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Illawarra vs Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 74 km apart · Illawarra profile · Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven profile

Illawarra Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

Illawarra and Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven are both regional New South Wales areas, but they offer very different lifestyles. Illawarra is much more walkable, with 70.6% of homes in a 15-minute-city walkshed compared to 42.0% in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven. It also has far more public transport options, with 1,039.5 weekly departures per 1,000 people against just 210.8 in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven. In contrast, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven is far older, with a typical resident aged 48 compared to 40 in Illawarra, and a much higher share of separate houses at 88.3% versus 71.7%.

Daily life in both places shares many similarities, with nearly identical unemployment rates and the same proportion of people providing unpaid care. While the two areas are quite different in layout, they both have roughly the same number of people per home. Over time, some of these gaps are shifting; the difference in the share of people born overseas and those using another language at home has narrowed since 2011, though the gap in outright home ownership has widened.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 16.6 pts higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven No car: 3.2 pts higher in Illawarra Median age: 8 yrs older in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven Population: 152,836 larger in Illawarra Renting: 6.4 pts higher in Illawarra

Demographics & Identity

Population in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +152,836 larger in Illawarra gap steady

313,842 72nd pct 161,006 37th pct

Median age in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +8 yrs older in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven gap steady

40 yrs 50th pct 48 yrs 94th pct

Age structure

19.2% Seniors (65+) +8.8 pts ▸ 28.0%

25.0% Older adults (45–64) +1.3 pts ▸ 26.3%

25.0% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +5.0 pts 20.0%

17.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.7 pts 16.2%

12.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.4 pts 9.5%

Marital status

46.1% Married +3.1 pts ▸ 49.2%

36.0% Never married ◂ +6.4 pts 29.5%

9.0% Divorced +1.8 pts ▸ 10.8%

5.9% Widowed +1.1 pts ▸ 7.0%

3.1% Separated +0.4 pts ▸ 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Illawarra 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

76.4% Australia +2.5 pts ▸ 78.9%

3.9% England +0.9 pts ▸ 4.8%

1.1% New Zealand +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.9% Italy ◂ +0.6 pts 0.3%

0.8% India ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

0.7% China ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.6% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.4% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.4% Vietnam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.1% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

37.3% English +6.3 pts ▸ 43.5%

35.9% Australian +3.5 pts ▸ 39.4%

10.3% Irish +2.1 pts ▸ 12.4%

9.9% Scottish +1.8 pts ▸ 11.7%

5.4% Italian ◂ +2.7 pts 2.7%

3.9% German even 3.9%

1.8% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.5%

1.6% Chinese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.9%

1.5% Greek ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%

1.1% Indian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.9% Filipino ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.5% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

82.0% English only +6.3 pts ▸ 88.3%

1.1% Italian ◂ +0.7 pts 0.4%

1.1% Arabic ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

0.8% Mandarin ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.2% Cantonese even 0.2%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Punjabi even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

51.3% Christianity ◂ +1.6 pts 49.7%

38.5% No religion +1.5 pts ▸ 40.1%

5.9% Not stated +1.8 pts ▸ 7.7%

2.1% Islam ◂ +1.8 pts 0.3%

1.0% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.7% Hinduism even 0.8%

0.4% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +55 more in Illawarra

120 63rd pct 65 14th pct

Schools/1k kids in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.35 more in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

2.14 50th pct 2.49 59th pct

Students in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +25,707 more in Illawarra

47,260 58th pct 21,553 15th pct

Avg size in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +69 larger in Illawarra

401 44th pct 332 35th pct

ICSEA in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +26 higher in Illawarra

