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Central West vs Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 277 km apart · Central West profile · Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven profile

Central West Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

Central West and Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven are both large New South Wales regions, but they have different profiles. Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven is much older, with a typical resident aged 48 and a higher share of seniors (28.0%) compared to the Central West (21.0%). It is also wetter, with 1,130mm of annual rainfall against 669mm in the Central West. In contrast, the Central West is more family-oriented, with a higher share of children under 15 (19.4%) and far more schools, totalling 151. Access to these schools is also better, with 56.8% of Central West homes within a 15-minute walk, compared to 40.9% in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven.

Both areas are almost identical when it comes to typical weekly household incomes, which sit at $1,434 in the Central West and $1,357 in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven. While they share similar incomes, other gaps are shifting. The difference in the number of people who identify as having no religion has widened since 2011, and more people in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven now work from home. This region also has a growing lead in outright home ownership, which has risen to 44.6%.

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Where they differ most

Full-time: 7.7 pts higher in Central West Under 15: 3.2 pts higher in Central West Median age: 7 yrs older in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven No car: 1.5 pts higher in Central West No religion: 9.1 pts higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

Demographics & Identity

Population in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +51,956 larger in Central West gap narrowing

212,962 49th pct 161,006 37th pct

Median age in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +7 yrs older in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven gap steady

41 yrs 57th pct 48 yrs 94th pct

Age structure

21.0% Seniors (65+) +7.1 pts ▸ 28.0%

25.4% Older adults (45–64) +0.9 pts ▸ 26.3%

23.0% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +3.0 pts 20.0%

19.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.2 pts 16.2%

11.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.7 pts 9.5%

Marital status

45.9% Married +3.3 pts ▸ 49.2%

34.4% Never married ◂ +4.9 pts 29.5%

9.6% Divorced +1.3 pts ▸ 10.8%

6.4% Widowed +0.6 pts ▸ 7.0%

3.7% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Central West Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

84.2% Australia ◂ +5.3 pts 78.9%

1.8% England +3.0 pts ▸ 4.8%

0.9% New Zealand +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.6% India even 0.6%

0.5% Philippines even 0.5%

0.3% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% China even 0.3%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

41.1% English +2.5 pts ▸ 43.5%

42.9% Australian ◂ +3.5 pts 39.4%

12.6% Irish ◂ +0.2 pts 12.4%

10.1% Scottish +1.5 pts ▸ 11.7%

3.7% German +0.3 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.7% Italian +1.0 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.2% Dutch +0.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.8% Chinese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.7% Filipino even 0.7%

0.7% Indian even 0.6%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

88.1% English only +0.1 pts ▸ 88.3%

0.2% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Mandarin even 0.3%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.2%

0.2% Arabic even 0.1%

0.1% Hindi even 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

58.1% Christianity ◂ +8.5 pts 49.7%

31.0% No religion +9.1 pts ▸ 40.1%

8.7% Not stated ◂ +1.1 pts 7.7%

0.6% Buddhism +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.6% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Other religions even 0.5%

0.4% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.0% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +86 more in Central West

151 86th pct 65 14th pct

Schools/1k kids in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +1.16 more in Central West

3.65 78th pct 2.49 59th pct

Students in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +12,995 more in Central West

34,548 41st pct 21,553 15th pct

Avg size in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +101 larger in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

230 19th pct 332 35th pct

ICSEA in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +35 higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

966 17th pct 1,001 43rd pct

Highest year of school

41.7% Year 12 +3.5 pts ▸ 45.2%

30.3% Year 10 ◂ +1.1 pts 29.2%

12.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.8 pts 11.7%

6.4% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 6.2%

Highest qualification level

35.6% Certificate III / IV ◂ +2.4 pts 33.2%

18.6% Bachelor degree +1.1 pts ▸ 19.7%

13.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.0 pts ▸ 15.2%

4.9% Postgraduate degree +1.8 pts ▸ 6.7%

2.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.6 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.4 pts 2.2%

