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

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 235 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 250,000 to 999,999 profile

1 million or more 250,000 to 999,999

1 million or more and 250,000 to 999,999 are both high-population areas, but they have very different characters. 1 million or more is far more diverse, with 41.2% of people born overseas and 40.7% using another language at home. It also has a much larger share of people working from home, at 40.2%. In contrast, 250,000 to 999,999 has more detached houses (63.1% compared to 52.5%) and a higher typical weekly income of $1,204, which is $306 more than the typical income in 1 million or more.

Everyday life shares many similarities in both places, as they have almost identical proportions of children, seniors, and people who own their homes outright. They also have very similar typical weekly rents and a nearly identical level of access to parks and public transport. While the gap in the number of people working from home has widened since 2011, the difference in the share of people born overseas has remained little changed.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 29.2 pts higher in 1 million or more Population: 4,245,986 larger in 1 million or more Other language: 16.1 pts higher in 1 million or more No religion: 14.3 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 Volunteering: 7.0 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +4,245,986 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,698,656 100th pct 452,670 86th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1 yrs older in 1 million or more gap steady
36 yrs 14th pct 35 yrs 12th pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.5 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
1.4% 10th pct 2.0% 16th pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
14.5% 29th pct 13.7% 26th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
18.4% 62nd pct 18.3% 59th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3.1 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
9.5% 0th pct 12.5% 38th pct

Age structure

31.2% Young adults (25–44) +1.1 pts ▸ 32.4%
23.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.2 pts 22.3%
18.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.2 pts 18.3%
14.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.8 pts 13.7%
12.3% Youth (15–24) +1.1 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

48.5% Married ◂ +1.7 pts 46.8%
36.8% Never married +2.5 pts ▸ 39.2%
7.5% Divorced +0.2 pts ▸ 7.7%
4.3% Widowed ◂ +0.6 pts 3.7%
2.9% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%

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 +12.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
41.2% 100th pct 28.8% 88th pct

Country of birth

54.2% Australia +13.3 pts ▸ 67.5%
5.0% China ◂ +2.3 pts 2.7%
3.9% India ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%
2.8% England +0.1 pts ▸ 2.9%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +1.1 pts 0.9%
1.9% Philippines ◂ +0.8 pts 1.1%
1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%
1.2% Nepal even 1.3%
0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Ancestry

21.8% English +10.1 pts ▸ 32.0%
20.4% Australian +11.1 pts ▸ 31.5%
7.2% Irish +4.4 pts ▸ 11.6%
11.6% Chinese ◂ +5.8 pts 5.7%
5.6% Scottish +4.4 pts ▸ 10.0%
4.9% Indian ◂ +0.4 pts 4.5%
4.3% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 3.4%
2.2% German +2.0 pts ▸ 4.2%
2.7% Filipino ◂ +1.1 pts 1.6%
2.6% Greek ◂ +1.3 pts 1.2%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +1.2 pts 1.3%
0.9% Dutch +0.9 pts ▸ 1.7%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +16.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
40.7% 92nd pct 24.6% 86th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +4.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
7.0% 93rd pct 2.5% 81st pct

Language used at home

53.9% English only +17.3 pts ▸ 71.2%
5.5% Mandarin ◂ +2.3 pts 3.2%
4.6% Arabic ◂ +3.7 pts 0.9%
3.0% Cantonese ◂ +2.1 pts 0.9%
2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +1.3 pts 1.1%
1.6% Hindi ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%
1.5% Greek ◂ +1.0 pts 0.6%
0.9% Punjabi +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%
1.1% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%
1.0% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +14.3 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
29.8% 11th pct 44.2% 57th pct

Religious affiliation

45.0% Christianity ◂ +6.9 pts 38.1%
29.8% No religion +14.3 pts ▸ 44.2%
6.9% Islam ◂ +3.7 pts 3.2%
6.6% Not stated ◂ +0.9 pts 5.6%
5.3% Hinduism ◂ +0.8 pts 4.5%
4.2% Buddhism ◂ +1.4 pts 2.8%
1.4% Other religions even 1.3%
0.8% Judaism ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +8.1 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
69.0% 100th pct 77.1% 100th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +8.0 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
35.0% 100th pct 43.0% 100th pct

Highest year of school

69.0% Year 12 +8.1 pts ▸ 77.1%
13.2% Year 10 ◂ +2.7 pts 10.5%
8.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.8 pts 4.2%
3.6% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 3.5%