1,027 56th pct 1,001 43rd pct

Highest year of school

50.9% Year 12 ◂ +5.7 pts 45.2%

26.5% Year 10 +2.7 pts ▸ 29.2%

11.1% Year 9 or below +0.6 pts ▸ 11.7%

5.9% Year 11 +0.4 pts ▸ 6.2%

Highest qualification level

32.0% Certificate III / IV +1.1 pts ▸ 33.2%

23.1% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.4 pts 19.7%

15.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.1 pts ▸ 15.2%

8.8% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.2 pts 6.7%

3.5% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.1 pts 3.4%

2.1% Certificate I / II +0.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

Field of qualification

17.7% Management & commerce ◂ +1.1 pts 16.6%

16.8% Engineering & related ◂ +2.0 pts 14.8%

12.5% Society & culture ◂ +0.8 pts 11.7%

10.5% Health ◂ +0.2 pts 10.2%

9.3% Education ◂ +0.2 pts 9.1%

6.5% Architecture & building +0.8 pts ▸ 7.3%

4.9% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.5 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.7% Creative arts ◂ +0.3 pts 3.4%

2.7% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.5 pts 2.2%

1.5% Agriculture & environment +1.1 pts ▸ 2.6%

2.4% Information technology ◂ +1.0 pts 1.3%

Income

Personal income in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$70 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$753 41st pct $683 16th pct

Household income in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$327 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$1,684 53rd pct $1,357 19th pct

Family income in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$387 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$2,109 61st pct $1,722 21st pct

Household income distribution

26.2% $650–$1,499 +5.5 pts ▸ 31.7%

28.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 26.6%

16.9% Under $650 +2.5 pts ▸ 19.4%

11.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.2 pts 7.9%

10.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.4 pts 7.4%

Personal income distribution

42.0% Under $650 +2.2 pts ▸ 44.3%

30.5% $650–$1,499 +0.4 pts ▸ 30.9%

17.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.3 pts 13.6%

3.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 3.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.5% Arthritis +3.5 pts ▸ 13.9%

10.1% Mental health +0.3 pts ▸ 10.4%

8.8% Other condition +0.2 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.7% Asthma even 8.8%

5.1% Diabetes +0.8 pts ▸ 5.9%

4.2% Heart disease +1.4 pts ▸ 5.6%

3.2% Cancer +1.2 pts ▸ 4.4%

2.1% Lung condition +0.8 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

61.5% None ◂ +5.8 pts 55.8%

20.7% One condition +1.4 pts ▸ 22.1%

6.8% Two conditions +1.5 pts ▸ 8.4%

3.7% Three or more +1.2 pts ▸ 4.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +3,030 larger in Illawarra

11,287 75th pct 8,257 65th pct

Median age in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +2 yrs older in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

22 yrs 14th pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$50 higher in Illawarra

$608 57th pct $558 35th pct

Household income in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$288 higher in Illawarra

$1,678 61st pct $1,390 29th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.1 larger in Illawarra gap narrowing

2.5 57th pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

57.2% Couples with children ◂ +8.8 pts 48.4%

26.9% Couples without children +9.3 pts ▸ 36.2%

14.9% One-parent families ◂ +0.4 pts 14.4%

1.0% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

Household size

34.1% 2 people +5.8 pts ▸ 40.0%

25.0% 1 person +2.8 pts ▸ 27.7%

15.9% 4 people ◂ +4.1 pts 11.7%

15.7% 3 people ◂ +2.9 pts 12.8%

6.5% 5 people ◂ +1.2 pts 5.2%

2.8% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$40 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$400 71st pct $360 57th pct

Mortgage in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +$347 higher in Illawarra gap steady

$2,167 82nd pct $1,820 50th pct

People / bedroom in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.10 higher in Illawarra gap widening

0.80 29th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.1% Owned outright +9.5 pts ▸ 44.6%

33.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +4.2 pts 28.8%

29.0% Rented ◂ +6.4 pts 22.6%

1.7% Other tenure +0.6 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.3% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

Types of homes

71.7% Separate house +16.6 pts ▸ 88.3%

14.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +12.4 pts 2.1%

12.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.3 pts 7.6%

0.8% Other dwelling +0.8 pts ▸ 1.6%

Bedrooms per home

41.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.0 pts 39.5%

26.7% 4 bedrooms +5.9 pts ▸ 32.6%

18.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +4.2 pts 14.6%

7.3% 5 or more +1.1 pts ▸ 8.4%

4.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.1 pts 3.0%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

