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499 or less vs 1 million or more

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 1,179 km apart · 499 or less profile · 1 million or more profile

499 or less 1 million or more

1 million or more and 499 or less are far-apart areas with very different profiles. 1 million or more is a younger, more diverse hub where the typical resident is 36 and 28.3% were born overseas. It has a highly qualified workforce, with 28.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, 499 or less is far older, with a typical age of 47 and only 10.5% of people born overseas. Housing also differs sharply; 44.7% of homes in 499 or less are owned outright, compared to just 24.8% in 1 million or more.

Both areas share similar proportions of people needing help with daily activities and those who have served in the Defence Force. However, the gaps between them are widening in many areas. The typical age difference has grown to 11 years since 2011, and the gap in household income has increased to $600 a week. While 1 million or more is very walkable, 499 or less is only somewhat walkable, and the difference in home ownership and renting has also become more pronounced over time.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,254,844 larger in 1 million or more Separate houses: 24.8 pts higher in 499 or less Renting: 23.6 pts higher in 1 million or more Year 12: 23.0 pts higher in 1 million or more Owned outright: 19.9 pts higher in 499 or less

Demographics & Identity

Population in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +2,254,844 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
33,052 43rd pct 2,287,896 92nd pct
Median age in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +11 yrs older in 499 or less gap widening
47 yrs 81st pct 36 yrs 14th pct
First Nations in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +1.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
1.9% 15th pct 2.9% 29th pct
Aged 65+ in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +9.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
23.2% 78th pct 14.1% 27th pct
Under 15 in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +2.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
16.5% 29th pct 19.2% 74th pct
De facto in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +1.0 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
13.6% 69th pct 12.6% 43rd pct

Age structure

30.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +6.8 pts 23.5%
20.8% Young adults (25–44) +9.0 pts ▸ 29.8%
23.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +9.1 pts 14.1%
16.5% Children (0–14) +2.8 pts ▸ 19.2%
9.4% Youth (15–24) +4.0 pts ▸ 13.4%

Marital status

46.4% Married ◂ +2.0 pts 44.4%
32.9% Never married +6.4 pts ▸ 39.3%
11.0% Divorced ◂ +2.2 pts 8.8%
5.8% Widowed ◂ +1.6 pts 4.2%
3.9% Separated ◂ +0.5 pts 3.4%

Age & sex structure

499 or less 1 million or more

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +17.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
10.5% 19th pct 28.3% 88th pct

Country of birth

80.6% Australia ◂ +13.3 pts 67.3%
1.1% New Zealand +3.4 pts ▸ 4.5%
3.3% England +0.4 pts ▸ 3.7%
0.3% India +2.0 pts ▸ 2.2%
0.2% China +1.7 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.6% Philippines +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.2% South Africa +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Vietnam +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.1% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%
0.2% Italy even 0.3%

Ancestry

41.8% English ◂ +6.0 pts 35.7%
40.8% Australian ◂ +9.9 pts 30.9%
12.8% Irish ◂ +1.7 pts 11.1%
11.9% Scottish ◂ +1.9 pts 10.0%
4.8% German +0.7 pts ▸ 5.5%
0.8% Chinese +4.3 pts ▸ 5.0%
3.2% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 2.8%
0.4% Indian +2.6 pts ▸ 2.9%
2.4% Dutch ◂ +0.8 pts 1.6%
0.7% Filipino +1.0 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.1 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.6% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

Language

Other language in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +15.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
4.0% 13th pct 19.1% 79th pct
Limited English in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +2.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
0.4% 16th pct 2.7% 83rd pct

Language used at home

88.2% English only ◂ +12.1 pts 76.1%
0.3% Mandarin +2.4 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Punjabi +0.9 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.0% Cantonese +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.0% Hindi +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.1% Arabic +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.2% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.3% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

No religion in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +7.2 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
49.0% 84th pct 41.8% 48th pct

Religious affiliation

49.0% No religion ◂ +7.2 pts 41.8%
39.5% Christianity +4.5 pts ▸ 44.1%
9.8% Not stated ◂ +3.3 pts 6.5%
0.2% Hinduism +2.0 pts ▸ 2.2%
0.3% Islam +1.8 pts ▸ 2.0%
0.7% Buddhism +1.3 pts ▸ 2.0%
0.4% Other religions +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +23.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
42.7% 48th pct 65.7% 96th pct
Bachelor+ in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +12.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
15.7% 60th pct 28.3% 93rd pct

Highest year of school

42.7% Year 12 +23.0 pts ▸ 65.7%
18.9% Year 10 ◂ +2.5 pts 16.4%
15.5% Year 11 ◂ +10.1 pts 5.5%
13.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +6.3 pts 6.9%

Highest qualification level

34.8% Certificate III / IV ◂ +9.4 pts 25.4%
17.8% Bachelor degree +11.4 pts ▸ 29.2%
15.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.2 pts ▸ 15.2%
4.5% Postgraduate degree +5.9 pts ▸ 10.3%
3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.3 pts ▸ 4.2%
2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