Highest qualification level

34.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +0.6 pts 33.9%
15.1% Postgraduate degree +4.8 pts ▸ 19.9%
16.3% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.3 pts 15.0%
14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.6 pts 13.0%
3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate +3.1 pts ▸ 6.3%
1.3% Certificate I / II even 1.3%

Field of qualification

25.3% Management & commerce ◂ +5.3 pts 20.1%
12.2% Society & culture +7.9 pts ▸ 20.1%
11.6% Engineering & related ◂ +3.2 pts 8.4%
8.6% Health +0.1 pts ▸ 8.7%
5.5% Information technology +2.0 pts ▸ 7.6%
6.4% Education +0.5 pts ▸ 6.9%
3.5% Natural & physical sciences +2.1 pts ▸ 5.6%
4.9% Creative arts ◂ +0.6 pts 4.2%
4.6% Architecture & building ◂ +0.7 pts 3.9%
3.8% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.5 pts 3.3%
0.9% Agriculture & environment +0.7 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$306 higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
$898 76th pct $1,204 87th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$250 higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
$2,122 87th pct $2,372 91st pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$459 higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
$2,412 90th pct $2,871 100th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.6 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
16.5% 88th pct 22.1% 94th pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.2 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
31.2% 92nd pct 36.4% 99th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 +3.4 pts ▸ 32.6%
19.3% $4,000 or more +2.6 pts ▸ 21.9%
21.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.6 pts 17.5%
11.9% $3,000–$3,999 +2.6 pts ▸ 14.5%
12.9% Under $650 ◂ +4.3 pts 8.6%

Personal income distribution

36.9% Under $650 ◂ +9.0 pts 27.9%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 +9.8 pts ▸ 29.8%
29.2% $650–$1,499 +0.5 pts ▸ 29.7%
7.4% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.5 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999
22.6% 21st pct 28.1% 39th pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3.8 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999
6.2% 18th pct 10.0% 55th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.0% 36th pct 4.6% 28th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.2% Mental health +3.8 pts ▸ 10.0%
7.2% Other condition +2.5 pts ▸ 9.7%
6.5% Asthma +2.5 pts ▸ 9.0%
6.3% Arthritis +1.5 pts ▸ 7.7%
4.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%
3.2% Heart disease ◂ +0.1 pts 3.1%
2.3% Cancer +0.4 pts ▸ 2.7%
1.1% Lung condition +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.7% Stroke even 0.7%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

70.1% None ◂ +4.1 pts 66.0%
16.1% One condition +3.7 pts ▸ 19.8%
4.4% Two conditions +1.4 pts ▸ 5.8%
2.1% Three or more +0.4 pts ▸ 2.4%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +7.0 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
11.5% 20th pct 18.4% 71st pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.5 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
10.4% 27th pct 12.0% 43rd pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3.2 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
25.1% 49th pct 28.3% 86th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +4.5 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999
1.5% 5th pct 6.0% 94th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
19.9% 34th pct 19.3% 29th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +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 250,000 to 999,999 +1.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
12.8% 19th pct 11.9% 13th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +2.8 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
23.0% 18th pct 25.8% 33rd pct

Family composition

63.1% Couples with children ◂ +3.3 pts 59.8%
22.8% Couples without children +4.4 pts ▸ 27.2%
12.8% One-parent families ◂ +1.0 pts 11.9%
1.2% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

Household size

30.3% 2 people +2.3 pts ▸ 32.7%
23.0% 1 person +2.8 pts ▸ 25.8%
17.6% 4 people ◂ +1.1 pts 16.4%
17.5% 3 people ◂ +1.0 pts 16.5%
7.4% 5 people ◂ +1.3 pts 6.0%
4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$25 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$475 100th pct $450 100th pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +$420 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,500 100th pct $2,080 90th 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 +6.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
37.3% 84th pct 30.7% 57th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
26.8% 18th pct 26.6% 17th pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +10.6 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
52.5% 0th pct 63.1% 6th pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +10.6 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
62.3% 4th pct 73.0% 28th pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.0% Owned with a mortgage +7.3 pts ▸ 40.2%
37.3% Rented ◂ +6.6 pts 30.7%
26.8% Owned outright ◂ +0.2 pts 26.6%
1.6% Other tenure even 1.6%
1.3% Not stated ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

