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1 million or more vs 499 or less

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 226 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 499 or less profile

1 million or more 499 or less

1 million or more is a very large, diverse area, while 499 or less is a sparsely populated place. There are stark differences in who lives here; 41.2% of people in 1 million or more were born overseas and 40.7% use a language other than English at home, compared to just 10.1% and 3.1% in 499 or less. The two areas also differ in housing and lifestyle. 1 million or more is very walkable, with 97.8% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport, whereas 499 or less is mostly car-dependent and has a much higher share of detached houses at 92.6%.

Both areas have a similar proportion of people aged 65 and over, at around 14.5% to 14.8%. However, many other gaps have widened since 2011. The difference in typical family income has grown, with 499 or less now well higher at $3,524 a week compared to $2,412 in 1 million or more. Similarly, the gap in religious identity has increased, as 51.1% of people in 499 or less now report having no religion, far higher than the 29.8% in 1 million or more.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 31.1 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 37.7 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 40.1 pts higher in 499 or less Population: 4,698,041 larger in 1 million or more 3+ bedrooms: 24.4 pts higher in 499 or less

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4,698,041 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,698,656 100th pct 615 13th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 499 or less +5 yrs older in 499 or less gap narrowing
36 yrs 14th pct 41 yrs 50th pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.0 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
1.4% 10th pct 2.4% 23rd pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
14.5% 29th pct 14.8% 30th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
18.4% 62nd pct 21.0% 88th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.7 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
9.5% 0th pct 11.2% 10th pct

Age structure

31.2% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +7.3 pts 23.9%
23.5% Older adults (45–64) +3.3 pts ▸ 26.8%
18.4% Children (0–14) +2.5 pts ▸ 21.0%
14.5% Seniors (65+) +0.3 pts ▸ 14.8%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.9 pts 11.4%

Marital status

48.5% Married +10.5 pts ▸ 59.0%
36.8% Never married ◂ +7.7 pts 29.1%
7.5% Divorced ◂ +0.9 pts 6.7%
4.3% Widowed ◂ +0.2 pts 4.2%
2.9% Separated ◂ +0.6 pts 2.3%

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 +31.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.2% 100th pct 10.1% 14th pct

Country of birth

54.2% Australia +31.0 pts ▸ 85.2%
5.0% China ◂ +5.0 pts 0.0%
3.9% India ◂ +3.3 pts 0.7%
2.8% England even 2.8%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +2.0 pts 0.0%
1.9% Philippines ◂ +1.9 pts 0.0%
1.6% New Zealand ◂ +1.2 pts 0.5%
1.2% Nepal ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%
0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

20.4% Australian +24.9 pts ▸ 45.4%
21.8% English +19.0 pts ▸ 40.8%
5.6% Scottish +7.4 pts ▸ 13.0%
7.2% Irish +5.2 pts ▸ 12.4%
11.6% Chinese ◂ +10.8 pts 0.8%
4.9% Indian ◂ +4.3 pts 0.7%
2.2% German +2.3 pts ▸ 4.6%
4.3% Italian ◂ +2.2 pts 2.1%
2.7% Filipino ◂ +2.7 pts 0.0%
2.6% Greek ◂ +2.1 pts 0.5%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%
0.9% Dutch +1.4 pts ▸ 2.3%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 499 or less +37.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.7% 92nd pct 3.1% 3rd pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 499 or less +7.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
7.0% 93rd pct 0.0% 0th pct

Language used at home

53.9% English only +38.8 pts ▸ 92.7%
5.5% Mandarin ◂ +5.5 pts 0.0%
4.6% Arabic ◂ +4.6 pts 0.0%
3.0% Cantonese ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%
2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.4 pts 0.0%
1.6% Hindi ◂ +1.0 pts 0.7%
1.5% Greek ◂ +1.5 pts 0.0%
1.1% Italian ◂ +1.1 pts 0.0%
1.0% Tagalog ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%
0.9% Punjabi ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 499 or less +21.2 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
29.8% 11th pct 51.1% 94th pct

Religious affiliation

29.8% No religion +21.2 pts ▸ 51.1%
45.0% Christianity ◂ +3.9 pts 41.1%
6.9% Islam ◂ +6.9 pts 0.0%
6.6% Not stated ◂ +1.9 pts 4.7%
5.3% Hinduism ◂ +4.7 pts 0.7%
4.2% Buddhism ◂ +4.2 pts 0.0%
1.4% Other religions ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%
0.8% Judaism ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.0 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
69.0% 100th pct 70.0% 100th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
35.0% 100th pct 32.8% 98th pct