Field of qualification

15.3% Management & commerce +1.3 pts ▸ 16.6%

15.7% Engineering & related ◂ +0.9 pts 14.8%

10.0% Society & culture +1.6 pts ▸ 11.7%

10.8% Health ◂ +0.6 pts 10.2%

9.1% Education ◂ +0.1 pts 9.1%

5.4% Architecture & building +1.9 pts ▸ 7.3%

5.2% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.2 pts ▸ 5.4%

4.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.8 pts 2.6%

2.3% Creative arts +1.0 pts ▸ 3.4%

1.7% Natural & physical sciences +0.4 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.3% Information technology +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

Income

Personal income in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$55 higher in Central West gap widening

$738 33rd pct $683 16th pct

Household income in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$77 higher in Central West gap steady

$1,434 29th pct $1,357 19th pct

Family income in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$176 higher in Central West gap widening

$1,898 41st pct $1,722 21st pct

Household income distribution

28.7% $650–$1,499 +3.1 pts ▸ 31.7%

27.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.2 pts 26.6%

19.2% Under $650 +0.2 pts ▸ 19.4%

8.4% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.0 pts 7.4%

7.9% $4,000 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 7.9%

Personal income distribution

40.9% Under $650 +3.4 pts ▸ 44.3%

30.8% $650–$1,499 even 30.9%

15.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 13.6%

3.1% $3,000 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.1% Arthritis +2.8 pts ▸ 13.9%

10.3% Mental health +0.2 pts ▸ 10.4%

10.1% Asthma ◂ +1.3 pts 8.8%

7.9% Other condition +1.0 pts ▸ 8.9%

5.4% Diabetes +0.5 pts ▸ 5.9%

4.6% Heart disease +0.9 pts ▸ 5.6%

3.3% Cancer +1.1 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.5% Lung condition +0.4 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.1% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.9% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.1% None ◂ +1.3 pts 55.8%

21.1% One condition +1.1 pts ▸ 22.1%

7.5% Two conditions +0.9 pts ▸ 8.4%

4.1% Three or more +0.8 pts ▸ 4.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +8,897 larger in Central West

17,154 87th pct 8,257 65th pct

Median age in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +2 yrs older in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

22 yrs 14th pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$25 higher in Central West

$583 47th pct $558 35th pct

Household income in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$40 higher in Central West

$1,430 37th pct $1,390 29th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven even gap narrowing

2.4 29th pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

53.3% Couples with children ◂ +4.9 pts 48.4%

29.8% Couples without children +6.5 pts ▸ 36.2%

15.9% One-parent families ◂ +1.4 pts 14.4%

1.0% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

Household size

35.3% 2 people +4.6 pts ▸ 40.0%

29.4% 1 person ◂ +1.7 pts 27.7%

13.5% 3 people ◂ +0.7 pts 12.8%

12.3% 4 people ◂ +0.6 pts 11.7%

6.4% 5 people ◂ +1.2 pts 5.2%

3.0% 6 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$70 higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven gap widening

$290 28th pct $360 57th pct

Mortgage in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$303 higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven gap widening

$1,517 29th pct $1,820 50th pct

People / bedroom in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven even gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.8% Owned outright +6.9 pts ▸ 44.6%

31.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +2.6 pts 28.8%

26.6% Rented ◂ +4.0 pts 22.6%

2.4% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 2.3%

1.8% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 1.6%

Types of homes

89.2% Separate house ◂ +0.9 pts 88.3%

6.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.7 pts ▸ 7.6%

2.8% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.7 pts 2.1%

0.8% Other dwelling +0.8 pts ▸ 1.6%

Bedrooms per home

40.6% 3 bedrooms ◂ +1.1 pts 39.5%

31.0% 4 bedrooms +1.6 pts ▸ 32.6%

14.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.2 pts 14.6%

8.0% 5 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 8.4%

3.3% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

28.3% $350–$549 +16.8 pts ▸ 45.1%

44.6% $200–$349 ◂ +13.3 pts 31.3%

20.4% Under $200 ◂ +10.6 pts 9.8%

1.7% $550–$749 +6.2 pts ▸ 7.9%

0.4% $750 or more +1.7 pts ▸ 2.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

