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Ballarat vs Central Goldfields

Name: Ballarat vs Central Goldfields — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 41 km apart · Ballarat profile · Central Goldfields profile

Ballarat Central Goldfields

Ballarat and Central Goldfields are nearby Victorian areas with very different social profiles. Ballarat is much younger and more highly qualified, with 23.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher compared to just 9.3% in Central Goldfields. Residents in Central Goldfields are far older, with a typical age of 52 and a much higher share of seniors (31.1% versus 18.9% in Ballarat). Ballarat also has a more active workforce, where 60.3% of adults are working or looking for work, compared to 43.3% in Central Goldfields.

Both areas share similar everyday experiences in some ways, such as having nearly identical proportions of First Nations people and similar rates of people providing unpaid care. However, several gaps have widened since 2011, including the difference in the typical age of residents and the share of adults with university degrees. While Ballarat is more connected with far more public transport departures, Central Goldfields has a much higher rate of homes owned outright, at 46.8%.

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Where they differ most

Population: 100,280 larger in Ballarat Median age: 13 yrs older in Central Goldfields Year 12: 19.6 pts higher in Ballarat Participation: 17.0 pts higher in Ballarat Bachelor+: 13.9 pts higher in Ballarat

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +100,280 larger in Ballarat gap widening

113,763 86th pct 13,483 52nd pct

Median age in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +13 yrs older in Central Goldfields gap widening

39 yrs 33rd pct 52 yrs 90th pct

Age structure

18.9% Seniors (65+) +12.1 pts ▸ 31.1%

23.9% Older adults (45–64) +4.2 pts ▸ 28.0%

26.0% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +9.0 pts 17.0%

18.7% Children (0–14) ◂ +4.2 pts 14.6%

12.4% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.2 pts 9.2%

Marital status

42.2% Married ◂ +1.2 pts 41.0%

38.6% Never married ◂ +5.7 pts 32.9%

9.5% Divorced +3.1 pts ▸ 12.6%

5.8% Widowed +3.2 pts ▸ 9.1%

3.8% Separated +0.7 pts ▸ 4.5%

Age & sex structure

Ballarat Central Goldfields

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

83.7% Australia ◂ +1.4 pts 82.3%

2.2% England +1.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

1.6% India ◂ +1.3 pts 0.3%

0.9% New Zealand even 0.8%

0.6% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.6% China ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.2% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Nepal even 0.2%

0.2% Italy even 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

41.8% English +3.9 pts ▸ 45.7%

39.4% Australian +2.6 pts ▸ 42.0%

15.1% Irish ◂ +3.9 pts 11.3%

12.6% Scottish ◂ +0.8 pts 11.8%

4.4% German ◂ +0.7 pts 3.6%

2.8% Dutch ◂ +1.1 pts 1.7%

2.7% Italian even 2.7%

1.7% Indian ◂ +1.5 pts 0.3%

1.7% Chinese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.8%

0.8% Filipino even 0.8%

0.5% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

88.1% English only +1.7 pts ▸ 89.7%

0.9% Mandarin ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.7% Punjabi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.3% Hindi ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.2% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Arabic ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.0% No religion ◂ +3.0 pts 45.0%

42.0% Christianity +2.3 pts ▸ 44.2%

6.4% Not stated +2.7 pts ▸ 9.1%

1.2% Hinduism ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

1.0% Other religions ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

0.8% Buddhism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.7% Islam ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +41 more in Ballarat

49 86th pct 8 43rd pct

Schools/1k kids in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +1.77 more in Central Goldfields

2.30 28th pct 4.07 53rd pct

Students in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +20,779 more in Ballarat

22,828 86th pct 2,049 50th pct

Avg size in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +219 larger in Ballarat

476 80th pct 256 54th pct

ICSEA in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +82 higher in Ballarat

1,038 79th pct 956 40th pct

Highest year of school

52.7% Year 12 ◂ +19.6 pts 33.1%

15.9% Year 10 +6.2 pts ▸ 22.1%

11.3% Year 9 or below +8.3 pts ▸ 19.6%

13.7% Year 11 +2.0 pts ▸ 15.7%

Highest qualification level

30.1% Certificate III / IV +10.1 pts ▸ 40.2%

24.4% Bachelor degree ◂ +11.3 pts 13.1%

15.0% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.8 pts 13.2%

8.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.8 pts 2.3%

5.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.7 pts 2.7%

2.1% Certificate I / II +1.0 pts ▸ 3.1%

Field of qualification

11.4% Engineering & related +5.3 pts ▸ 16.6%

15.1% Management & commerce ◂ +4.9 pts 10.2%

13.4% Health ◂ +2.8 pts 10.6%

13.2% Society & culture ◂ +1.2 pts 12.1%

10.9% Education ◂ +2.6 pts 8.3%

5.9% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 5.8%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.6 pts ▸ 5.9%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +2.4 pts 1.6%

