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Illawarra vs Gold Coast

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 749 km apart · Illawarra profile · Gold Coast profile

Illawarra Gold Coast

Gold Coast and Illawarra are both large regional hubs, but they differ significantly in how people live and work. Gold Coast is a highly mobile area where 48.9% of people moved in the last five years, and it is more diverse, with 28.9% of residents born overseas. In contrast, Illawarra is more settled, with 71.7% of people living in separate houses and 24.7% of the workforce working from home. Infrastructure also differs; Illawarra has many more public transport stops and schools per 1,000 children, while Gold Coast has a much higher street connectivity score of 33 intersections per square kilometre.

Both areas are almost identical when it comes to the share of people using a language other than English at home, which is 13.5% for both. This similarity exists alongside a widening gap in views on religion, as Gold Coast has seen a rise in people with no religion compared to Illawarra. While Gold Coast has a higher share of renters and a larger working population, the gap in home ownership has narrowed since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Population: 326,936 larger in Gold Coast Recent movers: 12.8 pts higher in Gold Coast Separate houses: 14.0 pts higher in Illawarra De facto: 2.3 pts higher in Gold Coast Unpaid carers: 2.6 pts higher in Illawarra

Demographics & Identity

Population in Illawarra in Gold Coast +326,936 larger in Gold Coast gap widening

313,842 72nd pct 640,778 93rd pct

Median age in Illawarra in Gold Coast +1 yrs older in Illawarra gap widening

40 yrs 50th pct 39 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

25.0% Young adults (25–44) +2.2 pts ▸ 27.2%

25.0% Older adults (45–64) +0.3 pts ▸ 25.3%

19.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.4 pts 17.8%

17.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.3 pts 17.6%

12.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.8 pts 12.1%

Marital status

46.1% Married ◂ +2.0 pts 44.1%

36.0% Never married +0.9 pts ▸ 36.9%

9.0% Divorced +1.8 pts ▸ 10.8%

5.9% Widowed ◂ +1.1 pts 4.7%

3.1% Separated +0.5 pts ▸ 3.6%

Age & sex structure

Illawarra Gold Coast

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

76.4% Australia ◂ +11.1 pts 65.3%

1.1% New Zealand +6.0 pts ▸ 7.1%

3.9% England +1.0 pts ▸ 5.0%

0.7% China +0.7 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.4% South Africa +1.0 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.8% India +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.9% Italy ◂ +0.6 pts 0.3%

0.6% Philippines +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.2%

Ancestry

37.3% English +2.9 pts ▸ 40.1%

35.9% Australian ◂ +5.1 pts 30.8%

10.3% Irish +0.1 pts ▸ 10.5%

9.9% Scottish +0.2 pts ▸ 10.1%

5.4% Italian ◂ +2.3 pts 3.1%

3.9% German +0.9 pts ▸ 4.8%

1.6% Chinese +1.7 pts ▸ 3.3%

1.8% Dutch ◂ +0.1 pts 1.7%

1.5% Greek ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%

1.1% Indian +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.9% Filipino +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Language

Language used at home

82.0% English only ◂ +1.4 pts 80.5%

0.8% Mandarin +1.0 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.1% Italian ◂ +0.7 pts 0.4%

1.1% Arabic ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.2% Cantonese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Punjabi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

Religious affiliation

51.3% Christianity ◂ +7.4 pts 43.9%

38.5% No religion +5.3 pts ▸ 43.8%

5.9% Not stated +1.9 pts ▸ 7.8%

2.1% Islam ◂ +1.1 pts 1.0%

1.0% Buddhism +0.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.7% Hinduism +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.4% Other religions +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Illawarra in Gold Coast +4 more in Illawarra

120 63rd pct 116 59th pct

Schools/1k kids in Illawarra in Gold Coast +1.11 more in Illawarra

2.14 50th pct 1.03 0th pct

Students in Illawarra in Gold Coast +55,953 more in Gold Coast

47,260 58th pct 103,213 90th pct

Avg size in Illawarra in Gold Coast +489 larger in Gold Coast

401 44th pct 890 100th pct

ICSEA in Illawarra in Gold Coast +20 higher in Gold Coast

1,027 56th pct 1,047 71st pct

Highest year of school

50.9% Year 12 +8.4 pts ▸ 59.3%

26.5% Year 10 ◂ +6.8 pts 19.7%

11.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +4.7 pts 6.5%

5.9% Year 11 +1.4 pts ▸ 7.3%

Highest qualification level

32.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +2.7 pts 29.3%

23.1% Bachelor degree +0.4 pts ▸ 23.5%

15.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.4 pts ▸ 17.6%

8.8% Postgraduate degree ◂ +1.7 pts 7.1%

3.5% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.4 pts 3.1%

2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.3 pts 1.8%

Field of qualification

17.7% Management & commerce +2.5 pts ▸ 20.2%

16.8% Engineering & related ◂ +4.8 pts 12.0%

12.5% Society & culture ◂ +0.9 pts 11.5%

10.5% Health +0.7 pts ▸ 11.2%

9.3% Education ◂ +2.0 pts 7.3%

6.5% Architecture & building +0.5 pts ▸ 7.1%

4.9% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.1 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.7% Creative arts +0.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.7% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 1.9%