37.6% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +9.6 pts 28.1%

26.2% $1,800–$2,999 +6.3 pts ▸ 32.5%

21.3% Under $1,000 ◂ +3.6 pts 17.7%

9.3% $3,000 or more +6.4 pts ▸ 15.8%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +83 more in Central West

1,177 54th pct 1,094 50th pct

Stops/1k in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +1.27 more in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

5.53 77th pct 6.79 95th pct

Departures/1k in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +81.2 more in Central West

292.0 27th pct 210.8 20th pct

PT routes in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +61 more in Central West

127 86th pct 66 40th pct

How people get to work

65.1% Car (driver) ◂ +4.7 pts 60.4%

11.9% Worked at home +4.6 pts ▸ 16.5%

5.0% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.6 pts 4.4%

3.7% Walked ◂ +0.9 pts 2.8%

0.4% Bus ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.0% Train +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

37.4% 2 vehicles +1.1 pts ▸ 38.4%

33.7% 1 vehicle +3.2 pts ▸ 36.9%

14.5% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.6 pts 12.9%

8.9% 4 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 7.8%

5.6% No vehicle ◂ +1.5 pts 4.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

14.9% Health care & social assistance +0.2 pts ▸ 15.1%

7.8% Construction +3.6 pts ▸ 11.4%

8.9% Retail trade +1.1 pts ▸ 10.0%

9.3% Education & training ◂ +0.6 pts 8.7%

6.7% Accommodation & food +2.3 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +6.2 pts 2.4%

7.3% Public administration & safety +0.5 pts ▸ 7.8%

6.0% Mining ◂ +5.3 pts 0.7%

3.6% Professional & technical +2.3 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.7% Manufacturing ◂ +0.4 pts 5.3%

2.7% Administrative & support +1.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.9% Other services even 3.9%

Occupations people work in

17.0% Professionals +2.3 pts ▸ 19.3%

14.6% Technicians & trades +1.7 pts ▸ 16.3%

15.1% Managers ◂ +1.4 pts 13.7%

12.5% Community & personal service +0.9 pts ▸ 13.4%

11.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.4 pts 10.9%

11.2% Labourers ◂ +0.8 pts 10.4%

7.8% Sales workers +1.3 pts ▸ 9.0%

8.8% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.5 pts 5.2%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +51,694 higher in Central West

216,979 36th pct 165,285 22nd pct

Growth in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +1.2 pts higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

1.6% 8th pct 2.8% 17th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +461 higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

669 33rd pct 1,130 71st pct

Max temp in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +2.0 higher in Central West

24.3 57th pct 22.3 30th pct

Min temp in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +2.0 higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

8.9 15th pct 10.9 43rd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.1 higher in Central West

4.2 30th pct 4.1 28th pct

Types ≤15 min in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.1 more in Central West

4.2 30th pct 4.0 26th pct

15-min city in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +6.7 pts higher in Central West

48.7% 30th pct 42.0% 16th pct

Walk to shops in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +3.8 pts higher in Central West

43.5% 20th pct 39.7% 13th pct

Walk to transit in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +18.9 pts higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

60.4% 31st pct 79.3% 52nd pct

Walk to school in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +15.9 pts higher in Central West

56.8% 36th pct 40.9% 12th pct

Walk to a park in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +9.5 pts higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

70.0% 17th pct 79.4% 38th pct

Walk to health in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +5.5 pts higher in Central West

35.8% 26th pct 30.3% 14th pct

Amenities/1k in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +2.6 more in Central West

19.5 77th pct 16.9 57th pct

Intersections/km² in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +2 higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

1 17th pct 3 33rd pct

Mean slope in Central West in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.6 pts higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

5.6% 50th pct 6.2% 65th 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 Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Central West vs Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/103/central-west/vs/114/southern-highlands-and-shoalhaven