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Ballarat vs Greater Geelong

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

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 79 km apart · Ballarat profile · Greater Geelong profile

Ballarat Greater Geelong

Ballarat and Greater Geelong are both large Victorian regional centres, though they differ in their social and economic profiles. Greater Geelong has far higher access to money and resources and a higher share of households earning $3,000 or more a week. In contrast, Ballarat has a much higher rate of motor vehicle theft and a crime rate increase that is far higher than in Greater Geelong. Residents of Ballarat are also more likely to be without a religion and have a higher rate of long-term health conditions.

The two areas are almost identical in the typical age of their residents, which is 39 years. This shared age profile sits alongside similar rates of people aged 65 and over and similar typical weekly incomes. Over time, some gaps have shifted: the difference in the share of people working from home and the gap in high-income households have both widened since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Population: 157,294 larger in Greater Geelong People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Greater Geelong Born overseas: 6.3 pts higher in Greater Geelong Living alone: 2.6 pts higher in Ballarat Other language: 4.7 pts higher in Greater Geelong

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +157,294 larger in Greater Geelong gap widening

113,763 86th pct 271,057 88th pct

Median age in Ballarat in Greater Geelong even gap narrowing

39 yrs 33rd pct 39 yrs 33rd pct

Age structure

26.0% Young adults (25–44) +0.8 pts ▸ 26.8%

23.9% Older adults (45–64) +0.2 pts ▸ 24.0%

18.9% Seniors (65+) +0.7 pts ▸ 19.6%

18.7% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.1 pts 17.6%

12.4% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.5 pts 11.9%

Marital status

42.2% Married +3.2 pts ▸ 45.4%

38.6% Never married ◂ +2.0 pts 36.6%

9.5% Divorced ◂ +0.5 pts 9.1%

5.8% Widowed ◂ +0.2 pts 5.6%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.5 pts 3.3%

Age & sex structure

Ballarat Greater Geelong

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

83.7% Australia ◂ +6.0 pts 77.6%

2.2% England +1.1 pts ▸ 3.2%

1.6% India +0.3 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.9% New Zealand +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.6% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% China even 0.6%

0.2% Italy +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

41.8% English ◂ +3.4 pts 38.4%

39.4% Australian ◂ +3.7 pts 35.7%

15.1% Irish ◂ +2.2 pts 12.9%

12.6% Scottish ◂ +1.0 pts 11.6%

2.7% Italian +1.8 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.4% German +0.1 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.8% Dutch ◂ +0.1 pts 2.7%

1.7% Indian +0.1 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.7% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

0.8% Filipino +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.5% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Language

Language used at home

88.1% English only ◂ +4.9 pts 83.1%

0.9% Mandarin ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

0.7% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Italian +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Hindi even 0.4%

0.2% Arabic +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.0% No religion ◂ +3.6 pts 44.4%

42.0% Christianity +2.0 pts ▸ 44.0%

6.4% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 6.8%

0.7% Islam +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.2% Hinduism +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% Buddhism +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

1.0% Other religions even 1.0%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +36 more in Greater Geelong

49 86th pct 85 88th pct

Schools/1k kids in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +0.52 more in Ballarat

2.30 28th pct 1.78 15th pct

Students in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +25,037 more in Greater Geelong

22,828 86th pct 47,865 88th pct

Avg size in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +88 larger in Greater Geelong

476 80th pct 563 88th pct

ICSEA in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +15 higher in Greater Geelong

1,038 79th pct 1,052 83rd pct

Highest year of school

52.7% Year 12 +2.5 pts ▸ 55.2%

15.9% Year 10 ◂ +1.4 pts 14.5%

13.7% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 13.6%

11.3% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.6 pts 10.6%

Highest qualification level

30.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.2 pts 28.9%

24.4% Bachelor degree +1.2 pts ▸ 25.6%

15.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.4 pts ▸ 16.4%

8.2% Postgraduate degree +0.1 pts ▸ 8.3%

5.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.6 pts 4.7%

2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.4 pts 1.7%

Field of qualification

15.1% Management & commerce +0.3 pts ▸ 15.4%

13.4% Health ◂ +0.5 pts 12.9%

13.2% Society & culture ◂ +0.6 pts 12.6%

11.4% Engineering & related +1.7 pts ▸ 13.1%

10.9% Education ◂ +1.1 pts 9.8%

5.9% Architecture & building +1.3 pts ▸ 7.2%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.1 pts 5.2%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +0.1 pts 3.9%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences +0.6 pts ▸ 2.8%

2.7% Information technology ◂ +0.4 pts 2.3%

2.2% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.4 pts 1.9%

Income

Personal income in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +$26 higher in Greater Geelong gap widening

$743 50th pct $769 56th pct

Household income in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +$163 higher in Greater Geelong gap widening