2.4% Information technology ◂ +0.3 pts 2.1%

1.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Illawarra in Gold Coast +$32 higher in Gold Coast gap narrowing

$753 41st pct $785 51st pct

Household income in Illawarra in Gold Coast +$8 higher in Gold Coast gap narrowing

$1,684 53rd pct $1,692 53rd pct

Family income in Illawarra in Gold Coast +$100 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$2,109 61st pct $2,009 53rd pct

Household income distribution

28.8% $1,500–$2,999 +2.2 pts ▸ 31.0%

26.2% $650–$1,499 +1.0 pts ▸ 27.2%

16.9% Under $650 ◂ +2.2 pts 14.7%

11.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 10.1%

10.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.0 pts 9.8%

Personal income distribution

42.0% Under $650 ◂ +3.0 pts 39.1%

30.5% $650–$1,499 +2.9 pts ▸ 33.4%

17.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.8 pts 16.0%

3.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.5% Arthritis ◂ +2.1 pts 8.4%

10.1% Mental health ◂ +1.7 pts 8.4%

8.8% Other condition ◂ +1.0 pts 7.8%

8.7% Asthma ◂ +1.0 pts 7.7%

5.1% Diabetes ◂ +1.5 pts 3.6%

4.2% Heart disease ◂ +0.4 pts 3.8%

3.2% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 3.1%

2.1% Lung condition ◂ +0.2 pts 1.9%

1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

0.9% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.5% None +2.7 pts ▸ 64.3%

20.7% One condition ◂ +2.1 pts 18.6%

6.8% Two conditions ◂ +1.3 pts 5.5%

3.7% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 2.8%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Illawarra in Gold Coast +2,614 larger in Gold Coast

11,287 75th pct 13,901 82nd pct

Median age in Illawarra in Gold Coast +2 yrs older in Gold Coast

22 yrs 14th pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Illawarra in Gold Coast +$85 higher in Gold Coast

$608 57th pct $693 75th pct

Household income in Illawarra in Gold Coast +$156 higher in Gold Coast

$1,678 61st pct $1,834 76th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Illawarra in Gold Coast even gap narrowing

2.5 57th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

57.2% Couples with children ◂ +2.1 pts 55.2%

26.9% Couples without children +1.6 pts ▸ 28.5%

14.9% One-parent families +0.4 pts ▸ 15.2%

1.0% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

34.1% 2 people +1.7 pts ▸ 35.8%

25.0% 1 person ◂ +1.5 pts 23.4%

15.7% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 16.7%

15.9% 4 people ◂ +0.5 pts 15.4%

6.5% 5 people ◂ +0.7 pts 5.8%

2.8% 6 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 2.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Illawarra in Gold Coast +$50 higher in Gold Coast gap narrowing

$400 71st pct $450 87th pct

Mortgage in Illawarra in Gold Coast +$217 higher in Illawarra gap widening

$2,167 82nd pct $1,950 64th pct

People / bedroom in Illawarra in Gold Coast even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.0% Owned with a mortgage +2.6 pts ▸ 35.6%

35.1% Owned outright ◂ +7.0 pts 28.1%

29.0% Rented +4.4 pts ▸ 33.4%

1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

1.3% Not stated +0.2 pts ▸ 1.5%

Types of homes

71.7% Separate house ◂ +14.0 pts 57.7%

14.5% Flat or apartment +6.7 pts ▸ 21.2%

12.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +7.4 pts ▸ 20.2%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Bedrooms per home

41.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +7.7 pts 33.8%

26.7% 4 bedrooms +3.2 pts ▸ 29.9%

18.9% 2 bedrooms +2.4 pts ▸ 21.3%

7.3% 5 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.1% 1 bedroom +1.3 pts ▸ 5.5%

0.3% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

43.5% $350–$549 +12.6 pts ▸ 56.1%

20.1% $200–$349 ◂ +7.5 pts 12.6%

14.8% $550–$749 +2.5 pts ▸ 17.3%

15.9% Under $200 ◂ +10.6 pts 5.2%

2.4% $750 or more +3.1 pts ▸ 5.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +1.5 pts 37.0%

