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1 million or more vs 500 or more

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 1,468 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 500 or more profile

1 million or more 500 or more

These two areas are very different in scale and character. 1 million or more is a very walkable hub with a young population, where the typical resident is 36 and 28.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, 500 or more is mostly car-dependent and far older, with a typical age of 50. Residents in 500 or more are much more likely to own their homes outright (39.9% compared to 24.8% in 1 million or more) and use a language other than English at home (36.6% versus 19.1%).

Everyday life shares some common ground in both places, such as the share of adults working or looking for work. While they are far apart, the gap in language diversity has narrowed since 2016. However, other differences have grown; the gap in Year 12 completion has widened, and 1 million or more has seen a far higher rise in people working from home. This contrasts with 500 or more, where only 6.0% of people work from home.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,286,157 larger in 1 million or more Separate houses: 24.6 pts higher in 500 or more Median age: 14 yrs older in 500 or more PT commute: 5.0 pts higher in 1 million or more Living alone: 14.6 pts higher in 500 or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 500 or more +2,286,157 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
2,287,896 92nd pct 1,739 16th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 500 or more +14 yrs older in 500 or more gap steady
36 yrs 14th pct 50 yrs 91st pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
2.9% 29th pct 1.1% 7th pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +10.0 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
14.1% 27th pct 24.0% 82nd pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
19.2% 74th pct 15.6% 25th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 500 or more +4.6 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
12.6% 43rd pct 17.3% 94th pct

Age structure

23.5% Older adults (45–64) +9.2 pts ▸ 32.6%
29.8% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +10.7 pts 19.1%
14.1% Seniors (65+) +10.0 pts ▸ 24.0%
19.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.7 pts 15.6%
13.4% Youth (15–24) ◂ +4.8 pts 8.6%

Marital status

44.4% Married ◂ +2.9 pts 41.5%
39.3% Never married ◂ +6.3 pts 33.0%
8.8% Divorced +6.5 pts ▸ 15.2%
4.2% Widowed +1.5 pts ▸ 5.6%
3.4% Separated +1.2 pts ▸ 4.6%

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 +1.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
28.3% 88th pct 27.0% 86th pct

Country of birth

67.3% Australia ◂ +6.2 pts 61.2%
4.5% New Zealand +10.5 pts ▸ 15.0%
3.7% England ◂ +1.5 pts 2.2%
2.2% India ◂ +1.9 pts 0.3%
1.2% Philippines +0.9 pts ▸ 2.0%
1.8% China ◂ +1.6 pts 0.2%
1.1% South Africa ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%
0.9% Vietnam ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%
0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%
0.3% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

35.7% English ◂ +9.0 pts 26.7%
30.9% Australian ◂ +3.1 pts 27.8%
11.1% Irish ◂ +4.7 pts 6.4%
10.0% Scottish ◂ +1.4 pts 8.6%
5.5% German ◂ +3.0 pts 2.5%
5.0% Chinese ◂ +4.6 pts 0.5%
2.9% Indian ◂ +2.5 pts 0.5%
2.8% Italian ◂ +2.0 pts 0.9%
1.7% Filipino +0.4 pts ▸ 2.1%
1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.4%
1.2% Vietnamese ◂ +1.2 pts 0.0%
0.8% Greek ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 500 or more +17.5 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
19.1% 79th pct 36.6% 90th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
2.7% 83rd pct 1.4% 67th pct

Language used at home

76.1% English only ◂ +23.3 pts 52.8%
2.8% Mandarin ◂ +2.8 pts 0.0%
1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +1.1 pts 0.0%
0.5% Tagalog +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%
1.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%
0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%
0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%
0.5% Arabic ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%
0.4% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%
0.3% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 500 or more +7.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
41.8% 48th pct 34.5% 19th pct

Religious affiliation

44.1% Christianity +6.7 pts ▸ 50.8%
41.8% No religion ◂ +7.3 pts 34.5%
6.5% Not stated +7.6 pts ▸ 14.1%
2.2% Hinduism ◂ +1.9 pts 0.3%
2.0% Islam ◂ +2.0 pts 0.0%
2.0% Buddhism ◂ +1.8 pts 0.2%
1.3% Other religions ◂ +1.1 pts 0.2%
0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 500 or more +18.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
65.7% 96th pct 47.2% 73rd pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +12.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
28.3% 93rd pct 15.4% 57th pct

Highest year of school

65.7% Year 12 ◂ +18.5 pts 47.2%
16.4% Year 10 +10.3 pts ▸ 26.7%
5.5% Year 11 +2.2 pts ▸ 7.6%
6.9% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.1 pts 5.7%

