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1 million or more vs 500 or more

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 108 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 settings. 1 million or more is a highly diverse and walkable area, where 36.9% of people were born overseas and the walkability score is very walkable (7.4). In contrast, residents in 500 or more are far older, with a typical age of 48 compared to 37 in 1 million or more. Homes in 500 or more are much more likely to be separate houses (94.9%) and are more often owned outright (45.2%), while 1 million or more sees far higher rates of renting at 31.0%.

Both areas share a similar proportion of children under 15, with 17.9% in 1 million or more and 16.9% in 500 or more. However, the gaps between them are generally widening. Since 2011, the difference in typical household income has grown to $622, and the gap in the share of people born overseas has increased to 26 points. This trend is also seen in the housing market, where the gap in outright home ownership has widened to 16 points.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 25.9 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 31.9 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 28.8 pts higher in 500 or more Population: 4,523,922 larger in 1 million or more Year 12: 24.4 pts higher in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 500 or more +4,523,922 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,585,537 100th pct 61,615 50th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 500 or more +11 yrs older in 500 or more gap widening
37 yrs 19th pct 48 yrs 86th pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.0 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
0.6% 2nd pct 1.7% 13th pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +10.2 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
15.0% 31st pct 25.2% 87th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
17.9% 54th pct 16.9% 38th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 500 or more +2.7 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
10.6% 6th pct 13.3% 64th pct

Age structure

31.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +10.9 pts 20.4%
23.4% Older adults (45–64) +5.2 pts ▸ 28.6%
15.0% Seniors (65+) +10.2 pts ▸ 25.2%
17.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.0 pts 16.9%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.5 pts 8.9%

Marital status

46.8% Married +1.6 pts ▸ 48.4%
38.2% Never married ◂ +8.0 pts 30.2%
7.6% Divorced +3.4 pts ▸ 10.9%
4.5% Widowed +1.8 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.8% Separated +1.3 pts ▸ 4.1%

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 +25.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
36.9% 98th pct 11.1% 24th pct

Country of birth

58.8% Australia +22.8 pts ▸ 81.6%
5.1% India ◂ +4.7 pts 0.4%
2.7% England +1.0 pts ▸ 3.7%
3.6% China ◂ +3.5 pts 0.1%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +1.9 pts 0.1%
1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%
1.2% Italy ◂ +1.0 pts 0.3%
1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%
0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%
0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

24.8% English +18.1 pts ▸ 42.9%
22.5% Australian +18.1 pts ▸ 40.6%
8.2% Irish +5.0 pts ▸ 13.2%
6.9% Scottish +5.3 pts ▸ 12.2%
8.8% Chinese ◂ +8.2 pts 0.7%
6.7% Italian ◂ +3.4 pts 3.3%
5.5% Indian ◂ +5.0 pts 0.5%
2.8% German +1.7 pts ▸ 4.5%
3.6% Greek ◂ +3.1 pts 0.5%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.4 pts 0.1%
1.4% Dutch +1.0 pts ▸ 2.5%
1.7% Filipino ◂ +1.2 pts 0.5%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 500 or more +31.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
35.6% 90th pct 3.7% 10th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.7% 91st pct 0.4% 16th pct

Language used at home

59.6% English only +30.2 pts ▸ 89.8%
4.6% Mandarin ◂ +4.4 pts 0.2%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.4 pts 0.1%
2.2% Greek ◂ +2.1 pts 0.2%
2.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.9 pts 0.1%
1.9% Arabic ◂ +1.8 pts 0.1%
1.8% Italian ◂ +1.4 pts 0.3%
1.7% Cantonese ◂ +1.7 pts 0.0%
1.4% Hindi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%
0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 500 or more +11.8 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
36.9% 25th pct 48.7% 82nd pct

Religious affiliation

36.9% No religion +11.8 pts ▸ 48.7%
40.0% Christianity +1.0 pts ▸ 41.0%
6.1% Not stated +2.3 pts ▸ 8.5%
5.5% Islam ◂ +5.2 pts 0.3%
4.3% Hinduism ◂ +4.1 pts 0.3%
4.1% Buddhism ◂ +3.4 pts 0.7%
2.1% Other religions ◂ +1.7 pts 0.4%
1.0% Judaism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 500 or more +24.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
67.9% 99th pct 43.5% 53rd pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +17.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
33.8% 99th pct 16.6% 69th pct

Highest year of school

67.9% Year 12 ◂ +24.4 pts 43.5%
9.1% Year 10 +10.2 pts ▸ 19.2%
8.3% Year 11 +7.8 pts ▸ 16.1%
9.2% Year 9 or below +3.8 pts ▸ 12.9%

