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Central West vs Illawarra

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 266 km apart · Central West profile · Illawarra profile

Central West Illawarra

Illawarra and Central West are both regional New South Wales areas, but they differ greatly in layout and lifestyle. Illawarra is more urban, with 70.6% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed and far more people working from home (24.7% compared to 11.9% in Central West). In contrast, Central West is more rural, with a far higher share of separate houses (89.2% versus 71.7%) and a larger First Nations population at 8.1%. Illawarra also sees far more overseas births (19.3% against 8.4%) and has a higher typical monthly mortgage payment of $2,167, which is well higher than the $1,517 typical in Central West.

Daily life in both areas shares many similarities, such as typical weekly personal incomes of around $740 to $750 and nearly identical rates of people providing unpaid care. However, the gap in education is widening, with Illawarra now seeing a higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (22.3%) than Central West (15.7%). This contrast in qualifications is consistent with the gap in high-income households, which has also grown since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 17.5 pts higher in Central West Full-time: 7.0 pts higher in Central West Mortgage: $650 higher in Illawarra Work from home: 12.8 pts higher in Illawarra Other language: 9.0 pts higher in Illawarra

Demographics & Identity

Population in Central West in Illawarra +100,880 larger in Illawarra gap widening

212,962 49th pct 313,842 72nd pct

Median age in Central West in Illawarra +1 yrs older in Central West gap steady

41 yrs 57th pct 40 yrs 50th pct

Age structure

25.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.4 pts 25.0%

23.0% Young adults (25–44) +2.0 pts ▸ 25.0%

21.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.7 pts 19.2%

19.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.5 pts 17.9%

11.2% Youth (15–24) +1.7 pts ▸ 12.9%

Marital status

45.9% Married +0.2 pts ▸ 46.1%

34.4% Never married +1.5 pts ▸ 36.0%

9.6% Divorced ◂ +0.5 pts 9.0%

6.4% Widowed ◂ +0.6 pts 5.9%

3.7% Separated ◂ +0.6 pts 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Central West Illawarra

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

84.2% Australia ◂ +7.7 pts 76.4%

1.8% England +2.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

0.9% New Zealand +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.1% Italy +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.6% India +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% China +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Vietnam +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

42.9% Australian ◂ +7.0 pts 35.9%

41.1% English ◂ +3.8 pts 37.3%

12.6% Irish ◂ +2.3 pts 10.3%

10.1% Scottish ◂ +0.3 pts 9.9%

1.7% Italian +3.7 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.7% German +0.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.2% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.8% Chinese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.4% Greek +1.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.7% Indian +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

Language

Language used at home

88.1% English only ◂ +6.2 pts 82.0%

0.2% Italian +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% Arabic +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% Mandarin +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

58.1% Christianity ◂ +6.8 pts 51.3%

31.0% No religion +7.6 pts ▸ 38.5%

8.7% Not stated ◂ +2.9 pts 5.9%

0.4% Islam +1.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.6% Buddhism +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.6% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Central West in Illawarra +31 more in Central West

151 86th pct 120 63rd pct

Schools/1k kids in Central West in Illawarra +1.51 more in Central West

3.65 78th pct 2.14 50th pct

Students in Central West in Illawarra +12,712 more in Illawarra

34,548 41st pct 47,260 58th pct

Avg size in Central West in Illawarra +170 larger in Illawarra

230 19th pct 401 44th pct

ICSEA in Central West in Illawarra +60 higher in Illawarra

966 17th pct 1,027 56th pct

Highest year of school

41.7% Year 12 +9.2 pts ▸ 50.9%

30.3% Year 10 ◂ +3.8 pts 26.5%

12.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.3 pts 11.1%

6.4% Year 11 ◂ +0.5 pts 5.9%

Highest qualification level

35.6% Certificate III / IV ◂ +3.5 pts 32.0%

18.6% Bachelor degree +4.5 pts ▸ 23.1%

13.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.9 pts ▸ 15.1%

4.9% Postgraduate degree +3.9 pts ▸ 8.8%

2.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.6 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.5 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

15.3% Management & commerce +2.4 pts ▸ 17.7%

15.7% Engineering & related +1.2 pts ▸ 16.8%

10.0% Society & culture +2.4 pts ▸ 12.5%

10.8% Health ◂ +0.4 pts 10.5%

9.1% Education +0.1 pts ▸ 9.3%

5.4% Architecture & building +1.1 pts ▸ 6.5%

5.2% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.4 pts 4.9%

4.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +3.0 pts 1.5%

2.3% Creative arts +1.4 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.7% Natural & physical sciences +1.0 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.3% Information technology +1.1 pts ▸ 2.4%

