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1 million or more vs 4,999 or less

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 68 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 4,999 or less profile

1 million or more 4,999 or less

1 million or more and 4,999 or less are two very different types of places. 1 million or more is a very walkable area where 36.9% of people were born overseas and 35.6% use a language other than English at home. In contrast, 4,999 or less is more car-dependent and far less diverse, with only 11.5% born overseas and 4.9% using another language. There are also large gaps in education and income; 33.8% of adults in 1 million or more have a bachelor degree or higher compared to 16.1% in 4,999 or less, while typical weekly household incomes are $1,906 and $1,311 respectively.

These two areas have drifted further apart since 2011, with gaps widening in typical age, income, and home ownership. While they share a similar proportion of children under 15 (around 18%), they differ sharply in housing. In 4,999 or less, 92.6% of homes are separate houses, which is far higher than the 66.1% in 1 million or more. This is consistent with a population that is noticeably older, with the typical resident in 4,999 or less being 45, compared to 37 in 1 million or more.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 25.4 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 30.7 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 26.5 pts higher in 4,999 or less Year 12: 24.3 pts higher in 1 million or more Population: 4,360,856 larger in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4,360,856 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,585,537 100th pct 224,681 75th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +8 yrs older in 4,999 or less gap widening
37 yrs 19th pct 45 yrs 71st pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.2 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
0.6% 2nd pct 1.9% 15th pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +9.7 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
15.0% 31st pct 24.7% 85th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
17.9% 54th pct 17.8% 52nd pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.7 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
10.6% 6th pct 13.3% 64th pct

Age structure

31.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +9.2 pts 22.1%
23.4% Older adults (45–64) +2.5 pts ▸ 26.0%
15.0% Seniors (65+) +9.7 pts ▸ 24.7%
17.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.2 pts 17.8%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.9 pts 9.4%

Marital status

46.8% Married ◂ +0.5 pts 46.3%
38.2% Never married ◂ +6.0 pts 32.2%
7.6% Divorced +3.0 pts ▸ 10.5%
4.5% Widowed +2.7 pts ▸ 7.2%
2.8% Separated +0.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

Age & sex structure

1 million or more 4,999 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 4,999 or less +25.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
36.9% 98th pct 11.5% 29th pct

Country of birth

58.8% Australia +22.7 pts ▸ 81.5%
5.1% India ◂ +4.6 pts 0.5%
3.6% China ◂ +3.4 pts 0.2%
2.7% England +0.7 pts ▸ 3.4%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +1.8 pts 0.2%
1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%
1.2% Italy ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%
1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.8 pts 0.5%
0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%
0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

24.8% English +17.4 pts ▸ 42.2%
22.5% Australian +18.5 pts ▸ 41.0%
8.2% Irish +4.6 pts ▸ 12.8%
6.9% Scottish +4.6 pts ▸ 11.6%
8.8% Chinese ◂ +8.1 pts 0.7%
6.7% Italian ◂ +3.0 pts 3.7%
5.5% Indian ◂ +4.9 pts 0.6%
2.8% German +1.6 pts ▸ 4.4%
3.6% Greek ◂ +3.1 pts 0.6%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.3 pts 0.2%
1.4% Dutch +1.0 pts ▸ 2.5%
1.7% Filipino ◂ +1.1 pts 0.6%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +30.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
35.6% 90th pct 4.9% 23rd pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +5.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.7% 91st pct 0.8% 41st pct

Language used at home

59.6% English only +29.1 pts ▸ 88.7%
4.6% Mandarin ◂ +4.3 pts 0.3%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.3 pts 0.2%
2.2% Greek ◂ +2.0 pts 0.2%
2.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.7 pts 0.3%
1.9% Arabic ◂ +1.8 pts 0.1%
1.8% Italian ◂ +1.3 pts 0.5%
1.7% Cantonese ◂ +1.7 pts 0.1%
1.4% Hindi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%
0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +11.2 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
36.9% 25th pct 48.1% 78th pct

Religious affiliation

36.9% No religion +11.2 pts ▸ 48.1%
40.0% Christianity +1.6 pts ▸ 41.6%
6.1% Not stated +2.0 pts ▸ 8.1%
5.5% Islam ◂ +5.1 pts 0.4%
4.3% Hinduism ◂ +4.0 pts 0.4%
4.1% Buddhism ◂ +3.3 pts 0.8%
2.1% Other religions ◂ +1.5 pts 0.6%
1.0% Judaism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +24.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
67.9% 99th pct 43.6% 54th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +17.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
33.8% 99th pct 16.1% 64th pct

Highest year of school

67.9% Year 12 ◂ +24.3 pts 43.6%
9.1% Year 10 +9.8 pts ▸ 18.8%
8.3% Year 11 +7.3 pts ▸ 15.6%
9.2% Year 9 or below +4.5 pts ▸ 13.7%