52.5% Separate house +10.6 pts ▸ 63.1%
33.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +14.2 pts 19.4%
13.2% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.0 pts ▸ 17.2%
0.4% Other dwelling ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

30.2% 3 bedrooms +6.9 pts ▸ 37.1%
23.3% 4 bedrooms +5.5 pts ▸ 28.8%
26.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +9.3 pts 17.5%
8.8% 5 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 7.1%
8.7% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.2 pts 8.4%
0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

42.3% $350–$549 +3.5 pts ▸ 45.8%
22.9% $550–$749 ◂ +1.7 pts 21.2%
8.1% Under $200 +4.4 pts ▸ 12.5%
12.0% $200–$349 +0.5 pts ▸ 12.4%
11.5% $750 or more ◂ +6.5 pts 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

32.0% $1,800–$2,999 +6.5 pts ▸ 38.5%
35.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +14.5 pts 20.9%
15.5% $1,000–$1,799 +10.1 pts ▸ 25.6%
10.6% Under $1,000 +0.5 pts ▸ 11.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +6.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
11.9% 88th pct 5.6% 49th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +29.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.2% 100th pct 10.9% 64th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.5 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
4.1% 82nd pct 4.6% 86th pct

How people get to work

32.7% Car (driver) +26.3 pts ▸ 59.0%
40.2% Worked at home ◂ +29.2 pts 10.9%
2.6% Car (passenger) +2.4 pts ▸ 5.0%
2.4% Walked +1.6 pts ▸ 4.0%
1.3% Bus +2.4 pts ▸ 3.6%
2.7% Train ◂ +2.7 pts 0.0%
0.4% Bicycle +1.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

Motor vehicles per home

40.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.5 pts 39.3%
32.4% 2 vehicles +6.4 pts ▸ 38.7%
11.9% No vehicle ◂ +6.4 pts 5.6%
9.7% 3 vehicles +1.3 pts ▸ 10.9%
5.3% 4 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 5.5%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +4.5 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap steady
41.6% 69th pct 46.1% 83rd pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.1 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap narrowing
15.7% 69th pct 16.7% 73rd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.2% 52nd pct 3.8% 16th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +9.3 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
60.3% 71st pct 69.6% 100th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +6.7 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999 gap widening
59.1% 64th pct 65.8% 84th pct

Industries people work in

5.4% Public administration & safety +24.4 pts ▸ 29.8%
13.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.7 pts 11.5%
11.5% Professional & technical ◂ +0.5 pts 10.9%
8.5% Education & training +0.9 pts ▸ 9.4%
8.7% Retail trade ◂ +2.3 pts 6.5%
7.6% Construction ◂ +1.0 pts 6.6%
7.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +6.0 pts 1.4%
5.4% Accommodation & food +0.9 pts ▸ 6.3%
5.3% Manufacturing ◂ +3.7 pts 1.7%
5.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +3.0 pts 2.1%
3.3% Wholesale trade ◂ +2.5 pts 0.8%
3.2% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

30.3% Professionals +1.2 pts ▸ 31.5%
15.3% Managers +2.5 pts ▸ 17.8%
13.8% Clerical & administrative +0.8 pts ▸ 14.6%
9.0% Community & personal service +1.9 pts ▸ 10.9%
9.9% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.3 pts 9.6%
7.7% Sales workers ◂ +1.6 pts 6.1%
6.5% Labourers ◂ +1.5 pts 5.0%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.1 pts 2.4%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.6 higher in 1 million or more
7.6 100th pct 7.0 97th pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.4 more in 1 million or more
7.0 100th pct 6.5 97th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.9 pts higher in 1 million or more
88.4% 100th pct 82.5% 97th pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +3.9 pts higher in 1 million or more
84.6% 99th pct 80.6% 96th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +0.4 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999
97.8% 100th pct 98.2% 100th pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +6.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
92.4% 100th pct 86.0% 97th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.0 pts higher in 250,000 to 999,999
98.7% 95th pct 99.7% 100th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +8.6 pts higher in 1 million or more
73.3% 99th pct 64.8% 92nd pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +5.8 more in 250,000 to 999,999
12.9 15th pct 18.8 60th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +90 higher in 250,000 to 999,999
156 92nd pct 246 100th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 250,000 to 999,999 +1.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
7.0% 86th pct 5.5% 57th 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

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

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/SOSR802/250-000-to-999-999