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1 million or more vs 250,000 to 999,999

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 62 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 250,000 to 999,999 profile

1 million or more 250,000 to 999,999

These two areas show a sharp contrast in their populations and housing. 1 million or more is a highly diverse and educated hub, where 41.2% of people were born overseas and 35.0% hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, 250,000 to 999,999 has a more traditional profile, with 73.6% of homes being separate houses and 40.8% of residents reporting no religion. 1 million or more is also much more walkable, with 88.4% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a variety of services, compared to 68.3% in 250,000 to 999,999.

The gap in typical weekly household income has widened since 2011, with 1 million or more now earning $518 more than 250,000 to 999,999. Despite this, the two areas are quite similar in other ways. They have almost the same proportion of children under 15 and very similar unemployment rates. Both areas also share the same average terrain slope and a similar number of walkable amenities for every 1,000 residents.

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Where they differ most

Other language: 31.1 pts higher in 1 million or more Born overseas: 24.9 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 21.0 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 Population: 3,643,482 larger in 1 million or more Year 12: 18.9 pts higher in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3,643,482 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,698,656 100th pct 1,055,174 88th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5 yrs older in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
36 yrs 14th pct 41 yrs 50th pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3.1 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
1.4% 10th pct 4.6% 41st pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.9 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
14.5% 29th pct 20.5% 60th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
18.4% 62nd pct 17.6% 49th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +2.5 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
9.5% 0th pct 12.0% 15th pct

Age structure

31.2% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +6.4 pts 24.9%
23.5% Older adults (45–64) +1.4 pts ▸ 25.0%
14.5% Seniors (65+) +5.9 pts ▸ 20.5%
18.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.8 pts 17.6%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.2 pts 12.1%

Marital status

48.5% Married ◂ +4.4 pts 44.1%
36.8% Never married ◂ +0.9 pts 35.9%
7.5% Divorced +2.7 pts ▸ 10.2%
4.3% Widowed +1.9 pts ▸ 6.2%
2.9% Separated +0.6 pts ▸ 3.5%

Age & sex structure

1 million or more 250,000 to 999,999

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +24.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.2% 100th pct 16.2% 62nd pct

Country of birth

54.2% Australia +25.0 pts ▸ 79.2%
5.0% China ◂ +4.4 pts 0.6%
3.9% India ◂ +3.1 pts 0.8%
2.8% England +0.8 pts ▸ 3.6%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +1.8 pts 0.2%
1.9% Philippines ◂ +1.2 pts 0.7%
1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%
1.2% Nepal ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%
0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Ancestry

21.8% English +18.8 pts ▸ 40.6%
20.4% Australian +18.0 pts ▸ 38.5%
11.6% Chinese ◂ +10.0 pts 1.6%
7.2% Irish +4.2 pts ▸ 11.4%
5.6% Scottish +5.2 pts ▸ 10.7%
4.9% Indian ◂ +3.8 pts 1.1%
4.3% Italian ◂ +0.8 pts 3.5%
2.2% German +1.6 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.7% Filipino ◂ +1.7 pts 1.0%
2.6% Greek ◂ +1.5 pts 1.0%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.2 pts 0.3%
0.9% Dutch +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +31.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.7% 92nd pct 9.6% 57th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
7.0% 93rd pct 1.3% 63rd pct

Language used at home

53.9% English only +31.7 pts ▸ 85.6%
5.5% Mandarin ◂ +4.8 pts 0.7%
4.6% Arabic ◂ +4.1 pts 0.5%
3.0% Cantonese ◂ +2.8 pts 0.2%
2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.1 pts 0.3%
1.6% Hindi ◂ +1.4 pts 0.2%
1.5% Greek ◂ +1.2 pts 0.4%
1.1% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%
1.0% Tagalog ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%
0.9% Punjabi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +10.9 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
29.8% 11th pct 40.8% 44th pct

Religious affiliation

45.0% Christianity +4.5 pts ▸ 49.5%
29.8% No religion +10.9 pts ▸ 40.8%
6.9% Islam ◂ +5.8 pts 1.2%
6.6% Not stated ◂ +0.4 pts 6.2%
5.3% Hinduism ◂ +4.5 pts 0.8%
4.2% Buddhism ◂ +3.2 pts 1.0%
1.4% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 0.5%
0.8% Judaism ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +18.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
69.0% 100th pct 50.1% 78th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +13.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
35.0% 100th pct 21.1% 82nd pct

Highest year of school

69.0% Year 12 ◂ +18.9 pts 50.1%
13.2% Year 10 +13.9 pts ▸ 27.1%
8.0% Year 9 or below +2.7 pts ▸ 10.7%
3.6% Year 11 +2.5 pts ▸ 6.1%