2.2% Agriculture & environment +1.4 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.7% Information technology ◂ +1.7 pts 1.1%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.4 pts 0.9%

Income

Personal income in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +$240 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$743 50th pct $503 9th pct

Household income in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +$525 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$1,429 53rd pct $904 4th pct

Family income in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +$611 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$1,871 57th pct $1,260 11th pct

Household income distribution

30.8% $650–$1,499 +6.0 pts ▸ 36.8%

18.5% Under $650 +10.8 pts ▸ 29.3%

29.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +9.5 pts 19.4%

8.4% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +4.9 pts 3.5%

7.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +4.9 pts 2.4%

Personal income distribution

41.8% Under $650 +13.0 pts ▸ 54.8%

33.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.5 pts 27.8%

15.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +8.6 pts 6.7%

3.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 1.1%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.5% Arthritis +6.1 pts ▸ 16.6%

13.1% Mental health +0.8 pts ▸ 13.9%

11.4% Asthma ◂ +0.6 pts 10.7%

9.6% Other condition +0.6 pts ▸ 10.3%

5.2% Diabetes +2.4 pts ▸ 7.6%

4.7% Heart disease +2.3 pts ▸ 6.9%

2.4% Lung condition +2.3 pts ▸ 4.7%

3.4% Cancer +1.1 pts ▸ 4.5%

1.2% Stroke +0.7 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.8% Dementia +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.3% None ◂ +8.6 pts 48.7%

22.9% One condition +1.1 pts ▸ 23.9%

8.0% Two conditions +2.9 pts ▸ 10.9%

4.1% Three or more +2.6 pts ▸ 6.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +1,790 larger in Ballarat

2,094 80th pct 304 38th pct

Median age in Ballarat in Central Goldfields even

22 yrs 21st pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +$89 higher in Ballarat

$548 48th pct $459 23rd pct

Household income in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +$408 higher in Ballarat

$1,361 48th pct $953 12th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +0.3 larger in Ballarat gap widening

2.4 43rd pct 2.1 10th pct

Family composition

53.6% Couples with children ◂ +11.1 pts 42.5%

27.9% Couples without children +9.0 pts ▸ 36.8%

17.4% One-parent families +1.8 pts ▸ 19.3%

1.1% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

Household size

30.3% 1 person +6.7 pts ▸ 37.0%

34.2% 2 people +2.8 pts ▸ 37.0%

14.3% 3 people ◂ +3.2 pts 11.0%

13.4% 4 people ◂ +4.4 pts 9.0%

5.8% 5 people ◂ +1.8 pts 3.9%

2.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 2.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +$62 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$297 62nd pct $235 41st pct

Mortgage in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +$459 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$1,477 55th pct $1,018 24th pct

People / bedroom in Ballarat in Central Goldfields even gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.6% Owned outright +14.2 pts ▸ 46.8%

33.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.7 pts 27.3%

31.6% Rented ◂ +10.7 pts 20.9%

1.4% Not stated +1.4 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.4% Other tenure +0.8 pts ▸ 2.2%

Types of homes

85.1% Separate house +5.1 pts ▸ 90.2%

12.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.3 pts 6.7%

2.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.4 pts 1.1%

0.3% Other dwelling +1.4 pts ▸ 1.7%

Bedrooms per home

47.3% 3 bedrooms +4.4 pts ▸ 51.7%

28.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +10.8 pts 17.8%

15.7% 2 bedrooms +4.0 pts ▸ 19.7%

3.2% 1 bedroom +1.1 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.8% 5 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 3.2%

0.1% Studio / none +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

53.7% $200–$349 +7.0 pts ▸ 60.7%

15.4% Under $200 +13.5 pts ▸ 28.9%

26.6% $350–$549 ◂ +22.6 pts 4.0%

0.8% $550–$749 ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.4% $750 or more even 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

21.1% Under $1,000 +24.1 pts ▸ 45.2%

44.9% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +8.9 pts 36.1%

22.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +13.2 pts 9.7%

6.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.3 pts 2.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +514 more in Ballarat

615 86th pct 101 62nd pct

Stops/1k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +2.08 more in Central Goldfields

5.41 77th pct 7.49 90th pct

Departures/1k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +656.1 more in Ballarat

1,033.3 80th pct 377.1 69th pct

PT routes in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +20 more in Ballarat

33 79th pct 13 61st pct

Stop walk in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +24 longer in Ballarat

50 78th pct 26 60th pct

Drive to city in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +53 longer in Central Goldfields

82 62nd pct 135 88th pct

How people get to work

61.6% Car (driver) +5.7 pts ▸ 67.3%

15.5% Worked at home ◂ +7.8 pts 7.7%

4.8% Car (passenger) +0.7 pts ▸ 5.5%

2.4% Walked +2.2 pts ▸ 4.6%

0.6% Bicycle even 0.6%

0.5% Bus ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.3% Train ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 1 vehicle +0.4 pts ▸ 38.3%

