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Ballarat vs Melbourne - Inner South

Name: Ballarat vs Melbourne - Inner South — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 131 km apart · Ballarat profile · Melbourne - Inner South profile

Ballarat Melbourne - Inner South

Melbourne - Inner South and Ballarat are two very different Victorian hubs. Melbourne - Inner South is a highly walkable area with a diverse population; 31.0% of people were born overseas and 23.2% use another language at home. It is a high-earning hub where 34.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week and 42.0% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Ballarat is more reliant on cars, with separate houses making up 88.6% of homes. It has a smaller overseas-born population of 11.2% and 20.9% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of people with no religion, at 41.5% in Melbourne - Inner South and 48.0% in Ballarat. They are also similar in their population growth since 2021 and the proportion of children under 15. However, some gaps are widening. The difference in high incomes and university degrees has grown since 2011, and the gap in typical monthly home-loan payments has increased to $970.

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Where they differ most

Population: 248,702 larger in Melbourne - Inner South Year 12: 26.1 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South Separate houses: 35.4 pts higher in Ballarat Work from home: 22.0 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South People / bedroom: 0.20 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +248,702 larger in Melbourne - Inner South gap steady

173,937 40th pct 422,639 86th pct

Median age in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +1 yrs older in Ballarat gap steady

42 yrs 64th pct 41 yrs 57th pct

Age structure

26.1% Older adults (45–64) +0.6 pts ▸ 26.7%

23.7% Young adults (25–44) +2.4 pts ▸ 26.1%

21.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.9 pts 18.1%

17.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.6 pts 17.3%

11.3% Youth (15–24) +0.4 pts ▸ 11.7%

Marital status

43.7% Married +4.7 pts ▸ 48.4%

36.5% Never married ◂ +0.8 pts 35.7%

10.1% Divorced ◂ +1.9 pts 8.2%

6.0% Widowed ◂ +0.8 pts 5.1%

3.7% Separated ◂ +1.2 pts 2.5%

Age & sex structure

Ballarat Melbourne - Inner South

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

82.8% Australia ◂ +16.9 pts 65.9%

2.7% England +1.3 pts ▸ 4.0%

0.4% China +2.9 pts ▸ 3.3%

1.1% India +1.6 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.0% New Zealand +0.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.2% South Africa +1.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.2% Italy +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Ancestry

42.0% English ◂ +10.9 pts 31.2%

39.4% Australian ◂ +12.3 pts 27.1%

14.8% Irish ◂ +3.5 pts 11.3%

12.6% Scottish ◂ +3.5 pts 9.2%

1.4% Chinese +5.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

2.8% Italian +2.5 pts ▸ 5.3%

0.5% Greek +4.6 pts ▸ 5.1%

4.4% German ◂ +0.7 pts 3.7%

1.3% Indian +2.1 pts ▸ 3.3%

2.7% Dutch ◂ +1.1 pts 1.5%

0.7% Filipino +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

Language

Language used at home

88.4% English only ◂ +14.9 pts 73.4%

0.6% Mandarin +3.4 pts ▸ 4.0%

0.1% Greek +3.0 pts ▸ 3.2%

0.2% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Cantonese +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% Hindi +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Punjabi ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.1% Arabic +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.0% No religion ◂ +6.5 pts 41.5%

41.6% Christianity ◂ +1.6 pts 40.0%

7.5% Not stated ◂ +2.2 pts 5.3%

0.1% Judaism +7.4 pts ▸ 7.4%

0.8% Hinduism +1.8 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.7% Buddhism +1.1 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.5% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.8% Other religions ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +18 more in Melbourne - Inner South

95 38th pct 113 56th pct

Schools/1k kids in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +1.51 more in Ballarat

3.06 68th pct 1.54 19th pct

Students in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +35,997 more in Melbourne - Inner South

28,337 26th pct 64,334 76th pct

Avg size in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +273 larger in Melbourne - Inner South

301 31st pct 574 77th pct

ICSEA in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +94 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

