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Brisbane vs Southern Downs

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

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 131 km apart · Brisbane profile · Southern Downs profile

Brisbane Southern Downs

Brisbane and Southern Downs are two very different Queensland areas. Brisbane is a large city where typical weekly household income is much higher at $2,068, compared to $1,108 in Southern Downs. This contrast is seen in education and diversity; Brisbane has a far higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (38.1% versus 11.9%) and more people born overseas (31.8% compared to 10.3%). Southern Downs is much older, with a typical resident aged 48 and a high share of people aged 65 and over at 26.4%, while Brisbane's typical resident is 36.

The gap in typical household income has widened since 2011, growing from $710 to $960. Despite this, the two areas are similar in some ways, such as having roughly the same share of children under 15 (around 17%) and very similar unemployment rates. They also share similar levels of mental health conditions and comparable walkability scores for their available amenities.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 33.7 pts higher in Brisbane Bachelor+: 26.2 pts higher in Brisbane Separate houses: 28.6 pts higher in Southern Downs Population: 1,206,535 larger in Brisbane Born overseas: 21.5 pts higher in Brisbane

Demographics & Identity

Population in Brisbane in Southern Downs +1,206,535 larger in Brisbane gap widening

1,242,825 100th pct 36,290 70th pct

Median age in Brisbane in Southern Downs +12 yrs older in Southern Downs gap widening

36 yrs 19th pct 48 yrs 79th pct

Age structure

31.9% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +12.7 pts 19.2%

23.4% Older adults (45–64) +3.9 pts ▸ 27.3%

13.5% Seniors (65+) +12.9 pts ▸ 26.4%

17.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.3 pts 17.2%

13.8% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.7 pts 10.1%

Marital status

44.0% Married +4.9 pts ▸ 48.9%

41.2% Never married ◂ +11.5 pts 29.7%

8.1% Divorced +2.5 pts ▸ 10.5%

3.8% Widowed +3.3 pts ▸ 7.1%

2.8% Separated +0.9 pts ▸ 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Brisbane Southern Downs

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

64.4% Australia +16.9 pts ▸ 81.4%

3.4% England ◂ +0.9 pts 2.5%

3.4% New Zealand ◂ +1.7 pts 1.7%

3.0% China ◂ +2.8 pts 0.1%

2.8% India ◂ +2.6 pts 0.2%

1.3% Vietnam ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%

1.1% South Africa ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%

0.4% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

33.3% English +7.9 pts ▸ 41.2%

27.9% Australian +12.3 pts ▸ 40.2%

12.3% Irish +1.0 pts ▸ 13.3%

10.2% Scottish +1.2 pts ▸ 11.4%

7.7% Chinese ◂ +6.9 pts 0.8%

5.2% German +1.7 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.4% Italian +0.7 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.7% Indian ◂ +3.3 pts 0.4%

1.9% Vietnamese ◂ +1.8 pts 0.1%

1.7% Filipino ◂ +0.8 pts 0.9%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

1.1% Greek ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

71.6% English only +16.4 pts ▸ 88.1%

4.4% Mandarin ◂ +4.1 pts 0.3%

1.7% Vietnamese ◂ +1.7 pts 0.1%

1.5% Cantonese ◂ +1.4 pts 0.1%

1.0% Punjabi ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

0.9% Hindi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.6% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Arabic ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

43.1% Christianity +13.7 pts ▸ 56.8%

41.4% No religion ◂ +9.6 pts 31.8%

6.1% Not stated +3.8 pts ▸ 9.9%

2.9% Hinduism ◂ +2.6 pts 0.3%

2.7% Buddhism ◂ +2.2 pts 0.5%

2.3% Islam ◂ +2.1 pts 0.1%

1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 0.5%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Brisbane in Southern Downs +283 more in Brisbane

