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Orange vs Blue Mountains

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

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 143 km apart · Orange profile · Blue Mountains profile

Orange Blue Mountains

Orange and Blue Mountains are two regional New South Wales areas with distinct profiles. The Blue Mountains has a far higher proportion of university degrees (32.6% compared to 20.2% in Orange) and more people without a religion (47.5% versus 31.9%). Working from home is also much more common in the Blue Mountains, where 36.6% of people do so, compared to just 12.1% in Orange. In contrast, Orange has a well higher share of First Nations people (6.9% versus 2.7%) and more children under 15 (21.3% compared to 17.5%).

Both areas are very similar in their typical weekly household and personal incomes, as well as the number of schools they provide for children. This shared economic baseline exists even as some gaps widen; for example, the difference in the number of people working from home has grown significantly since 2011. While the Blue Mountains is noticeably older, with a typical age of 45 compared to 38 in Orange, both areas have similar rates of people needing help with daily activities.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 24.5 pts higher in Blue Mountains Full-time: 9.9 pts higher in Orange No religion: 15.6 pts higher in Blue Mountains Year 12: 15.3 pts higher in Blue Mountains Recent arrivals: 9.3 pts higher in Orange

Demographics & Identity

Population in Orange in Blue Mountains +16,684 larger in Blue Mountains gap narrowing

61,266 51st pct 77,950 64th pct

Median age in Orange in Blue Mountains +7 yrs older in Blue Mountains gap widening

38 yrs 36th pct 45 yrs 79th pct

Age structure

24.3% Older adults (45–64) +4.1 pts ▸ 28.3%

24.4% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +3.0 pts 21.4%

18.5% Seniors (65+) +3.9 pts ▸ 22.4%

21.3% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.9 pts 17.5%

11.4% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.1 pts 10.4%

Marital status

47.4% Married +0.7 pts ▸ 48.2%

34.3% Never married ◂ +1.3 pts 33.0%

9.2% Divorced +1.5 pts ▸ 10.7%

5.7% Widowed ◂ +0.6 pts 5.1%

3.3% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%

Age & sex structure

Orange Blue Mountains

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

84.6% Australia ◂ +5.3 pts 79.3%

1.7% England +3.8 pts ▸ 5.5%

1.0% New Zealand +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.9% India ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.6% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.4% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% China even 0.3%

0.1% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Italy even 0.2%

Ancestry

41.1% English +3.2 pts ▸ 44.4%

43.1% Australian ◂ +5.0 pts 38.1%

12.8% Irish +3.2 pts ▸ 16.0%

10.3% Scottish +3.0 pts ▸ 13.3%

3.7% German +1.1 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.1% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.4% Dutch +1.0 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.0% Chinese +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.0% Indian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.4% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.8% Filipino even 0.8%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Language

Language used at home

88.6% English only +1.5 pts ▸ 90.1%

0.3% Mandarin even 0.3%

0.2% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Cantonese even 0.2%

0.2% Hindi even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

58.4% Christianity ◂ +14.3 pts 44.1%

31.9% No religion +15.6 pts ▸ 47.5%

7.1% Not stated ◂ +1.7 pts 5.4%

0.7% Buddhism +0.7 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.8% Hinduism ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

0.5% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Islam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.1% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Orange in Blue Mountains +1 more in Orange

37 71st pct 36 69th pct

Schools/1k kids in Orange in Blue Mountains +0.19 more in Orange

2.83 65th pct 2.64 61st pct

Students in Orange in Blue Mountains +681 more in Blue Mountains

10,647 54th pct 11,328 58th pct

Avg size in Orange in Blue Mountains +27 larger in Blue Mountains

288 29th pct 315 33rd pct

ICSEA in Orange in Blue Mountains +70 higher in Blue Mountains

995 39th pct 1,065 72nd pct

Highest year of school

47.2% Year 12 +15.3 pts ▸ 62.5%

28.3% Year 10 ◂ +6.2 pts 22.2%

11.2% Year 9 or below ◂ +5.3 pts 5.9%

6.0% Year 11 ◂ +0.7 pts 5.3%

Highest qualification level

32.9% Certificate III / IV ◂ +9.0 pts 24.0%

22.6% Bachelor degree +5.5 pts ▸ 28.1%

14.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.2 pts ▸ 16.4%

6.6% Postgraduate degree +6.0 pts ▸ 12.7%

3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate +2.0 pts ▸ 5.3%

2.5% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.8 pts 1.7%

Field of qualification

16.8% Management & commerce ◂ +1.1 pts 15.8%

10.8% Society & culture +4.8 pts ▸ 15.6%

13.4% Health ◂ +2.4 pts 11.0%

13.4% Engineering & related ◂ +1.9 pts 11.5%

9.2% Education +4.0 pts ▸ 13.2%

2.5% Creative arts +4.3 pts ▸ 6.8%

5.7% Architecture & building ◂ +0.6 pts 5.1%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.5 pts 3.8%

