higher share of homes owned outright (40.9% vs 24.7%) and a higher proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (32.7% vs 17.3%). Penrith is more linguistically diverse, with 19.6% of people using another language at home compared to 6.5% in Blue Mountains.

These gaps are widening as the two areas drift apart. This is seen in the age gap, which has grown since 2011, and the increasing difference in the share of people who report having no religion. Despite these shifts, they remain similar in some ways, with typical weekly personal incomes and weekly rents ($400) being almost identical. They also share similar levels of school advantage and the same proportion of homes with three or more bedrooms.

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Where they differ most

Population: 139,543 larger in Penrith No religion: 18.2 pts higher in Blue Mountains Median age: 10 yrs older in Blue Mountains Owned outright: 16.2 pts higher in Blue Mountains Renting: 15.6 pts higher in Penrith

Demographics & Identity

Population in Blue Mountains in Penrith +139,543 larger in Penrith gap widening

78,121 81st pct 217,664 87th pct

Median age in Blue Mountains in Penrith +10 yrs older in Blue Mountains gap widening

45 yrs 67th pct 35 yrs 14th pct

Age structure

21.4% Young adults (25–44) +8.4 pts ▸ 29.7%

28.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +5.3 pts 23.1%

22.4% Seniors (65+) ◂ +9.4 pts 13.0%

17.4% Children (0–14) +3.7 pts ▸ 21.2%

10.4% Youth (15–24) +2.7 pts ▸ 13.0%

Marital status

48.2% Married ◂ +2.7 pts 45.5%

33.0% Never married +4.9 pts ▸ 37.9%

10.7% Divorced ◂ +2.3 pts 8.5%

5.1% Widowed ◂ +0.7 pts 4.4%

3.0% Separated +0.8 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Blue Mountains Penrith

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

79.2% Australia ◂ +8.0 pts 71.3%

5.5% England ◂ +2.9 pts 2.5%

0.4% India +2.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

0.5% Philippines +1.9 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.5% New Zealand +0.4 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.3% China +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.2% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Nepal +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Vietnam even 0.2%

Ancestry

44.3% English ◂ +14.2 pts 30.2%

38.1% Australian ◂ +4.8 pts 33.3%

16.0% Irish ◂ +7.9 pts 8.2%

13.3% Scottish ◂ +6.6 pts 6.7%

4.8% German ◂ +1.9 pts 2.9%

0.7% Indian +3.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.9% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

0.8% Filipino +2.8 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.3% Dutch ◂ +0.9 pts 1.4%

1.5% Chinese +0.6 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.9% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.3% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Language

Language used at home

90.1% English only ◂ +16.0 pts 74.2%

0.2% Arabic +1.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.1% Punjabi +1.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.1% Tagalog +1.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.1% Hindi +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% Mandarin +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.1% Christianity +10.1 pts ▸ 54.3%

47.5% No religion ◂ +18.2 pts 29.3%

5.4% Not stated +1.9 pts ▸ 7.3%

0.4% Hinduism +3.0 pts ▸ 3.3%

0.3% Islam +2.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

0.7% Other religions +0.8 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.4% Buddhism ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

0.2% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Blue Mountains in Penrith +44 more in Penrith

