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1 million or more vs 499 or less

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 1,749 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 separated by over 1,700 km and differ sharply in their demographics and wealth. 1 million or more is a highly educated, affluent area where 27% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher and the typical weekly household income is $1,863. In contrast, 499 or less has a much stronger Indigenous community, with 25.8% of the population being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and a typical weekly household income of $1,162. The built environments also vary, with 1 million or more being very walkable and 499 or less being somewhat walkable.

Many of the gaps between these two areas have widened since 2011. This is seen clearly in the growing divide in education and income, where the difference in Year 12 completion and typical weekly income have both increased. Despite these diverging trends, the two areas share some similarities, such as having nearly identical shares of children under 15 and people who have served in the Defence Force.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 27.4 pts higher in 1 million or more Population: 2,022,174 larger in 1 million or more First Nations: 23.8 pts higher in 499 or less Born overseas: 23.4 pts higher in 1 million or more Bachelor+: 17.8 pts higher in 1 million or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2,022,174 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
2,043,762 91st pct 21,588 35th pct
Median age in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4 yrs older in 499 or less gap widening
37 yrs 19th pct 41 yrs 50th pct
First Nations in 1 million or morein 499 or less +23.8 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
1.9% 16th pct 25.8% 89th pct
Aged 65+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
15.7% 33rd pct 20.2% 58th pct
Under 15 in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.4 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
19.0% 71st pct 19.4% 75th pct
De facto in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.9 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
11.5% 12th pct 15.4% 87th pct

Age structure

29.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +6.0 pts 23.1%
24.1% Older adults (45–64) +2.1 pts ▸ 26.3%
15.7% Seniors (65+) +4.5 pts ▸ 20.2%
19.0% Children (0–14) +0.4 pts ▸ 19.4%
12.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.1 pts 11.0%

Marital status

47.5% Married ◂ +5.0 pts 42.5%
36.2% Never married +2.1 pts ▸ 38.3%
8.7% Divorced +1.0 pts ▸ 9.7%
4.4% Widowed +1.0 pts ▸ 5.4%
3.2% Separated +1.0 pts ▸ 4.2%

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 +23.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
36.4% 97th pct 13.0% 43rd pct

Country of birth

59.1% Australia +17.3 pts ▸ 76.5%
7.9% England ◂ +2.9 pts 5.1%
2.8% India ◂ +2.5 pts 0.3%
2.8% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 2.3%
1.8% South Africa ◂ +1.4 pts 0.5%
1.5% Philippines ◂ +1.0 pts 0.5%
1.3% China ◂ +1.2 pts 0.1%
0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

36.8% English ◂ +2.6 pts 34.2%
27.8% Australian +1.9 pts ▸ 29.7%
8.8% Irish ◂ +1.6 pts 7.3%
8.7% Scottish ◂ +1.4 pts 7.3%
5.5% Italian ◂ +3.3 pts 2.2%
5.5% Chinese ◂ +5.1 pts 0.4%
3.6% Indian ◂ +3.1 pts 0.5%
2.8% German ◂ +0.2 pts 2.6%
2.0% Dutch ◂ +0.6 pts 1.3%
1.9% Filipino ◂ +1.2 pts 0.7%
1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
0.7% Greek ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Language

Other language in 1 million or morein 499 or less +4.6 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
21.4% 82nd pct 16.8% 77th pct
Limited English in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap steady
2.7% 83rd pct 1.6% 71st pct

Language used at home

73.6% English only ◂ +1.0 pts 72.6%
2.4% Mandarin ◂ +2.2 pts 0.2%
1.1% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
1.0% Punjabi ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%
0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%
0.8% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%
0.7% Tagalog ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%
0.6% Hindi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%
0.2% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Religion

No religion in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
42.1% 49th pct 39.1% 33rd pct

