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1 million or more vs 499 or less

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 204 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 two very different places located about 204 km apart. 1 million or more is a diverse and highly educated hub where 36.9% of people were born overseas and 33.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, 499 or less is far older, with a typical resident aged 47 compared to 37 in 1 million or more. The housing styles also differ sharply: 96.2% of homes in 499 or less are separate houses, while 1 million or more has a more varied mix and is very walkable.

Since 2011, the gaps between these two areas have generally widened. The age difference has grown from 7 to 10 years, and the share of people born overseas is now 26.4 percentage points higher in 1 million or more. Despite these drifting trends, some aspects of daily life remain similar, such as the share of one-parent families, which sits around 13% in both areas.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 26.4 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 31.6 pts higher in 1 million or more Year 12: 25.3 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 30.1 pts higher in 499 or less Population: 4,552,485 larger in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4,552,485 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
4,585,537 100th pct 33,052 43rd pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 499 or less +10 yrs older in 499 or less gap widening
37 yrs 19th pct 47 yrs 81st pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
0.6% 2nd pct 1.9% 15th pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +8.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
15.0% 31st pct 23.2% 78th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
17.9% 54th pct 16.5% 29th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.0 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
10.6% 6th pct 13.6% 69th pct

Age structure

31.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +10.5 pts 20.8%
23.4% Older adults (45–64) +6.8 pts ▸ 30.2%
15.0% Seniors (65+) +8.1 pts ▸ 23.2%
17.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.5 pts 16.5%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.9 pts 9.4%

Marital status

46.8% Married ◂ +0.4 pts 46.4%
38.2% Never married ◂ +5.3 pts 32.9%
7.6% Divorced +3.4 pts ▸ 11.0%
4.5% Widowed +1.3 pts ▸ 5.8%
2.8% Separated +1.1 pts ▸ 3.9%

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 +26.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
36.9% 98th pct 10.5% 19th pct

Country of birth

58.8% Australia +21.8 pts ▸ 80.6%
5.1% India ◂ +4.8 pts 0.3%
3.6% China ◂ +3.4 pts 0.2%
2.7% England +0.6 pts ▸ 3.3%
2.0% Vietnam ◂ +1.9 pts 0.0%
1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%
1.2% Italy ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%
1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.6 pts 0.6%
0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%
0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

24.8% English +17.0 pts ▸ 41.8%
22.5% Australian +18.2 pts ▸ 40.8%
8.2% Irish +4.6 pts ▸ 12.8%
6.9% Scottish +5.0 pts ▸ 11.9%
8.8% Chinese ◂ +8.1 pts 0.8%
6.7% Italian ◂ +3.5 pts 3.2%
5.5% Indian ◂ +5.1 pts 0.4%
2.8% German +2.0 pts ▸ 4.8%
3.6% Greek ◂ +3.1 pts 0.6%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.5 pts 0.1%
1.4% Dutch +1.0 pts ▸ 2.4%
1.7% Filipino ◂ +1.0 pts 0.7%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 499 or less +31.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
35.6% 90th pct 4.0% 13th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 499 or less +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 +28.6 pts ▸ 88.2%
4.6% Mandarin ◂ +4.3 pts 0.3%
2.5% Vietnamese ◂ +2.4 pts 0.1%
2.2% Greek ◂ +2.0 pts 0.2%
2.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.9 pts 0.1%
1.9% Arabic ◂ +1.8 pts 0.1%
1.8% Italian ◂ +1.5 pts 0.3%
1.7% Cantonese ◂ +1.7 pts 0.0%
1.4% Hindi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%
0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 499 or less +12.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
36.9% 25th pct 49.0% 84th pct

Religious affiliation

36.9% No religion +12.1 pts ▸ 49.0%
40.0% Christianity ◂ +0.4 pts 39.5%
6.1% Not stated +3.6 pts ▸ 9.8%
5.5% Islam ◂ +5.2 pts 0.3%
4.3% Hinduism ◂ +4.2 pts 0.2%
4.1% Buddhism ◂ +3.3 pts 0.7%
2.1% Other religions ◂ +1.7 pts 0.4%
1.0% Judaism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 499 or less +25.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
67.9% 99th pct 42.7% 48th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +18.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
33.8% 99th pct 15.7% 60th pct

Highest year of school

67.9% Year 12 ◂ +25.3 pts 42.7%
9.1% Year 10 +9.8 pts ▸ 18.9%
8.3% Year 11 +7.3 pts ▸ 15.5%
9.2% Year 9 or below +4.0 pts ▸ 13.1%

