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1 million or more vs 20,000 to 49,999

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 84 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 20,000 to 49,999 profile

1 million or more 20,000 to 49,999

These two areas are very different in how they are built and who lives there. 1 million or more is a very walkable hub where 41.2% of people were born overseas and 40.7% use another language at home. It has a highly qualified workforce, with 35% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, 20,000 to 49,999 is more car-dependent and relies heavily on detached housing, which make up 81.1% of homes compared to 52.5% in 1 million or more. Residents in 20,000 to 49,999 are also generally older, with a typical age of 40, and 21.7% are aged 65 and over.

Everyday life shares some common ground in both places, as they have almost identical shares of children under 15 and similar unemployment rates. However, the gap in household income is widening, with the typical household in 1 million or more now earning $721 more per week than those in 20,000 to 49,999. This gap has grown since 2011, as has the difference in the number of people working from home.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 28.3 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 33.0 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 28.6 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 Work from home: 28.0 pts higher in 1 million or more Year 12: 23.8 pts higher in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +4,174,265 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,698,656 100th pct 524,391 86th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +4 yrs older in 20,000 to 49,999 gap widening
36 yrs 14th pct 40 yrs 43rd pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +6.8 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap widening
1.4% 10th pct 8.2% 68th pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +7.2 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap widening
14.5% 29th pct 21.7% 71st pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +0.0 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap narrowing
18.4% 62nd pct 18.5% 63rd pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +2.7 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap steady
9.5% 0th pct 12.2% 24th pct

Age structure

31.2% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +6.8 pts 24.5%
23.5% Older adults (45–64) +0.1 pts ▸ 23.6%
14.5% Seniors (65+) +7.2 pts ▸ 21.7%
18.4% Children (0–14) even 18.5%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.5 pts 11.7%

Marital status

48.5% Married ◂ +5.5 pts 43.0%
36.8% Never married ◂ +0.4 pts 36.4%
7.5% Divorced +2.7 pts ▸ 10.3%
4.3% Widowed +2.3 pts ▸ 6.7%
2.9% Separated +0.9 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

1 million or more 20,000 to 49,999

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 20,000 to 49,999 +28.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.2% 100th pct 12.9% 43rd pct

Country of birth

54.2% Australia +26.8 pts ▸ 81.0%
5.0% China ◂ +4.6 pts 0.4%
3.9% India ◂ +2.7 pts 1.3%
2.8% England ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +1.8 pts 0.2%
1.9% Philippines ◂ +1.1 pts 0.7%
1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%
1.2% Nepal ◂ +0.7 pts 0.5%
0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Ancestry

21.8% English +18.4 pts ▸ 40.2%
20.4% Australian +19.0 pts ▸ 39.5%
7.2% Irish +4.9 pts ▸ 12.1%
11.6% Chinese ◂ +10.5 pts 1.1%
5.6% Scottish +4.9 pts ▸ 10.5%
4.9% Indian ◂ +3.7 pts 1.2%
4.3% Italian ◂ +1.4 pts 2.9%
2.2% German +1.7 pts ▸ 3.9%
2.7% Filipino ◂ +1.7 pts 1.0%
2.6% Greek ◂ +2.1 pts 0.5%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.3 pts 0.2%
0.9% Dutch +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +33.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.7% 92nd pct 7.8% 48th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +5.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
7.0% 93rd pct 1.1% 58th pct

Language used at home

53.9% English only +31.7 pts ▸ 85.6%
5.5% Mandarin ◂ +5.0 pts 0.4%
4.6% Arabic ◂ +4.4 pts 0.2%
3.0% Cantonese ◂ +2.8 pts 0.2%
2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.2 pts 0.2%
1.6% Hindi ◂ +1.4 pts 0.2%
1.5% Greek ◂ +1.4 pts 0.1%
1.1% Italian ◂ +0.7 pts 0.4%
1.0% Tagalog ◂ +0.6 pts 0.3%
0.9% Punjabi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +5.9 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap widening
29.8% 11th pct 35.7% 22nd pct

Religious affiliation

45.0% Christianity +7.1 pts ▸ 52.1%
29.8% No religion +5.9 pts ▸ 35.7%
6.6% Not stated +1.5 pts ▸ 8.0%
6.9% Islam ◂ +6.2 pts 0.7%
5.3% Hinduism ◂ +4.0 pts 1.3%
4.2% Buddhism ◂ +3.3 pts 0.9%
1.4% Other religions ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%
0.8% Judaism ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +23.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
69.0% 100th pct 45.2% 64th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +16.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
35.0% 100th pct 18.3% 75th pct

