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Ballarat vs Melbourne - West

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 93 km apart · Ballarat profile · Melbourne - West profile

Ballarat Melbourne - West

Melbourne - West and Ballarat are very different Victorian areas. Melbourne - West is much younger, with a typical resident aged 34 compared to 42 in Ballarat. It is also far more multicultural; 42.0% of people there were born overseas and 44.9% use a language other than English at home, while these figures are 11.2% and 5.8% in Ballarat. In contrast, Ballarat has a much higher share of people with no religion (48.0%) and more people who own their homes outright (37.1% compared to 25.2% in Melbourne - West).

Since 2011, the gaps between these two areas have generally widened. This is seen in the age difference, which grew to 8 years, and the share of overseas-born residents, which is now 30.8 percentage points higher in Melbourne - West. Both areas share a similar proportion of First Nations people, around 1% of their populations, and have very similar levels of school advantage. While Melbourne - West is more walkable with better access to parks and public transport, Ballarat has more schools per child.

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Where they differ most

Population: 679,117 larger in Melbourne - West Born overseas: 30.8 pts higher in Melbourne - West Other language: 39.1 pts higher in Melbourne - West People / bedroom: 0.20 higher in Melbourne - West No religion: 20.5 pts higher in Ballarat

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +679,117 larger in Melbourne - West gap widening

173,937 40th pct 853,054 100th pct

Median age in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +8 yrs older in Ballarat gap widening

42 yrs 64th pct 34 yrs 1st pct

Age structure

23.7% Young adults (25–44) +10.1 pts ▸ 33.8%

26.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.5 pts 21.6%

17.9% Children (0–14) +3.7 pts ▸ 21.6%

21.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +9.8 pts 11.2%

11.3% Youth (15–24) +0.5 pts ▸ 11.8%

Marital status

43.7% Married +5.4 pts ▸ 49.1%

36.5% Never married ◂ +0.2 pts 36.3%

10.1% Divorced ◂ +2.8 pts 7.4%

6.0% Widowed ◂ +2.0 pts 3.9%

3.7% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 3.3%

Age & sex structure

Ballarat Melbourne - West

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

82.8% Australia ◂ +29.9 pts 52.9%

1.1% India +8.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

0.1% Vietnam +4.6 pts ▸ 4.7%

2.7% England ◂ +1.0 pts 1.7%

0.5% Philippines +2.0 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.0% New Zealand +1.4 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.4% China +1.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.2% Italy +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Nepal +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

42.0% English ◂ +23.7 pts 18.3%

39.4% Australian ◂ +21.0 pts 18.4%

14.8% Irish ◂ +9.5 pts 5.3%

12.6% Scottish ◂ +8.1 pts 4.6%

1.3% Indian +7.9 pts ▸ 9.2%

0.2% Vietnamese +6.0 pts ▸ 6.2%

1.4% Chinese +4.3 pts ▸ 5.6%

2.8% Italian +2.4 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.4% German ◂ +2.3 pts 2.1%

0.7% Filipino +2.9 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.7% Dutch ◂ +1.9 pts 0.8%

0.5% Greek +1.8 pts ▸ 2.4%

Language

Language used at home

88.4% English only ◂ +39.3 pts 49.1%

0.1% Vietnamese +6.4 pts ▸ 6.5%

0.5% Punjabi +3.9 pts ▸ 4.4%

0.2% Hindi +2.2 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.6% Mandarin +1.5 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.1% Arabic +1.9 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.1% Greek +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.1% Cantonese +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Tagalog +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Italian +1.0 pts ▸ 1.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.0% No religion ◂ +20.5 pts 27.5%

41.6% Christianity even 41.5%

7.5% Not stated ◂ +0.3 pts 7.2%

0.8% Hinduism +6.5 pts ▸ 7.3%

0.5% Islam +6.7 pts ▸ 7.2%

0.7% Buddhism +4.4 pts ▸ 5.1%

0.8% Other religions +3.3 pts ▸ 4.1%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +137 more in Melbourne - West

95 38th pct 232 99th pct

Schools/1k kids in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +1.80 more in Ballarat

3.06 68th pct 1.26 5th pct

Students in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +134,966 more in Melbourne - West

28,337 26th pct 163,303 100th pct

Avg size in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +402 larger in Melbourne - West

301 31st pct 704 94th pct

ICSEA in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +9 higher in Melbourne - West