318 100th pct 35 84th pct

Schools/1k kids in Brisbane in Southern Downs +4.15 more in Southern Downs

1.47 8th pct 5.62 67th pct

Students in Brisbane in Southern Downs +213,449 more in Brisbane

219,026 100th pct 5,577 67th pct

Avg size in Brisbane in Southern Downs +532 larger in Brisbane

691 96th pct 159 37th pct

ICSEA in Brisbane in Southern Downs +134 higher in Brisbane

1,095 90th pct 961 43rd pct

Highest year of school

74.1% Year 12 ◂ +33.7 pts 40.4%

11.7% Year 10 +18.2 pts ▸ 29.9%

5.1% Year 9 or below +8.5 pts ▸ 13.6%

4.1% Year 11 +2.6 pts ▸ 6.7%

Highest qualification level

17.8% Certificate III / IV +19.5 pts ▸ 37.3%

36.1% Bachelor degree ◂ +20.1 pts 16.0%

14.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +10.7 pts 3.4%

14.1% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.8 pts 13.2%

5.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.5 pts 2.5%

1.5% Certificate I / II +1.7 pts ▸ 3.2%

Field of qualification

22.6% Management & commerce ◂ +9.2 pts 13.4%

12.2% Engineering & related +1.8 pts ▸ 14.0%

12.9% Society & culture ◂ +2.4 pts 10.5%

11.8% Health ◂ +1.5 pts 10.2%

7.2% Education +2.5 pts ▸ 9.7%

4.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.4 pts ▸ 6.5%

4.5% Architecture & building +1.0 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.0% Creative arts ◂ +3.2 pts 1.9%

4.3% Information technology ◂ +3.3 pts 1.0%

1.2% Agriculture & environment +3.0 pts ▸ 4.2%

4.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.5 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Brisbane in Southern Downs +$357 higher in Brisbane gap widening

$947 81st pct $590 14th pct

Household income in Brisbane in Southern Downs +$960 higher in Brisbane gap widening

$2,068 87th pct $1,108 14th pct

Family income in Brisbane in Southern Downs +$1,078 higher in Brisbane gap widening

$2,474 87th pct $1,396 15th pct

Household income distribution

22.0% $650–$1,499 +14.1 pts ▸ 36.1%

30.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +6.2 pts 24.3%

12.4% Under $650 +10.3 pts ▸ 22.8%

17.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +13.8 pts 3.5%

12.0% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +7.0 pts 5.0%

Personal income distribution

35.0% Under $650 +13.8 pts ▸ 48.8%

30.4% $650–$1,499 +0.4 pts ▸ 30.8%

21.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +12.8 pts 9.0%

7.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.6 pts 1.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.3% Arthritis +6.5 pts ▸ 12.7%

9.1% Mental health +0.9 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.8% Asthma +1.7 pts ▸ 9.4%

8.3% Other condition +0.3 pts ▸ 8.5%

3.6% Diabetes +2.6 pts ▸ 6.2%

3.4% Heart disease +2.4 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.7% Cancer +1.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

1.3% Lung condition +1.6 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.7% Stroke +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.6% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

68.0% None ◂ +12.4 pts 55.5%

18.1% One condition +3.4 pts ▸ 21.6%

5.0% Two conditions +3.1 pts ▸ 8.1%

2.3% Three or more +2.4 pts ▸ 4.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Brisbane in Southern Downs +20,975 larger in Brisbane

22,940 100th pct 1,965 78th pct

Median age in Brisbane in Southern Downs +5 yrs older in Brisbane

26 yrs 57th pct 21 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Brisbane in Southern Downs +$182 higher in Brisbane

$687 78th pct $505 36th pct

Household income in Brisbane in Southern Downs +$563 higher in Brisbane

$1,806 80th pct $1,243 35th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Brisbane in Southern Downs +0.2 larger in Brisbane gap steady

2.5 71st pct 2.3 29th pct

Family composition

59.3% Couples with children ◂ +12.4 pts 47.0%

26.6% Couples without children +9.6 pts ▸ 36.2%

12.4% One-parent families +3.4 pts ▸ 15.8%

1.6% Other families ◂ +0.6 pts 1.0%

Household size

33.4% 2 people +6.3 pts ▸ 39.7%

25.6% 1 person +3.8 pts ▸ 29.4%

16.7% 3 people ◂ +4.4 pts 12.2%

15.9% 4 people ◂ +5.6 pts 10.3%

5.9% 5 people ◂ +0.6 pts 5.3%

2.6% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Brisbane in Southern Downs +$153 higher in Brisbane gap steady