Highest qualification level

18.3% Certificate III / IV +16.5 pts ▸ 34.8%
33.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +15.4 pts 17.8%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.2 pts 15.0%
14.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +9.6 pts 4.5%
4.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.7 pts 3.9%
1.2% Certificate I / II +0.9 pts ▸ 2.1%

Field of qualification

21.3% Management & commerce ◂ +9.9 pts 11.4%
12.2% Engineering & related +2.2 pts ▸ 14.4%
12.5% Society & culture ◂ +1.3 pts 11.2%
9.8% Health +0.3 pts ▸ 10.1%
7.3% Education +2.0 pts ▸ 9.4%
5.1% Architecture & building +2.0 pts ▸ 7.1%
4.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.2 pts ▸ 5.6%
5.4% Information technology ◂ +4.3 pts 1.1%
5.0% Creative arts ◂ +1.8 pts 3.2%
1.1% Agriculture & environment +3.4 pts ▸ 4.5%
3.9% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.0 pts 1.9%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$172 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$844 74th pct $672 37th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$621 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,906 81st pct $1,285 29th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$592 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,255 86th pct $1,663 35th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
13.9% 86th pct 7.0% 28th pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 499 or less +14.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
25.6% 86th pct 11.6% 22nd pct

Household income distribution

23.8% $650–$1,499 +7.9 pts ▸ 31.7%
30.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.3 pts 27.4%
14.1% Under $650 +6.7 pts ▸ 20.7%
14.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +9.0 pts 5.5%
11.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +5.1 pts 6.1%

Personal income distribution

38.7% Under $650 +5.1 pts ▸ 43.8%
30.5% $650–$1,499 +0.7 pts ▸ 31.2%
19.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +6.3 pts 12.7%
5.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.4 pts 2.3%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 499 or less +8.4 pts higher in 499 or less
25.3% 27th pct 33.7% 72nd pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.6 pts higher in 499 or less
8.0% 29th pct 10.6% 66th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.9 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
5.5% 44th pct 6.5% 58th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

6.8% Arthritis +5.2 pts ▸ 12.1%
8.0% Mental health +2.6 pts ▸ 10.6%
7.7% Asthma +2.0 pts ▸ 9.7%
7.7% Other condition +0.7 pts ▸ 8.4%
4.5% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 5.2%
3.3% Heart disease +1.8 pts ▸ 5.1%
2.5% Cancer +1.2 pts ▸ 3.7%
1.2% Lung condition +1.7 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.8% Stroke +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.8% None ◂ +11.6 pts 56.2%
17.8% One condition +3.8 pts ▸ 21.6%
5.1% Two conditions +2.7 pts ▸ 7.8%
2.4% Three or more +1.9 pts ▸ 4.3%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 499 or less +8.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
12.0% 22nd pct 20.4% 87th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
12.5% 51st pct 14.5% 100th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
26.3% 69th pct 23.8% 28th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.1 pts higher in 499 or less
1.5% 5th pct 3.6% 55th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.6 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
18.8% 28th pct 25.5% 88th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 499 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 499 or less +0.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
12.9% 20th pct 13.4% 23rd pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 499 or less +5.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
25.1% 28th pct 30.2% 67th pct

Family composition

62.0% Couples with children ◂ +10.5 pts 51.5%
23.8% Couples without children +10.4 pts ▸ 34.2%
12.9% One-parent families +0.5 pts ▸ 13.4%
1.3% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%

Household size

31.2% 2 people +7.0 pts ▸ 38.2%
25.1% 1 person +5.1 pts ▸ 30.2%
17.2% 4 people ◂ +5.4 pts 11.8%
16.9% 3 people ◂ +4.4 pts 12.6%
6.5% 5 people ◂ +1.4 pts 5.1%
3.1% 6 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 2.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$151 higher in 1 million or more gap steady
$391 92nd pct $240 26th pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$726 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,000 87th pct $1,274 13th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 499 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 499 or less +18.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
31.0% 60th pct 13.0% 4th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 499 or less +15.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
29.6% 29th pct 44.7% 90th pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 499 or less +30.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
66.1% 9th pct 96.2% 90th pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 499 or less +7.0 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
71.1% 23rd pct 78.2% 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

29.6% Owned outright +15.1 pts ▸ 44.7%
36.4% Owned with a mortgage +1.8 pts ▸ 38.1%
31.0% Rented ◂ +18.0 pts 13.0%
1.4% Not stated +0.9 pts ▸ 2.3%
1.7% Other tenure +0.1 pts ▸ 1.8%