Highest year of school

69.0% Year 12 +1.0 pts ▸ 70.0%
13.2% Year 10 +5.3 pts ▸ 18.5%
8.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +4.7 pts 3.3%
3.6% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 3.5%

Highest qualification level

34.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +6.4 pts 28.1%
16.3% Certificate III / IV +8.0 pts ▸ 24.3%
14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.4 pts ▸ 16.0%
15.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.0 pts 12.1%
3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate +3.3 pts ▸ 6.5%
1.3% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%

Field of qualification

25.3% Management & commerce ◂ +6.7 pts 18.6%
12.2% Society & culture +6.7 pts ▸ 18.9%
11.6% Engineering & related ◂ +2.5 pts 9.2%
8.6% Health +0.6 pts ▸ 9.2%
6.4% Education +2.7 pts ▸ 9.2%
4.6% Architecture & building +2.8 pts ▸ 7.4%
5.5% Information technology ◂ +2.6 pts 3.0%
4.9% Creative arts ◂ +1.6 pts 3.3%
3.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.6 pts ▸ 4.4%
3.5% Natural & physical sciences even 3.6%
0.9% Agriculture & environment +2.0 pts ▸ 3.0%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$421 higher in 499 or less gap widening
$898 76th pct $1,319 88th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$1,061 higher in 499 or less gap widening
$2,122 87th pct $3,183 100th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$1,112 higher in 499 or less gap widening
$2,412 90th pct $3,524 100th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.7 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
16.5% 88th pct 26.2% 99th pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 499 or less +17.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
31.2% 92nd pct 48.3% 100th pct

Household income distribution

19.3% $4,000 or more +11.2 pts ▸ 30.5%
29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.6 pts 21.7%
21.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +8.8 pts 12.3%
11.9% $3,000–$3,999 +5.9 pts ▸ 17.7%
12.9% Under $650 ◂ +6.5 pts 6.4%

Personal income distribution

36.9% Under $650 ◂ +11.7 pts 25.2%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 +10.8 pts ▸ 30.8%
29.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.0 pts 27.2%
7.4% $3,000 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 9.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.2 pts higher in 499 or less
22.6% 21st pct 28.8% 43rd pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.6 pts higher in 499 or less
6.2% 18th pct 7.8% 28th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
5.0% 36th pct 3.6% 16th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.3% Arthritis +3.0 pts ▸ 9.3%
6.5% Asthma +1.8 pts ▸ 8.3%
6.2% Mental health +1.6 pts ▸ 7.8%
7.2% Other condition +0.4 pts ▸ 7.6%
4.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%
2.3% Cancer +1.8 pts ▸ 4.1%
3.2% Heart disease +0.9 pts ▸ 4.1%
1.1% Lung condition +0.4 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.7% Stroke ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

70.1% None ◂ +4.2 pts 65.9%
16.1% One condition +4.8 pts ▸ 21.0%
4.4% Two conditions ◂ +0.1 pts 4.2%
2.1% Three or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
11.5% 20th pct 20.8% 88th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
10.4% 27th pct 12.9% 59th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.2 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
25.1% 49th pct 34.3% 91st pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.5 pts higher in 499 or less
1.5% 5th pct 3.9% 71st pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.4 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
19.9% 34th pct 22.2% 60th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.3 larger in 499 or less gap widening
2.7 86th pct 3.0 91st pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
12.8% 19th pct 8.4% 0th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 499 or less +8.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
23.0% 18th pct 14.3% 0th pct

Family composition

63.1% Couples with children +3.0 pts ▸ 66.1%
22.8% Couples without children +1.5 pts ▸ 24.4%
12.8% One-parent families ◂ +4.4 pts 8.4%
1.2% Other families ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%

Household size

30.3% 2 people +1.2 pts ▸ 31.5%
23.0% 1 person ◂ +8.7 pts 14.3%
17.6% 4 people +3.6 pts ▸ 21.2%
17.5% 3 people ◂ +1.7 pts 15.8%
7.4% 5 people +6.4 pts ▸ 13.8%
4.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$95 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$475 100th pct $380 90th pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$59 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$2,500 100th pct $2,441 100th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.20 higher in 1 million or more gap steady
1.00 89th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 499 or less +24.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
37.3% 84th pct 13.3% 5th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 499 or less +5.7 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
26.8% 18th pct 32.5% 42nd pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 499 or less +40.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
52.5% 0th pct 92.6% 71st pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 499 or less +24.4 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
62.3% 4th pct 86.7% 100th pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.0% Owned with a mortgage +17.3 pts ▸ 50.2%
37.3% Rented ◂ +24.0 pts 13.3%
26.8% Owned outright +5.7 pts ▸ 32.5%
1.6% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%
1.3% Not stated ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%