11.4% Management & commerce +9.8 pts ▸ 21.1%
14.4% Engineering & related ◂ +0.9 pts 13.5%
11.2% Society & culture +1.8 pts ▸ 12.9%
10.1% Health +0.9 pts ▸ 11.0%
9.4% Education ◂ +2.0 pts 7.4%
7.1% Architecture & building ◂ +1.9 pts 5.2%
5.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.7 pts 4.9%
4.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +3.2 pts 1.3%
3.2% Creative arts +0.9 pts ▸ 4.1%
1.1% Information technology +2.5 pts ▸ 3.6%
1.9% Natural & physical sciences +1.2 pts ▸ 3.1%

Income

Personal income in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +$188 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$672 37th pct $860 75th pct
Household income in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +$600 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,285 29th pct $1,885 80th pct
Family income in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +$551 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,663 35th pct $2,214 84th pct
High earners in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +6.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
7.0% 28th pct 13.2% 83rd pct
High-income homes in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +12.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
11.6% 22nd pct 24.4% 83rd pct

Household income distribution

31.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +7.0 pts 24.7%
27.4% $1,500–$2,999 +4.0 pts ▸ 31.5%
20.7% Under $650 ◂ +7.6 pts 13.1%
5.5% $4,000 or more +7.8 pts ▸ 13.2%
6.1% $3,000–$3,999 +5.0 pts ▸ 11.2%

Personal income distribution

43.8% Under $650 ◂ +6.4 pts 37.4%
31.2% $650–$1,499 +1.1 pts ▸ 32.3%
12.7% $1,500–$2,999 +6.5 pts ▸ 19.2%
2.3% $3,000 or more +2.7 pts ▸ 5.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +5.7 pts higher in 499 or less
33.7% 72nd pct 28.0% 39th pct
Mental health in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +0.5 pts higher in 499 or less
10.6% 66th pct 10.1% 56th pct
Needs assistance in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +0.9 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
6.5% 58th pct 5.6% 44th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

12.1% Arthritis ◂ +4.5 pts 7.6%
10.6% Mental health ◂ +0.5 pts 10.1%
9.7% Asthma ◂ +0.9 pts 8.8%
8.4% Other condition +0.4 pts ▸ 8.8%
5.2% Diabetes ◂ +0.9 pts 4.3%
5.1% Heart disease ◂ +1.4 pts 3.7%
3.7% Cancer ◂ +0.9 pts 2.8%
2.9% Lung condition ◂ +1.1 pts 1.7%
1.3% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%
0.6% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.2% None +8.6 pts ▸ 64.8%
21.6% One condition ◂ +2.4 pts 19.2%
7.8% Two conditions ◂ +1.9 pts 5.9%
4.3% Three or more ◂ +1.3 pts 3.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +6.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
20.4% 87th pct 13.8% 30th pct
Unpaid carers in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +3.2 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
14.5% 100th pct 11.3% 36th pct
Unpaid child care in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +4.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
23.8% 28th pct 28.0% 83rd pct
Defence service in 499 or lessin 1 million or more even
3.6% 55th pct 3.6% 58th pct
Housework 15h+ in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +5.7 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
25.5% 88th pct 19.7% 33rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +0.3 larger in 1 million or more gap steady
2.3 14th pct 2.6 81st pct
One-parent in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +1.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
13.4% 23rd pct 15.0% 41st pct
Living alone in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +6.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
30.2% 67th pct 23.9% 22nd pct

Family composition

51.5% Couples with children +7.0 pts ▸ 58.6%
34.2% Couples without children ◂ +9.1 pts 25.1%
13.4% One-parent families +1.7 pts ▸ 15.0%
0.9% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

38.2% 2 people ◂ +5.2 pts 33.0%
30.2% 1 person ◂ +6.3 pts 23.9%
12.6% 3 people +4.4 pts ▸ 17.0%
11.8% 4 people +4.4 pts ▸ 16.2%
5.1% 5 people +1.4 pts ▸ 6.5%
2.1% 6 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +$140 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$240 26th pct $380 90th pct
Mortgage in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +$615 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$1,274 13th pct $1,889 83rd pct
People / bedroom in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +0.10 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +23.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
13.0% 4th pct 36.6% 82nd pct
Owned outright in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +19.9 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
44.7% 90th pct 24.8% 13th pct
Separate houses in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +24.8 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
96.2% 90th pct 71.4% 13th pct
3+ bedrooms in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +1.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
78.2% 57th pct 76.6% 47th pct

How homes are owned or rented

44.7% Owned outright ◂ +19.9 pts 24.8%
38.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +2.3 pts 35.8%
13.0% Rented +23.6 pts ▸ 36.6%
2.3% Not stated ◂ +1.0 pts 1.3%
1.8% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.5%

Types of homes

96.2% Separate house ◂ +24.8 pts 71.4%
1.1% Flat or apartment +14.9 pts ▸ 16.0%
1.3% Townhouse / semi-detached +10.8 pts ▸ 12.0%
1.2% Other dwelling ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