Highest qualification level

25.4% Certificate III / IV +5.0 pts ▸ 30.4%
29.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +12.1 pts 17.1%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.4 pts 14.8%
10.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +6.4 pts 4.0%
4.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.5 pts 2.7%
2.0% Certificate I / II +0.6 pts ▸ 2.6%

Field of qualification

21.1% Management & commerce ◂ +8.9 pts 12.2%
13.5% Engineering & related +0.4 pts ▸ 13.9%
12.9% Society & culture ◂ +3.9 pts 9.0%
11.0% Health ◂ +2.4 pts 8.6%
4.9% Food, hospitality & personal services +3.5 pts ▸ 8.4%
7.4% Education ◂ +0.1 pts 7.3%
5.2% Architecture & building +1.4 pts ▸ 6.5%
4.1% Creative arts ◂ +0.7 pts 3.5%
3.6% Information technology ◂ +2.2 pts 1.5%
3.1% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.1 pts 2.0%
1.3% Agriculture & environment +0.9 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$110 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$860 75th pct $750 59th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$700 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,885 80th pct $1,185 13th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$583 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$2,214 84th pct $1,631 30th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 500 or more +7.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
13.2% 83rd pct 5.3% 15th pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 500 or more +16.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
24.4% 83rd pct 7.6% 0th pct

Household income distribution

24.7% $650–$1,499 +12.4 pts ▸ 37.1%
31.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 28.5%
13.1% Under $650 +8.0 pts ▸ 21.2%
13.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +11.7 pts 1.5%
11.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +5.1 pts 6.1%

Personal income distribution

32.3% $650–$1,499 +7.8 pts ▸ 40.1%
37.4% Under $650 ◂ +0.1 pts 37.4%
19.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +8.7 pts 10.5%
5.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.9 pts 1.2%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 500 or more +2.8 pts higher in 1 million or more
28.0% 39th pct 25.2% 27th pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 500 or more +4.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
10.1% 56th pct 5.6% 15th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.6% 44th pct 4.5% 27th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

10.1% Mental health ◂ +4.4 pts 5.6%
8.8% Asthma ◂ +2.3 pts 6.5%
8.8% Other condition ◂ +1.8 pts 7.0%
7.6% Arthritis +0.6 pts ▸ 8.2%
3.7% Heart disease +0.9 pts ▸ 4.7%
4.3% Diabetes ◂ +0.8 pts 3.6%
2.8% Cancer +0.7 pts ▸ 3.5%
1.7% Lung condition even 1.8%
0.7% Dementia +0.5 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.8% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.8% None ◂ +2.6 pts 62.2%
19.2% One condition ◂ +0.9 pts 18.2%
5.9% Two conditions ◂ +0.7 pts 5.1%
3.0% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 2.2%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 500 or more +13.9 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
13.8% 30th pct 27.7% 100th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.3 pts higher in 500 or more gap narrowing
11.3% 36th pct 12.6% 54th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 500 or more +4.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
28.0% 83rd pct 23.3% 27th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
3.6% 58th pct 3.4% 44th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.3 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
19.7% 33rd pct 25.1% 86th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.6 larger in 1 million or more gap steady
2.6 81st pct 2.0 5th pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 500 or more +1.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
15.0% 41st pct 13.7% 26th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 500 or more +14.6 pts higher in 500 or more gap steady
23.9% 22nd pct 38.5% 100th pct

Family composition

58.6% Couples with children ◂ +14.9 pts 43.6%
25.1% Couples without children +16.2 pts ▸ 41.3%
15.0% One-parent families ◂ +1.3 pts 13.7%
1.3% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

Household size

33.0% 2 people +6.1 pts ▸ 39.1%
23.9% 1 person +14.6 pts ▸ 38.5%
17.0% 3 people ◂ +6.8 pts 10.2%
16.2% 4 people ◂ +8.7 pts 7.4%
6.5% 5 people ◂ +2.4 pts 4.1%
3.5% 6 or more ◂ +2.3 pts 1.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$150 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$380 90th pct $230 23rd pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 500 or more +$589 higher in 1 million or more gap steady
$1,889 83rd pct $1,300 14th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.10 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
0.80 43rd pct 0.70 0th pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 500 or more +6.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
36.6% 82nd pct 30.3% 54th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 500 or more +15.1 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
24.8% 13th pct 39.9% 74th pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 500 or more +24.6 pts higher in 500 or more gap widening
71.4% 13th pct 96.0% 89th pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 500 or more +14.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
76.6% 47th pct 62.2% 3rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

24.8% Owned outright +15.1 pts ▸ 39.9%
36.6% Rented ◂ +6.3 pts 30.3%
35.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +11.9 pts 23.9%
1.3% Not stated +2.2 pts ▸ 3.4%
1.5% Other tenure +1.4 pts ▸ 2.9%

