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Cowes vs Smiths Beach

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

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 4.4 km apart · Cowes profile · Smiths Beach profile

Cowes Smiths Beach

Cowes and Smiths Beach are neighbouring areas with very different profiles. Cowes is a larger hub with a much older population, where 34.9% are aged 65 and over. This is reflected in the health data, as Cowes has a far higher share of people with long-term health conditions (38.1%) and those needing help with daily activities (8.4%). In contrast, Smiths Beach is more highly qualified, with 33.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher compared to 15.5% in Cowes. Smiths Beach also has a higher share of people working or looking for work (60.5%) and more separate houses (97.0%).

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of people in de facto relationships. They also share several common traits, including nearly identical typical weekly rents of around $330 and similar numbers of people living alone. While Cowes is more walkable for health services and schools, the gap in grocery access has widened, with 100% of Smiths Beach homes now within a 15-minute walk of food.

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Where they differ most

Population: 6,278 larger in Cowes Year 12: 20.7 pts higher in Smiths Beach Bachelor+: 17.9 pts higher in Smiths Beach Participation: 16.8 pts higher in Smiths Beach PT commute: 0.2 pts higher in Cowes

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cowes in Smiths Beach +6,278 larger in Cowes gap widening

6,593 86th pct 315 59th pct

Median age in Cowes in Smiths Beach +4 yrs older in Cowes gap narrowing

55 yrs 86th pct 51 yrs 74th pct

Age structure

26.9% Older adults (45–64) +8.0 pts ▸ 34.9%

34.9% Seniors (65+) ◂ +15.2 pts 19.7%

17.7% Young adults (25–44) +3.6 pts ▸ 21.3%

14.3% Children (0–14) +0.6 pts ▸ 14.9%

6.4% Youth (15–24) +1.3 pts ▸ 7.6%

Marital status

49.6% Married +4.2 pts ▸ 53.8%

24.5% Never married +8.2 pts ▸ 32.7%

12.4% Divorced ◂ +1.1 pts 11.3%

8.8% Widowed ◂ +5.4 pts 3.4%

4.9% Separated ◂ +2.2 pts 2.6%

Age & sex structure

Cowes Smiths Beach

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

73.1% Australia +5.3 pts ▸ 78.4%

6.4% England ◂ +3.0 pts 3.5%

1.6% New Zealand +1.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.2% India ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%

0.9% Italy ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%

0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

0.4% China ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.4% Philippines ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.3% Vietnam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

43.5% English +1.6 pts ▸ 45.1%

35.6% Australian ◂ +8.6 pts 27.0%

11.8% Irish +8.5 pts ▸ 20.3%

12.0% Scottish ◂ +0.6 pts 11.4%

4.2% Italian +1.8 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.6% German ◂ +0.4 pts 3.2%

2.4% Dutch +0.8 pts ▸ 3.2%

1.0% Greek +1.8 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.3% Chinese ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%

1.0% Indian ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

0.6% Filipino ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Language

Language used at home

85.5% English only +2.4 pts ▸ 87.9%

0.6% Greek +1.3 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.0% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

0.6% Mandarin ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.4% Cantonese ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

46.8% No religion +6.5 pts ▸ 53.3%

42.4% Christianity ◂ +4.0 pts 38.4%

7.8% Not stated ◂ +1.8 pts 6.0%

1.0% Buddhism ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

0.8% Hinduism ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

0.8% Other religions ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

0.3% Islam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Cowes in Smiths Beach

2.12 31st pct —

Schools ≤3 km in Cowes in Smiths Beach +3 more in Cowes

4 71st pct 1 43rd pct

Avg size in Cowes in Smiths Beach +518 larger in Smiths Beach

399 59th pct 916 100th pct

ICSEA in Cowes in Smiths Beach +27 higher in Smiths Beach

1,056 80th pct 1,083 88th pct

Highest year of school

44.2% Year 12 +20.7 pts ▸ 64.9%

19.2% Year 10 ◂ +3.5 pts 15.6%

15.4% Year 11 ◂ +3.5 pts 11.8%

12.3% Year 9 or below ◂ +7.7 pts 4.6%

Highest qualification level

17.5% Bachelor degree +15.5 pts ▸ 33.0%

31.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +3.3 pts 27.7%

18.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.7 pts 17.0%

4.3% Postgraduate degree +6.9 pts ▸ 11.2%

3.8% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.6 pts 3.2%

2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.0 pts 1.6%

Field of qualification

9.5% Education +5.9 pts ▸ 15.4%

14.4% Management & commerce even 14.4%

12.5% Engineering & related ◂ +3.0 pts 9.6%

11.3% Society & culture +0.9 pts ▸ 12.2%

9.6% Health +1.5 pts ▸ 11.2%

8.1% Architecture & building +1.5 pts ▸ 9.6%

7.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.4 pts 6.9%

3.3% Creative arts +1.5 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.3 pts 2.1%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences +0.1 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.4% Information technology ◂ +1.4 pts 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Cowes in Smiths Beach +$49 higher in Smiths Beach gap steady

