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1 million or more vs 499 or less

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 138 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 499 or less profile

1 million or more 499 or less

1 million or more and 499 or less are very different types of places. 1 million or more is a diverse, high-income hub where 41.2% of people were born overseas and 40.7% use a language other than English at home. In contrast, 499 or less is much more traditional and older; the typical resident is 48, compared to 36 in 1 million or more. The two areas also differ in housing and wealth, with 499 or less having a much higher share of detached houses (94.8%) and homes owned outright (45.2%), while 1 million or more has far higher typical weekly incomes ($2,122 versus $1,227).

Since 2011, the gaps between these two areas have generally widened. The difference in typical age has grown to 12 years, and the divide in educational attainment and typical incomes has also increased. Despite these diverging paths, they remain similar in their unemployment rates, which sit at 5.2% in 1 million or more and 4.9% in 499 or less.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 31.4 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 37.3 pts higher in 1 million or more Year 12: 31.4 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 42.3 pts higher in 499 or less Work from home: 26.1 pts higher in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4,648,697 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,698,656 100th pct 49,959 47th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 499 or less +12 yrs older in 499 or less gap widening
36 yrs 14th pct 48 yrs 86th pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 499 or less +7.2 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
1.4% 10th pct 8.6% 72nd pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.7 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
14.5% 29th pct 24.3% 83rd pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
18.4% 62nd pct 16.7% 33rd pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4.0 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
9.5% 0th pct 13.4% 66th pct

Age structure

31.2% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +11.7 pts 19.5%
23.5% Older adults (45–64) +6.5 pts ▸ 30.0%
14.5% Seniors (65+) +9.7 pts ▸ 24.3%
18.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.8 pts 16.7%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.7 pts 9.6%

Marital status

48.5% Married ◂ +3.4 pts 45.0%
36.8% Never married ◂ +4.0 pts 32.8%
7.5% Divorced +4.1 pts ▸ 11.6%
4.3% Widowed +2.0 pts ▸ 6.4%
2.9% Separated +1.4 pts ▸ 4.3%

Age & sex structure

1 million or more 499 or less

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 499 or less +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 +27.0 pts ▸ 81.2%
5.0% China ◂ +4.8 pts 0.2%
3.9% India ◂ +3.7 pts 0.2%
2.8% England +0.3 pts ▸ 3.1%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +1.9 pts 0.0%
1.9% Philippines ◂ +1.5 pts 0.4%
1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.4 pts 1.2%
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 +19.2 pts ▸ 41.0%
20.4% Australian +20.1 pts ▸ 40.6%
7.2% Irish +4.4 pts ▸ 11.6%
11.6% Chinese ◂ +10.9 pts 0.7%
5.6% Scottish +5.2 pts ▸ 10.8%
4.9% Indian ◂ +4.6 pts 0.3%
4.3% Italian ◂ +2.0 pts 2.3%
2.2% German +2.0 pts ▸ 4.3%
2.7% Filipino ◂ +2.1 pts 0.6%
2.6% Greek ◂ +2.1 pts 0.5%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%
0.9% Dutch +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 499 or less +37.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.7% 92nd pct 3.5% 7th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
7.0% 93rd pct 0.4% 14th pct

Language used at home

53.9% English only +34.4 pts ▸ 88.3%
5.5% Mandarin ◂ +5.2 pts 0.3%
4.6% Arabic ◂ +4.5 pts 0.1%
3.0% Cantonese ◂ +3.0 pts 0.1%
2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.4 pts 0.0%
1.6% Hindi ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%
1.5% Greek ◂ +1.4 pts 0.1%
1.1% Italian ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%
1.0% Tagalog ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%
0.9% Punjabi ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 499 or less +8.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
29.8% 11th pct 37.9% 27th pct

Religious affiliation

45.0% Christianity +5.4 pts ▸ 50.4%
29.8% No religion +8.1 pts ▸ 37.9%
6.6% Not stated +3.4 pts ▸ 10.0%
6.9% Islam ◂ +6.8 pts 0.1%
5.3% Hinduism ◂ +5.1 pts 0.2%
4.2% Buddhism ◂ +3.4 pts 0.7%
1.4% Other religions ◂ +0.8 pts 0.5%
0.8% Judaism ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 499 or less +31.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
69.0% 100th pct 37.6% 29th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +21.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
35.0% 100th pct 14.1% 44th pct

Highest year of school

69.0% Year 12 ◂ +31.4 pts 37.6%
13.2% Year 10 +18.0 pts ▸ 31.2%
8.0% Year 9 or below +6.3 pts ▸ 14.3%
3.6% Year 11 +3.1 pts ▸ 6.7%