Highest qualification level

34.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +11.6 pts 23.0%
16.3% Certificate III / IV +16.0 pts ▸ 32.3%
14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.6 pts ▸ 15.2%
15.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +7.5 pts 7.6%
3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate even 3.3%
1.3% Certificate I / II +0.8 pts ▸ 2.2%

Field of qualification

25.3% Management & commerce ◂ +7.2 pts 18.2%
11.6% Engineering & related +3.5 pts ▸ 15.2%
12.2% Society & culture ◂ +0.2 pts 12.1%
8.6% Health +2.8 pts ▸ 11.4%
6.4% Education +2.3 pts ▸ 8.8%
4.6% Architecture & building +2.1 pts ▸ 6.6%
5.5% Information technology ◂ +3.3 pts 2.3%
3.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.4 pts ▸ 5.2%
4.9% Creative arts ◂ +1.3 pts 3.6%
3.5% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.1 pts 2.4%
0.9% Agriculture & environment +0.7 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$136 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$898 76th pct $762 64th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$518 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,122 87th pct $1,604 66th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$350 higher in 1 million or more gap steady
$2,412 90th pct $2,062 76th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
16.5% 88th pct 11.0% 73rd pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +10.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
31.2% 92nd pct 20.4% 76th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.5 pts 28.7%
21.1% $650–$1,499 +6.0 pts ▸ 27.1%
19.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +9.1 pts 10.2%
12.9% Under $650 +4.7 pts ▸ 17.5%
11.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.6 pts 10.2%

Personal income distribution

36.9% Under $650 +4.4 pts ▸ 41.2%
29.2% $650–$1,499 +2.2 pts ▸ 31.4%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.7 pts 17.3%
7.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.7 pts 3.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +10.5 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999
22.6% 21st pct 33.1% 67th pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.0 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999
6.2% 18th pct 11.1% 76th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.9 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
5.0% 36th pct 6.9% 69th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.2% Mental health +5.0 pts ▸ 11.1%
6.3% Arthritis +4.7 pts ▸ 10.9%
6.5% Asthma +2.9 pts ▸ 9.4%
7.2% Other condition +1.7 pts ▸ 9.0%
4.5% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 5.2%
3.2% Heart disease +1.5 pts ▸ 4.7%
2.3% Cancer +1.2 pts ▸ 3.5%
1.1% Lung condition +1.3 pts ▸ 2.4%
0.7% Stroke +0.5 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.7% Dementia +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

70.1% None ◂ +10.7 pts 59.4%
16.1% One condition +5.5 pts ▸ 21.7%
4.4% Two conditions +3.0 pts ▸ 7.3%
2.1% Three or more +2.0 pts ▸ 4.1%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.2 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
11.5% 20th pct 12.7% 25th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +2.4 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
10.4% 27th pct 12.9% 59th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.4 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
25.1% 49th pct 26.5% 71st pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.6 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999
1.5% 5th pct 3.1% 29th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +2.1 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
19.9% 34th pct 22.0% 57th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.2 larger in 1 million or more gap steady
2.7 86th pct 2.5 57th pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3.4 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
12.8% 19th pct 16.2% 54th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +4.2 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
23.0% 18th pct 27.2% 43rd pct

Family composition

63.1% Couples with children ◂ +8.2 pts 54.9%
22.8% Couples without children +5.0 pts ▸ 27.8%
12.8% One-parent families +3.4 pts ▸ 16.2%
1.2% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

Household size

30.3% 2 people +4.0 pts ▸ 34.3%
23.0% 1 person +4.2 pts ▸ 27.2%
17.6% 4 people ◂ +2.8 pts 14.7%
17.5% 3 people ◂ +2.2 pts 15.3%
7.4% 5 people ◂ +1.5 pts 5.9%
4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 2.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$80 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$475 100th pct $395 92nd pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$500 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,500 100th pct $2,000 87th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.20 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
1.00 89th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +8.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
37.3% 84th pct 29.4% 49th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +7.3 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
26.8% 18th pct 34.1% 54th pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +21.0 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
52.5% 0th pct 73.6% 15th pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +10.8 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
62.3% 4th pct 73.1% 28th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.3% Rented ◂ +8.0 pts 29.4%
26.8% Owned outright +7.3 pts ▸ 34.1%
33.0% Owned with a mortgage +0.4 pts ▸ 33.4%
1.6% Other tenure +0.3 pts ▸ 1.9%
1.3% Not stated even 1.3%

Types of homes

52.5% Separate house +21.0 pts ▸ 73.6%
33.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +22.0 pts 11.6%
13.2% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.7 pts ▸ 13.9%
0.4% Other dwelling +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