$408 87th pct $255 48th pct

Mortgage in Brisbane in Southern Downs +$719 higher in Brisbane gap narrowing

$2,019 83rd pct $1,300 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Brisbane in Southern Downs +0.10 higher in Brisbane gap widening

0.80 43rd pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

25.3% Owned outright +16.6 pts ▸ 41.9%

38.3% Rented ◂ +13.1 pts 25.2%

33.7% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.3 pts 28.4%

1.6% Other tenure +0.9 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.2% Not stated +0.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

Types of homes

62.6% Separate house +28.6 pts ▸ 91.3%

25.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +24.4 pts 1.1%

11.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.0 pts 6.3%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

34.2% 3 bedrooms +8.3 pts ▸ 42.5%

25.4% 4 bedrooms +2.9 pts ▸ 28.3%

21.5% 2 bedrooms ◂ +4.7 pts 16.8%

9.9% 5 or more ◂ +3.6 pts 6.3%

7.3% 1 bedroom ◂ +4.0 pts 3.3%

0.5% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

18.6% $200–$349 +48.1 pts ▸ 66.7%

54.6% $350–$549 ◂ +45.3 pts 9.3%

8.3% Under $200 +11.0 pts ▸ 19.2%

12.2% $550–$749 ◂ +12.0 pts 0.2%

3.7% $750 or more ◂ +3.4 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

25.4% $1,000–$1,799 +17.9 pts ▸ 43.4%

35.6% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +18.9 pts 16.6%

12.1% Under $1,000 +17.8 pts ▸ 29.9%

21.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +16.7 pts 4.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Brisbane in Southern Downs +5,990 more in Brisbane

5,990 100th pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +4.82 more in Brisbane

4.82 70th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +1,578.9 more in Brisbane

1,578.9 87th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Brisbane in Southern Downs +429 more in Brisbane

429 100th pct 0 0th pct

Stop walk in Brisbane in Southern Downs

28 61st pct —

Drive to city in Brisbane in Southern Downs +105 longer in Southern Downs

20 29th pct 125 86th pct

How people get to work

48.1% Car (driver) +16.8 pts ▸ 64.9%

21.4% Worked at home ◂ +11.3 pts 10.1%

3.7% Car (passenger) +2.0 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.2% Walked +1.1 pts ▸ 4.2%

4.0% Bus ◂ +3.8 pts 0.2%

2.5% Train ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%

1.2% Bicycle ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

39.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.9 pts 34.7%

36.7% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.2 pts 36.5%

10.4% 3 vehicles +4.0 pts ▸ 14.5%

5.1% 4 or more +4.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

8.1% No vehicle ◂ +3.1 pts 5.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.9 pts 13.8%

0.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +12.7 pts ▸ 13.1%

11.5% Professional & technical ◂ +8.2 pts 3.3%

8.2% Retail trade +2.7 pts ▸ 10.8%

9.8% Education & training ◂ +1.1 pts 8.7%

4.7% Manufacturing +3.6 pts ▸ 8.3%

7.0% Accommodation & food +0.7 pts ▸ 7.7%

6.7% Construction +0.9 pts ▸ 7.6%

6.9% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.6 pts 4.3%

4.6% Transport & warehousing +0.7 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.0% Finance & insurance ◂ +2.9 pts 1.1%

3.4% Other services +0.5 pts ▸ 3.8%

Occupations people work in

32.0% Professionals ◂ +19.1 pts 12.9%

6.9% Labourers +10.1 pts ▸ 17.0%

14.0% Managers +1.5 pts ▸ 15.5%

13.1% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.7 pts 10.4%

10.5% Community & personal service +1.8 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.9% Technicians & trades +2.5 pts ▸ 12.3%

7.7% Sales workers +1.1 pts ▸ 8.8%

4.3% Machinery operators & drivers +4.5 pts ▸ 8.7%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Brisbane in Southern Downs +6 higher in Brisbane

