CensusAtlas

Compare

1 million or more vs 500 or more

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 149 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 500 or more profile

1 million or more 500 or more

1 million or more and 500 or more are two very different places. 1 million or more is a highly walkable, urban area where 41.2% of people were born overseas and 40.7% use a language other than English at home. It has a younger population with a typical age of 36 and a higher proportion of university degrees. In contrast, 500 or more is mostly car-dependent, with a typical age of 46 and a much higher share of residents born in Australia. Housing also differs sharply; 93.2% of homes in 500 or more are separate houses, compared to 52.5% in 1 million or more.

Both areas have almost identical proportions of children under 15, at around 18%. While they share this family profile, other gaps have grown since 2011. The difference in typical age has widened to 10 years, and the gap in overseas births has increased to 31 percentage points. The contrast in housing is also stronger, with the gap in separate houses widening to 40.7 percentage points.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Born overseas: 31.4 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 37.4 pts higher in 1 million or more Year 12: 27.6 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 40.7 pts higher in 500 or more Work from home: 25.6 pts higher in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 500 or more +4,599,811 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,698,656 100th pct 98,845 58th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 500 or more +10 yrs older in 500 or more gap widening
36 yrs 14th pct 46 yrs 76th pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.8 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
1.4% 10th pct 7.2% 58th pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +8.8 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
14.5% 29th pct 23.3% 78th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
18.4% 62nd pct 18.3% 60th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.2 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
9.5% 0th pct 12.7% 45th pct

Age structure

31.2% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +11.0 pts 20.3%
23.5% Older adults (45–64) +4.6 pts ▸ 28.1%
14.5% Seniors (65+) +8.8 pts ▸ 23.3%
18.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.1 pts 18.3%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.2 pts 10.0%

Marital status

48.5% Married +0.6 pts ▸ 49.0%
36.8% Never married ◂ +5.5 pts 31.2%
7.5% Divorced +2.8 pts ▸ 10.3%
4.3% Widowed +1.5 pts ▸ 5.8%
2.9% Separated +0.7 pts ▸ 3.6%

Age & sex structure

1 million or more 500 or more

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 500 or more +31.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.2% 100th pct 9.8% 13th pct

Country of birth

54.2% Australia +29.0 pts ▸ 83.3%
5.0% China ◂ +4.9 pts 0.1%
3.9% India ◂ +3.7 pts 0.3%
2.8% England +0.4 pts ▸ 3.1%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +1.9 pts 0.1%
1.9% Philippines ◂ +1.5 pts 0.3%
1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%
1.2% Nepal ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%
0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

Ancestry

21.8% English +20.9 pts ▸ 42.7%
20.4% Australian +21.9 pts ▸ 42.3%
7.2% Irish +4.8 pts ▸ 12.0%
11.6% Chinese ◂ +10.9 pts 0.6%
5.6% Scottish +5.5 pts ▸ 11.1%
4.9% Indian ◂ +4.6 pts 0.4%
4.3% Italian ◂ +1.9 pts 2.4%
2.2% German +2.1 pts ▸ 4.3%
2.7% Filipino ◂ +2.1 pts 0.5%
2.6% Greek ◂ +2.0 pts 0.5%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.4 pts 0.1%
0.9% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.4%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 500 or more +37.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.7% 92nd pct 3.3% 6th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 500 or more +6.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
7.0% 93rd pct 0.3% 10th pct

Language used at home

53.9% English only +36.5 pts ▸ 90.4%
5.5% Mandarin ◂ +5.3 pts 0.1%
4.6% Arabic ◂ +4.5 pts 0.1%
3.0% Cantonese ◂ +3.0 pts 0.1%
2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.3 pts 0.1%
1.6% Hindi ◂ +1.6 pts 0.0%
1.5% Greek ◂ +1.4 pts 0.1%
1.1% Italian ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%
1.0% Tagalog ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%
0.9% Punjabi ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 500 or more +9.5 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
29.8% 11th pct 39.4% 35th pct

Religious affiliation

45.0% Christianity +6.0 pts ▸ 51.0%
29.8% No religion +9.5 pts ▸ 39.4%
6.6% Not stated +1.5 pts ▸ 8.0%
6.9% Islam ◂ +6.7 pts 0.2%
5.3% Hinduism ◂ +5.1 pts 0.2%
4.2% Buddhism ◂ +3.5 pts 0.6%
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 500 or more +27.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
69.0% 100th pct 41.4% 42nd pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +18.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
35.0% 100th pct 16.3% 66th pct