$586 23rd pct $635 30th pct

Household income in Cowes in Smiths Beach +$155 higher in Smiths Beach gap widening

$1,026 15th pct $1,181 24th pct

Family income in Cowes in Smiths Beach +$286 higher in Smiths Beach gap widening

$1,339 17th pct $1,625 34th pct

Household income distribution

36.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +7.9 pts 28.8%

26.0% Under $650 +2.8 pts ▸ 28.8%

20.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.1 pts 19.7%

4.7% $3,000–$3,999 +0.6 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.5% $4,000 or more even 4.5%

Personal income distribution

50.2% Under $650 ◂ +1.0 pts 49.2%

28.6% $650–$1,499 +1.1 pts ▸ 29.7%

9.1% $1,500–$2,999 +5.6 pts ▸ 14.7%

2.5% $3,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 3.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

14.8% Arthritis ◂ +3.4 pts 11.4%

11.5% Mental health ◂ +3.9 pts 7.6%

9.9% Other condition ◂ +5.4 pts 4.4%

9.0% Asthma ◂ +2.0 pts 7.0%

6.7% Heart disease ◂ +1.4 pts 5.4%

6.4% Diabetes ◂ +2.6 pts 3.8%

5.0% Cancer ◂ +1.2 pts 3.8%

3.1% Lung condition ◂ +1.2 pts 1.9%

2.0% Stroke ◂ +1.0 pts 1.0%

1.2% Dementia ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

53.2% None +10.9 pts ▸ 64.1%

23.3% One condition ◂ +4.9 pts 18.4%

9.5% Two conditions ◂ +3.2 pts 6.3%

5.3% Three or more ◂ +2.8 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Cowes in Smiths Beach +69 larger in Cowes

69 81st pct 0 0th pct

Median age in Cowes in Smiths Beach

33 yrs 71st pct —

Median income in Cowes in Smiths Beach

$584 44th pct —

Household income in Cowes in Smiths Beach

$1,156 25th pct —

Family & Households

Household size in Cowes in Smiths Beach even gap narrowing

2.1 19th pct 2.1 19th pct

Family composition

41.2% Couples with children +12.1 pts ▸ 53.3%

43.0% Couples without children ◂ +1.5 pts 41.4%

15.2% One-parent families ◂ +9.0 pts 6.2%

0.6% Other families ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

Household size

40.8% 2 people ◂ +2.2 pts 38.6%

34.8% 1 person +0.8 pts ▸ 35.6%

8.3% 4 people +3.1 pts ▸ 11.4%

10.2% 3 people ◂ +1.9 pts 8.3%

4.3% 5 people +1.0 pts ▸ 5.3%

1.4% 6 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 0.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cowes in Smiths Beach +$1 higher in Cowes gap narrowing

$331 66th pct $330 66th pct

Mortgage in Cowes in Smiths Beach +$50 higher in Smiths Beach gap narrowing

$1,550 45th pct $1,600 48th pct

People / bedroom in Cowes in Smiths Beach +0.10 higher in Cowes gap steady

0.70 14th pct 0.60 7th pct

How homes are owned or rented

46.3% Owned outright ◂ +0.1 pts 46.2%

26.5% Rented ◂ +9.0 pts 17.4%

22.1% Owned with a mortgage +3.7 pts ▸ 25.8%

2.4% Other tenure +0.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.6% Not stated ◂ +2.6 pts 0.0%

Types of homes

83.4% Separate house +13.6 pts ▸ 97.0%

11.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +11.8 pts 0.0%

4.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.8 pts 2.3%

0.4% Other dwelling ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

43.4% 3 bedrooms +6.6 pts ▸ 50.0%

29.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.4 pts 25.8%

16.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.5 pts 15.9%

4.8% 5 or more +4.2 pts ▸ 9.1%

3.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.6 pts 0.0%

0.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

43.6% $200–$349 +17.3 pts ▸ 60.9%

42.8% $350–$549 ◂ +8.0 pts 34.8%

8.7% Under $200 ◂ +8.7 pts 0.0%

0.7% $550–$749 ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.4% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +6.1 pts 32.4%

