Compare

1 million or more vs 500 or more

Name: 1 million or more vs 500 or more — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Section of State Range comparison ≈ 1,652 km apart · 1 million or more profile · 500 or more profile

1 million or more 500 or more

1 million or more and 500 or more are far apart and vary greatly in their makeup. 500 or more has a much larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (67.8% compared to 1.9%) and a far higher share of people who use another language at home (62.5% versus 21.4%). There are also large gaps in income and education; typical weekly family income is far higher in 1 million or more ($2,262) than in 500 or more ($968), and far more adults in 1 million or more have a bachelor degree or higher (27.0% compared to 9.6%).

Daily life in both places shares some similarities, as the share of people living alone is nearly identical (around 25%) and about 11% of people in each area provide unpaid care. However, many other gaps have widened since 2011, such as the difference in typical weekly income and the share of adults working or looking for work. While 1 million or more is very walkable, 500 or more is mostly car-dependent.

Open map →

Where they differ most

First Nations: 65.8 pts higher in 500 or more Born overseas: 29.9 pts higher in 1 million or more Other language: 41.1 pts higher in 500 or more Year 12: 30.7 pts higher in 1 million or more Renting: 45.2 pts higher in 500 or more

Demographics & Identity

Population in 1 million or more in 500 or more +2,031,359 larger in 1 million or more gap widening

2,043,762 91st pct 12,403 29th pct

Median age in 1 million or more in 500 or more +7 yrs older in 1 million or more gap narrowing

37 yrs 19th pct 30 yrs 1st pct

Age structure

29.1% Young adults (25–44) +3.4 pts ▸ 32.5%

24.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.8 pts 21.3%

19.0% Children (0–14) +5.0 pts ▸ 24.0%

12.1% Youth (15–24) +4.8 pts ▸ 16.9%

15.7% Seniors (65+) ◂ +10.6 pts 5.2%

Marital status

47.5% Married ◂ +4.7 pts 42.8%

36.2% Never married +8.4 pts ▸ 44.6%

8.7% Divorced ◂ +3.9 pts 4.8%

4.4% Widowed ◂ +0.2 pts 4.2%

3.2% Separated +0.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

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

Country of birth

59.1% Australia +28.1 pts ▸ 87.3%

7.9% England ◂ +7.1 pts 0.9%

2.8% India ◂ +2.6 pts 0.2%

2.8% New Zealand ◂ +1.7 pts 1.1%

1.8% South Africa ◂ +1.6 pts 0.2%

1.5% Philippines ◂ +1.0 pts 0.5%

1.3% China ◂ +1.2 pts 0.2%

0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.8% Italy ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.2% Nepal even 0.2%

Ancestry

36.8% English ◂ +26.3 pts 10.5%

27.8% Australian ◂ +15.0 pts 12.8%

8.8% Irish ◂ +5.5 pts 3.4%

8.7% Scottish ◂ +5.8 pts 2.9%

5.5% Italian ◂ +4.9 pts 0.6%

5.5% Chinese ◂ +4.8 pts 0.6%

3.6% Indian ◂ +3.2 pts 0.4%

2.8% German ◂ +1.3 pts 1.5%

2.0% Dutch ◂ +1.3 pts 0.7%

1.9% Filipino ◂ +1.1 pts 0.8%

1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%

0.7% Greek ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

73.6% English only ◂ +42.7 pts 30.9%

2.4% Mandarin ◂ +2.1 pts 0.3%

1.1% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%

1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%

1.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

0.8% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.7% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.6% Hindi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

41.8% Christianity +9.9 pts ▸ 51.7%

42.1% No religion ◂ +10.4 pts 31.7%

6.5% Not stated +3.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

1.3% Other religions +4.2 pts ▸ 5.5%

3.1% Islam ◂ +2.9 pts 0.2%

2.6% Buddhism ◂ +1.9 pts 0.7%

2.4% Hinduism ◂ +1.9 pts 0.5%

0.3% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

62.4% Year 12 ◂ +30.7 pts 31.7%

6.2% Year 9 or below +18.4 pts ▸ 24.6%

17.4% Year 10 +3.8 pts ▸ 21.1%

8.1% Year 11 +5.7 pts ▸ 13.8%

Highest qualification level

28.4% Bachelor degree ◂ +12.7 pts 15.7%

25.9% Certificate III / IV +2.3 pts ▸ 28.3%

15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +4.5 pts 10.7%

9.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +4.6 pts 4.7%

2.3% Certificate I / II +3.5 pts ▸ 5.9%

3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.1 pts 2.9%

Field of qualification

19.0% Management & commerce ◂ +6.8 pts 12.3%

16.7% Engineering & related ◂ +5.0 pts 11.7%

11.4% Society & culture ◂ +0.5 pts 10.9%

11.0% Health ◂ +4.1 pts 6.9%

7.9% Education +1.9 pts ▸ 9.8%

5.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.9% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 4.7%