Highest year of school

69.0% Year 12 ◂ +23.8 pts 45.2%
13.2% Year 10 +14.6 pts ▸ 27.7%
8.0% Year 9 or below +4.1 pts ▸ 12.1%
3.6% Year 11 +3.1 pts ▸ 6.7%

Highest qualification level

34.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +14.2 pts 20.3%
16.3% Certificate III / IV +16.6 pts ▸ 32.9%
15.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +8.4 pts 6.7%
14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.5 pts 14.1%
3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate even 3.3%
1.3% Certificate I / II +1.2 pts ▸ 2.5%

Field of qualification

25.3% Management & commerce ◂ +8.6 pts 16.7%
11.6% Engineering & related +1.1 pts ▸ 12.7%
12.2% Society & culture ◂ +0.1 pts 12.1%
8.6% Health +3.3 pts ▸ 11.9%
6.4% Education +2.7 pts ▸ 9.1%
3.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.8 pts ▸ 5.6%
4.6% Architecture & building +1.0 pts ▸ 5.6%
5.5% Information technology ◂ +3.8 pts 1.8%
4.9% Creative arts ◂ +1.9 pts 3.0%
3.5% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.5 pts 2.0%
0.9% Agriculture & environment +1.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +$165 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$898 76th pct $733 54th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +$721 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,122 87th pct $1,401 46th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +$586 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,412 90th pct $1,826 56th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +8.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
16.5% 88th pct 8.2% 50th pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +16.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
31.2% 92nd pct 14.9% 48th pct

Household income distribution

21.1% $650–$1,499 +9.6 pts ▸ 30.6%
29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.6 pts 28.7%
19.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +12.5 pts 6.9%
12.9% Under $650 +6.2 pts ▸ 19.1%
11.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.8 pts 8.0%

Personal income distribution

36.9% Under $650 +4.5 pts ▸ 41.4%
29.2% $650–$1,499 +4.0 pts ▸ 33.2%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.5 pts 14.5%
7.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.8 pts 2.6%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +11.8 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999
22.6% 21st pct 34.4% 81st pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +5.5 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999
6.2% 18th pct 11.7% 84th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +2.4 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap steady
5.0% 36th pct 7.5% 84th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.2% Mental health +5.5 pts ▸ 11.7%
6.3% Arthritis +5.2 pts ▸ 11.5%
6.5% Asthma +3.9 pts ▸ 10.4%
7.2% Other condition +1.7 pts ▸ 9.0%
4.5% Diabetes +1.0 pts ▸ 5.5%
3.2% Heart disease +1.8 pts ▸ 5.0%
2.3% Cancer +1.3 pts ▸ 3.6%
1.1% Lung condition +1.6 pts ▸ 2.6%
0.7% Stroke +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.7% Dementia +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

70.1% None ◂ +14.0 pts 56.1%
16.1% One condition +5.8 pts ▸ 21.9%
4.4% Two conditions +3.6 pts ▸ 7.9%
2.1% Three or more +2.5 pts ▸ 4.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +3.1 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap steady
11.5% 20th pct 14.6% 38th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +2.3 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap widening
10.4% 27th pct 12.8% 56th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +0.6 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap steady
25.1% 49th pct 25.6% 58th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +1.9 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999
1.5% 5th pct 3.4% 44th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +1.2 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap narrowing
19.9% 34th pct 21.1% 46th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +0.3 larger in 1 million or more gap steady
2.7 86th pct 2.4 43rd pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +5.6 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap steady
12.8% 19th pct 18.4% 83rd pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +7.4 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap steady
23.0% 18th pct 30.4% 70th pct

Family composition

63.1% Couples with children ◂ +12.2 pts 50.8%
22.8% Couples without children +6.8 pts ▸ 29.6%
12.8% One-parent families +5.6 pts ▸ 18.4%
1.2% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Household size

30.3% 2 people +4.6 pts ▸ 35.0%
23.0% 1 person +7.4 pts ▸ 30.4%
17.6% 4 people ◂ +5.3 pts 12.3%
17.5% 3 people ◂ +3.5 pts 14.0%
7.4% 5 people ◂ +1.8 pts 5.5%
4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 2.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +$155 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$475 100th pct $320 73rd pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +$892 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,500 100th pct $1,608 65th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +0.30 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
1.00 89th pct 0.70 0th pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +4.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
37.3% 84th pct 32.5% 71st pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +7.2 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap widening
26.8% 18th pct 34.0% 53rd pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +28.6 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap widening
52.5% 0th pct 81.1% 29th pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +14.2 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap widening
62.3% 4th pct 76.5% 46th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.3% Rented ◂ +4.8 pts 32.5%
26.8% Owned outright +7.2 pts ▸ 34.0%
33.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +3.1 pts 29.9%
1.6% Other tenure +0.5 pts ▸ 2.1%
1.3% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

