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1 million or more vs 4,999 or less

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 748 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 far apart and offer very different lifestyles. 1 million or more is a very walkable area where 28.9% of people were born overseas and 23.1% use a language other than English at home. It has a more highly qualified workforce, with 26.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, 4,999 or less is more car-dependent and more traditional, with 89.9% of homes being separate houses and a much older population, with a typical age of 46.

These two areas are drifting further apart, especially as the gap in education and overseas birth has widened since 2011. They do share some common ground, such as having an identical share of children under 15 at 17.0% and very similar numbers of people per home. While 1 million or more is more likely to have high-earning households, both areas sit around the national figure for people providing unpaid care.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,128,664 larger in 1 million or more Year 12: 18.8 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 17.8 pts higher in 1 million or more Separate houses: 16.8 pts higher in 4,999 or less Born overseas: 16.0 pts higher in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1,128,664 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
1,245,011 89th pct 116,347 62nd pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +7 yrs older in 4,999 or less gap widening
39 yrs 29th pct 46 yrs 76th pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.5 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
1.7% 13th pct 3.3% 32nd pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +7.2 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
18.6% 45th pct 25.8% 90th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less even gap narrowing
17.0% 39th pct 17.0% 40th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.9 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
10.7% 7th pct 12.7% 45th pct

Age structure

27.8% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +6.2 pts 21.6%
24.4% Older adults (45–64) +1.5 pts ▸ 25.9%
18.6% Seniors (65+) +7.2 pts ▸ 25.8%
17.0% Children (0–14) even 17.0%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.6 pts 9.7%

Marital status

45.1% Married +3.1 pts ▸ 48.2%
36.9% Never married ◂ +6.1 pts 30.9%
9.4% Divorced +0.7 pts ▸ 10.1%
5.5% Widowed +2.1 pts ▸ 7.6%
3.1% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 3.3%

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 +16.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
28.9% 88th pct 12.9% 43rd pct

Country of birth

67.5% Australia +13.1 pts ▸ 80.6%
5.4% England ◂ +0.3 pts 5.1%
3.4% India ◂ +2.8 pts 0.6%
2.0% China ◂ +1.8 pts 0.2%
1.3% Vietnam ◂ +1.1 pts 0.2%
1.2% Italy ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%
1.0% Philippines ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%
0.7% New Zealand +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.6% Nepal ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%
0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Ancestry

35.7% English +7.8 pts ▸ 43.5%
29.2% Australian +11.6 pts ▸ 40.8%
6.3% German +4.6 pts ▸ 10.9%
7.9% Scottish +1.1 pts ▸ 9.0%
7.5% Irish +0.1 pts ▸ 7.6%
7.1% Italian ◂ +4.2 pts 2.9%
4.5% Chinese ◂ +4.0 pts 0.5%
3.3% Indian ◂ +2.7 pts 0.6%
2.9% Greek ◂ +1.8 pts 1.1%
1.7% Vietnamese ◂ +1.4 pts 0.3%
1.6% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.7%
1.4% Filipino ◂ +0.6 pts 0.8%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +17.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
23.1% 84th pct 5.3% 26th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
3.5% 87th pct 0.8% 43rd pct

Language used at home

73.0% English only +15.8 pts ▸ 88.9%
2.5% Mandarin ◂ +2.2 pts 0.3%
1.7% Italian ◂ +1.3 pts 0.4%
1.7% Vietnamese ◂ +1.4 pts 0.2%
1.6% Greek ◂ +1.1 pts 0.5%
1.5% Punjabi ◂ +1.0 pts 0.5%
0.9% Arabic ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%
0.8% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.8% Hindi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4.7 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
44.2% 58th pct 48.9% 84th pct

Religious affiliation

44.2% No religion +4.7 pts ▸ 48.9%
40.0% Christianity +0.9 pts ▸ 41.0%
5.5% Not stated +2.4 pts ▸ 7.8%
3.1% Islam ◂ +2.6 pts 0.4%
2.9% Hinduism ◂ +2.6 pts 0.3%
2.4% Buddhism ◂ +1.7 pts 0.7%
1.8% Other religions ◂ +1.0 pts 0.8%
0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +18.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
59.6% 90th pct 40.8% 40th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +13.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
26.4% 90th pct 12.5% 28th pct

Highest year of school

59.6% Year 12 ◂ +18.8 pts 40.8%
14.4% Year 11 +5.6 pts ▸ 20.1%
12.5% Year 10 +6.5 pts ▸ 19.0%
8.7% Year 9 or below +3.8 pts ▸ 12.5%