1,028 57th pct 1,122 92nd pct

Highest year of school

49.2% Year 12 +26.1 pts ▸ 75.2%

17.2% Year 10 ◂ +10.1 pts 7.1%

14.2% Year 11 ◂ +6.4 pts 7.9%

12.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +6.7 pts 5.4%

Highest qualification level

22.2% Bachelor degree +16.6 pts ▸ 38.8%

31.4% Certificate III / IV ◂ +18.0 pts 13.5%

7.3% Postgraduate degree +8.1 pts ▸ 15.4%

15.1% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.4 pts 14.7%

5.0% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.6 pts ▸ 5.7%

2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.2 pts 0.9%

Field of qualification

14.0% Management & commerce +10.9 pts ▸ 24.9%

12.9% Society & culture +0.1 pts ▸ 13.0%

12.5% Engineering & related ◂ +2.1 pts 10.4%

12.3% Health ◂ +1.7 pts 10.6%

10.1% Education ◂ +1.7 pts 8.4%

6.1% Architecture & building ◂ +1.4 pts 4.7%

4.0% Creative arts +1.3 pts ▸ 5.3%

5.2% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.8 pts 3.4%

2.3% Information technology +2.5 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.1% Natural & physical sciences +2.1 pts ▸ 4.3%

3.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.2 pts 1.0%

Income

Personal income in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +$317 higher in Melbourne - Inner South gap widening

$705 22nd pct $1,022 80th pct

Household income in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +$798 higher in Melbourne - Inner South gap widening

$1,376 22nd pct $2,174 84th pct

Family income in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +$1,068 higher in Melbourne - Inner South gap widening

$1,800 29th pct $2,868 89th pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +10.4 pts 20.5%

28.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.6 pts 26.5%

6.9% $4,000 or more +15.8 pts ▸ 22.7%

19.7% Under $650 ◂ +6.1 pts 13.5%

7.8% $3,000–$3,999 +3.6 pts ▸ 11.4%

Personal income distribution

43.3% Under $650 ◂ +8.7 pts 34.5%

31.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.9 pts 27.0%

14.2% $1,500–$2,999 +8.0 pts ▸ 22.3%

3.0% $3,000 or more +8.1 pts ▸ 11.1%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.5% Mental health ◂ +4.7 pts 7.8%

11.3% Arthritis ◂ +4.2 pts 7.1%

10.8% Asthma ◂ +3.2 pts 7.6%

9.5% Other condition ◂ +1.5 pts 8.0%

5.3% Diabetes ◂ +1.7 pts 3.6%

5.0% Heart disease ◂ +1.2 pts 3.7%

3.6% Cancer ◂ +0.5 pts 3.2%

2.7% Lung condition ◂ +1.5 pts 1.2%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

0.8% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.4% None +11.8 pts ▸ 68.2%

22.6% One condition ◂ +4.0 pts 18.6%

8.1% Two conditions ◂ +3.0 pts 5.1%

4.4% Three or more ◂ +2.1 pts 2.3%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +1,611 larger in Ballarat

3,080 30th pct 1,469 18th pct

Median age in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +7 yrs older in Melbourne - Inner South

22 yrs 14th pct 29 yrs 86th pct

Median income in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +$315 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

$539 28th pct $854 87th pct

Household income in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +$758 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

$1,387 29th pct $2,145 90th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +0.1 larger in Melbourne - Inner South gap steady

2.4 29th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

52.8% Couples with children +9.9 pts ▸ 62.7%

30.2% Couples without children ◂ +4.9 pts 25.3%

16.0% One-parent families ◂ +5.0 pts 11.0%

1.0% Other families even 1.0%

Household size

35.6% 2 people ◂ +3.5 pts 32.1%

30.2% 1 person ◂ +2.5 pts 27.7%

12.7% 4 people +4.7 pts ▸ 17.3%

13.6% 3 people +2.1 pts ▸ 15.6%

5.6% 5 people +0.2 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.3% 6 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 1.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +$148 higher in Melbourne - Inner South gap widening

$290 28th pct $438 85th pct

Mortgage in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +$970 higher in Melbourne - Inner South gap widening

$1,430 23rd pct $2,400 89th pct

People / bedroom in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +0.20 higher in Melbourne - Inner South gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.1% Owned outright ◂ +2.4 pts 34.7%

34.3% Owned with a mortgage even 34.3%

25.4% Rented +3.0 pts ▸ 28.4%

1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

1.6% Not stated ◂ +0.4 pts 1.1%

Types of homes

88.6% Separate house ◂ +35.4 pts 53.1%

8.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +15.4 pts ▸ 24.2%

1.9% Flat or apartment +20.1 pts ▸ 22.0%

0.5% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

Bedrooms per home

47.6% 3 bedrooms ◂ +11.1 pts 36.4%

16.1% 2 bedrooms +11.7 pts ▸ 27.8%

27.0% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.9 pts 22.1%

3.4% 1 bedroom +3.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

4.2% 5 or more +1.6 pts ▸ 5.8%

0.2% Studio / none even 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

53.1% $200–$349 ◂ +34.6 pts 18.5%

24.7% $350–$549 +19.9 pts ▸ 44.6%

17.2% Under $200 ◂ +11.2 pts 6.0%

0.9% $550–$749 +15.5 pts ▸ 16.4%

0.5% $750 or more +10.6 pts ▸ 11.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.9% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +24.8 pts 17.1%