22.8% $1,800–$2,999 +0.8 pts ▸ 23.5%

22.4% Under $1,000 ◂ +10.7 pts 11.8%

9.7% $3,000 or more +10.9 pts ▸ 20.6%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Cowes in Smiths Beach +27 more in Cowes

29 86th pct 2 71st pct

Stops/1k in Cowes in Smiths Beach +1.95 more in Smiths Beach

4.40 75th pct 6.35 83rd pct

Departures/1k in Cowes in Smiths Beach +119.8 more in Smiths Beach

83.4 67th pct 203.2 73rd pct

PT routes in Cowes in Smiths Beach +1 more in Cowes

3 79th pct 2 75th pct

Stop walk in Cowes in Smiths Beach +6 longer in Smiths Beach

2 14th pct 8 43rd pct

Drive to city in Cowes in Smiths Beach +2 longer in Cowes

94 65th pct 92 64th pct

How people get to work

54.1% Car (driver) ◂ +4.4 pts 49.7%

18.0% Worked at home +8.1 pts ▸ 26.1%

4.8% Walked +0.9 pts ▸ 5.7%

4.5% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.3 pts 3.2%

1.3% Bicycle ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%

0.2% Bus ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

44.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.9 pts 43.1%

36.5% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.4 pts 36.2%

9.0% 3 vehicles +2.5 pts ▸ 11.5%

5.8% No vehicle ◂ +2.7 pts 3.1%

3.8% 4 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 4.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

10.9% Construction +3.7 pts ▸ 14.6%

13.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.0 pts 9.6%

13.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +5.4 pts 7.6%

6.7% Education & training +6.0 pts ▸ 12.7%

11.6% Retail trade ◂ +4.6 pts 7.0%

5.2% Professional & technical +3.0 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.1% Arts & recreation +0.9 pts ▸ 7.0%

1.9% Finance & insurance +3.9 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.9% Public administration & safety +1.8 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.8% Administrative & support +0.7 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.8% Manufacturing even 3.8%

3.3% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.2%

Occupations people work in

16.4% Professionals +11.6 pts ▸ 28.0%

16.6% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.7 pts 15.9%

13.3% Managers +1.4 pts ▸ 14.6%

13.3% Community & personal service +0.7 pts ▸ 14.0%

12.7% Labourers ◂ +5.1 pts 7.6%

11.8% Sales workers ◂ +7.9 pts 3.8%

10.2% Clerical & administrative even 10.2%

3.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.0 pts 2.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Cowes in Smiths Beach +1.0 higher in Cowes

5.4 85th pct 4.5 80th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cowes in Smiths Beach +1.5 more in Cowes

5.4 85th pct 4.0 77th pct

15-min city in Cowes in Smiths Beach +55.9 pts higher in Cowes

55.9% 81st pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to shops in Cowes in Smiths Beach +35.2 pts higher in Smiths Beach

64.8% 83rd pct 100.0% 100th pct

Walk to transit in Cowes in Smiths Beach +2.4 pts higher in Cowes

78.3% 81st pct 75.9% 80th pct

Walk to school in Cowes in Smiths Beach +48.8 pts higher in Cowes

48.8% 75th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to a park in Cowes in Smiths Beach +1.0 pts higher in Smiths Beach

99.0% 85th pct 100.0% 100th pct

Walk to health in Cowes in Smiths Beach +51.2 pts higher in Cowes

51.2% 84th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Amenities/1k in Cowes in Smiths Beach +12.6 more in Cowes

25.3 68th pct 12.7 48th pct

Intersections/km² in Cowes in Smiths Beach +9 higher in Cowes

75 82nd pct 66 81st pct

Mean slope in Cowes in Smiths Beach +1.4 pts higher in Smiths Beach

3.8% 25th pct 5.2% 44th pct

Compare Cowes with nearby areas

Wimbledon Heights Silverleaves Rhyll Smiths Beach Sunset Strip Ventnor Sunderland Bay Surf Beach

Compare Smiths Beach with nearby areas

Sunset Strip Sunderland Bay Wimbledon Heights Rhyll Surf Beach Cowes Silverleaves Ventnor

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cowes vs Smiths Beach [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL20657/cowes/vs/SAL22294/smiths-beach