Highest year of school

69.0% Year 12 ◂ +27.6 pts 41.4%
13.2% Year 10 +18.4 pts ▸ 31.6%
8.0% Year 9 or below +4.2 pts ▸ 12.2%
3.6% Year 11 +3.4 pts ▸ 7.0%

Highest qualification level

16.3% Certificate III / IV +20.3 pts ▸ 36.6%
34.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +16.2 pts 18.3%
15.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +10.0 pts 5.1%
14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.1 pts 14.5%
3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.1 pts 3.2%
1.3% Certificate I / II +1.1 pts ▸ 2.4%

Field of qualification

25.3% Management & commerce ◂ +10.4 pts 14.9%
11.6% Engineering & related +4.0 pts ▸ 15.6%
12.2% Society & culture ◂ +1.2 pts 11.0%
8.6% Health +2.0 pts ▸ 10.6%
6.4% Education +3.3 pts ▸ 9.7%
4.6% Architecture & building +2.8 pts ▸ 7.3%
5.5% Information technology ◂ +4.3 pts 1.2%
3.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.5 pts ▸ 5.3%
4.9% Creative arts ◂ +1.9 pts 3.0%
3.5% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.5 pts 2.0%
0.9% Agriculture & environment +2.3 pts ▸ 3.2%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$204 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$898 76th pct $694 44th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$698 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,122 87th pct $1,424 48th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$650 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,412 90th pct $1,762 48th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 500 or more +7.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
16.5% 88th pct 8.7% 55th pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 500 or more +15.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
31.2% 92nd pct 16.1% 54th pct

Household income distribution

21.1% $650–$1,499 +9.4 pts ▸ 30.5%
29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.7 pts 27.5%
19.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +11.7 pts 7.6%
12.9% Under $650 +5.0 pts ▸ 17.9%
11.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.4 pts 8.5%

Personal income distribution

36.9% Under $650 +6.7 pts ▸ 43.6%
29.2% $650–$1,499 +1.8 pts ▸ 31.0%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.5 pts 14.5%
7.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.5 pts 2.9%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 500 or more +10.6 pts higher in 500 or more
22.6% 21st pct 33.2% 68th pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.7 pts higher in 500 or more
6.2% 18th pct 9.9% 53rd pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.1 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
5.0% 36th pct 6.1% 52nd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.3% Arthritis +5.8 pts ▸ 12.0%
6.2% Mental health +3.7 pts ▸ 9.9%
6.5% Asthma +3.2 pts ▸ 9.6%
7.2% Other condition +0.8 pts ▸ 8.0%
4.5% Diabetes +0.8 pts ▸ 5.3%
3.2% Heart disease +1.7 pts ▸ 4.9%
2.3% Cancer +1.5 pts ▸ 3.8%
1.1% Lung condition +1.6 pts ▸ 2.6%
0.7% Stroke +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

70.1% None ◂ +12.5 pts 57.6%
16.1% One condition +5.4 pts ▸ 21.5%
4.4% Two conditions +3.2 pts ▸ 7.5%
2.1% Three or more +2.1 pts ▸ 4.2%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.6 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
11.5% 20th pct 17.1% 61st pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.0 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
10.4% 27th pct 13.4% 78th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.5 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
25.1% 49th pct 25.5% 56th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 500 or more +2.2 pts higher in 500 or more
1.5% 5th pct 3.6% 57th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.9 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
19.9% 34th pct 25.8% 91st pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.2 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
2.7 86th pct 2.5 57th pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.3 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
12.8% 19th pct 14.1% 30th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.9 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
23.0% 18th pct 24.9% 27th pct

Family composition

63.1% Couples with children ◂ +10.3 pts 52.8%
22.8% Couples without children +9.4 pts ▸ 32.3%
12.8% One-parent families +1.3 pts ▸ 14.1%
1.2% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

Household size

30.3% 2 people +8.2 pts ▸ 38.5%
23.0% 1 person +1.9 pts ▸ 24.9%
17.6% 4 people ◂ +4.2 pts 13.3%
17.5% 3 people ◂ +3.9 pts 13.6%
7.4% 5 people ◂ +0.9 pts 6.5%
4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$155 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$475 100th pct $320 73rd pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$810 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,500 100th pct $1,690 72nd pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.20 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
1.00 89th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 500 or more +20.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
37.3% 84th pct 17.0% 14th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 500 or more +16.4 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
26.8% 18th pct 43.2% 84th pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 500 or more +40.7 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
52.5% 0th pct 93.2% 74th pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 500 or more +18.9 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
62.3% 4th pct 81.2% 80th pct

How homes are owned or rented

26.8% Owned outright +16.4 pts ▸ 43.2%
37.3% Rented ◂ +20.3 pts 17.0%
33.0% Owned with a mortgage +3.2 pts ▸ 36.1%
1.3% Not stated +0.6 pts ▸ 1.9%
1.6% Other tenure +0.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

