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Bendigo vs Geelong

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 165 km apart · Bendigo profile · Geelong profile

Bendigo Geelong

Geelong and Bendigo are both significant Victorian regional hubs, but they offer different living patterns. Geelong is more urban and connected, with far more homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries (62.0% vs 46.8%), health services (52.5% vs 38.8%), and parks (93.9% vs 80.9%). This higher accessibility is reflected in Geelong's street connectivity, which is far higher than Bendigo's. Bendigo's population is noticeably older, with a typical resident aged 43 compared to 40 in Geelong.

This age gap has widened since 2011, as have the differences in education and income. Geelong now has a well higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (25.1% vs 21.6%) and more households earning $3,000 or more a week. Despite these drifting trends, the two areas remain very similar in other ways. They have almost identical proportions of children under 15 and people per home, and both sit well above the national figure for the share of people with no religion.

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Where they differ most

Population: 160,114 larger in Geelong Recent movers: 4.8 pts higher in Geelong Born overseas: 6.0 pts higher in Geelong People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Geelong Household size: 0.1 larger in Geelong

Demographics & Identity

Population in Bendigo in Geelong +160,114 larger in Geelong gap widening

167,764 38th pct 327,878 74th pct

Median age in Bendigo in Geelong +3 yrs older in Bendigo gap widening

43 yrs 71st pct 40 yrs 50th pct

Age structure

23.5% Young adults (25–44) +2.8 pts ▸ 26.2%

26.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.6 pts 24.5%

21.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.0 pts 19.7%

17.9% Children (0–14) +0.1 pts ▸ 18.1%

10.8% Youth (15–24) +0.7 pts ▸ 11.6%

Marital status

45.0% Married +2.0 pts ▸ 46.9%

35.3% Never married +0.4 pts ▸ 35.7%

10.3% Divorced ◂ +1.4 pts 8.8%

5.9% Widowed ◂ +0.4 pts 5.4%

3.7% Separated ◂ +0.5 pts 3.2%

Age & sex structure

Bendigo Geelong

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

83.3% Australia ◂ +4.6 pts 78.7%

2.4% England +0.9 pts ▸ 3.3%

0.8% India +0.8 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.9% New Zealand +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.5% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Italy +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% China +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

42.8% English ◂ +3.7 pts 39.1%

39.9% Australian ◂ +3.4 pts 36.4%

14.3% Irish ◂ +1.0 pts 13.3%

12.4% Scottish ◂ +0.5 pts 11.9%

4.5% German even 4.5%

3.1% Italian +1.3 pts ▸ 4.4%

1.6% Dutch +1.0 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.0% Indian +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.2% Chinese +0.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.5% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.7% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Language

Language used at home

87.8% English only ◂ +3.4 pts 84.5%

0.2% Italian +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Mandarin +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.3% Punjabi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.2% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.8% No religion ◂ +3.1 pts 45.7%

40.4% Christianity +2.8 pts ▸ 43.3%

8.0% Not stated ◂ +1.2 pts 6.8%

0.5% Islam +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.6% Hinduism +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

1.1% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.6% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Bendigo in Geelong +27 more in Geelong

82 27th pct 109 52nd pct

Schools/1k kids in Bendigo in Geelong +0.89 more in Bendigo

2.73 62nd pct 1.84 39th pct

Students in Bendigo in Geelong +28,154 more in Geelong

26,288 23rd pct 54,442 67th pct

Avg size in Bendigo in Geelong +179 larger in Geelong

321 34th pct 499 60th pct

ICSEA in Bendigo in Geelong +32 higher in Geelong

1,022 54th pct 1,054 73rd pct

Highest year of school

49.1% Year 12 +7.0 pts ▸ 56.1%

17.3% Year 10 ◂ +3.2 pts 14.1%

13.8% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 13.7%

12.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.2 pts 9.9%

Highest qualification level

30.4% Certificate III / IV ◂ +2.0 pts 28.4%

22.6% Bachelor degree +3.5 pts ▸ 26.1%

15.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.3 pts ▸ 16.4%

7.1% Postgraduate degree +1.2 pts ▸ 8.3%

5.4% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.5 pts 4.9%

2.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.4 pts 1.6%

Field of qualification

12.9% Management & commerce +2.6 pts ▸ 15.4%

13.3% Health ◂ +0.4 pts 12.8%

12.9% Society & culture ◂ +0.5 pts 12.4%

12.6% Engineering & related +0.3 pts ▸ 12.9%

10.4% Education ◂ +0.3 pts 10.1%

6.0% Architecture & building +1.4 pts ▸ 7.4%

4.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.1 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.8% Creative arts +0.1 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.3% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.1 pts 2.2%