Highest qualification level

18.3% Certificate III / IV +16.9 pts ▸ 35.2%
33.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +15.1 pts 18.1%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.4 pts ▸ 15.7%
14.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +9.1 pts 5.0%
4.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.4 pts 4.2%
1.2% Certificate I / II +0.9 pts ▸ 2.1%

Field of qualification

21.3% Management & commerce ◂ +8.7 pts 12.6%
12.2% Engineering & related +2.4 pts ▸ 14.6%
12.5% Society & culture ◂ +0.8 pts 11.7%
9.8% Health +1.0 pts ▸ 10.8%
7.3% Education +2.5 pts ▸ 9.9%
5.1% Architecture & building +2.0 pts ▸ 7.1%
4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.5 pts ▸ 5.9%
5.4% Information technology ◂ +4.0 pts 1.3%
5.0% Creative arts ◂ +2.1 pts 2.9%
3.9% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.9 pts 2.0%
1.1% Agriculture & environment +2.5 pts ▸ 3.6%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$159 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$844 74th pct $685 41st pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$595 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,906 81st pct $1,311 33rd pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$500 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,255 86th pct $1,755 47th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +6.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
13.9% 86th pct 7.6% 43rd pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +12.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
25.6% 86th pct 13.3% 37th pct

Household income distribution

23.8% $650–$1,499 +7.4 pts ▸ 31.2%
30.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.7 pts 27.1%
14.1% Under $650 +6.9 pts ▸ 20.9%
14.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.4 pts 6.1%
11.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.9 pts 7.3%

Personal income distribution

38.7% Under $650 +5.2 pts ▸ 43.9%
30.5% $650–$1,499 +1.1 pts ▸ 31.6%
19.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.6 pts 13.4%
5.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.1 pts 2.6%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +9.2 pts higher in 4,999 or less
25.3% 27th pct 34.5% 82nd pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.7 pts higher in 4,999 or less
8.0% 29th pct 10.7% 68th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.8 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
5.5% 44th pct 7.3% 81st pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.8% Arthritis +5.2 pts ▸ 12.1%
8.0% Mental health +2.7 pts ▸ 10.7%
7.7% Asthma +2.3 pts ▸ 10.0%
7.7% Other condition +1.0 pts ▸ 8.7%
4.5% Diabetes +1.2 pts ▸ 5.6%
3.3% Heart disease +2.2 pts ▸ 5.6%
2.5% Cancer +1.5 pts ▸ 3.9%
1.2% Lung condition +1.6 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.8% Stroke +0.6 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.7% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.8% None ◂ +11.3 pts 56.6%
17.8% One condition +4.2 pts ▸ 22.0%
5.1% Two conditions +2.9 pts ▸ 7.9%
2.4% Three or more +2.2 pts ▸ 4.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +6.6 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap narrowing
12.0% 22nd pct 18.6% 72nd pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.5 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
12.5% 51st pct 14.0% 92nd pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
26.3% 69th pct 25.6% 57th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.8 pts higher in 4,999 or less
1.5% 5th pct 3.3% 41st pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +5.6 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap narrowing
18.8% 28th pct 24.4% 81st pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.3 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
2.6 81st pct 2.3 14th pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.6 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
12.9% 20th pct 14.5% 34th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +5.6 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
25.1% 28th pct 30.7% 75th pct

Family composition

62.0% Couples with children ◂ +9.6 pts 52.4%
23.8% Couples without children +8.3 pts ▸ 32.1%
12.9% One-parent families +1.6 pts ▸ 14.5%
1.3% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

Household size

31.2% 2 people +5.3 pts ▸ 36.5%
25.1% 1 person +5.6 pts ▸ 30.7%
17.2% 4 people ◂ +4.8 pts 12.4%
16.9% 3 people ◂ +4.3 pts 12.6%
6.5% 5 people ◂ +1.0 pts 5.5%
3.1% 6 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 2.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$121 higher in 1 million or more gap steady
$391 92nd pct $270 43rd pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$540 higher in 1 million or more gap steady
$2,000 87th pct $1,460 40th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.20 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
0.90 86th pct 0.70 0th pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +11.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
31.0% 60th pct 19.3% 19th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +11.6 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
29.6% 29th pct 41.1% 78th pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +26.5 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
66.1% 9th pct 92.6% 71st pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +9.0 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
71.1% 23rd pct 80.1% 72nd pct

How homes are owned or rented

29.6% Owned outright +11.6 pts ▸ 41.1%
36.4% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.3 pts 36.1%
31.0% Rented ◂ +11.7 pts 19.3%
1.4% Not stated +0.7 pts ▸ 2.1%
1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