Types of homes

66.1% Separate house +30.1 pts ▸ 96.2%
17.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +15.7 pts 1.3%
16.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +15.4 pts 1.1%
0.3% Other dwelling +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

Bedrooms per home

39.3% 3 bedrooms +11.8 pts ▸ 51.2%
26.2% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.7 pts 22.5%
21.2% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.3 pts 15.9%
6.1% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.8 pts 3.3%
5.6% 5 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 4.5%
0.4% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

51.2% $350–$549 ◂ +36.5 pts 14.7%
23.2% $200–$349 +20.5 pts ▸ 43.7%
7.0% Under $200 +25.3 pts ▸ 32.3%
10.3% $550–$749 ◂ +8.4 pts 1.9%
4.8% $750 or more ◂ +3.3 pts 1.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

24.6% $1,000–$1,799 +12.7 pts ▸ 37.3%
34.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +17.9 pts 17.1%
12.9% Under $1,000 +21.2 pts ▸ 34.2%
21.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +15.4 pts 5.6%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 499 or less +5.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
9.0% 86th pct 3.0% 15th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 499 or less +15.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
29.5% 100th pct 13.5% 75th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
3.7% 80th pct 0.4% 13th pct

How people get to work

45.7% Car (driver) +15.0 pts ▸ 60.7%
29.5% Worked at home ◂ +15.9 pts 13.5%
2.0% Walked +3.9 pts ▸ 5.9%
3.2% Car (passenger) +0.3 pts ▸ 3.4%
2.1% Train ◂ +2.0 pts 0.1%
0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%
0.6% Bus ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

Motor vehicles per home

36.7% 2 vehicles +2.1 pts ▸ 38.8%
38.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.0 pts 32.0%
10.7% 3 vehicles +5.7 pts ▸ 16.5%
5.6% 4 or more +4.1 pts ▸ 9.8%
9.0% No vehicle ◂ +5.9 pts 3.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.1% 65th pct 32.1% 24th pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 499 or less +7.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
16.1% 70th pct 8.9% 33rd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.4% 57th pct 4.3% 27th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
64.2% 89th pct 55.1% 46th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
60.2% 71st pct 54.0% 20th pct

Industries people work in

13.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.1 pts 13.5%
8.9% Construction +1.9 pts ▸ 10.8%
9.9% Professional & technical ◂ +5.8 pts 4.1%
9.4% Retail trade ◂ +1.4 pts 8.0%
6.2% Accommodation & food +3.0 pts ▸ 9.1%
8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.1 pts 8.7%
6.8% Manufacturing +0.1 pts ▸ 7.0%
0.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +5.6 pts ▸ 6.1%
5.4% Public administration & safety +0.7 pts ▸ 6.1%
4.8% Transport & warehousing +0.5 pts ▸ 5.3%
4.8% Finance & insurance ◂ +3.3 pts 1.5%
3.4% Other services +0.6 pts ▸ 3.9%

Occupations people work in

27.6% Professionals ◂ +11.1 pts 16.5%
11.7% Technicians & trades +4.4 pts ▸ 16.1%
13.9% Managers even 13.8%
7.7% Labourers +5.3 pts ▸ 13.0%
12.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.6 pts 10.3%
10.4% Community & personal service +2.2 pts ▸ 12.6%
8.3% Sales workers ◂ +0.7 pts 7.6%
5.6% Machinery operators & drivers +2.4 pts ▸ 8.0%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.2 higher in 1 million or more
7.4 100th pct 4.2 44th pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.4 more in 1 million or more
6.9 100th pct 4.5 41st pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 499 or less +35.2 pts higher in 1 million or more
86.6% 100th pct 51.4% 42nd pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 499 or less +30.7 pts higher in 1 million or more
85.7% 100th pct 55.0% 46th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 499 or less +38.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
93.8% 90th pct 55.7% 48th pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 499 or less +36.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
90.2% 100th pct 54.2% 36th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 499 or less +15.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
98.9% 97th pct 83.6% 40th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 499 or less +51.9 pts higher in 1 million or more
76.9% 100th pct 25.0% 26th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 499 or less +22.5 more in 499 or less
13.9 25th pct 36.4 89th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 499 or less +217 higher in 1 million or more
244 100th pct 28 36th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.1 pts higher in 499 or less
4.7% 38th pct 6.8% 83rd 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 499 or less with nearby areas

50,000 to 99,999 10,000 to 19,999 20,000 to 49,999 500 or more 1 million or more Remainder of State/Territory 5,000 to 9,999 250,000 to 999,999 4,999 or less 4,999 or less 499 or less 100,000 to 249,999

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/SOSR201/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR222/499-or-less