Income

Personal income in Central West in Illawarra +$15 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$738 33rd pct $753 41st pct

Household income in Central West in Illawarra +$250 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$1,434 29th pct $1,684 53rd pct

Family income in Central West in Illawarra +$211 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$1,898 41st pct $2,109 61st pct

Household income distribution

27.9% $1,500–$2,999 +1.0 pts ▸ 28.8%

28.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.5 pts 26.2%

19.2% Under $650 ◂ +2.3 pts 16.9%

7.9% $4,000 or more +3.3 pts ▸ 11.2%

8.4% $3,000–$3,999 +2.4 pts ▸ 10.8%

Personal income distribution

40.9% Under $650 +1.1 pts ▸ 42.0%

30.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.4 pts 30.5%

15.8% $1,500–$2,999 +2.1 pts ▸ 17.8%

3.1% $3,000 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.1% Arthritis ◂ +0.7 pts 10.5%

10.3% Mental health ◂ +0.2 pts 10.1%

10.1% Asthma ◂ +1.3 pts 8.7%

7.9% Other condition +0.8 pts ▸ 8.8%

5.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 5.1%

4.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.4 pts 4.2%

3.3% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 3.2%

2.5% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 2.1%

1.1% Stroke even 1.1%

0.9% Dementia even 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.1% None +4.5 pts ▸ 61.5%

21.1% One condition ◂ +0.3 pts 20.7%

7.5% Two conditions ◂ +0.6 pts 6.8%

4.1% Three or more ◂ +0.4 pts 3.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Central West in Illawarra +5,867 larger in Central West

17,154 87th pct 11,287 75th pct

Median age in Central West in Illawarra even

22 yrs 14th pct 22 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Central West in Illawarra +$25 higher in Illawarra

$583 47th pct $608 57th pct

Household income in Central West in Illawarra +$248 higher in Illawarra

$1,430 37th pct $1,678 61st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Central West in Illawarra +0.1 larger in Illawarra gap steady

2.4 29th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

53.3% Couples with children +3.9 pts ▸ 57.2%

29.8% Couples without children ◂ +2.9 pts 26.9%

15.9% One-parent families ◂ +1.0 pts 14.9%

1.0% Other families even 1.0%

Household size

35.3% 2 people ◂ +1.2 pts 34.1%

29.4% 1 person ◂ +4.5 pts 25.0%

12.3% 4 people +3.6 pts ▸ 15.9%

13.5% 3 people +2.2 pts ▸ 15.7%

6.4% 5 people +0.1 pts ▸ 6.5%

3.0% 6 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 2.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Central West in Illawarra +$110 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$290 28th pct $400 71st pct

Mortgage in Central West in Illawarra +$650 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$1,517 29th pct $2,167 82nd pct

People / bedroom in Central West in Illawarra +0.10 higher in Illawarra gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.8% Owned outright ◂ +2.7 pts 35.1%

31.5% Owned with a mortgage +1.5 pts ▸ 33.0%

26.6% Rented +2.4 pts ▸ 29.0%

2.4% Other tenure ◂ +0.7 pts 1.7%

1.8% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

89.2% Separate house ◂ +17.5 pts 71.7%

2.8% Flat or apartment +11.7 pts ▸ 14.5%

6.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +6.0 pts ▸ 12.8%

0.8% Other dwelling even 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

40.6% 3 bedrooms +0.9 pts ▸ 41.5%

31.0% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.3 pts 26.7%

14.8% 2 bedrooms +4.0 pts ▸ 18.9%

8.0% 5 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 7.3%

3.3% 1 bedroom +0.8 pts ▸ 4.1%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

44.6% $200–$349 ◂ +24.4 pts 20.1%

28.3% $350–$549 +15.2 pts ▸ 43.5%

20.4% Under $200 ◂ +4.6 pts 15.9%

1.7% $550–$749 +13.2 pts ▸ 14.8%

0.4% $750 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 2.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

26.2% $1,800–$2,999 +12.4 pts ▸ 38.5%

37.6% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +15.1 pts 22.6%

21.3% Under $1,000 ◂ +8.8 pts 12.5%

9.3% $3,000 or more +11.5 pts ▸ 20.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Central West in Illawarra +657 more in Illawarra