Highest qualification level

18.3% Certificate III / IV +17.3 pts ▸ 35.6%
33.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +14.9 pts 18.3%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.2 pts ▸ 15.4%
14.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +9.1 pts 5.0%
4.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.5 pts 4.2%
1.2% Certificate I / II +0.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

Field of qualification

21.3% Management & commerce ◂ +9.4 pts 11.9%
12.2% Engineering & related +2.7 pts ▸ 14.9%
12.5% Society & culture ◂ +0.8 pts 11.7%
7.3% Education +3.0 pts ▸ 10.4%
9.8% Health +0.5 pts ▸ 10.3%
5.1% Architecture & building +2.3 pts ▸ 7.3%
5.4% Information technology ◂ +4.1 pts 1.3%
4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.8 pts ▸ 5.3%
5.0% Creative arts ◂ +1.6 pts 3.3%
1.1% Agriculture & environment +2.9 pts ▸ 4.0%
3.9% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.0 pts 1.9%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$173 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$844 74th pct $671 36th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$622 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,906 81st pct $1,284 28th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$551 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,255 86th pct $1,704 41st pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 500 or more +6.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
13.9% 86th pct 7.5% 39th pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 500 or more +12.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
25.6% 86th pct 12.8% 28th pct

Household income distribution

23.8% $650–$1,499 +7.7 pts ▸ 31.5%
30.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.9 pts 26.9%
14.1% Under $650 +7.3 pts ▸ 21.4%
14.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.5 pts 5.9%
11.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +4.4 pts 6.8%

Personal income distribution

38.7% Under $650 +5.8 pts ▸ 44.5%
30.5% $650–$1,499 +0.5 pts ▸ 31.0%
19.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.8 pts 13.1%
5.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.2 pts 2.6%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 500 or more +9.5 pts higher in 500 or more
25.3% 27th pct 34.8% 85th pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 500 or more +2.7 pts higher in 500 or more
8.0% 29th pct 10.7% 69th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.2 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
5.5% 44th pct 6.8% 66th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.8% Arthritis +6.0 pts ▸ 12.8%
8.0% Mental health +2.7 pts ▸ 10.7%
7.7% Asthma +2.1 pts ▸ 9.9%
7.7% Other condition +0.8 pts ▸ 8.5%
4.5% Diabetes +1.1 pts ▸ 5.5%
3.3% Heart disease +2.2 pts ▸ 5.5%
2.5% Cancer +1.3 pts ▸ 3.8%
1.2% Lung condition +1.7 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.8% Stroke +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.7% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.8% None ◂ +11.5 pts 56.3%
17.8% One condition +4.3 pts ▸ 22.2%
5.1% Two conditions +3.0 pts ▸ 8.1%
2.4% Three or more +2.1 pts ▸ 4.5%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 500 or more +8.8 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
12.0% 22nd pct 20.8% 88th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 500 or more +2.1 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
12.5% 51st pct 14.5% 100th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
26.3% 69th pct 24.6% 43rd pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.9 pts higher in 500 or more
1.5% 5th pct 3.4% 44th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +7.0 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
18.8% 28th pct 25.8% 91st pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 500 or more +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 500 or more +0.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
12.9% 20th pct 12.1% 14th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.7 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
25.1% 28th pct 30.8% 76th pct

Family composition

62.0% Couples with children ◂ +9.7 pts 52.4%
23.8% Couples without children +10.8 pts ▸ 34.6%
12.9% One-parent families ◂ +0.7 pts 12.1%
1.3% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%

Household size

31.2% 2 people +6.7 pts ▸ 37.9%
25.1% 1 person +5.7 pts ▸ 30.8%
17.2% 4 people ◂ +5.5 pts 11.6%
16.9% 3 people ◂ +4.8 pts 12.1%
6.5% 5 people ◂ +1.1 pts 5.4%
3.1% 6 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 2.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$131 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$391 92nd pct $260 36th pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$700 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,000 87th pct $1,300 14th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.20 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
0.90 86th pct 0.70 0th pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 500 or more +16.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
31.0% 60th pct 14.8% 9th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 500 or more +15.6 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
29.6% 29th pct 45.2% 92nd pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 500 or more +28.8 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
66.1% 9th pct 94.9% 83rd pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 500 or more +7.6 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
71.1% 23rd pct 78.7% 62nd pct

How homes are owned or rented

29.6% Owned outright +15.6 pts ▸ 45.2%
36.4% Owned with a mortgage +0.1 pts ▸ 36.4%
31.0% Rented ◂ +16.2 pts 14.8%
1.4% Not stated +0.6 pts ▸ 2.0%
1.7% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