2.2% Natural & physical sciences +0.6 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.9% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Bendigo in Geelong +$58 higher in Geelong gap widening

$729 29th pct $787 52nd pct

Household income in Bendigo in Geelong +$226 higher in Geelong gap widening

$1,432 28th pct $1,658 50th pct

Family income in Bendigo in Geelong +$236 higher in Geelong gap widening

$1,864 37th pct $2,100 61st pct

Household income distribution

30.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.2 pts 27.1%

29.0% $1,500–$2,999 +0.7 pts ▸ 29.7%

18.4% Under $650 ◂ +2.3 pts 16.1%

8.5% $3,000–$3,999 +1.9 pts ▸ 10.4%

7.1% $4,000 or more +3.2 pts ▸ 10.2%

Personal income distribution

41.8% Under $650 ◂ +2.0 pts 39.7%

32.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.4 pts 31.6%

15.1% $1,500–$2,999 +2.5 pts ▸ 17.6%

2.9% $3,000 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 4.1%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.1% Mental health ◂ +1.5 pts 10.6%

11.8% Arthritis ◂ +2.7 pts 9.1%

10.1% Asthma ◂ +0.4 pts 9.6%

9.2% Other condition ◂ +0.7 pts 8.5%

4.9% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 4.6%

4.8% Heart disease ◂ +0.5 pts 4.3%

3.7% Cancer ◂ +0.5 pts 3.2%

2.2% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 1.8%

1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

0.8% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.7% None +4.6 pts ▸ 61.3%

22.3% One condition ◂ +1.3 pts 21.0%

7.8% Two conditions ◂ +1.2 pts 6.6%

4.2% Three or more ◂ +0.8 pts 3.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Bendigo in Geelong +696 larger in Geelong

3,323 32nd pct 4,019 39th pct

Median age in Bendigo in Geelong +1 yrs older in Geelong

23 yrs 29th pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Bendigo in Geelong +$54 higher in Geelong

$583 47th pct $637 64th pct

Household income in Bendigo in Geelong +$257 higher in Geelong

$1,407 33rd pct $1,664 59th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Bendigo in Geelong +0.1 larger in Geelong gap steady

2.4 29th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

53.5% Couples with children +3.3 pts ▸ 56.8%

30.1% Couples without children ◂ +1.4 pts 28.7%

15.4% One-parent families ◂ +1.8 pts 13.6%

1.1% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

Household size

35.8% 2 people ◂ +0.9 pts 35.0%

29.0% 1 person ◂ +2.5 pts 26.5%

13.0% 4 people +2.1 pts ▸ 15.1%

14.1% 3 people +1.0 pts ▸ 15.1%

5.5% 5 people +0.6 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.5% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 2.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Bendigo in Geelong +$50 higher in Geelong gap widening

$300 31st pct $350 52nd pct

Mortgage in Bendigo in Geelong +$281 higher in Geelong gap widening

$1,452 24th pct $1,733 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Bendigo in Geelong +0.10 higher in Geelong gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

38.1% Owned outright ◂ +3.1 pts 35.1%

35.4% Owned with a mortgage +0.3 pts ▸ 35.7%

23.5% Rented +2.5 pts ▸ 26.0%

1.5% Other tenure +0.3 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.4% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

92.3% Separate house ◂ +4.6 pts 87.6%

6.3% Townhouse / semi-detached +3.2 pts ▸ 9.6%

0.7% Flat or apartment +1.5 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.5% Other dwelling even 0.5%

Bedrooms per home

47.3% 3 bedrooms ◂ +1.1 pts 46.2%

27.6% 4 bedrooms +2.1 pts ▸ 29.7%

16.2% 2 bedrooms ◂ +1.4 pts 14.8%

4.5% 5 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 4.9%

2.8% 1 bedroom +0.3 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

51.2% $200–$349 ◂ +16.0 pts 35.2%

26.9% $350–$549 +17.2 pts ▸ 44.1%

16.6% Under $200 ◂ +5.3 pts 11.3%

1.5% $550–$749 +3.5 pts ▸ 5.0%

0.3% $750 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

42.7% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +9.3 pts 33.4%

22.2% $1,800–$2,999 +11.0 pts ▸ 33.2%

22.5% Under $1,000 ◂ +6.7 pts 15.8%

7.1% $3,000 or more +4.8 pts ▸ 11.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Bendigo in Geelong +615 more in Geelong