Types of homes

71.4% Separate house +24.6 pts ▸ 96.0%
16.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +14.6 pts 1.4%
12.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +10.5 pts 1.5%
0.3% Other dwelling ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

36.3% 3 bedrooms +3.7 pts ▸ 40.0%
31.3% 4 bedrooms ◂ +13.5 pts 17.7%
16.5% 2 bedrooms +9.9 pts ▸ 26.4%
9.0% 5 or more ◂ +4.6 pts 4.4%
5.2% 1 bedroom +3.3 pts ▸ 8.5%
0.4% Studio / none even 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

25.7% $200–$349 +29.3 pts ▸ 55.0%
52.3% $350–$549 ◂ +39.1 pts 13.2%
8.2% Under $200 +16.8 pts ▸ 25.0%
8.6% $550–$749 ◂ +8.6 pts 0.0%
2.4% $750 or more ◂ +2.4 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

31.3% $1,000–$1,799 +7.2 pts ▸ 38.5%
35.1% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +17.3 pts 17.8%
12.8% Under $1,000 +13.1 pts ▸ 25.9%
15.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +10.9 pts 4.6%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
6.7% 69th pct 3.4% 18th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 500 or more +11.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
17.7% 88th pct 6.0% 28th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
5.0% 88th pct 0.0% 0th pct

How people get to work

54.5% Car (driver) +8.1 pts ▸ 62.6%
17.7% Worked at home ◂ +11.7 pts 6.0%
2.2% Walked +4.4 pts ▸ 6.6%
4.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.5 pts 2.6%
2.7% Bus ◂ +2.7 pts 0.0%
2.2% Train ◂ +2.2 pts 0.0%
0.8% Bicycle even 0.7%

Motor vehicles per home

37.0% 1 vehicle +3.1 pts ▸ 40.1%
37.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.0 pts 36.8%
12.1% 3 vehicles +0.4 pts ▸ 12.4%
6.4% 4 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 7.7%
6.7% No vehicle ◂ +3.3 pts 3.4%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 500 or more +8.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
46.8% 85th pct 38.3% 44th pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 500 or more +5.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
14.4% 63rd pct 8.7% 32nd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
5.5% 61st pct 2.4% 6th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 500 or more +0.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
65.5% 91st pct 65.0% 90th pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 500 or more +7.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
60.1% 71st pct 52.7% 12th pct

Industries people work in

6.5% Accommodation & food +10.9 pts ▸ 17.5%
15.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +6.2 pts 9.4%
9.0% Retail trade +4.6 pts ▸ 13.6%
6.7% Public administration & safety +3.7 pts ▸ 10.4%
8.2% Construction +2.1 pts ▸ 10.3%
9.0% Education & training ◂ +3.5 pts 5.5%
8.8% Professional & technical ◂ +5.5 pts 3.3%
3.4% Administrative & support +4.2 pts ▸ 7.6%
6.0% Manufacturing ◂ +4.2 pts 1.8%
5.3% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.9 pts 2.4%
3.7% Other services ◂ +0.9 pts 2.9%
3.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +1.7 pts 1.7%

Occupations people work in

25.5% Professionals ◂ +13.7 pts 11.8%
12.0% Technicians & trades +6.3 pts ▸ 18.2%
12.5% Managers +3.0 pts ▸ 15.5%
11.6% Community & personal service +3.1 pts ▸ 14.7%
13.6% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.3 pts 13.3%
8.2% Sales workers +1.9 pts ▸ 10.1%
8.7% Labourers +1.1 pts ▸ 9.8%
6.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.3 pts 3.8%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.6 higher in 1 million or more
6.6 92nd pct 3.0 24th pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 500 or more +3.1 more in 1 million or more
6.2 92nd pct 3.1 24th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 500 or more +40.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
77.6% 93rd pct 37.1% 26th pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 500 or more +41.1 pts higher in 1 million or more
77.6% 93rd pct 36.6% 25th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 500 or more +88.8 pts higher in 1 million or more
88.8% 80th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 500 or more +59.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
82.2% 93rd pct 23.2% 19th pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 500 or more +29.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
97.3% 86th pct 68.0% 24th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 500 or more +29.9 pts higher in 1 million or more
62.8% 91st pct 32.8% 35th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 500 or more +36.9 more in 500 or more
13.7 23rd pct 50.6 96th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 500 or more +103 higher in 1 million or more
119 88th pct 16 23rd pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 500 or more +4.9 pts higher in 500 or more
5.9% 67th pct 10.8% 100th pct

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

Compare 500 or more with nearby areas

250,000 to 999,999 1 million or more 10,000 to 19,999 500 or more 499 or less 50,000 to 99,999 10,000 to 19,999 250,000 to 999,999 5,000 to 9,999 20,000 to 49,999 1 million or more 5,000 to 9,999

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/SOSR301/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR921/500-or-more