43.5% $350–$549 +1.6 pts ▸ 45.1%

20.1% $200–$349 +11.1 pts ▸ 31.3%

15.9% Under $200 ◂ +6.1 pts 9.8%

14.8% $550–$749 ◂ +7.0 pts 7.9%

2.4% $750 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 2.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +6.1 pts 32.5%

22.6% $1,000–$1,799 +5.5 pts ▸ 28.1%

20.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.1 pts 15.8%

12.5% Under $1,000 +5.2 pts ▸ 17.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +740 more in Illawarra

1,834 72nd pct 1,094 50th pct

Stops/1k in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.95 more in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

5.84 83rd pct 6.79 95th pct

Departures/1k in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +828.7 more in Illawarra

1,039.5 55th pct 210.8 20th pct

PT routes in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +8 more in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

58 32nd pct 66 40th pct

How people get to work

50.7% Car (driver) +9.7 pts ▸ 60.4%

24.7% Worked at home ◂ +8.2 pts 16.5%

3.0% Car (passenger) +1.4 pts ▸ 4.4%

1.8% Walked +1.0 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.6% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.6% Train ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.4% Bicycle even 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

37.6% 2 vehicles +0.8 pts ▸ 38.4%

35.0% 1 vehicle +1.9 pts ▸ 36.9%

12.5% 3 vehicles +0.4 pts ▸ 12.9%

7.6% 4 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

7.3% No vehicle ◂ +3.2 pts 4.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.1 pts 15.1%

10.1% Construction +1.4 pts ▸ 11.4%

10.6% Education & training ◂ +1.9 pts 8.7%

8.9% Retail trade +1.1 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.0% Accommodation & food +2.0 pts ▸ 8.9%

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

6.1% Professional & technical ◂ +0.2 pts 5.9%

5.9% Manufacturing ◂ +0.6 pts 5.3%

4.5% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.2 pts 3.3%

3.1% Administrative & support +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.7% Other services +0.1 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +1.4 pts 1.9%

Occupations people work in

23.3% Professionals ◂ +3.9 pts 19.3%

14.7% Technicians & trades +1.6 pts ▸ 16.3%

11.5% Managers +2.2 pts ▸ 13.7%

13.2% Community & personal service +0.3 pts ▸ 13.4%

12.6% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.7 pts 10.9%

8.6% Labourers +1.8 pts ▸ 10.4%

8.1% Sales workers +0.9 pts ▸ 9.0%

6.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.3 pts 5.2%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +165,184 higher in Illawarra

330,469 61st pct 165,285 22nd pct

Growth in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +2.4 pts higher in Illawarra

5.2% 41st pct 2.8% 17th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +219 higher in Illawarra

1,349 84th pct 1,130 71st pct

Max temp in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +1.1 higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

21.2 22nd pct 22.3 30th pct

Min temp in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.5 higher in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

10.5 35th pct 10.9 43rd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +1.8 higher in Illawarra

5.9 67th pct 4.1 28th pct

Types ≤15 min in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +1.7 more in Illawarra

5.7 68th pct 4.0 26th pct

15-min city in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +28.7 pts higher in Illawarra

70.6% 66th pct 42.0% 16th pct

Walk to shops in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +21.2 pts higher in Illawarra

60.9% 55th pct 39.7% 13th pct

Walk to transit in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +14.1 pts higher in Illawarra

93.4% 76th pct 79.3% 52nd pct

Walk to school in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +37.0 pts higher in Illawarra

77.9% 68th pct 40.9% 12th pct

Walk to a park in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +14.6 pts higher in Illawarra

94.1% 67th pct 79.4% 38th pct

Walk to health in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +11.4 pts higher in Illawarra

41.7% 48th pct 30.3% 14th pct

Amenities/1k in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +4.7 more in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven

12.2 18th pct 16.9 57th pct

Intersections/km² in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +16 higher in Illawarra

18 55th pct 3 33rd pct

Mean slope in Illawarra in Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven +0.8 pts higher in Illawarra

7.0% 78th pct 6.2% 65th pct

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

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). Illawarra vs Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/107/illawarra/vs/114/southern-highlands-and-shoalhaven