Types of homes

52.5% Separate house +40.7 pts ▸ 93.2%
33.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +32.0 pts 1.6%
13.2% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +10.2 pts 3.0%
0.4% Other dwelling +1.4 pts ▸ 1.8%

Bedrooms per home

30.2% 3 bedrooms +10.5 pts ▸ 40.8%
23.3% 4 bedrooms +8.3 pts ▸ 31.6%
26.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +13.1 pts 13.8%
8.8% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 8.8%
8.7% 1 bedroom ◂ +5.8 pts 2.9%
0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

42.3% $350–$549 ◂ +8.7 pts 33.6%
12.0% $200–$349 +22.5 pts ▸ 34.5%
22.9% $550–$749 ◂ +16.1 pts 6.9%
8.1% Under $200 +10.8 pts ▸ 18.9%
11.5% $750 or more ◂ +9.7 pts 1.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

35.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +22.9 pts 12.5%
32.0% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +3.1 pts 28.9%
15.5% $1,000–$1,799 +16.3 pts ▸ 31.8%
10.6% Under $1,000 +10.5 pts ▸ 21.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 500 or more +8.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
11.9% 88th pct 3.1% 15th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 500 or more +25.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.2% 100th pct 14.6% 80th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
4.1% 82nd pct 0.4% 12th pct

How people get to work

32.7% Car (driver) +29.1 pts ▸ 61.8%
40.2% Worked at home ◂ +25.6 pts 14.6%
2.6% Car (passenger) +1.2 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.4% Walked +0.5 pts ▸ 2.9%
2.7% Train ◂ +2.6 pts 0.1%
1.3% Bus ◂ +1.0 pts 0.3%
0.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Motor vehicles per home

40.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +9.0 pts 31.7%
32.4% 2 vehicles +8.1 pts ▸ 40.4%
9.7% 3 vehicles +5.4 pts ▸ 15.0%
11.9% No vehicle ◂ +8.8 pts 3.1%
5.3% 4 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 9.7%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 500 or more +6.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.6% 69th pct 35.6% 35th pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 500 or more +9.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
15.7% 69th pct 6.1% 13th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.2% 52nd pct 4.3% 27th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
60.3% 71st pct 54.7% 45th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 500 or more +4.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
59.1% 64th pct 54.9% 29th pct

Industries people work in

13.2% Health care & social assistance +1.8 pts ▸ 14.9%
11.5% Professional & technical ◂ +6.9 pts 4.6%
7.6% Construction +3.7 pts ▸ 11.3%
8.5% Education & training +1.4 pts ▸ 9.9%
8.7% Retail trade +0.7 pts ▸ 9.4%
5.4% Accommodation & food +2.1 pts ▸ 7.5%
7.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +5.8 pts 1.6%
5.4% Public administration & safety +1.6 pts ▸ 7.0%
5.3% Manufacturing +0.1 pts ▸ 5.5%
5.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.8 pts 4.3%
3.1% Other services +1.1 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +3.3 pts ▸ 3.6%

Occupations people work in

30.3% Professionals ◂ +12.5 pts 17.8%
9.9% Technicians & trades +6.5 pts ▸ 16.4%
15.3% Managers ◂ +3.3 pts 12.1%
13.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.2 pts 11.6%
9.0% Community & personal service +4.2 pts ▸ 13.2%
6.5% Labourers +4.6 pts ▸ 11.1%
7.7% Sales workers +0.5 pts ▸ 8.2%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +2.1 pts ▸ 7.6%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.6 higher in 1 million or more
7.6 100th pct 3.9 37th pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 500 or more +2.7 more in 1 million or more
7.0 100th pct 4.2 36th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 500 or more +38.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
88.4% 100th pct 50.1% 40th pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 500 or more +39.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
84.6% 99th pct 45.1% 28th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 500 or more +35.8 pts higher in 1 million or more
97.8% 100th pct 62.1% 53rd pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 500 or more +43.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
92.4% 100th pct 48.9% 28th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 500 or more +21.2 pts higher in 1 million or more
98.7% 95th pct 77.6% 28th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 500 or more +48.7 pts higher in 1 million or more
73.3% 99th pct 24.7% 26th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 500 or more +7.4 more in 500 or more
12.9 15th pct 20.3 66th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 500 or more +135 higher in 1 million or more
156 92nd pct 21 28th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.6 pts higher in 1 million or more
7.0% 86th pct 6.4% 76th 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 500 or more with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). 1 million or more vs 500 or more [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sosr/SOSR101/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR121/500-or-more