Highest qualification level

26.7% Certificate III / IV +11.7 pts ▸ 38.4%
28.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +12.2 pts 16.6%
14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma even 14.6%
10.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +7.0 pts 3.5%
4.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.1 pts 2.9%
2.1% Certificate I / II +0.8 pts ▸ 2.9%

Field of qualification

19.5% Management & commerce ◂ +5.6 pts 13.9%
13.9% Engineering & related +2.6 pts ▸ 16.5%
13.7% Society & culture ◂ +2.0 pts 11.8%
12.6% Health ◂ +1.4 pts 11.1%
7.9% Education +1.2 pts ▸ 9.0%
5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.2 pts ▸ 6.2%
4.7% Architecture & building +0.2 pts ▸ 4.9%
3.6% Creative arts ◂ +1.6 pts 2.0%
1.5% Agriculture & environment +2.1 pts ▸ 3.6%
3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.3 pts 2.1%
3.4% Information technology ◂ +2.2 pts 1.1%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$85 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$757 62nd pct $672 37th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$279 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,527 58th pct $1,248 23rd pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$335 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,972 70th pct $1,637 31st pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
9.7% 64th pct 7.2% 32nd pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +5.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
17.9% 68th pct 12.2% 26th pct

Household income distribution

28.8% $650–$1,499 +3.7 pts ▸ 32.6%
29.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.8 pts 25.9%
17.5% Under $650 +4.0 pts ▸ 21.5%
9.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.1 pts 7.0%
8.9% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.6 pts 5.2%

Personal income distribution

42.2% Under $650 +2.7 pts ▸ 45.0%
33.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.0 pts 32.1%
16.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.2 pts 13.1%
3.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 2.2%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4.9 pts higher in 4,999 or less
30.0% 49th pct 35.0% 86th pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.7 pts higher in 4,999 or less
9.8% 51st pct 10.5% 64th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.9 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
6.7% 63rd pct 7.6% 86th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

9.4% Arthritis +3.3 pts ▸ 12.7%
9.8% Mental health +0.7 pts ▸ 10.5%
8.6% Asthma +1.3 pts ▸ 9.9%
8.9% Other condition even 8.9%
5.5% Diabetes +1.2 pts ▸ 6.7%
4.4% Heart disease +1.3 pts ▸ 5.7%
3.1% Cancer +0.7 pts ▸ 3.8%
1.8% Lung condition +0.9 pts ▸ 2.7%
1.0% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%
1.0% Stroke +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.8% None ◂ +6.8 pts 57.0%
19.9% One condition +1.9 pts ▸ 21.8%
6.6% Two conditions +1.6 pts ▸ 8.2%
3.6% Three or more +1.4 pts ▸ 5.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +6.2 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap narrowing
15.0% 43rd pct 21.2% 89th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
13.0% 63rd pct 12.7% 55th pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
26.8% 74th pct 24.9% 47th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.9 pts higher in 4,999 or less
3.0% 27th pct 4.0% 72nd pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +3.9 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
20.2% 37th pct 24.0% 78th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.1 larger in 1 million or more gap steady
2.4 43rd pct 2.3 14th pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
15.4% 45th pct 14.2% 30th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.4 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
28.4% 51st pct 30.7% 75th pct

Family composition

56.5% Couples with children ◂ +6.5 pts 49.9%
26.8% Couples without children +8.1 pts ▸ 35.0%
15.4% One-parent families ◂ +1.2 pts 14.2%
1.3% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%

Household size

33.3% 2 people +5.0 pts ▸ 38.3%
28.4% 1 person +2.4 pts ▸ 30.7%
15.9% 3 people ◂ +3.6 pts 12.2%
14.7% 4 people ◂ +3.2 pts 11.5%
5.3% 5 people ◂ +0.2 pts 5.1%
2.4% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 2.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$90 higher in 1 million or more gap steady
$320 73rd pct $230 23rd pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +$252 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$1,552 60th pct $1,300 14th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.10 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
0.80 43rd pct 0.70 0th pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +5.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
29.7% 51st pct 24.2% 29th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +6.7 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
30.5% 33rd pct 37.2% 66th pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +16.8 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap widening
73.1% 14th pct 89.9% 57th pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4.1 pts higher in 4,999 or less gap steady
75.7% 41st pct 79.8% 70th pct