36 85th pct 80 88th pct

Schools/1k kids in Blue Mountains in Penrith +0.91 more in Blue Mountains

2.64 34th pct 1.73 14th pct

Students in Blue Mountains in Penrith +27,739 more in Penrith

11,328 78th pct 39,067 87th pct

Avg size in Blue Mountains in Penrith +180 larger in Penrith

315 62nd pct 495 82nd pct

ICSEA in Blue Mountains in Penrith +63 higher in Blue Mountains

1,065 86th pct 1,001 68th pct

Highest year of school

62.5% Year 12 ◂ +12.6 pts 50.0%

22.2% Year 10 +4.4 pts ▸ 26.5%

5.9% Year 9 or below +4.4 pts ▸ 10.2%

5.3% Year 11 +0.7 pts ▸ 5.9%

Highest qualification level

23.9% Certificate III / IV +10.1 pts ▸ 34.1%

28.1% Bachelor degree ◂ +7.8 pts 20.3%

16.3% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.1 pts 15.2%

12.7% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.6 pts 7.1%

5.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +3.0 pts 2.3%

1.7% Certificate I / II +0.6 pts ▸ 2.3%

Field of qualification

15.7% Management & commerce +4.6 pts ▸ 20.3%

15.6% Society & culture ◂ +4.2 pts 11.4%

11.5% Engineering & related +3.6 pts ▸ 15.1%

13.2% Education ◂ +6.0 pts 7.2%

11.1% Health ◂ +2.4 pts 8.7%

6.8% Creative arts ◂ +3.8 pts 3.0%

5.0% Architecture & building +1.2 pts ▸ 6.2%

3.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.6 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.6% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.5 pts 2.1%

2.2% Information technology +1.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.3 pts 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Blue Mountains in Penrith +$49 higher in Penrith gap widening

$817 67th pct $866 74th pct

Household income in Blue Mountains in Penrith +$147 higher in Penrith gap widening

$1,756 74th pct $1,903 81st pct

Family income in Blue Mountains in Penrith +$47 higher in Blue Mountains gap steady

$2,235 79th pct $2,188 77th pct

Household income distribution

29.0% $1,500–$2,999 +4.8 pts ▸ 33.9%

26.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.7 pts 24.5%

15.8% Under $650 ◂ +3.1 pts 12.7%

12.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 10.8%

11.1% $3,000–$3,999 +1.1 pts ▸ 12.2%

Personal income distribution

39.6% Under $650 ◂ +3.1 pts 36.5%

30.1% $650–$1,499 +4.3 pts ▸ 34.3%

20.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.9 pts 19.0%

4.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 2.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.4% Mental health ◂ +2.5 pts 8.9%

10.6% Other condition ◂ +2.7 pts 7.9%

10.6% Arthritis ◂ +2.7 pts 7.9%

9.5% Asthma ◂ +0.6 pts 9.0%

4.6% Diabetes +1.0 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.0% Heart disease ◂ +1.5 pts 3.6%

3.8% Cancer ◂ +1.6 pts 2.3%

2.2% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 1.6%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.1% None +3.2 pts ▸ 63.3%

22.9% One condition ◂ +3.9 pts 19.0%

7.2% Two conditions ◂ +1.4 pts 5.8%

3.6% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 2.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Blue Mountains in Penrith +8,824 larger in Penrith

2,101 80th pct 10,925 92nd pct

Median age in Blue Mountains in Penrith +1 yrs older in Blue Mountains

23 yrs 29th pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Blue Mountains in Penrith +$3 higher in Penrith

$718 81st pct $721 81st pct

Household income in Blue Mountains in Penrith +$148 higher in Blue Mountains

$2,022 88th pct $1,874 84th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Blue Mountains in Penrith +0.4 larger in Penrith gap steady

2.4 43rd pct 2.8 87th pct

Family composition

56.6% Couples with children +5.0 pts ▸ 61.5%

29.9% Couples without children ◂ +9.5 pts 20.4%

12.9% One-parent families +4.2 pts ▸ 17.0%

0.7% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

36.1% 2 people ◂ +6.6 pts 29.5%

26.7% 1 person ◂ +4.9 pts 21.8%

14.6% 3 people +3.3 pts ▸ 17.9%

14.2% 4 people +3.5 pts ▸ 17.6%

5.9% 5 people +2.3 pts ▸ 8.2%

2.4% 6 or more +2.5 pts ▸ 4.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Blue Mountains in Penrith even gap narrowing

$400 87th pct $400 87th pct

Mortgage in Blue Mountains in Penrith +$132 higher in Penrith gap steady

$2,035 84th pct $2,167 87th pct

People / bedroom in Blue Mountains in Penrith +0.10 higher in Penrith gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