22.6% $1,000–$1,799 +4.9 pts ▸ 27.5%

20.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.7 pts 16.1%

12.5% Under $1,000 +0.2 pts ▸ 12.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Illawarra in Gold Coast +6 more in Illawarra

1,834 72nd pct 1,828 72nd pct

Stops/1k in Illawarra in Gold Coast +2.99 more in Illawarra

5.84 83rd pct 2.85 16th pct

Departures/1k in Illawarra in Gold Coast +206.3 more in Illawarra

1,039.5 55th pct 833.1 50th pct

PT routes in Illawarra in Gold Coast +27 more in Gold Coast

58 32nd pct 85 56th pct

How people get to work

50.7% Car (driver) +12.1 pts ▸ 62.8%

24.7% Worked at home ◂ +10.7 pts 13.9%

3.0% Car (passenger) +0.9 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.8% Walked +0.3 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.4% Bicycle +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.6% Bus even 0.6%

0.6% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Motor vehicles per home

37.6% 2 vehicles +1.6 pts ▸ 39.2%

35.0% 1 vehicle +0.9 pts ▸ 35.9%

12.5% 3 vehicles +0.4 pts ▸ 12.9%

7.6% 4 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 7.2%

7.3% No vehicle ◂ +2.5 pts 4.8%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

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

10.1% Construction +1.3 pts ▸ 11.4%

10.6% Education & training ◂ +2.3 pts 8.3%

8.9% Retail trade +1.4 pts ▸ 10.3%

7.0% Accommodation & food +1.9 pts ▸ 8.9%

7.3% Public administration & safety ◂ +3.1 pts 4.2%

6.1% Professional & technical +0.5 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.9% Manufacturing ◂ +0.8 pts 5.2%

4.5% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.8 pts 3.6%

3.7% Other services +0.4 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.1% Administrative & support +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.7 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

23.3% Professionals ◂ +2.9 pts 20.4%

14.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.4 pts 14.3%

13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +0.3 pts 12.8%

11.5% Managers +1.6 pts ▸ 13.1%

12.6% Clerical & administrative even 12.6%

8.1% Sales workers +2.3 pts ▸ 10.4%

8.6% Labourers +0.6 pts ▸ 9.2%

6.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.4 pts 5.1%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Illawarra in Gold Coast +377,616 higher in Gold Coast

330,469 61st pct 708,085 92nd pct

Growth in Illawarra in Gold Coast +3.8 pts higher in Gold Coast

5.2% 41st pct 9.0% 76th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Illawarra in Gold Coast +81 higher in Gold Coast

1,349 84th pct 1,430 88th pct

Max temp in Illawarra in Gold Coast +4.0 higher in Gold Coast

21.2 22nd pct 25.2 64th pct

Min temp in Illawarra in Gold Coast +3.2 higher in Gold Coast

10.5 35th pct 13.7 76th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Illawarra in Gold Coast even

5.9 67th pct 5.9 67th pct

Types ≤15 min in Illawarra in Gold Coast +0.3 more in Illawarra

5.7 68th pct 5.4 61st pct

15-min city in Illawarra in Gold Coast +2.9 pts higher in Illawarra

70.6% 66th pct 67.7% 62nd pct

Walk to shops in Illawarra in Gold Coast +8.6 pts higher in Gold Coast

60.9% 55th pct 69.5% 70th pct

Walk to transit in Illawarra in Gold Coast +10.1 pts higher in Illawarra

93.4% 76th pct 83.3% 55th pct

Walk to school in Illawarra in Gold Coast +24.0 pts higher in Illawarra

77.9% 68th pct 53.8% 29th pct

Walk to a park in Illawarra in Gold Coast +0.5 pts higher in Illawarra

94.1% 67th pct 93.6% 64th pct

Walk to health in Illawarra in Gold Coast +12.9 pts higher in Gold Coast

41.7% 48th pct 54.6% 72nd pct

Amenities/1k in Illawarra in Gold Coast +1.5 more in Gold Coast

12.2 18th pct 13.7 30th pct

Intersections/km² in Illawarra in Gold Coast +14 higher in Gold Coast

18 55th pct 33 62nd pct

Mean slope in Illawarra in Gold Coast +0.1 pts higher in Illawarra

7.0% 78th pct 6.8% 77th 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 Gold Coast with nearby areas

Logan - Beaudesert Brisbane - East Brisbane - South Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - West Brisbane - North Ipswich Richmond - Tweed Moreton Bay - South Toowoomba Sunshine Coast Moreton Bay - North

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Illawarra vs Gold Coast [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/107/illawarra/vs/309/gold-coast