1,028 57th pct 1,037 64th pct

Highest year of school

49.2% Year 12 +14.5 pts ▸ 63.7%

17.2% Year 10 ◂ +6.6 pts 10.5%

14.2% Year 11 ◂ +6.1 pts 8.1%

12.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.0 pts 11.1%

Highest qualification level

31.4% Certificate III / IV ◂ +10.0 pts 21.4%

22.2% Bachelor degree +7.1 pts ▸ 29.3%

15.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.6 pts ▸ 15.7%

7.3% Postgraduate degree +5.3 pts ▸ 12.5%

5.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.3 pts 3.7%

2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.6 pts 1.5%

Field of qualification

14.0% Management & commerce +6.4 pts ▸ 20.4%

12.5% Engineering & related +1.1 pts ▸ 13.6%

12.9% Society & culture ◂ +1.3 pts 11.5%

12.3% Health ◂ +4.1 pts 8.3%

10.1% Education ◂ +3.6 pts 6.5%

2.3% Information technology +4.7 pts ▸ 7.0%

6.1% Architecture & building ◂ +1.4 pts 4.7%

5.2% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +0.3 pts 3.6%

2.1% Natural & physical sciences +1.1 pts ▸ 3.2%

3.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.2 pts 1.0%

Income

Personal income in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +$81 higher in Melbourne - West gap widening

$705 22nd pct $786 52nd pct

Household income in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +$491 higher in Melbourne - West gap widening

$1,376 22nd pct $1,867 69th pct

Family income in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +$277 higher in Melbourne - West gap widening

$1,800 29th pct $2,077 59th pct

Household income distribution

28.0% $1,500–$2,999 +5.1 pts ▸ 33.2%

30.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.1 pts 24.8%

19.7% Under $650 ◂ +6.5 pts 13.2%

7.8% $3,000–$3,999 +3.7 pts ▸ 11.5%

6.9% $4,000 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 11.3%

Personal income distribution

43.3% Under $650 ◂ +3.0 pts 40.3%

31.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.1 pts 31.8%

14.2% $1,500–$2,999 +2.9 pts ▸ 17.2%

3.0% $3,000 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.5% Mental health ◂ +5.5 pts 7.0%

11.3% Arthritis ◂ +5.5 pts 5.8%

10.8% Asthma ◂ +3.3 pts 7.5%

9.5% Other condition ◂ +2.5 pts 7.0%

5.3% Diabetes ◂ +0.4 pts 5.0%

5.0% Heart disease ◂ +2.3 pts 2.7%

3.6% Cancer ◂ +1.8 pts 1.8%

2.7% Lung condition ◂ +1.7 pts 1.1%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.4% None +12.7 pts ▸ 69.1%

22.6% One condition ◂ +6.5 pts 16.1%

8.1% Two conditions ◂ +3.7 pts 4.5%

4.4% Three or more ◂ +2.1 pts 2.2%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +3,938 larger in Melbourne - West

3,080 30th pct 7,018 60th pct

Median age in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +3 yrs older in Melbourne - West

22 yrs 14th pct 25 yrs 64th pct

Median income in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +$107 higher in Melbourne - West

$539 28th pct $646 66th pct

Household income in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +$309 higher in Melbourne - West

$1,387 29th pct $1,696 62nd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +0.5 larger in Melbourne - West gap widening

2.4 29th pct 2.9 93rd pct

Family composition

52.8% Couples with children +12.4 pts ▸ 65.2%

30.2% Couples without children ◂ +11.2 pts 19.0%

16.0% One-parent families ◂ +1.5 pts 14.5%

1.0% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

35.6% 2 people ◂ +7.8 pts 27.8%

30.2% 1 person ◂ +10.3 pts 19.9%

12.7% 4 people +7.3 pts ▸ 20.0%

13.6% 3 people +5.7 pts ▸ 19.3%

5.6% 5 people +2.5 pts ▸ 8.1%

2.3% 6 or more +2.6 pts ▸ 5.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +$71 higher in Melbourne - West gap steady

$290 28th pct $361 57th pct

Mortgage in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +$470 higher in Melbourne - West gap widening