Religious affiliation

41.8% Christianity +0.9 pts ▸ 42.8%
42.1% No religion ◂ +2.9 pts 39.1%
6.5% Not stated +9.5 pts ▸ 16.0%
3.1% Islam ◂ +2.8 pts 0.2%
2.6% Buddhism ◂ +2.1 pts 0.5%
2.4% Hinduism ◂ +2.2 pts 0.2%
1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%
0.3% Judaism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in 1 million or morein 499 or less +27.4 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
62.4% 93rd pct 34.9% 20th pct
Bachelor+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +17.8 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
27.0% 91st pct 9.1% 10th pct

Highest year of school

62.4% Year 12 ◂ +27.4 pts 34.9%
17.4% Year 10 +11.6 pts ▸ 29.0%
6.2% Year 9 or below +5.8 pts ▸ 12.1%
8.1% Year 11 +3.8 pts ▸ 11.9%

Highest qualification level

25.9% Certificate III / IV +7.8 pts ▸ 33.7%
28.4% Bachelor degree ◂ +15.0 pts 13.5%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.7 pts 11.4%
9.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +6.7 pts 2.7%
3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.8 pts 2.2%
2.3% Certificate I / II +1.4 pts ▸ 3.7%

Field of qualification

19.0% Management & commerce ◂ +9.1 pts 10.0%
16.7% Engineering & related ◂ +0.3 pts 16.4%
11.4% Society & culture ◂ +3.7 pts 7.7%
11.0% Health ◂ +2.5 pts 8.5%
7.9% Education +1.1 pts ▸ 9.0%
5.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.8 pts 4.4%
4.9% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 4.7%
1.5% Agriculture & environment +3.4 pts ▸ 4.9%
3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.0 pts 1.8%
3.5% Creative arts ◂ +1.8 pts 1.7%
2.9% Information technology ◂ +2.1 pts 0.8%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$315 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$862 75th pct $547 13th pct
Household income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$701 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$1,863 79th pct $1,162 10th pct
Family income in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$948 higher in 1 million or more gap widening
$2,262 86th pct $1,314 10th pct
High earners in 1 million or morein 499 or less +7.0 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
15.2% 87th pct 8.2% 49th pct
High-income homes in 1 million or morein 499 or less +13.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
24.3% 83rd pct 10.6% 17th pct

Household income distribution

23.4% $650–$1,499 +8.2 pts ▸ 31.6%
29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.9 pts 23.3%
14.3% Under $650 +8.9 pts ▸ 23.2%
13.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.7 pts 4.8%
10.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +5.0 pts 5.8%

Personal income distribution

38.3% Under $650 +9.7 pts ▸ 48.1%
29.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.5 pts 23.6%
20.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.6 pts 12.4%
6.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.5 pts 2.7%

Health & Disability

Health condition in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.9 pts higher in 499 or less
26.0% 28th pct 27.8% 38th pct
Mental health in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.9 pts higher in 1 million or more
8.4% 33rd pct 7.4% 26th pct
Needs assistance in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
4.6% 29th pct 5.1% 37th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

7.4% Arthritis +1.9 pts ▸ 9.3%
8.4% Mental health ◂ +0.9 pts 7.4%
7.6% Other condition ◂ +0.7 pts 6.9%
7.3% Asthma ◂ +0.2 pts 7.1%
4.3% Diabetes +2.5 pts ▸ 6.8%
3.5% Heart disease +1.4 pts ▸ 4.9%
2.7% Cancer +0.3 pts ▸ 3.0%
1.5% Lung condition +0.9 pts ▸ 2.4%
0.8% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

66.6% None ◂ +8.1 pts 58.4%
18.2% One condition ◂ +0.4 pts 17.8%
5.3% Two conditions +1.1 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.5% Three or more +1.2 pts ▸ 3.7%