Highest qualification level

16.3% Certificate III / IV +20.1 pts ▸ 36.4%
34.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +18.4 pts 16.1%
15.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +10.5 pts 4.6%
14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.9 pts 13.6%
3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%
1.3% Certificate I / II +1.2 pts ▸ 2.5%

Field of qualification

25.3% Management & commerce ◂ +11.6 pts 13.8%
11.6% Engineering & related +3.7 pts ▸ 15.4%
12.2% Society & culture ◂ +1.4 pts 10.8%
8.6% Health +0.9 pts ▸ 9.5%
6.4% Education +1.8 pts ▸ 8.3%
4.6% Architecture & building +2.4 pts ▸ 6.9%
5.5% Information technology ◂ +4.4 pts 1.1%
3.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.2 pts ▸ 5.1%
4.9% Creative arts ◂ +1.7 pts 3.2%
0.9% Agriculture & environment +2.7 pts ▸ 3.6%
3.5% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.8 pts 1.8%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$258 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$898 76th pct $640 27th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$895 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,122 87th pct $1,227 20th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$797 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,412 90th pct $1,615 28th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
16.5% 88th pct 7.2% 32nd pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 499 or less +18.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
31.2% 92nd pct 13.0% 31st pct

Household income distribution

21.1% $650–$1,499 +10.4 pts ▸ 31.5%
29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.3 pts 24.9%
12.9% Under $650 +9.6 pts ▸ 22.5%
19.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +12.9 pts 6.4%
11.9% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +5.3 pts 6.6%

Personal income distribution

36.9% Under $650 +8.5 pts ▸ 45.4%
29.2% $650–$1,499 +0.4 pts ▸ 29.6%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.6 pts 12.4%
7.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.0 pts 2.4%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 499 or less +11.6 pts higher in 499 or less
22.6% 21st pct 34.1% 77th pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.7 pts higher in 499 or less
6.2% 18th pct 9.9% 53rd pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.8 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
5.0% 36th pct 6.8% 66th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.3% Arthritis +6.8 pts ▸ 13.1%
6.2% Mental health +3.7 pts ▸ 9.9%
6.5% Asthma +2.9 pts ▸ 9.4%
7.2% Other condition +1.0 pts ▸ 8.3%
4.5% Diabetes +1.5 pts ▸ 6.0%
3.2% Heart disease +2.4 pts ▸ 5.6%
2.3% Cancer +1.5 pts ▸ 3.8%
1.1% Lung condition +2.0 pts ▸ 3.1%
0.7% Stroke +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.7% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

70.1% None ◂ +15.3 pts 54.8%
16.1% One condition +5.2 pts ▸ 21.4%
4.4% Two conditions +3.5 pts ▸ 7.9%
2.1% Three or more +2.8 pts ▸ 4.9%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
11.5% 20th pct 17.5% 64th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.4 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
10.4% 27th pct 13.8% 89th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
25.1% 49th pct 23.0% 27th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.0 pts higher in 499 or less
1.5% 5th pct 3.5% 49th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +5.2 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
19.9% 34th pct 25.1% 86th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.4 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
2.7 86th pct 2.3 14th pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.4 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
12.8% 19th pct 15.2% 43rd pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.8 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
23.0% 18th pct 29.8% 62nd pct

Family composition

63.1% Couples with children ◂ +13.6 pts 49.5%
22.8% Couples without children +11.3 pts ▸ 34.2%
12.8% One-parent families +2.4 pts ▸ 15.2%
1.2% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

Household size

30.3% 2 people +7.7 pts ▸ 38.0%
23.0% 1 person +6.8 pts ▸ 29.8%
17.6% 4 people ◂ +6.7 pts 10.8%
17.5% 3 people ◂ +4.4 pts 13.1%
7.4% 5 people ◂ +2.1 pts 5.3%
4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 2.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$225 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$475 100th pct $250 29th pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$1,100 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,500 100th pct $1,400 36th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.20 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
1.00 89th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 499 or less +19.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
37.3% 84th pct 17.6% 15th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 499 or less +18.4 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
26.8% 18th pct 45.2% 92nd pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 499 or less +42.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
52.5% 0th pct 94.8% 83rd pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 499 or less +13.4 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
62.3% 4th pct 75.8% 41st pct

How homes are owned or rented

26.8% Owned outright +18.4 pts ▸ 45.2%
37.3% Rented ◂ +19.7 pts 17.6%
33.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.2 pts 32.7%
1.3% Not stated +1.4 pts ▸ 2.7%
1.6% Other tenure +0.2 pts ▸ 1.8%