30.2% 3 bedrooms +10.3 pts ▸ 40.6%
26.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +6.3 pts 20.5%
23.3% 4 bedrooms +2.4 pts ▸ 25.7%
8.8% 5 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 6.9%
8.7% 1 bedroom ◂ +4.0 pts 4.6%
0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

42.3% $350–$549 +5.9 pts ▸ 48.2%
22.9% $550–$749 ◂ +11.2 pts 11.7%
12.0% $200–$349 +9.4 pts ▸ 21.4%
8.1% Under $200 +5.1 pts ▸ 13.2%
11.5% $750 or more ◂ +9.1 pts 2.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

32.0% $1,800–$2,999 +6.5 pts ▸ 38.5%
35.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +18.8 pts 16.6%
15.5% $1,000–$1,799 +10.4 pts ▸ 26.0%
10.6% Under $1,000 +3.0 pts ▸ 13.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +4.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
11.9% 88th pct 7.0% 73rd pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +17.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.2% 100th pct 22.5% 96th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +2.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
4.1% 82nd pct 1.2% 47th pct

How people get to work

32.7% Car (driver) +20.0 pts ▸ 52.7%
40.2% Worked at home ◂ +17.7 pts 22.5%
2.6% Car (passenger) +0.8 pts ▸ 3.4%
2.7% Train ◂ +2.3 pts 0.4%
2.4% Walked ◂ +0.7 pts 1.7%
1.3% Bus ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%
0.4% Bicycle even 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

40.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.5 pts 37.2%
32.4% 2 vehicles +4.9 pts ▸ 37.3%
11.9% No vehicle ◂ +4.9 pts 7.0%
9.7% 3 vehicles +2.2 pts ▸ 11.8%
5.3% 4 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 6.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.6% 69th pct 38.2% 43rd pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
15.7% 69th pct 10.3% 43rd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.2% 52nd pct 4.7% 39th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
60.3% 71st pct 58.4% 59th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +4.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
59.1% 64th pct 55.0% 30th pct

Industries people work in

13.2% Health care & social assistance +5.1 pts ▸ 18.2%
11.5% Professional & technical ◂ +5.2 pts 6.3%
7.6% Construction +2.6 pts ▸ 10.2%
8.7% Retail trade +0.8 pts ▸ 9.5%
8.5% Education & training +0.9 pts ▸ 9.4%
7.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +4.3 pts 3.2%
5.4% Accommodation & food +1.9 pts ▸ 7.3%
5.4% Public administration & safety +1.8 pts ▸ 7.2%
5.3% Manufacturing +0.2 pts ▸ 5.5%
5.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.3 pts 3.8%
3.1% Other services +0.6 pts ▸ 3.7%
3.3% Wholesale trade ◂ +1.4 pts 1.9%

Occupations people work in

30.3% Professionals ◂ +7.4 pts 22.9%
15.3% Managers ◂ +3.8 pts 11.6%
9.9% Technicians & trades +4.4 pts ▸ 14.3%
13.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.9 pts 12.9%
9.0% Community & personal service +4.3 pts ▸ 13.2%
6.5% Labourers +2.4 pts ▸ 8.9%
7.7% Sales workers +1.0 pts ▸ 8.7%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +0.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.6 higher in 1 million or more
7.6 100th pct 6.0 86th pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.3 more in 1 million or more
7.0 100th pct 5.7 86th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +20.1 pts higher in 1 million or more
88.4% 100th pct 68.3% 84th pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +23.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
84.6% 99th pct 61.2% 63rd pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +2.7 pts higher in 1 million or more
97.8% 100th pct 95.1% 94th pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +18.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
92.4% 100th pct 74.3% 84th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
98.7% 95th pct 95.2% 78th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +26.6 pts higher in 1 million or more
73.3% 99th pct 46.7% 64th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.0 more in 250,000 to 999,999
12.9 15th pct 13.9 25th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +56 higher in 1 million or more
156 92nd pct 100 86th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 even
7.0% 86th pct 7.0% 85th pct

Compare 1 million or more with nearby areas

250,000 to 999,999 20,000 to 49,999 50,000 to 99,999 499 or less 500 or more 499 or less 250,000 to 999,999 Remainder of State/Territory 5,000 to 9,999 10,000 to 19,999 4,999 or less 50,000 to 99,999

Compare 250,000 to 999,999 with nearby areas

1 million or more 499 or less 50,000 to 99,999 500 or more 20,000 to 49,999 10,000 to 19,999 5,000 to 9,999 499 or less 250,000 to 999,999 Remainder of State/Territory 4,999 or less 50,000 to 99,999

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). 1 million or more vs 250,000 to 999,999 [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sosr/SOSR101/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR102/250-000-to-999-999