Types of homes

66.1% Separate house +28.8 pts ▸ 94.9%
17.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +14.7 pts 2.3%
16.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +15.2 pts 1.3%
0.3% Other dwelling +1.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

Bedrooms per home

39.3% 3 bedrooms +9.8 pts ▸ 49.2%
26.2% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.2 pts 24.9%
21.2% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.5 pts 15.7%
6.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.8 pts 3.4%
5.6% 5 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 4.6%
0.4% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

51.2% $350–$549 ◂ +31.8 pts 19.4%
23.2% $200–$349 +23.5 pts ▸ 46.7%
7.0% Under $200 +19.6 pts ▸ 26.6%
10.3% $550–$749 ◂ +8.9 pts 1.3%
4.8% $750 or more ◂ +4.0 pts 0.9%

Monthly mortgage distribution

24.6% $1,000–$1,799 +12.8 pts ▸ 37.4%
34.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +15.1 pts 19.9%
12.9% Under $1,000 +17.1 pts ▸ 30.0%
21.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +14.1 pts 6.8%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 500 or more +6.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
9.0% 86th pct 3.0% 14th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 500 or more +15.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
29.5% 100th pct 14.2% 78th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
3.7% 80th pct 0.4% 11th pct

How people get to work

45.7% Car (driver) +16.7 pts ▸ 62.4%
29.5% Worked at home ◂ +15.2 pts 14.2%
2.0% Walked +1.8 pts ▸ 3.8%
3.2% Car (passenger) +0.5 pts ▸ 3.7%
2.1% Train ◂ +2.0 pts 0.1%
0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%
0.6% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

36.7% 2 vehicles +3.4 pts ▸ 40.1%
38.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +5.8 pts 32.2%
10.7% 3 vehicles +4.9 pts ▸ 15.6%
5.6% 4 or more +3.5 pts ▸ 9.1%
9.0% No vehicle ◂ +6.0 pts 3.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 500 or more +6.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.1% 65th pct 35.0% 32nd pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 500 or more +9.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
16.1% 70th pct 6.6% 14th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
5.4% 57th pct 3.7% 14th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 500 or more +10.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
64.2% 89th pct 53.9% 41st pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 500 or more +6.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
60.2% 71st pct 53.6% 15th pct

Industries people work in

13.6% Health care & social assistance +0.7 pts ▸ 14.3%
8.9% Construction +3.3 pts ▸ 12.1%
9.9% Professional & technical ◂ +5.4 pts 4.5%
9.4% Retail trade even 9.4%
8.8% Education & training +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%
6.8% Manufacturing +0.2 pts ▸ 7.0%
5.4% Public administration & safety +1.0 pts ▸ 6.4%
6.2% Accommodation & food even 6.1%
0.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +5.2 pts ▸ 5.7%
4.8% Finance & insurance ◂ +3.1 pts 1.7%
4.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.4 pts 4.4%
3.4% Other services +0.3 pts ▸ 3.7%

Occupations people work in

27.6% Professionals ◂ +10.4 pts 17.2%
11.7% Technicians & trades +4.8 pts ▸ 16.6%
13.9% Managers ◂ +0.5 pts 13.4%
12.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.6 pts 11.2%
10.4% Community & personal service +1.9 pts ▸ 12.3%
7.7% Labourers +4.3 pts ▸ 12.0%
8.3% Sales workers +0.1 pts ▸ 8.4%
5.6% Machinery operators & drivers +1.4 pts ▸ 7.1%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.2 higher in 1 million or more
7.4 100th pct 4.2 43rd pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 500 or more +2.4 more in 1 million or more
6.9 100th pct 4.5 41st pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 500 or more +35.1 pts higher in 1 million or more
86.6% 100th pct 51.5% 42nd pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 500 or more +29.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
85.7% 100th pct 56.7% 52nd pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 500 or more +32.8 pts higher in 1 million or more
93.8% 90th pct 61.0% 52nd pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 500 or more +40.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
90.2% 100th pct 49.9% 28th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 500 or more +14.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
98.9% 97th pct 84.4% 42nd pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 500 or more +44.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
76.9% 100th pct 32.4% 34th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 500 or more +7.6 more in 500 or more
13.9 25th pct 21.6 71st pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 500 or more +215 higher in 1 million or more
244 100th pct 29 38th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
4.7% 38th pct 4.3% 28th 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 500 or more with nearby areas

1 million or more 5,000 to 9,999 4,999 or less 499 or less 20,000 to 49,999 10,000 to 19,999 20,000 to 49,999 100,000 to 249,999 10,000 to 19,999 4,999 or less 50,000 to 99,999 50,000 to 99,999

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/SOSR201/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR221/500-or-more