Types of homes

52.5% Separate house +42.3 pts ▸ 94.8%
33.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +32.4 pts 1.2%
13.2% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +11.8 pts 1.5%
0.4% Other dwelling +1.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

Bedrooms per home

30.2% 3 bedrooms +13.0 pts ▸ 43.2%
26.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +10.4 pts 16.4%
23.3% 4 bedrooms +2.5 pts ▸ 25.8%
8.8% 5 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 6.7%
8.7% 1 bedroom ◂ +4.2 pts 4.4%
0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

42.3% $350–$549 ◂ +20.5 pts 21.8%
12.0% $200–$349 +25.8 pts ▸ 37.8%
8.1% Under $200 +20.1 pts ▸ 28.2%
22.9% $550–$749 ◂ +18.7 pts 4.2%
11.5% $750 or more ◂ +9.7 pts 1.7%

Monthly mortgage distribution

35.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +25.1 pts 10.3%
15.5% $1,000–$1,799 +17.4 pts ▸ 32.9%
32.0% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +10.0 pts 21.9%
10.6% Under $1,000 +18.4 pts ▸ 29.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 499 or less +7.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
11.9% 88th pct 4.1% 25th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 499 or less +26.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.2% 100th pct 14.1% 78th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
4.1% 82nd pct 0.6% 18th pct

How people get to work

32.7% Car (driver) +27.1 pts ▸ 59.9%
40.2% Worked at home ◂ +26.1 pts 14.1%
2.4% Walked +2.7 pts ▸ 5.1%
2.6% Car (passenger) +1.2 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.7% Train ◂ +2.6 pts 0.1%
1.3% Bus ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%
0.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Motor vehicles per home

40.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.5 pts 34.3%
32.4% 2 vehicles +6.3 pts ▸ 38.7%
9.7% 3 vehicles +4.4 pts ▸ 14.1%
11.9% No vehicle ◂ +7.8 pts 4.1%
5.3% 4 or more +3.6 pts ▸ 8.9%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.6% 69th pct 31.7% 23rd pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 499 or less +8.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
15.7% 69th pct 7.0% 17th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.2% 52nd pct 4.9% 46th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 499 or less +8.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
60.3% 71st pct 51.4% 28th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
59.1% 64th pct 54.8% 28th pct

Industries people work in

13.2% Health care & social assistance +0.9 pts ▸ 14.1%
11.5% Professional & technical ◂ +7.2 pts 4.2%
7.6% Construction +3.0 pts ▸ 10.6%
8.5% Education & training +0.6 pts ▸ 9.1%
8.7% Retail trade ◂ +0.1 pts 8.6%
5.4% Accommodation & food +2.9 pts ▸ 8.3%
5.4% Public administration & safety +2.2 pts ▸ 7.6%
7.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +5.9 pts 1.6%
5.3% Manufacturing +0.2 pts ▸ 5.6%
5.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.8 pts 4.4%
0.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +4.8 pts ▸ 5.1%
3.1% Other services +0.9 pts ▸ 4.0%

Occupations people work in

30.3% Professionals ◂ +14.5 pts 15.8%
9.9% Technicians & trades +5.5 pts ▸ 15.4%
15.3% Managers ◂ +2.5 pts 12.8%
13.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.9 pts 11.9%
9.0% Community & personal service +4.6 pts ▸ 13.6%
6.5% Labourers +6.3 pts ▸ 12.7%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +2.6 pts ▸ 8.1%
7.7% Sales workers ◂ +0.1 pts 7.6%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.4 higher in 1 million or more
7.6 100th pct 4.2 43rd pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.3 more in 1 million or more
7.0 100th pct 4.6 45th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 499 or less +27.9 pts higher in 1 million or more
88.4% 100th pct 60.5% 67th pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 499 or less +38.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
84.6% 99th pct 46.5% 30th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 499 or less +47.6 pts higher in 1 million or more
97.8% 100th pct 50.3% 43rd pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 499 or less +36.1 pts higher in 1 million or more
92.4% 100th pct 56.3% 39th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 499 or less +17.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
98.7% 95th pct 81.2% 35th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 499 or less +46.9 pts higher in 1 million or more
73.3% 99th pct 26.4% 27th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 499 or less +23.9 more in 499 or less
12.9 15th pct 36.8 90th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 499 or less +134 higher in 1 million or more
156 92nd pct 22 29th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
7.0% 86th pct 6.7% 82nd 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 499 or less with nearby areas

50,000 to 99,999 500 or more 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 499 or less [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sosr/SOSR101/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR122/499-or-less