$1,429 53rd pct $1,592 65th pct

Family income in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +$180 higher in Greater Geelong gap widening

$1,871 57th pct $2,051 71st pct

Household income distribution

30.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.9 pts 27.9%

29.0% $1,500–$2,999 +0.6 pts ▸ 29.6%

18.5% Under $650 ◂ +1.6 pts 16.9%

8.4% $3,000–$3,999 +1.6 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.3% $4,000 or more +2.1 pts ▸ 9.4%

Personal income distribution

41.8% Under $650 ◂ +1.2 pts 40.6%

33.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.4 pts 31.8%

15.3% $1,500–$2,999 +1.7 pts ▸ 17.0%

3.2% $3,000 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

13.1% Mental health ◂ +2.0 pts 11.1%

11.4% Asthma ◂ +1.5 pts 9.8%

10.5% Arthritis ◂ +1.2 pts 9.3%

9.6% Other condition ◂ +0.9 pts 8.8%

5.2% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 4.9%

4.7% Heart disease ◂ +0.3 pts 4.4%

3.4% Cancer ◂ +0.2 pts 3.2%

2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 1.9%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

0.8% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.3% None +3.3 pts ▸ 60.6%

22.9% One condition ◂ +1.6 pts 21.3%

8.0% Two conditions ◂ +1.1 pts 6.9%

4.1% Three or more ◂ +0.5 pts 3.6%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +1,468 larger in Greater Geelong

2,094 80th pct 3,562 86th pct

Median age in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +2 yrs older in Greater Geelong

22 yrs 21st pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +$77 higher in Greater Geelong

$548 48th pct $625 70th pct

Household income in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +$242 higher in Greater Geelong

$1,361 48th pct $1,603 69th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Ballarat in Greater Geelong even gap narrowing

2.4 43rd pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

53.6% Couples with children +2.0 pts ▸ 55.6%

27.9% Couples without children +0.8 pts ▸ 28.7%

17.4% One-parent families ◂ +2.8 pts 14.6%

1.1% Other families even 1.1%

Household size

34.2% 2 people +0.5 pts ▸ 34.7%

30.3% 1 person ◂ +2.6 pts 27.7%

14.3% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 15.2%

13.4% 4 people +1.2 pts ▸ 14.5%

5.8% 5 people even 5.7%

2.2% 6 or more even 2.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +$49 higher in Greater Geelong gap widening

$297 62nd pct $346 75th pct

Mortgage in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +$256 higher in Greater Geelong gap widening

$1,477 55th pct $1,733 71st pct

People / bedroom in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +0.10 higher in Greater Geelong gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.0% Owned with a mortgage +1.6 pts ▸ 34.6%

32.6% Owned outright +1.6 pts ▸ 34.2%

31.6% Rented ◂ +3.6 pts 28.0%

1.4% Other tenure +0.3 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.4% Not stated even 1.4%

Types of homes

85.1% Separate house +1.3 pts ▸ 86.4%

12.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +1.5 pts 10.5%

2.5% Flat or apartment even 2.5%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Bedrooms per home

47.3% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.3 pts 46.9%

28.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +0.5 pts 28.1%

15.7% 2 bedrooms +0.1 pts ▸ 15.8%

3.8% 5 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 4.3%

3.2% 1 bedroom +0.1 pts ▸ 3.3%

0.1% Studio / none even 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

53.7% $200–$349 ◂ +16.9 pts 36.8%

26.6% $350–$549 +17.4 pts ▸ 43.9%

15.4% Under $200 ◂ +3.7 pts 11.7%

0.8% $550–$749 +2.7 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.4% $750 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

Monthly mortgage distribution

44.9% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +9.8 pts 35.1%

22.8% $1,800–$2,999 +9.8 pts ▸ 32.6%

21.1% Under $1,000 ◂ +4.8 pts 16.3%

6.2% $3,000 or more +4.2 pts ▸ 10.5%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +766 more in Greater Geelong

615 86th pct 1,381 88th pct

Stops/1k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +0.31 more in Ballarat

5.41 77th pct 5.09 73rd pct

Departures/1k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +46.0 more in Greater Geelong

1,033.3 80th pct 1,079.2 81st pct

PT routes in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +40 more in Greater Geelong

33 79th pct 73 87th pct

Stop walk in Ballarat in Greater Geelong

50 78th pct —

Drive to city in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +20 longer in Ballarat

82 62nd pct 62 53rd pct

How people get to work

61.6% Car (driver) ◂ +3.0 pts 58.6%

15.5% Worked at home +3.2 pts ▸ 18.7%

4.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.8 pts 4.0%

2.4% Walked ◂ +0.4 pts 1.9%

0.5% Bus +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Bicycle even 0.6%

0.3% Train +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Motor vehicles per home