6.5% $3,000 or more +29.5 pts ▸ 36.0%

22.4% $1,800–$2,999 +5.4 pts ▸ 27.8%

23.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +11.5 pts 12.3%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +1,116 more in Melbourne - Inner South

907 40th pct 2,023 77th pct

Stops/1k in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +0.43 more in Ballarat

5.21 70th pct 4.79 57th pct

Departures/1k in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +811.2 more in Melbourne - Inner South

737.9 47th pct 1,549.1 75th pct

PT routes in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +36 more in Melbourne - Inner South

50 27th pct 86 57th pct

How people get to work

60.8% Car (driver) ◂ +21.8 pts 39.0%

16.3% Worked at home +22.0 pts ▸ 38.3%

4.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +2.2 pts 2.3%

2.6% Walked ◂ +0.8 pts 1.9%

0.3% Train +2.3 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.5% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Bus even 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

35.1% 1 vehicle +5.5 pts ▸ 40.6%

37.6% 2 vehicles +0.9 pts ▸ 38.6%

13.7% 3 vehicles ◂ +4.4 pts 9.3%

8.5% 4 or more ◂ +4.1 pts 4.4%

5.1% No vehicle +2.0 pts ▸ 7.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.1 pts 13.5%

5.2% Professional & technical +7.9 pts ▸ 13.1%

9.8% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 10.1%

9.9% Construction ◂ +2.2 pts 7.7%

9.5% Retail trade ◂ +0.2 pts 9.3%

7.5% Manufacturing ◂ +2.1 pts 5.4%

7.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.5 pts 5.5%

6.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.3 pts 5.1%

1.7% Finance & insurance +4.6 pts ▸ 6.3%

3.8% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +3.5 pts 0.3%

3.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.9 pts 2.8%

3.5% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

20.7% Professionals +12.6 pts ▸ 33.3%

12.9% Managers +6.0 pts ▸ 18.9%

14.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +5.6 pts 8.9%

13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +4.1 pts 9.1%

11.8% Clerical & administrative +1.1 pts ▸ 12.8%

10.6% Labourers ◂ +6.2 pts 4.5%

8.8% Sales workers ◂ +0.4 pts 8.4%

5.8% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.4 pts 2.4%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +270,053 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

184,285 27th pct 454,338 82nd pct

Growth in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +0.1 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South

6.3% 55th pct 6.4% 55th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +143 higher in Ballarat

787 46th pct 644 30th pct

Max temp in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +1.9 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

18.2 10th pct 20.1 15th pct

Min temp in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +3.2 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

7.9 10th pct 11.1 45th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +3.5 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

4.7 44th pct 8.2 93rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +3.1 more in Melbourne - Inner South

4.6 45th pct 7.7 97th pct

15-min city in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +45.0 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South

53.5% 43rd pct 98.5% 98th pct

Walk to shops in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +44.9 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South

53.0% 43rd pct 97.9% 100th pct

Walk to transit in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +33.9 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South

65.5% 39th pct 99.4% 97th pct

Walk to school in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +39.2 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South

57.9% 39th pct 97.2% 97th pct

Walk to a park in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +19.6 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South

80.2% 39th pct 99.8% 96th pct

Walk to health in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +54.2 pts higher in Melbourne - Inner South

40.2% 45th pct 94.4% 98th pct

Amenities/1k in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +5.9 more in Ballarat

17.9 67th pct 12.0 16th pct

Intersections/km² in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +326 higher in Melbourne - Inner South

4 36th pct 330 98th pct

Mean slope in Ballarat in Melbourne - Inner South +2.2 pts higher in Ballarat

5.1% 38th pct 2.9% 0th pct

Compare Ballarat with nearby areas

Geelong Bendigo Melbourne - West Melbourne - North West Melbourne - Inner Melbourne - Inner South Melbourne - Inner East Melbourne - North East Mornington Peninsula Warrnambool and South West Melbourne - Outer East Melbourne - South East

Compare Melbourne - Inner South with nearby areas

Melbourne - Inner East Melbourne - Inner Melbourne - North East Mornington Peninsula Melbourne - West Melbourne - Outer East Melbourne - South East Melbourne - North West Geelong Ballarat Hume Bendigo

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballarat vs Melbourne - Inner South [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/201/ballarat/vs/208/melbourne-inner-south