4.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.8 pts 2.7%

2.4% Natural & physical sciences +1.2 pts ▸ 3.6%

1.4% Information technology +0.8 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Orange in Blue Mountains +$14 higher in Orange gap steady

$831 60th pct $817 58th pct

Household income in Orange in Blue Mountains +$91 higher in Blue Mountains gap narrowing

$1,665 49th pct $1,756 56th pct

Family income in Orange in Blue Mountains +$119 higher in Blue Mountains gap narrowing

$2,116 58th pct $2,235 66th pct

Household income distribution

29.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.7 pts 29.0%

26.2% $650–$1,499 even 26.2%

16.3% Under $650 ◂ +0.5 pts 15.8%

10.1% $4,000 or more +2.7 pts ▸ 12.8%

10.2% $3,000–$3,999 +0.9 pts ▸ 11.1%

Personal income distribution

37.8% Under $650 +1.8 pts ▸ 39.6%

32.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.0 pts 30.1%

18.7% $1,500–$2,999 +2.2 pts ▸ 20.9%

4.0% $3,000 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 4.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.1% Mental health +0.3 pts ▸ 11.4%

8.1% Other condition +2.6 pts ▸ 10.6%

9.8% Arthritis +0.8 pts ▸ 10.6%

9.8% Asthma ◂ +0.3 pts 9.5%

4.3% Heart disease +0.7 pts ▸ 5.0%

4.8% Diabetes ◂ +0.2 pts 4.6%

3.1% Cancer +0.7 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.3% Lung condition ◂ +0.1 pts 2.2%

0.9% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.7% None +0.5 pts ▸ 60.1%

20.9% One condition +2.0 pts ▸ 22.9%

7.0% Two conditions +0.2 pts ▸ 7.2%

3.6% Three or more even 3.6%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Orange in Blue Mountains +2,131 larger in Orange

4,228 85th pct 2,097 63rd pct

Median age in Orange in Blue Mountains +3 yrs older in Blue Mountains

20 yrs 0th pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Orange in Blue Mountains +$106 higher in Blue Mountains

$612 51st pct $718 74th pct

Household income in Orange in Blue Mountains +$450 higher in Blue Mountains

$1,572 47th pct $2,022 79th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Orange in Blue Mountains +0.1 larger in Orange gap widening

2.5 57th pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

57.1% Couples with children ◂ +0.4 pts 56.6%

27.2% Couples without children +2.6 pts ▸ 29.8%

14.8% One-parent families ◂ +1.9 pts 12.9%

1.0% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

Household size

34.1% 2 people +2.0 pts ▸ 36.1%

27.3% 1 person ◂ +0.6 pts 26.7%

14.4% 3 people +0.3 pts ▸ 14.7%

13.6% 4 people +0.6 pts ▸ 14.2%

7.4% 5 people ◂ +1.4 pts 5.9%

3.3% 6 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 2.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Orange in Blue Mountains +$85 higher in Blue Mountains gap widening

$315 34th pct $400 71st pct

Mortgage in Orange in Blue Mountains +$333 higher in Blue Mountains gap widening

$1,700 41st pct $2,033 70th pct

People / bedroom in Orange in Blue Mountains even gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.9% Owned outright +6.9 pts ▸ 40.8%

34.4% Owned with a mortgage +4.4 pts ▸ 38.8%

28.2% Rented ◂ +10.4 pts 17.8%

1.8% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.5%

1.5% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 1.0%

Types of homes

88.4% Separate house +3.7 pts ▸ 92.1%

7.4% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +3.0 pts 4.4%

2.8% Flat or apartment +0.3 pts ▸ 3.1%

1.1% Other dwelling ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

39.9% 3 bedrooms +2.2 pts ▸ 42.0%

33.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.6 pts 30.1%

12.7% 2 bedrooms +1.0 pts ▸ 13.7%

8.4% 5 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 9.8%

3.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.2 pts 3.1%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

36.5% $350–$549 +19.4 pts ▸ 55.9%

40.5% $200–$349 ◂ +18.6 pts 21.9%

15.1% Under $200 ◂ +7.2 pts 7.9%

2.9% $550–$749 +6.5 pts ▸ 9.4%

0.5% $750 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

29.1% $1,800–$2,999 +9.8 pts ▸ 38.9%

38.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +14.1 pts 24.0%

11.6% $3,000 or more +6.5 pts ▸ 18.0%

16.1% Under $1,000 ◂ +1.6 pts 14.5%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Orange in Blue Mountains +352 more in Blue Mountains