Types of homes

52.5% Separate house +28.6 pts ▸ 81.1%
33.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +26.7 pts 6.9%
13.2% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +2.1 pts 11.1%
0.4% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

Bedrooms per home

30.2% 3 bedrooms +11.2 pts ▸ 41.5%
23.3% 4 bedrooms +5.8 pts ▸ 29.1%
26.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +8.9 pts 17.9%
8.8% 5 or more ◂ +2.8 pts 6.0%
8.7% 1 bedroom ◂ +4.9 pts 3.7%
0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.6 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

42.3% $350–$549 ◂ +4.2 pts 38.1%
12.0% $200–$349 +29.6 pts ▸ 41.5%
22.9% $550–$749 ◂ +19.7 pts 3.2%
8.1% Under $200 +5.0 pts ▸ 13.1%
11.5% $750 or more ◂ +10.9 pts 0.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

15.5% $1,000–$1,799 +24.3 pts ▸ 39.8%
35.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +26.8 pts 8.6%
32.0% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 29.0%
10.6% Under $1,000 +7.0 pts ▸ 17.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +5.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
11.9% 88th pct 6.8% 70th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +28.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.2% 100th pct 12.2% 69th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +3.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
4.1% 82nd pct 0.5% 14th pct

How people get to work

32.7% Car (driver) +31.1 pts ▸ 63.8%
40.2% Worked at home ◂ +28.0 pts 12.2%
2.6% Car (passenger) +2.9 pts ▸ 5.5%
2.7% Train ◂ +2.6 pts 0.1%
2.4% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.6%
1.3% Bus ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%
0.4% Bicycle even 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

40.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.9 pts 39.9%
32.4% 2 vehicles +3.8 pts ▸ 36.2%
11.9% No vehicle ◂ +5.1 pts 6.8%
9.7% 3 vehicles +1.7 pts ▸ 11.4%
5.3% 4 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 5.7%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +0.3 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap narrowing
41.6% 69th pct 41.9% 70th pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +2.0 pts higher in 20,000 to 49,999 gap narrowing
15.7% 69th pct 17.7% 76th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +0.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.2% 52nd pct 4.8% 42nd pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +4.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
60.3% 71st pct 56.2% 50th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +0.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
59.1% 64th pct 58.5% 59th pct

Industries people work in

13.2% Health care & social assistance +5.7 pts ▸ 18.8%
11.5% Professional & technical ◂ +7.1 pts 4.3%
8.7% Retail trade +1.7 pts ▸ 10.4%
8.5% Education & training +1.5 pts ▸ 10.0%
7.6% Construction +0.9 pts ▸ 8.5%
5.4% Accommodation & food +2.6 pts ▸ 8.0%
7.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +5.7 pts 1.7%
5.4% Public administration & safety +1.5 pts ▸ 6.9%
5.3% Manufacturing +1.2 pts ▸ 6.5%
5.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.7 pts 3.5%
3.1% Other services +0.9 pts ▸ 4.0%
3.2% Administrative & support +0.1 pts ▸ 3.3%

Occupations people work in

30.3% Professionals ◂ +10.4 pts 19.9%
15.3% Managers ◂ +4.6 pts 10.7%
9.0% Community & personal service +5.6 pts ▸ 14.6%
9.9% Technicians & trades +4.3 pts ▸ 14.2%
13.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.2 pts 11.6%
6.5% Labourers +5.2 pts ▸ 11.7%
7.7% Sales workers +1.7 pts ▸ 9.3%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +0.7 pts ▸ 6.2%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +2.1 higher in 1 million or more
7.6 100th pct 5.5 75th pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +1.7 more in 1 million or more
7.0 100th pct 5.3 71st pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +27.1 pts higher in 1 million or more
88.4% 100th pct 61.3% 71st pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +32.6 pts higher in 1 million or more
84.6% 99th pct 52.0% 39th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +7.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
97.8% 100th pct 90.9% 84th pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +24.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
92.4% 100th pct 68.4% 67th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +6.9 pts higher in 1 million or more
98.7% 95th pct 91.9% 65th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +26.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
73.3% 99th pct 46.8% 64th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +4.1 more in 20,000 to 49,999
12.9 15th pct 17.0 48th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +84 higher in 1 million or more
156 92nd pct 72 74th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 20,000 to 49,999 +1.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
7.0% 86th pct 5.7% 60th 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 20,000 to 49,999 with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). 1 million or more vs 20,000 to 49,999 [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sosr/SOSR101/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR112/20-000-to-49-999