Community Participation

Volunteering in 1 million or morein 499 or less +5.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
15.1% 44th pct 20.2% 86th pct
Unpaid carers in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.1 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
10.8% 30th pct 13.0% 62nd pct
Unpaid child care in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
29.2% 86th pct 26.9% 75th pct
Defence service in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.4 pts higher in 499 or less
2.8% 22nd pct 3.2% 34th pct
Housework 15h+ in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
19.6% 31st pct 22.9% 69th pct

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or morein 499 or less +0.2 larger in 1 million or more gap widening
2.6 81st pct 2.4 43rd pct
One-parent in 1 million or morein 499 or less +5.8 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
13.4% 24th pct 19.2% 87th pct
Living alone in 1 million or morein 499 or less +7.7 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
25.2% 29th pct 32.9% 95th pct

Family composition

60.0% Couples with children ◂ +11.5 pts 48.5%
25.4% Couples without children +5.1 pts ▸ 30.5%
13.4% One-parent families +5.8 pts ▸ 19.2%
1.2% Other families +0.7 pts ▸ 1.9%

Household size

32.8% 2 people +2.4 pts ▸ 35.2%
25.2% 1 person +7.7 pts ▸ 32.9%
16.5% 4 people ◂ +6.4 pts 10.0%
16.4% 3 people ◂ +6.1 pts 10.3%
6.3% 5 people ◂ +0.2 pts 6.1%
2.8% 6 or more +2.7 pts ▸ 5.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$210 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$350 86th pct $140 6th pct
Mortgage in 1 million or morein 499 or less +$701 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
$1,900 83rd pct $1,199 7th pct
People / bedroom in 1 million or morein 499 or less even gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in 1 million or morein 499 or less +7.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap narrowing
27.0% 38th pct 34.3% 76th pct
Owned outright in 1 million or morein 499 or less +5.8 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
28.3% 24th pct 34.1% 54th pct
Separate houses in 1 million or morein 499 or less +15.5 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
77.2% 22nd pct 92.7% 72nd pct
3+ bedrooms in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
82.2% 86th pct 75.5% 40th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.7% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +18.7 pts 23.0%
27.0% Rented +7.3 pts ▸ 34.3%
28.3% Owned outright +5.8 pts ▸ 34.1%
1.7% Other tenure +4.0 pts ▸ 5.7%
1.2% Not stated +1.6 pts ▸ 2.8%

Types of homes

77.2% Separate house +15.5 pts ▸ 92.7%
14.6% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +11.5 pts 3.1%
7.9% Flat or apartment ◂ +7.1 pts 0.7%
0.3% Other dwelling +2.0 pts ▸ 2.3%

Bedrooms per home

37.0% 3 bedrooms +9.9 pts ▸ 46.9%
38.9% 4 bedrooms ◂ +14.4 pts 24.5%
12.8% 2 bedrooms +3.7 pts ▸ 16.5%
6.3% 5 or more ◂ +2.2 pts 4.1%
3.6% 1 bedroom +1.0 pts ▸ 4.6%
0.2% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

10.4% Under $200 +51.2 pts ▸ 61.7%
43.4% $350–$549 ◂ +39.6 pts 3.7%
34.2% $200–$349 ◂ +8.9 pts 25.2%
6.4% $550–$749 ◂ +6.0 pts 0.4%
2.5% $750 or more ◂ +2.2 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

12.7% Under $1,000 +24.5 pts ▸ 37.2%
35.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +18.1 pts 17.4%
30.6% $1,000–$1,799 +1.5 pts ▸ 32.1%
15.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +9.5 pts 6.3%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in 1 million or morein 499 or less +6.3 pts higher in 499 or less gap widening
5.1% 41st pct 11.3% 87th pct
Work from home in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.7 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
7.5% 43rd pct 4.8% 20th pct
PT commute in 1 million or morein 499 or less +3.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
5.3% 89th pct 2.2% 68th pct