37.6% 2 vehicles +2.7 pts ▸ 40.4%

37.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.9 pts 36.0%

11.9% 3 vehicles even 11.8%

6.5% 4 or more even 6.4%

6.1% No vehicle ◂ +0.8 pts 5.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

19.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.7 pts 17.4%

9.5% Construction +1.7 pts ▸ 11.2%

10.8% Education & training ◂ +1.0 pts 9.8%

10.1% Retail trade +0.5 pts ▸ 10.6%

7.2% Manufacturing ◂ +1.1 pts 6.1%

7.2% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.3 pts 6.9%

6.4% Public administration & safety even 6.4%

5.4% Professional & technical +0.6 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.4% Transport & warehousing +0.6 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.5% Other services even 3.5%

1.7% Finance & insurance +1.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.7% Administrative & support +0.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

Occupations people work in

22.8% Professionals ◂ +0.1 pts 22.7%

13.8% Technicians & trades +0.7 pts ▸ 14.5%

13.7% Community & personal service ◂ +0.2 pts 13.6%

12.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.9 pts 11.4%

11.4% Managers +0.2 pts ▸ 11.6%

9.9% Labourers ◂ +0.2 pts 9.6%

9.5% Sales workers ◂ +0.6 pts 8.9%

5.2% Machinery operators & drivers +0.9 pts ▸ 6.1%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +1 higher in Greater Geelong

7 64th pct 8 71st pct

IRSD decile in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +2 higher in Greater Geelong

6 57th pct 8 71st pct

IER decile in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +3 higher in Greater Geelong

4 36th pct 7 64th pct

IEO decile in Ballarat in Greater Geelong even

8 71st pct 8 71st pct

IRSAD score in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +25 higher in Greater Geelong

965 60th pct 990 73rd pct

ERP in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +172,391 higher in Greater Geelong

122,661 86th pct 295,052 88th pct

Growth in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +0.8 pts higher in Greater Geelong

8.1% 81st pct 8.9% 86th pct

Businesses in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +13,407 higher in Greater Geelong

10,151 85th pct 23,558 87th pct

Approvals in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +1,893 higher in Greater Geelong

702 86th pct 2,595 90th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +206 higher in Ballarat

727 59th pct 521 35th pct

Max temp in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +1.7 higher in Greater Geelong

18.4 8th pct 20.1 15th pct

Min temp in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +2.1 higher in Greater Geelong

8.0 10th pct 10.1 33rd pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +2,622 higher in Ballarat

9,543 58th pct 6,921 38th pct

Assault/100k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +264 higher in Ballarat

985 51st pct 721 32nd pct

Sexual/100k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +14 higher in Ballarat

184 32nd pct 169 27th pct

Robbery/100k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +11 higher in Ballarat

39 71st pct 28 57th pct

Burglary/100k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +168 higher in Ballarat

713 72nd pct 545 54th pct

Theft/100k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +1,059 higher in Ballarat

3,292 92nd pct 2,233 81st pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +251 higher in Ballarat

504 67th pct 253 34th pct

Property damage/100k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +302 higher in Ballarat

974 68th pct 672 44th pct

Drugs/100k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +34 higher in Greater Geelong

213 23rd pct 247 28th pct

5-yr change in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +34.7 pts higher in Ballarat

48.1% 88th pct 13.4% 58th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +0.2 higher in Greater Geelong

5.7 79th pct 5.9 80th pct

Types ≤15 min in Ballarat in Greater Geelong even

5.6 78th pct 5.6 78th pct

15-min city in Ballarat in Greater Geelong even

65.3% 75th pct 65.5% 75th pct

Walk to shops in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +1.6 pts higher in Ballarat

65.2% 75th pct 63.6% 74th pct

Walk to transit in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +4.9 pts higher in Greater Geelong

80.8% 76th pct 85.7% 79th pct

Walk to school in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +3.0 pts higher in Ballarat

71.5% 74th pct 68.5% 72nd pct

Walk to a park in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +1.1 pts higher in Greater Geelong

94.7% 81st pct 95.7% 82nd pct

Walk to health in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +7.3 pts higher in Greater Geelong

49.1% 69th pct 56.4% 75th pct

Amenities/1k in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +2.6 more in Greater Geelong

16.0 40th pct 18.6 49th pct

Intersections/km² in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +3 higher in Greater Geelong

35 75th pct 38 75th pct

Mean slope in Ballarat in Greater Geelong +0.7 pts higher in Ballarat

4.8% 52nd pct 4.1% 40th pct

Compare Ballarat with nearby areas

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

Compare Greater Geelong with nearby areas

Wyndham Moorabool Melton Queenscliffe Surf Coast Hobsons Bay Brimbank Maribyrnong

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballarat vs Greater Geelong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA20570/ballarat/vs/LGA22750/greater-geelong