How homes are owned or rented

30.5% Owned outright +6.7 pts ▸ 37.2%
36.2% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +2.4 pts 33.8%
29.7% Rented ◂ +5.5 pts 24.2%
2.4% Other tenure +0.4 pts ▸ 2.8%
1.2% Not stated +0.7 pts ▸ 1.9%

Types of homes

73.1% Separate house +16.8 pts ▸ 89.9%
17.5% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +10.0 pts 7.4%
9.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +7.5 pts 1.5%
0.2% Other dwelling +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

52.0% 3 bedrooms ◂ +1.4 pts 50.6%
19.9% 4 bedrooms +5.4 pts ▸ 25.3%
19.6% 2 bedrooms ◂ +4.2 pts 15.4%
3.8% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 3.9%
3.5% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.6 pts 2.8%
0.2% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

41.3% $200–$349 +10.9 pts ▸ 52.1%
34.2% $350–$549 ◂ +22.3 pts 11.9%
16.8% Under $200 +14.5 pts ▸ 31.3%
3.6% $550–$749 ◂ +3.1 pts 0.5%
1.0% $750 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.5% $1,000–$1,799 +1.2 pts ▸ 40.7%
19.5% Under $1,000 +11.9 pts ▸ 31.4%
26.1% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +6.9 pts 19.2%
10.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.8 pts 4.2%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +3.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
8.1% 86th pct 5.1% 43rd pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
9.5% 59th pct 6.7% 35th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +4.5 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
5.3% 89th pct 0.8% 32nd pct

How people get to work

63.0% Car (driver) +6.5 pts ▸ 69.5%
9.5% Worked at home ◂ +2.8 pts 6.7%
4.3% Car (passenger) even 4.3%
4.0% Bus ◂ +3.3 pts 0.7%
1.9% Walked +1.8 pts ▸ 3.8%
1.1% Bicycle ◂ +0.7 pts 0.4%
0.9% Train ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

36.6% 2 vehicles +1.7 pts ▸ 38.3%
38.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.7 pts 35.5%
11.3% 3 vehicles +2.2 pts ▸ 13.6%
8.1% No vehicle ◂ +3.0 pts 5.1%
5.8% 4 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 7.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
38.4% 44th pct 36.2% 36th pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +7.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
16.3% 72nd pct 9.1% 34th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
5.7% 66th pct 4.6% 36th pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +7.2 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
61.5% 78th pct 54.3% 43rd pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
57.5% 51st pct 56.6% 43rd pct

Industries people work in

17.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.5 pts 13.9%
9.7% Retail trade +0.4 pts ▸ 10.2%
6.6% Manufacturing +3.3 pts ▸ 9.9%
8.2% Construction +0.9 pts ▸ 9.1%
9.0% Education & training ◂ +0.6 pts 8.4%
7.2% Professional & technical ◂ +3.9 pts 3.3%
7.1% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.9 pts 5.3%
6.7% Accommodation & food +0.4 pts ▸ 7.1%
0.9% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +5.6 pts ▸ 6.4%
4.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%
4.0% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.9%
3.9% Administrative & support ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

Occupations people work in

23.9% Professionals ◂ +9.2 pts 14.7%
12.7% Technicians & trades +2.9 pts ▸ 15.5%
9.3% Labourers +5.1 pts ▸ 14.5%
13.3% Community & personal service ◂ +0.4 pts 12.9%
13.2% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.3 pts 10.9%
11.8% Managers +1.1 pts ▸ 12.9%
8.5% Sales workers +0.1 pts ▸ 8.6%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +2.4 pts ▸ 7.9%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +2.4 higher in 1 million or more
7.0 97th pct 4.6 52nd pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.8 more in 1 million or more
6.7 99th pct 4.9 57th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +28.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
86.2% 100th pct 58.2% 57th pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +23.7 pts higher in 1 million or more
81.8% 97th pct 58.2% 57th pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +46.2 pts higher in 1 million or more
97.3% 99th pct 51.1% 44th pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +29.7 pts higher in 1 million or more
87.0% 98th pct 57.3% 41st pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +15.4 pts higher in 1 million or more
99.2% 98th pct 83.7% 41st pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +18.8 pts higher in 1 million or more
67.7% 94th pct 48.9% 71st pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +1.9 more in 4,999 or less
14.5 30th pct 16.4 43rd pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +145 higher in 1 million or more
181 95th pct 35 46th pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 4,999 or less +0.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
4.5% 32nd pct 3.9% 16th pct

Compare 1 million or more with nearby areas

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

Compare 4,999 or less with nearby areas

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

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/SOSR401/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR415/4-999-or-less