$1,430 23rd pct $1,900 57th pct

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

0.70 0th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

34.3% Owned with a mortgage +8.0 pts ▸ 42.3%

37.1% Owned outright ◂ +11.8 pts 25.2%

25.4% Rented +4.1 pts ▸ 29.5%

1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.4 pts 1.3%

1.6% Not stated +0.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

Types of homes

88.6% Separate house ◂ +8.3 pts 80.3%

8.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.8 pts ▸ 13.6%

1.9% Flat or apartment +3.9 pts ▸ 5.8%

0.5% Other dwelling ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

47.6% 3 bedrooms ◂ +4.2 pts 43.4%

27.0% 4 bedrooms +7.8 pts ▸ 34.8%

16.1% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.8 pts 12.3%

4.2% 5 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 5.3%

3.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.9 pts 2.5%

0.2% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

53.1% $200–$349 ◂ +21.3 pts 31.8%

24.7% $350–$549 +26.8 pts ▸ 51.4%

17.2% Under $200 ◂ +10.4 pts 6.8%

0.9% $550–$749 +3.6 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.5% $750 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 1.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.9% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +11.9 pts 30.0%

22.4% $1,800–$2,999 +15.2 pts ▸ 37.6%

23.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +11.3 pts 12.5%

6.5% $3,000 or more +6.7 pts ▸ 13.1%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +2,388 more in Melbourne - West

907 40th pct 3,295 97th pct

Stops/1k in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +1.35 more in Ballarat

5.21 70th pct 3.86 27th pct

Departures/1k in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +448.9 more in Melbourne - West

737.9 47th pct 1,186.8 61st pct

PT routes in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +63 more in Melbourne - West

50 27th pct 113 82nd pct

How people get to work

60.8% Car (driver) ◂ +9.7 pts 51.1%

16.3% Worked at home +8.4 pts ▸ 24.7%

4.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.5 pts 4.0%

2.6% Walked ◂ +1.7 pts 0.9%

0.3% Train +2.4 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.4% Bus +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.5% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

37.6% 2 vehicles +1.6 pts ▸ 39.2%

35.1% 1 vehicle +1.2 pts ▸ 36.3%

13.7% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.5 pts 12.2%

8.5% 4 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 6.4%

5.1% No vehicle +0.8 pts ▸ 5.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +5.7 pts 11.9%

9.9% Construction ◂ +0.9 pts 9.1%

9.8% Education & training ◂ +2.4 pts 7.5%

9.5% Retail trade +0.1 pts ▸ 9.6%

3.7% Transport & warehousing +5.1 pts ▸ 8.9%

7.5% Manufacturing ◂ +0.4 pts 7.0%

5.2% Professional & technical +2.2 pts ▸ 7.4%

7.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.0 pts 6.0%

6.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.6 pts 5.8%

1.7% Finance & insurance +3.2 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.8% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +3.2 pts 0.6%

2.7% Administrative & support +0.9 pts ▸ 3.6%

Occupations people work in

20.7% Professionals +0.9 pts ▸ 21.6%

14.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.1 pts 12.3%

11.8% Clerical & administrative +1.7 pts ▸ 13.5%

13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +2.2 pts 11.0%

12.9% Managers ◂ +1.7 pts 11.2%

10.6% Labourers ◂ +1.0 pts 9.6%

5.8% Machinery operators & drivers +4.4 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.8% Sales workers ◂ +0.6 pts 8.2%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +796,015 higher in Melbourne - West

184,285 27th pct 980,300 100th pct

Growth in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +7.1 pts higher in Melbourne - West

6.3% 55th pct 13.4% 97th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +265 higher in Ballarat

787 46th pct 522 19th pct

Max temp in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +1.9 higher in Melbourne - West

18.2 10th pct 20.1 16th pct

Min temp in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +2.5 higher in Melbourne - West

7.9 10th pct 10.4 34th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +1.2 higher in Melbourne - West

4.7 44th pct 5.9 66th pct

Types ≤15 min in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +0.9 more in Melbourne - West

4.6 45th pct 5.6 65th pct

15-min city in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +14.5 pts higher in Melbourne - West

53.5% 43rd pct 68.0% 63rd pct

Walk to shops in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +15.7 pts higher in Melbourne - West

53.0% 43rd pct 68.7% 69th pct

Walk to transit in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +17.1 pts higher in Melbourne - West

65.5% 39th pct 82.6% 55th pct

Walk to school in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +23.0 pts higher in Melbourne - West

57.9% 39th pct 81.0% 72nd pct

Walk to a park in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +16.9 pts higher in Melbourne - West

80.2% 39th pct 97.1% 78th pct

Walk to health in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +11.7 pts higher in Melbourne - West

40.2% 45th pct 51.9% 67th pct

Amenities/1k in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +6.3 more in Ballarat

17.9 67th pct 11.7 13th pct

Intersections/km² in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +112 higher in Melbourne - West

4 36th pct 116 81st pct

Mean slope in Ballarat in Melbourne - West +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 - West with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballarat vs Melbourne - West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/201/ballarat/vs/213/melbourne-west