How people get to work

62.1% Car (driver) ◂ +6.7 pts 55.4%
1.5% Walked +12.2 pts ▸ 13.7%
7.5% Worked at home ◂ +2.7 pts 4.8%
4.4% Car (passenger) +1.0 pts ▸ 5.4%
3.1% Bus ◂ +1.0 pts 2.0%
2.2% Train ◂ +2.1 pts 0.1%
0.7% Bicycle +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%

Motor vehicles per home

39.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +6.3 pts 33.6%
35.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.1 pts 35.3%
12.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.1 pts 12.7%
5.1% No vehicle +6.3 pts ▸ 11.3%
6.7% 4 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 7.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in 1 million or morein 499 or less +9.1 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
39.6% 54th pct 30.4% 19th pct
Recent arrivals in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.9 pts higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing
10.7% 45th pct 7.7% 24th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.4 pts higher in 499 or less gap steady
5.3% 55th pct 7.7% 83rd pct
Participation in 1 million or morein 499 or less +17.3 pts higher in 1 million or more gap widening
65.3% 91st pct 48.1% 23rd pct
Full-time in 1 million or morein 499 or less even gap narrowing
60.0% 70th pct 60.0% 70th pct

Industries people work in

14.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.8 pts 9.5%
8.8% Education & training +2.7 pts ▸ 11.6%
0.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +9.9 pts ▸ 10.4%
6.0% Public administration & safety +3.8 pts ▸ 9.8%
8.9% Retail trade ◂ +2.2 pts 6.7%
8.8% Construction ◂ +2.2 pts 6.6%
7.9% Professional & technical ◂ +6.1 pts 1.8%
6.5% Mining +1.3 pts ▸ 7.9%
6.5% Accommodation & food +1.1 pts ▸ 7.6%
4.5% Transport & warehousing +0.9 pts ▸ 5.4%
5.2% Manufacturing ◂ +1.2 pts 4.0%
3.9% Other services ◂ +0.3 pts 3.6%

Occupations people work in

24.0% Professionals ◂ +11.0 pts 13.0%
14.5% Technicians & trades +1.1 pts ▸ 15.7%
11.8% Managers +2.4 pts ▸ 14.2%
8.6% Labourers +5.0 pts ▸ 13.7%
12.0% Community & personal service +1.0 pts ▸ 13.1%
12.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.6 pts 9.9%
6.9% Machinery operators & drivers +5.3 pts ▸ 12.1%
8.0% Sales workers ◂ +2.3 pts 5.7%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or morein 499 or less +2.1 higher in 1 million or more
6.2 88th pct 4.1 41st pct
Types ≤15 min in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.2 more in 1 million or more
5.9 89th pct 4.7 49th pct
15-min city in 1 million or morein 499 or less +14.7 pts higher in 1 million or more
74.1% 90th pct 59.4% 62nd pct
Walk to shops in 1 million or morein 499 or less +17.0 pts higher in 1 million or more
70.3% 86th pct 53.3% 41st pct
Walk to transit in 1 million or morein 499 or less +54.2 pts higher in 1 million or more
95.3% 94th pct 41.0% 39th pct
Walk to school in 1 million or morein 499 or less +11.5 pts higher in 1 million or more
81.3% 92nd pct 69.8% 71st pct
Walk to a park in 1 million or morein 499 or less +19.3 pts higher in 1 million or more
97.2% 86th pct 77.9% 28th pct
Walk to health in 1 million or morein 499 or less +17.1 pts higher in 1 million or more
55.8% 86th pct 38.7% 46th pct
Amenities/1k in 1 million or morein 499 or less +20.4 more in 499 or less
15.2 35th pct 35.7 89th pct
Intersections/km² in 1 million or morein 499 or less +151 higher in 1 million or more
166 93rd pct 15 22nd pct
Mean slope in 1 million or morein 499 or less +1.7 pts higher in 1 million or more
6.1% 71st pct 4.4% 29th pct

Compare 1 million or more with nearby areas

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

Compare 499 or less with nearby areas

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

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/SOSR501/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR522/499-or-less