40.9% Owned outright ◂ +16.2 pts 24.7%

38.8% Owned with a mortgage +0.6 pts ▸ 39.4%

17.8% Rented +15.6 pts ▸ 33.4%

1.5% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

1.0% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Types of homes

92.1% Separate house ◂ +13.8 pts 78.3%

4.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +7.8 pts ▸ 12.2%

3.1% Flat or apartment +6.1 pts ▸ 9.1%

0.2% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

42.0% 3 bedrooms ◂ +1.2 pts 40.9%

30.1% 4 bedrooms +2.2 pts ▸ 32.2%

13.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.9 pts 12.8%

9.8% 5 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 9.6%

3.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.3 pts 2.8%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

55.9% $350–$549 +1.5 pts ▸ 57.4%

21.9% $200–$349 ◂ +1.3 pts 20.6%

9.4% $550–$749 ◂ +0.2 pts 9.2%

7.9% Under $200 +0.4 pts ▸ 8.3%

1.3% $750 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.8% $1,800–$2,999 +3.3 pts ▸ 42.1%

24.0% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +1.8 pts 22.2%

18.1% $3,000 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 19.4%

14.4% Under $1,000 ◂ +4.3 pts 10.2%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Blue Mountains in Penrith +631 more in Penrith

729 86th pct 1,360 88th pct

Stops/1k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +3.08 more in Blue Mountains

9.33 97th pct 6.25 85th pct

Departures/1k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +622.9 more in Penrith

789.5 76th pct 1,412.4 85th pct

PT routes in Blue Mountains in Penrith +6 more in Penrith

44 86th pct 50 86th pct

Stop walk in Blue Mountains in Penrith +7 longer in Blue Mountains

19 54th pct 12 47th pct

Drive to city in Blue Mountains in Penrith +49 longer in Blue Mountains

87 65th pct 38 43rd pct

How people get to work

39.1% Car (driver) +8.8 pts ▸ 47.9%

36.6% Worked at home ◂ +10.3 pts 26.3%

2.2% Car (passenger) +1.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.6% Walked ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%

1.2% Train +0.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.1% Bus +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

37.7% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.7 pts 37.1%

37.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.3 pts 34.1%

12.1% 3 vehicles +1.2 pts ▸ 13.3%

6.8% 4 or more +2.1 pts ▸ 8.9%

5.9% No vehicle +0.7 pts ▸ 6.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.0 pts 13.2%

15.1% Education & training ◂ +7.1 pts 8.0%

8.7% Construction +3.3 pts ▸ 12.0%

7.9% Retail trade +2.1 pts ▸ 10.0%

9.0% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.1 pts 6.9%

7.4% Professional & technical ◂ +2.8 pts 4.6%

4.6% Manufacturing +2.8 pts ▸ 7.4%

3.5% Transport & warehousing +3.9 pts ▸ 7.4%

6.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.9 pts 5.1%

2.8% Finance & insurance +1.2 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.4% Other services +0.3 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.1% Wholesale trade +1.4 pts ▸ 3.6%

Occupations people work in

30.4% Professionals ◂ +13.5 pts 17.0%

12.4% Clerical & administrative +3.9 pts ▸ 16.3%

13.9% Managers ◂ +2.6 pts 11.3%

12.6% Technicians & trades +1.2 pts ▸ 13.9%

11.9% Community & personal service ◂ +0.9 pts 11.0%

4.0% Machinery operators & drivers +7.1 pts ▸ 11.1%

6.7% Labourers +2.4 pts ▸ 9.1%

6.7% Sales workers +1.6 pts ▸ 8.3%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Blue Mountains in Penrith +1 higher in Blue Mountains