66.1% Separate house +26.5 pts ▸ 92.6%
17.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +12.1 pts 4.8%
16.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +15.0 pts 1.5%
0.3% Other dwelling +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

39.3% 3 bedrooms +10.6 pts ▸ 49.9%
26.2% 4 bedrooms ◂ +0.2 pts 26.0%
21.2% 2 bedrooms ◂ +6.4 pts 14.8%
6.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.2 pts 2.9%
5.6% 5 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 4.3%
0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

51.2% $350–$549 ◂ +28.2 pts 23.0%
23.2% $200–$349 +24.0 pts ▸ 47.2%
7.0% Under $200 +16.5 pts ▸ 23.5%
10.3% $550–$749 ◂ +8.8 pts 1.5%
4.8% $750 or more ◂ +4.2 pts 0.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

24.6% $1,000–$1,799 +12.3 pts ▸ 37.0%
34.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +10.6 pts 24.3%
12.9% Under $1,000 +12.4 pts ▸ 25.4%
21.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +13.8 pts 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
9.0% 86th pct 4.3% 27th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +15.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
29.5% 100th pct 14.3% 78th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +3.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
3.7% 80th pct 0.6% 21st pct

How people get to work

45.7% Car (driver) +16.4 pts ▸ 62.1%
29.5% Worked at home ◂ +15.2 pts 14.3%
3.2% Car (passenger) +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%
2.0% Walked +1.6 pts ▸ 3.6%
2.1% Train ◂ +1.8 pts 0.3%
0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%
0.6% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

Motor vehicles per home

36.7% 2 vehicles +2.6 pts ▸ 39.3%
38.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.3 pts 34.7%
10.7% 3 vehicles +3.2 pts ▸ 14.0%
9.0% No vehicle ◂ +4.6 pts 4.3%
5.6% 4 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 7.7%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.1% 65th pct 36.8% 38th pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +7.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
16.1% 70th pct 8.4% 30th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.4% 57th pct 3.9% 18th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +9.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
64.2% 89th pct 54.5% 44th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
60.2% 71st pct 55.3% 33rd pct

Industries people work in

13.6% Health care & social assistance +0.9 pts ▸ 14.6%
8.9% Construction +3.2 pts ▸ 12.0%
9.9% Professional & technical ◂ +5.5 pts 4.4%
9.4% Retail trade +0.1 pts ▸ 9.5%
8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.2 pts 8.6%
6.8% Manufacturing +0.9 pts ▸ 7.8%
6.2% Accommodation & food +0.5 pts ▸ 6.7%
5.4% Public administration & safety +0.8 pts ▸ 6.2%
4.8% Finance & insurance ◂ +3.1 pts 1.7%
4.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.2 pts 4.5%
0.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +4.1 pts ▸ 4.6%
3.4% Other services +0.6 pts ▸ 4.0%

Occupations people work in

27.6% Professionals ◂ +10.8 pts 16.8%
11.7% Technicians & trades +4.9 pts ▸ 16.7%
13.9% Managers ◂ +1.3 pts 12.6%
10.4% Community & personal service +2.5 pts ▸ 12.9%
12.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.7 pts 11.1%
7.7% Labourers +4.6 pts ▸ 12.3%
8.3% Sales workers +0.1 pts ▸ 8.4%
5.6% Machinery operators & drivers +1.6 pts ▸ 7.3%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.3 higher in 1 million or more
7.4 100th pct 5.1 63rd pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.5 more in 1 million or more
6.9 100th pct 5.4 75th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +21.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
86.6% 100th pct 65.6% 79th pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +17.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
85.7% 100th pct 68.2% 80th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +37.2 pts higher in 1 million or more
93.8% 90th pct 56.6% 49th pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +22.2 pts higher in 1 million or more
90.2% 100th pct 68.0% 66th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +9.1 pts higher in 1 million or more
98.9% 97th pct 89.8% 57th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +24.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
76.9% 100th pct 52.4% 79th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4.1 more in 4,999 or less
13.9 25th pct 18.0 57th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +197 higher in 1 million or more
244 100th pct 47 59th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.4 pts higher in 4,999 or less
4.7% 38th pct 5.1% 47th pct

Compare 1 million or more with nearby areas

5,000 to 9,999 4,999 or less 500 or more 100,000 to 249,999 20,000 to 49,999 10,000 to 19,999 499 or less Remainder of State/Territory 50,000 to 99,999 20,000 to 49,999 10,000 to 19,999 4,999 or less

Compare 4,999 or less with nearby areas

5,000 to 9,999 1 million or more 100,000 to 249,999 20,000 to 49,999 Remainder of State/Territory 500 or more 10,000 to 19,999 499 or less 50,000 to 99,999 20,000 to 49,999 10,000 to 19,999 4,999 or less

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). 1 million or more vs 4,999 or less [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sosr/SOSR201/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR215/4-999-or-less