51.2% 3 bedrooms ◂ +14.8 pts 36.3%
22.5% 4 bedrooms +8.8 pts ▸ 31.3%
15.9% 2 bedrooms +0.6 pts ▸ 16.5%
4.5% 5 or more +4.5 pts ▸ 9.0%
3.3% 1 bedroom +1.9 pts ▸ 5.2%
0.5% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

14.7% $350–$549 +37.6 pts ▸ 52.3%
43.7% $200–$349 ◂ +18.0 pts 25.7%
32.3% Under $200 ◂ +24.1 pts 8.2%
1.9% $550–$749 +6.7 pts ▸ 8.6%
1.6% $750 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 2.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

37.3% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +6.1 pts 31.3%
17.1% $1,800–$2,999 +18.1 pts ▸ 35.1%
34.2% Under $1,000 ◂ +21.4 pts 12.8%
5.6% $3,000 or more +9.9 pts ▸ 15.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +3.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
3.0% 15th pct 6.7% 69th pct
Work from home in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +4.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
13.5% 75th pct 17.7% 88th pct
PT commute in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +4.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
0.4% 13th pct 5.0% 88th pct

How people get to work

60.7% Car (driver) ◂ +6.2 pts 54.5%
13.5% Worked at home +4.1 pts ▸ 17.7%
5.9% Walked ◂ +3.6 pts 2.2%
3.4% Car (passenger) +0.7 pts ▸ 4.1%
0.3% Bus +2.3 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.1% Train +2.1 pts ▸ 2.2%
0.4% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

Motor vehicles per home

38.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.9 pts 37.8%
32.0% 1 vehicle +5.0 pts ▸ 37.0%
16.5% 3 vehicles ◂ +4.4 pts 12.1%
9.8% 4 or more ◂ +3.4 pts 6.4%
3.0% No vehicle +3.7 pts ▸ 6.7%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +14.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
32.1% 24th pct 46.8% 85th pct
Recent arrivals in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +5.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
8.9% 33rd pct 14.4% 63rd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +1.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
4.3% 27th pct 5.5% 61st pct
Participation in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +10.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
55.1% 46th pct 65.5% 91st pct
Full-time in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +6.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
54.0% 20th pct 60.1% 71st pct

Industries people work in

13.5% Health care & social assistance +2.1 pts ▸ 15.6%
10.8% Construction ◂ +2.5 pts 8.2%
9.1% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.6 pts 6.5%
8.7% Education & training +0.4 pts ▸ 9.0%
8.0% Retail trade +1.0 pts ▸ 9.0%
4.1% Professional & technical +4.7 pts ▸ 8.8%
7.0% Manufacturing ◂ +1.0 pts 6.0%
6.1% Public administration & safety +0.6 pts ▸ 6.7%
6.1% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.6 pts 0.5%
5.3% Transport & warehousing +0.1 pts ▸ 5.3%
3.9% Other services ◂ +0.2 pts 3.7%
3.3% Administrative & support +0.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

Occupations people work in

16.5% Professionals +9.1 pts ▸ 25.5%
16.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +4.2 pts 12.0%
13.8% Managers ◂ +1.3 pts 12.5%
10.3% Clerical & administrative +3.3 pts ▸ 13.6%
13.0% Labourers ◂ +4.4 pts 8.7%
12.6% Community & personal service ◂ +1.0 pts 11.6%
7.6% Sales workers +0.6 pts ▸ 8.2%
8.0% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.9 pts 6.1%

Walkability

Walk score in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +2.3 higher in 1 million or more
4.2 44th pct 6.6 92nd pct
Types ≤15 min in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +1.7 more in 1 million or more
4.5 41st pct 6.2 92nd pct
15-min city in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +26.2 pts higher in 1 million or more
51.4% 42nd pct 77.6% 93rd pct
Walk to shops in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +22.7 pts higher in 1 million or more
55.0% 46th pct 77.6% 93rd pct
Walk to transit in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +33.1 pts higher in 1 million or more
55.7% 48th pct 88.8% 80th pct
Walk to school in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +28.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
54.2% 36th pct 82.2% 93rd pct
Walk to a park in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +13.6 pts higher in 1 million or more
83.6% 40th pct 97.3% 86th pct
Walk to health in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +37.8 pts higher in 1 million or more
25.0% 26th pct 62.8% 91st pct
Amenities/1k in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +22.7 more in 499 or less
36.4 89th pct 13.7 23rd pct
Intersections/km² in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +91 higher in 1 million or more
28 36th pct 119 88th pct
Mean slope in 499 or lessin 1 million or more +0.9 pts higher in 499 or less
6.8% 83rd pct 5.9% 67th pct

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

Compare 1 million or more with nearby areas

250,000 to 999,999 10,000 to 19,999 10,000 to 19,999 5,000 to 9,999 20,000 to 49,999 5,000 to 9,999 50,000 to 99,999 500 or more 500 or more 50,000 to 99,999 499 or less 250,000 to 999,999

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). 499 or less vs 1 million or more [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sosr/SOSR222/499-or-less/vs/SOSR301/1-million-or-more