931 42nd pct 1,546 65th pct

Stops/1k in Bendigo in Geelong +0.83 more in Bendigo

5.55 77th pct 4.72 54th pct

Departures/1k in Bendigo in Geelong +296.8 more in Geelong

651.0 45th pct 947.8 53rd pct

PT routes in Bendigo in Geelong +8 more in Geelong

66 40th pct 74 47th pct

How people get to work

59.9% Car (driver) ◂ +2.1 pts 57.8%

17.0% Worked at home +2.8 pts ▸ 19.9%

4.3% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.5 pts 3.8%

2.8% Walked ◂ +0.7 pts 2.0%

0.5% Bus +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Bicycle even 0.6%

0.3% Train +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Motor vehicles per home

38.4% 2 vehicles +2.8 pts ▸ 41.2%

34.0% 1 vehicle +0.4 pts ▸ 34.4%

14.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.7 pts 12.5%

8.8% 4 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 7.2%

4.6% No vehicle +0.1 pts ▸ 4.7%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.8% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.0 pts 16.8%

9.3% Construction +2.3 pts ▸ 11.5%

9.4% Retail trade +0.9 pts ▸ 10.3%

9.0% Education & training +0.9 pts ▸ 9.9%

8.3% Manufacturing ◂ +2.4 pts 5.9%

6.3% Accommodation & food +0.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

6.5% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.1 pts 6.5%

5.1% Professional & technical +1.2 pts ▸ 6.3%

3.4% Transport & warehousing +0.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.8% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +2.2 pts 1.6%

3.6% Other services ◂ +0.2 pts 3.4%

3.1% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.2 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

22.1% Professionals +0.9 pts ▸ 23.0%

13.6% Technicians & trades +0.9 pts ▸ 14.6%

12.8% Community & personal service +0.5 pts ▸ 13.2%

13.2% Managers ◂ +0.7 pts 12.5%

11.3% Clerical & administrative even 11.3%

11.3% Labourers ◂ +1.9 pts 9.3%

8.4% Sales workers +0.3 pts ▸ 8.7%

5.7% Machinery operators & drivers even 5.7%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Bendigo in Geelong +182,221 higher in Geelong

173,769 25th pct 355,990 68th pct

Growth in Bendigo in Geelong +4.8 pts higher in Geelong

3.9% 27th pct 8.7% 74th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Bendigo in Geelong +60 higher in Geelong

513 18th pct 573 23rd pct

Max temp in Bendigo in Geelong +2.8 higher in Bendigo

22.3 30th pct 19.5 13th pct

Min temp in Bendigo in Geelong +0.8 higher in Geelong

9.1 18th pct 10.0 28th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Bendigo in Geelong +1.0 higher in Geelong

4.6 43rd pct 5.6 59th pct

Types ≤15 min in Bendigo in Geelong +0.7 more in Geelong

4.6 43rd pct 5.3 58th pct

15-min city in Bendigo in Geelong +10.2 pts higher in Geelong

51.9% 40th pct 62.1% 55th pct

Walk to shops in Bendigo in Geelong +15.2 pts higher in Geelong

46.8% 27th pct 62.0% 57th pct

Walk to transit in Bendigo in Geelong +10.7 pts higher in Geelong

69.6% 44th pct 80.3% 53rd pct

Walk to school in Bendigo in Geelong +5.0 pts higher in Geelong

59.7% 42nd pct 64.6% 50th pct

Walk to a park in Bendigo in Geelong +13.0 pts higher in Geelong

80.9% 40th pct 93.9% 66th pct

Walk to health in Bendigo in Geelong +13.6 pts higher in Geelong

38.8% 41st pct 52.5% 68th pct

Amenities/1k in Bendigo in Geelong +0.2 more in Bendigo

20.9 84th pct 20.8 83rd pct

Intersections/km² in Bendigo in Geelong +9 higher in Geelong

3 34th pct 13 49th pct

Mean slope in Bendigo in Geelong +0.5 pts higher in Bendigo

4.9% 34th pct 4.4% 25th pct

Compare Bendigo with nearby areas

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

Compare Geelong with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Bendigo vs Geelong [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/202/bendigo/vs/203/geelong