9 86th pct 3 29th pct

IRSD decile in Brisbane in Southern Downs +6 higher in Brisbane

9 86th pct 3 29th pct

IER decile in Brisbane in Southern Downs +4 higher in Brisbane

8 71st pct 4 36th pct

IEO decile in Brisbane in Southern Downs +7 higher in Brisbane

9 86th pct 2 14th pct

IRSAD score in Brisbane in Southern Downs +152 higher in Brisbane

1,061 89th pct 909 21st pct

ERP in Brisbane in Southern Downs +1,337,237 higher in Brisbane

1,375,301 100th pct 38,064 68th pct

Growth in Brisbane in Southern Downs +5.0 pts higher in Brisbane

8.9% 86th pct 3.9% 53rd pct

Businesses in Brisbane in Southern Downs +141,438 higher in Brisbane

145,916 100th pct 4,478 72nd pct

Approvals in Brisbane in Southern Downs +7,177 higher in Brisbane

7,365 100th pct 188 69th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Brisbane in Southern Downs +570 higher in Brisbane

1,251 86th pct 681 55th pct

Max temp in Brisbane in Southern Downs +1.2 higher in Brisbane

26.7 72nd pct 25.5 63rd pct

Min temp in Brisbane in Southern Downs +4.2 higher in Brisbane

14.7 79th pct 10.5 39th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Brisbane in Southern Downs +2,131 higher in Brisbane

11,122 68th pct 8,991 54th pct

Assault/100k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +112 higher in Southern Downs

797 37th pct 909 46th pct

Sexual/100k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +134 higher in Southern Downs

166 26th pct 300 60th pct

Robbery/100k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +48 higher in Brisbane

59 86th pct 11 19th pct

Burglary/100k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +412 higher in Brisbane

861 78th pct 449 42nd pct

Theft/100k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +2,187 higher in Brisbane

3,370 92nd pct 1,182 46th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +209 higher in Brisbane

415 58th pct 207 24th pct

Property damage/100k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +48 higher in Southern Downs

616 38th pct 664 43rd pct

Drugs/100k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +284 higher in Brisbane

1,546 84th pct 1,262 79th pct

5-yr change in Brisbane in Southern Downs +24.4 pts higher in Brisbane

25.6% 72nd pct 1.2% 37th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Brisbane in Southern Downs +5.2 higher in Brisbane

7.4 91st pct 2.2 15th pct

Types ≤15 min in Brisbane in Southern Downs +4.4 more in Brisbane

6.9 90th pct 2.5 15th pct

15-min city in Brisbane in Southern Downs +59.0 pts higher in Brisbane

87.8% 89th pct 28.8% 18th pct

Walk to shops in Brisbane in Southern Downs +52.2 pts higher in Brisbane

86.2% 89th pct 34.0% 26th pct

Walk to transit in Brisbane in Southern Downs +95.8 pts higher in Brisbane

95.8% 86th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Brisbane in Southern Downs +50.5 pts higher in Brisbane

88.3% 86th pct 37.8% 23rd pct

Walk to a park in Brisbane in Southern Downs +51.5 pts higher in Brisbane

98.5% 88th pct 47.0% 17th pct

Walk to health in Brisbane in Southern Downs +47.9 pts higher in Brisbane

75.1% 88th pct 27.2% 29th pct

Amenities/1k in Brisbane in Southern Downs +1.0 more in Brisbane

14.6 33rd pct 13.6 27th pct

Intersections/km² in Brisbane in Southern Downs +92 higher in Brisbane

93 83rd pct 1 51st pct

Mean slope in Brisbane in Southern Downs +0.5 pts higher in Brisbane

6.5% 75th pct 6.0% 70th pct

Compare Brisbane with nearby areas

Ipswich Logan Moreton Bay Redland Scenic Rim Somerset Lockyer Valley Gold Coast

Compare Southern Downs with nearby areas

Lockyer Valley Toowoomba Tenterfield Kyogle Scenic Rim Ipswich Logan Brisbane

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Brisbane vs Southern Downs [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA31000/brisbane/vs/LGA36660/southern-downs