Types of homes

52.5% Separate house +40.1 pts ▸ 92.6%
33.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +33.6 pts 0.0%
13.2% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +6.3 pts 6.9%
0.4% Other dwelling ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

23.3% 4 bedrooms +19.1 pts ▸ 42.4%
30.2% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.7 pts 29.6%
26.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +17.0 pts 9.9%
8.8% 5 or more +6.0 pts ▸ 14.8%
8.7% 1 bedroom ◂ +4.2 pts 4.4%
0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

42.3% $350–$549 ◂ +20.1 pts 22.2%
8.1% Under $200 +17.9 pts ▸ 25.9%
22.9% $550–$749 ◂ +8.1 pts 14.8%
12.0% $200–$349 ◂ +12.0 pts 0.0%
11.5% $750 or more ◂ +11.5 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

32.0% $1,800–$2,999 +6.3 pts ▸ 38.2%
35.4% $3,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 36.3%
15.5% $1,000–$1,799 +3.1 pts ▸ 18.6%
10.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +6.6 pts 3.9%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 499 or less +11.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
11.9% 88th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 499 or less +24.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
40.2% 100th pct 15.8% 85th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
4.1% 82nd pct 0.0% 0th pct

How people get to work

32.7% Car (driver) +30.3 pts ▸ 63.0%
40.2% Worked at home ◂ +24.4 pts 15.8%
2.7% Train ◂ +2.7 pts 0.0%
2.6% Car (passenger) +0.1 pts ▸ 2.7%
2.4% Walked even 2.4%
1.3% Bus ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%
0.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

32.4% 2 vehicles +11.1 pts ▸ 43.4%
40.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +22.1 pts 18.7%
9.7% 3 vehicles +12.0 pts ▸ 21.7%
5.3% 4 or more +8.9 pts ▸ 14.1%
11.9% No vehicle ◂ +11.9 pts 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 499 or less +14.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.6% 69th pct 27.2% 12th pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 499 or less +15.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
15.7% 69th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
5.2% 52nd pct 2.6% 7th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 499 or less +11.0 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
60.3% 71st pct 71.3% 100th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
59.1% 64th pct 60.6% 72nd pct

Industries people work in

5.4% Public administration & safety +19.4 pts ▸ 24.8%
13.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.0 pts 10.1%
7.6% Construction +4.6 pts ▸ 12.2%
11.5% Professional & technical +0.2 pts ▸ 11.6%
8.5% Education & training +3.2 pts ▸ 11.6%
8.7% Retail trade ◂ +4.5 pts 4.2%
7.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +7.4 pts 0.0%
5.4% Accommodation & food ◂ +3.0 pts 2.4%
5.3% Manufacturing ◂ +2.9 pts 2.4%
5.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.8 pts 2.4%
3.1% Other services +1.4 pts ▸ 4.5%
3.3% Wholesale trade ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%

Occupations people work in

30.3% Professionals ◂ +1.7 pts 28.7%
15.3% Managers +3.2 pts ▸ 18.5%
13.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.1 pts 13.7%
9.9% Technicians & trades +2.6 pts ▸ 12.5%
9.0% Community & personal service ◂ +0.3 pts 8.7%
7.7% Sales workers ◂ +3.8 pts 3.9%
6.5% Labourers ◂ +0.2 pts 6.3%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.6 pts 3.9%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4.1 higher in 1 million or more
7.6 100th pct 3.4 27th pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.5 more in 1 million or more
7.0 100th pct 3.4 26th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 499 or less +28.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
88.4% 100th pct 60.4% 67th pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 499 or less +84.6 pts higher in 1 million or more
84.6% 99th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 499 or less +37.8 pts higher in 1 million or more
97.8% 100th pct 60.1% 52nd pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 499 or less +92.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
92.4% 100th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.3 pts higher in 499 or less
98.7% 95th pct 100.0% 100th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 499 or less +73.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
73.3% 99th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 499 or less +34.2 more in 499 or less
12.9 15th pct 47.2 94th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 499 or less +112 higher in 1 million or more
156 92nd pct 44 56th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
7.0% 86th pct 5.0% 44th 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

250,000 to 999,999 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 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/SOSR822/499-or-less