Compare
Sydney - South West vs Melbourne - Inner South
Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 688 km apart · Sydney - South West profile · Melbourne - Inner South profile
Sydney - South West Melbourne - Inner South
Sydney - South West and Melbourne - Inner South are both large, populous regions, but they differ sharply in their makeup. Sydney - South West is much more culturally diverse, with 47.4% of people born overseas and 58.6% using another language at home. It is also younger and more family-oriented, with 20.9% of people under 15 and a higher share of separate houses (75.0%). In contrast, Melbourne - Inner South has a more highly qualified workforce, with 42.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. It is also wealthier, with a typical weekly personal income of $1,022 compared to $620 in Sydney - South West.
Everyday life shares some common ground in both places, such as similar numbers of public transport stops per person and an equal share of residents who served in the Defence Force. However, the gaps in their profiles are often growing. The difference in typical weekly income and the share of people working from home have both widened since 2011. While both are walkable, Melbourne - Inner South is a walker's paradise, whereas Sydney - South West is very walkable.
Where they differ most
Demographics & Identity
- First area, 2011: 360,166
- First area, 2016: 405,962
- First area, 2021: 474,430
- Second area, 2011: 378,215
- Second area, 2016: 403,707
- Second area, 2021: 422,639
- First area, 2011: 34 yrs
- First area, 2016: 35 yrs
- First area, 2021: 35 yrs
- Second area, 2011: 39 yrs
- Second area, 2016: 40 yrs
- Second area, 2021: 41 yrs
Age structure
Marital status
Age & sex structure
Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.
- 85+ in Sydney - South West: 0.6% males, 0.9% females; 85+ in Melbourne - Inner South: 1.0% males, 1.9% females
- 80–84 in Sydney - South West: 0.7% males, 0.9% females; 80–84 in Melbourne - Inner South: 1.0% males, 1.4% females
- 75–79 in Sydney - South West: 1.1% males, 1.2% females; 75–79 in Melbourne - Inner South: 1.5% males, 1.8% females
- 70–74 in Sydney - South West: 1.7% males, 1.8% females; 70–74 in Melbourne - Inner South: 2.1% males, 2.5% females
- 65–69 in Sydney - South West: 2.1% males, 2.3% females; 65–69 in Melbourne - Inner South: 2.3% males, 2.6% females
- 60–64 in Sydney - South West: 2.7% males, 2.8% females; 60–64 in Melbourne - Inner South: 2.7% males, 3.0% females
- 55–59 in Sydney - South West: 3.0% males, 3.0% females; 55–59 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.0% males, 3.3% females
- 50–54 in Sydney - South West: 3.0% males, 3.1% females; 50–54 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.5% males, 3.9% females
- 45–49 in Sydney - South West: 3.1% males, 3.3% females; 45–49 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.5% males, 3.8% females
- 40–44 in Sydney - South West: 3.2% males, 3.4% females; 40–44 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.3% males, 3.6% females
- 35–39 in Sydney - South West: 3.5% males, 3.7% females; 35–39 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.3% males, 3.6% females
- 30–34 in Sydney - South West: 3.5% males, 3.8% females; 30–34 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.0% males, 3.3% females
- 25–29 in Sydney - South West: 3.5% males, 3.6% females; 25–29 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.0% males, 3.0% females
- 20–24 in Sydney - South West: 3.5% males, 3.4% females; 20–24 in Melbourne - Inner South: 2.9% males, 2.8% females
- 15–19 in Sydney - South West: 3.5% males, 3.3% females; 15–19 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.0% males, 2.9% females
- 10–14 in Sydney - South West: 3.6% males, 3.4% females; 10–14 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.3% males, 3.1% females
- 5–9 in Sydney - South West: 3.7% males, 3.4% females; 5–9 in Melbourne - Inner South: 3.0% males, 2.9% females
- 0–4 in Sydney - South West: 3.5% males, 3.3% females; 0–4 in Melbourne - Inner South: 2.6% males, 2.5% females
Ancestry & Birthplace
Country of birth
Ancestry
Language
Language used at home
Religion
Religious affiliation
Education & Qualifications
Highest year of school
Highest qualification level
Field of qualification
Income
- First area, 2011: $426
- First area, 2016: $500
- First area, 2021: $620
- Second area, 2011: $691
- Second area, 2016: $802
- Second area, 2021: $1,022
- First area, 2011: $1,171
- First area, 2016: $1,429
- First area, 2021: $1,713
- Second area, 2011: $1,491
- Second area, 2016: $1,793
- Second area, 2021: $2,174
- First area, 2011: $1,235
- First area, 2016: $1,489
- First area, 2021: $1,850
- Second area, 2011: $1,995
- Second area, 2016: $2,309
- Second area, 2021: $2,868
Household income distribution
Personal income distribution
Health & Disability
Long-term health conditions reported
Number of long-term health conditions
Community Participation
First Nations
Family & Households
- First area, 2011: 3.2
- First area, 2016: 3.3
- First area, 2021: 3.2
- Second area, 2011: 2.5
- Second area, 2016: 2.5
- Second area, 2021: 2.5
Family composition
Household size
Housing & Dwellings
- First area, 2011: $290
- First area, 2016: $365
- First area, 2021: $405
- Second area, 2011: $330
- Second area, 2016: $386
- Second area, 2021: $438
- First area, 2011: $2,000
- First area, 2016: $2,000
- First area, 2021: $2,200
- Second area, 2011: $2,167
- Second area, 2016: $2,167
- Second area, 2021: $2,400
- First area, 2011: 1.20
- First area, 2016: 1.00
- First area, 2021: 1.00
- Second area, 2011: 1.10
- Second area, 2016: 0.90
- Second area, 2021: 0.90
How homes are owned or rented
Types of homes
Bedrooms per home
Weekly rent distribution
Monthly mortgage distribution
Transport & Vehicles
How people get to work
Motor vehicles per home
Migration & Movement
Jobs & Industry
Industries people work in
Occupations people work in
Economy & Advantage
Environment & Climate
Walkability
Compare Sydney - South West with nearby areas
Compare Melbourne - Inner South with nearby areas
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Sydney - South West vs Melbourne - Inner South [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/127/sydney-south-west/vs/208/melbourne-inner-south