1,177 54th pct 1,834 72nd pct

Stops/1k in Central West in Illawarra +0.32 more in Illawarra

5.53 77th pct 5.84 83rd pct

Departures/1k in Central West in Illawarra +747.5 more in Illawarra

292.0 27th pct 1,039.5 55th pct

PT routes in Central West in Illawarra +69 more in Central West

127 86th pct 58 32nd pct

How people get to work

65.1% Car (driver) ◂ +14.4 pts 50.7%

11.9% Worked at home +12.8 pts ▸ 24.7%

5.0% Car (passenger) ◂ +2.0 pts 3.0%

3.7% Walked ◂ +1.9 pts 1.8%

0.4% Bus +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.0% Train +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

37.4% 2 vehicles +0.3 pts ▸ 37.6%

33.7% 1 vehicle +1.3 pts ▸ 35.0%

14.5% 3 vehicles ◂ +2.0 pts 12.5%

8.9% 4 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 7.6%

5.6% No vehicle +1.7 pts ▸ 7.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

14.9% Health care & social assistance +2.3 pts ▸ 17.2%

9.3% Education & training +1.3 pts ▸ 10.6%

7.8% Construction +2.3 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.9% Retail trade even 8.9%

8.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +8.2 pts 0.4%

7.3% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.1 pts 7.3%

6.7% Accommodation & food +0.3 pts ▸ 7.0%

3.6% Professional & technical +2.5 pts ▸ 6.1%

6.0% Mining ◂ +4.0 pts 1.9%

5.7% Manufacturing +0.2 pts ▸ 5.9%

3.6% Transport & warehousing +0.8 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.9% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.7%

Occupations people work in

17.0% Professionals +6.3 pts ▸ 23.3%

15.1% Managers ◂ +3.6 pts 11.5%

14.6% Technicians & trades +0.1 pts ▸ 14.7%

12.5% Community & personal service +0.7 pts ▸ 13.2%

11.3% Clerical & administrative +1.3 pts ▸ 12.6%

11.2% Labourers ◂ +2.6 pts 8.6%

8.8% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.2 pts 6.5%

7.8% Sales workers +0.3 pts ▸ 8.1%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Central West in Illawarra +113,490 higher in Illawarra

216,979 36th pct 330,469 61st pct

Growth in Central West in Illawarra +3.6 pts higher in Illawarra

1.6% 8th pct 5.2% 41st pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Central West in Illawarra +679 higher in Illawarra

669 33rd pct 1,349 84th pct

Max temp in Central West in Illawarra +3.1 higher in Central West

24.3 57th pct 21.2 22nd pct

Min temp in Central West in Illawarra +1.6 higher in Illawarra

8.9 15th pct 10.5 35th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Central West in Illawarra +1.7 higher in Illawarra

4.2 30th pct 5.9 67th pct

Types ≤15 min in Central West in Illawarra +1.6 more in Illawarra

4.2 30th pct 5.7 68th pct

15-min city in Central West in Illawarra +21.9 pts higher in Illawarra

48.7% 30th pct 70.6% 66th pct

Walk to shops in Central West in Illawarra +17.4 pts higher in Illawarra

43.5% 20th pct 60.9% 55th pct

Walk to transit in Central West in Illawarra +33.0 pts higher in Illawarra

60.4% 31st pct 93.4% 76th pct

Walk to school in Central West in Illawarra +21.0 pts higher in Illawarra

56.8% 36th pct 77.9% 68th pct

Walk to a park in Central West in Illawarra +24.1 pts higher in Illawarra

70.0% 17th pct 94.1% 67th pct

Walk to health in Central West in Illawarra +5.9 pts higher in Illawarra

35.8% 26th pct 41.7% 48th pct

Amenities/1k in Central West in Illawarra +7.3 more in Central West

19.5 77th pct 12.2 18th pct

Intersections/km² in Central West in Illawarra +18 higher in Illawarra

1 17th pct 18 55th pct

Mean slope in Central West in Illawarra +1.4 pts higher in Illawarra

5.6% 50th pct 7.0% 78th pct

Compare Central West with nearby areas

Riverina Australian Capital Territory Sydney - Outer West and Blue Mountains Sydney - Outer South West Sydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury Sydney - Blacktown Sydney - South West Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven Illawarra Sydney - Parramatta Sydney - Sutherland Sydney - Ryde

Compare Illawarra with nearby areas

Sydney - Outer South West Sydney - Sutherland Sydney - South West Sydney - Inner South West Sydney - Parramatta Sydney - Inner West Sydney - City and Inner South Sydney - Blacktown Sydney - Outer West and Blue Mountains Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven Sydney - Ryde Sydney - Eastern Suburbs

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Central West vs Illawarra [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/103/central-west/vs/107/illawarra