376 62nd pct 728 87th pct

Stops/1k in Orange in Blue Mountains +3.20 more in Blue Mountains

6.14 82nd pct 9.34 97th pct

Departures/1k in Orange in Blue Mountains +406.0 more in Blue Mountains

383.8 36th pct 789.8 50th pct

PT routes in Orange in Blue Mountains +10 more in Orange

54 83rd pct 44 75th pct

How people get to work

66.6% Car (driver) ◂ +27.5 pts 39.1%

12.1% Worked at home +24.5 pts ▸ 36.6%

5.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +2.9 pts 2.2%

2.8% Walked ◂ +1.2 pts 1.6%

0.0% Train +1.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.4% Bus ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

39.3% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.6 pts 37.7%

33.0% 1 vehicle +4.4 pts ▸ 37.5%

14.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +2.3 pts 12.1%

8.1% 4 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 6.8%

5.1% No vehicle +0.8 pts ▸ 5.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.4 pts 16.2%

9.3% Education & training +5.9 pts ▸ 15.1%

7.7% Public administration & safety +1.3 pts ▸ 9.0%

8.9% Retail trade ◂ +0.9 pts 7.9%

8.2% Construction +0.5 pts ▸ 8.7%

4.3% Professional & technical +3.1 pts ▸ 7.4%

6.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.3 pts 6.0%

5.8% Mining ◂ +5.5 pts 0.3%

5.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.0 pts 0.7%

5.3% Manufacturing ◂ +0.7 pts 4.6%

4.0% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 3.4%

3.3% Transport & warehousing +0.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

Occupations people work in

20.7% Professionals +9.7 pts ▸ 30.4%

14.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.8 pts 12.6%

13.9% Managers even 13.9%

12.2% Clerical & administrative +0.2 pts ▸ 12.4%

12.1% Community & personal service ◂ +0.2 pts 11.9%

10.3% Labourers ◂ +3.6 pts 6.7%

7.5% Sales workers ◂ +0.8 pts 6.7%

7.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.2 pts 4.0%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Orange in Blue Mountains +15,926 higher in Blue Mountains

63,206 46th pct 79,132 59th pct

Growth in Orange in Blue Mountains +1.6 pts higher in Orange

2.8% 22nd pct 1.2% 10th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Orange in Blue Mountains +571 higher in Blue Mountains

896 52nd pct 1,466 89th pct

Max temp in Orange in Blue Mountains +1.4 higher in Blue Mountains

20.4 19th pct 21.8 32nd pct

Min temp in Orange in Blue Mountains +1.8 higher in Blue Mountains

6.8 4th pct 8.7 14th pct

Walkability

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

4.6 43rd pct 5.5 57th pct

Types ≤15 min in Orange in Blue Mountains +0.7 more in Blue Mountains

4.6 44th pct 5.3 58th pct

15-min city in Orange in Blue Mountains +6.2 pts higher in Blue Mountains

54.0% 46th pct 60.2% 53rd pct

Walk to shops in Orange in Blue Mountains +9.1 pts higher in Blue Mountains

43.9% 29th pct 52.9% 43rd pct

Walk to transit in Orange in Blue Mountains +15.6 pts higher in Blue Mountains

71.0% 42nd pct 86.5% 55th pct

Walk to school in Orange in Blue Mountains +3.0 pts higher in Orange

63.7% 47th pct 60.7% 43rd pct

Walk to a park in Orange in Blue Mountains +15.0 pts higher in Blue Mountains

77.4% 35th pct 92.4% 53rd pct

Walk to health in Orange in Blue Mountains +8.3 pts higher in Blue Mountains

38.4% 43rd pct 46.6% 55th pct

Amenities/1k in Orange in Blue Mountains +16.1 more in Blue Mountains

16.4 58th pct 32.5 90th pct

Intersections/km² in Orange in Blue Mountains +13 higher in Blue Mountains

1 24th pct 14 43rd pct

Mean slope in Orange in Blue Mountains +5.6 pts higher in Blue Mountains

5.2% 45th pct 10.8% 97th pct

Compare Orange with nearby areas

Bathurst Lithgow - Mudgee Young - Yass Dubbo Goulburn - Mulwaree Blue Mountains - South Lachlan Valley Blue Mountains

Compare Blue Mountains with nearby areas

Penrith Richmond - Windsor St Marys Mount Druitt Blacktown - North Bringelly - Green Valley Blue Mountains - South Rouse Hill - McGraths Hill

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Orange vs Blue Mountains [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/10304/orange/vs/12401/blue-mountains