9 86th pct 8 71st pct

IRSD decile in Blue Mountains in Penrith +3 higher in Blue Mountains

9 86th pct 6 57th pct

IER decile in Blue Mountains in Penrith +1 higher in Blue Mountains

9 86th pct 8 71st pct

IEO decile in Blue Mountains in Penrith +3 higher in Blue Mountains

9 86th pct 6 57th pct

IRSAD score in Blue Mountains in Penrith +61 higher in Blue Mountains

1,042 87th pct 981 70th pct

ERP in Blue Mountains in Penrith +152,465 higher in Penrith

79,236 79th pct 231,701 87th pct

Growth in Blue Mountains in Penrith +4.6 pts higher in Penrith

1.1% 24th pct 5.7% 68th pct

Businesses in Blue Mountains in Penrith +11,097 higher in Penrith

5,689 75th pct 16,786 86th pct

Approvals in Blue Mountains in Penrith +826 higher in Penrith

115 61st pct 941 86th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Blue Mountains in Penrith +575 higher in Blue Mountains

1,565 92nd pct 990 76th pct

Max temp in Blue Mountains in Penrith +5.0 higher in Penrith

20.5 18th pct 25.5 63rd pct

Min temp in Blue Mountains in Penrith +2.7 higher in Penrith

8.1 11th pct 10.9 45th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Blue Mountains in Penrith +5,468 higher in Penrith

3,917 10th pct 9,385 57th pct

Assault/100k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +584 higher in Penrith

494 15th pct 1,078 57th pct

Sexual/100k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +84 higher in Penrith

224 43rd pct 308 62nd pct

Robbery/100k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +25 higher in Penrith

12 21st pct 36 68th pct

Burglary/100k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +192 higher in Penrith

142 3rd pct 334 28th pct

Theft/100k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +828 higher in Penrith

403 6th pct 1,231 49th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +421 higher in Penrith

177 18th pct 598 75th pct

Property damage/100k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +298 higher in Penrith

481 25th pct 779 54th pct

Drugs/100k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +161 higher in Penrith

306 34th pct 467 49th pct

5-yr change in Blue Mountains in Penrith +11.6 pts higher in Penrith

-24.0% 8th pct -12.4% 16th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Blue Mountains in Penrith +0.9 higher in Penrith

5.5 77th pct 6.4 84th pct

Types ≤15 min in Blue Mountains in Penrith +0.8 more in Penrith

5.3 75th pct 6.1 82nd pct

15-min city in Blue Mountains in Penrith +18.6 pts higher in Penrith

59.7% 71st pct 78.4% 82nd pct

Walk to shops in Blue Mountains in Penrith +20.7 pts higher in Penrith

52.5% 59th pct 73.2% 80th pct

Walk to transit in Blue Mountains in Penrith +6.4 pts higher in Penrith

85.9% 79th pct 92.3% 83rd pct

Walk to school in Blue Mountains in Penrith +25.8 pts higher in Penrith

60.2% 59th pct 86.0% 84th pct

Walk to a park in Blue Mountains in Penrith +0.4 pts higher in Penrith

92.1% 77th pct 92.5% 77th pct

Walk to health in Blue Mountains in Penrith +11.7 pts higher in Penrith

46.3% 65th pct 58.0% 77th pct

Amenities/1k in Blue Mountains in Penrith +17.8 more in Blue Mountains

33.0 76th pct 15.2 35th pct

Intersections/km² in Blue Mountains in Penrith +52 higher in Penrith

10 72nd pct 62 79th pct

Mean slope in Blue Mountains in Penrith +6.3 pts higher in Blue Mountains

10.9% 100th pct 4.6% 49th pct

Compare Blue Mountains with nearby areas

Penrith Wollondilly Camden Blacktown Liverpool Lithgow Fairfield Hawkesbury

Compare Penrith with nearby areas

Blacktown Liverpool Fairfield Camden Cumberland The Hills Shire Parramatta Blue Mountains

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Blue Mountains vs Penrith [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA10900/blue-mountains/vs/LGA16350/penrith