37.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.8 pts 34.9%

11.9% 3 vehicles +1.0 pts ▸ 12.9%

6.5% 4 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 8.2%

6.1% No vehicle ◂ +0.3 pts 5.8%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

19.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.6 pts 17.5%

7.2% Manufacturing +5.7 pts ▸ 12.9%

10.1% Retail trade +1.2 pts ▸ 11.3%

10.8% Education & training ◂ +3.8 pts 7.0%

9.5% Construction ◂ +3.2 pts 6.3%

7.2% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.5 pts 6.7%

1.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +5.0 pts ▸ 6.7%

6.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.5 pts 5.9%

5.4% Professional & technical ◂ +2.8 pts 2.6%

3.4% Transport & warehousing +1.3 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.5% Other services +0.3 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.7% Administrative & support ◂ +0.4 pts 2.3%

Occupations people work in

22.8% Professionals ◂ +11.5 pts 11.3%

9.9% Labourers +6.6 pts ▸ 16.5%

13.8% Technicians & trades +1.7 pts ▸ 15.5%

13.7% Community & personal service +1.6 pts ▸ 15.4%

12.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.7 pts 9.6%

11.4% Managers +0.6 pts ▸ 12.0%

9.5% Sales workers +0.8 pts ▸ 10.2%

5.2% Machinery operators & drivers +2.4 pts ▸ 7.5%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +6 higher in Ballarat

7 64th pct 1 0th pct

IRSD decile in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +4 higher in Ballarat

6 57th pct 2 14th pct

IER decile in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +2 higher in Ballarat

4 36th pct 2 14th pct

IEO decile in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +7 higher in Ballarat

8 71st pct 1 0th pct

IRSAD score in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +98 higher in Ballarat

965 60th pct 867 12th pct

ERP in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +108,908 higher in Ballarat

122,661 86th pct 13,753 49th pct

Growth in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +5.3 pts higher in Ballarat

8.1% 81st pct 2.7% 41st pct

Businesses in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +9,292 higher in Ballarat

10,151 85th pct 859 40th pct

Approvals in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +658 higher in Ballarat

702 86th pct 44 47th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +185 higher in Ballarat

727 59th pct 542 37th pct

Max temp in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +2.2 higher in Central Goldfields

18.4 8th pct 20.6 18th pct

Min temp in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +0.9 higher in Central Goldfields

8.0 10th pct 8.9 17th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +2,052 higher in Ballarat

9,543 58th pct 7,491 43rd pct

Assault/100k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +187 higher in Central Goldfields

985 51st pct 1,172 61st pct

Sexual/100k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +21 higher in Ballarat

184 32nd pct 163 25th pct

Robbery/100k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +31 higher in Ballarat

39 71st pct 7 10th pct

Burglary/100k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +335 higher in Ballarat

713 72nd pct 378 34th pct

Theft/100k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +1,794 higher in Ballarat

3,292 92nd pct 1,498 60th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +303 higher in Ballarat

504 67th pct 200 23rd pct

Property damage/100k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +106 higher in Ballarat

974 68th pct 868 61st pct

Drugs/100k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +210 higher in Central Goldfields

213 23rd pct 423 46th pct

5-yr change in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +22.9 pts higher in Ballarat

48.1% 88th pct 25.2% 72nd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +1.6 higher in Ballarat

5.7 79th pct 4.0 58th pct

Types ≤15 min in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +1.6 more in Ballarat

5.6 78th pct 4.0 50th pct

15-min city in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +20.0 pts higher in Ballarat

65.3% 75th pct 45.4% 45th pct

Walk to shops in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +22.4 pts higher in Ballarat

65.2% 75th pct 42.8% 41st pct

Walk to transit in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +17.3 pts higher in Ballarat

80.8% 76th pct 63.5% 64th pct

Walk to school in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +31.8 pts higher in Ballarat

71.5% 74th pct 39.6% 26th pct

Walk to a park in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +20.5 pts higher in Ballarat

94.7% 81st pct 74.1% 57th pct

Walk to health in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +14.0 pts higher in Ballarat

49.1% 69th pct 35.1% 45th pct

Amenities/1k in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +7.2 more in Central Goldfields

16.0 40th pct 23.2 61st pct

Intersections/km² in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +32 higher in Ballarat

35 75th pct 3 60th pct

Mean slope in Ballarat in Central Goldfields +1.0 pts higher in Ballarat

4.8% 52nd pct 3.8% 34th pct

Compare Ballarat with nearby areas

Hepburn Pyrenees Central Goldfields Golden Plains Moorabool Mount Alexander Greater Geelong Corangamite

Compare Central Goldfields with nearby areas

Ballarat Hepburn Mount Alexander Pyrenees Greater Bendigo Moorabool Loddon Golden Plains

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballarat vs Central Goldfields [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA20570/ballarat/vs/LGA21670/central-goldfields