1.5% Agriculture & environment +2.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.6 pts 1.3%

3.5% Creative arts ◂ +1.5 pts 2.0%

2.9% Information technology ◂ +2.2 pts 0.6%

Income

Personal income in 1 million or more in 500 or more +$500 higher in 1 million or more gap widening

$862 75th pct $362 1st pct

Household income in 1 million or more in 500 or more +$328 higher in 1 million or more gap widening

$1,863 79th pct $1,535 59th pct

Family income in 1 million or more in 500 or more +$1,294 higher in 1 million or more gap widening

$2,262 86th pct $968 1st pct

Household income distribution

23.4% $650–$1,499 +8.6 pts ▸ 32.0%

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 +1.4 pts ▸ 30.6%

14.3% Under $650 ◂ +1.2 pts 13.1%

13.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +6.0 pts 7.4%

10.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.1 pts 8.7%

Personal income distribution

38.3% Under $650 +22.3 pts ▸ 60.6%

29.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +12.0 pts 17.1%

20.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +9.1 pts 10.9%

6.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.9 pts 2.3%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.4% Mental health ◂ +5.2 pts 3.2%

7.6% Other condition ◂ +3.3 pts 4.3%

7.4% Arthritis ◂ +5.3 pts 2.1%

7.3% Asthma ◂ +3.0 pts 4.3%

4.3% Diabetes +1.2 pts ▸ 5.5%

3.5% Heart disease +0.7 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.7% Cancer ◂ +2.2 pts 0.5%

1.5% Lung condition ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%

0.8% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

Number of long-term health conditions

66.6% None +7.6 pts ▸ 74.2%

18.2% One condition ◂ +4.3 pts 13.9%

5.3% Two conditions ◂ +2.4 pts 2.8%

2.5% Three or more ◂ +1.6 pts 0.9%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in 1 million or more in 500 or more +0.9 larger in 500 or more gap narrowing

2.6 81st pct 3.5 98th pct

Family composition

60.0% Couples with children ◂ +3.1 pts 56.9%

25.4% Couples without children ◂ +8.7 pts 16.8%

13.4% One-parent families +10.6 pts ▸ 24.0%

1.2% Other families +1.2 pts ▸ 2.4%

Household size

32.8% 2 people ◂ +12.5 pts 20.3%

25.2% 1 person +0.2 pts ▸ 25.4%

2.8% 6 or more +19.8 pts ▸ 22.6%

16.5% 4 people ◂ +4.3 pts 12.2%

16.4% 3 people ◂ +5.3 pts 11.1%

6.3% 5 people +1.9 pts ▸ 8.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in 1 million or more in 500 or more +$270 higher in 1 million or more gap narrowing

$350 86th pct $80 0th pct

Mortgage in 1 million or more in 500 or more +$483 higher in 500 or more gap widening

$1,900 83rd pct $2,383 99th pct

People / bedroom in 1 million or more in 500 or more +0.60 higher in 500 or more gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 1.40 100th pct

How homes are owned or rented

27.0% Rented +45.2 pts ▸ 72.2%

41.7% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +34.5 pts 7.2%

28.3% Owned outright ◂ +22.9 pts 5.4%

1.7% Other tenure +11.1 pts ▸ 12.8%

1.2% Not stated +1.3 pts ▸ 2.5%

Types of homes

77.2% Separate house ◂ +6.4 pts 70.7%

14.6% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.7 pts ▸ 19.2%

7.9% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.0 pts 5.9%

0.3% Other dwelling +1.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

Bedrooms per home

37.0% 3 bedrooms +6.5 pts ▸ 43.5%

38.9% 4 bedrooms ◂ +25.6 pts 13.3%

12.8% 2 bedrooms +8.1 pts ▸ 20.9%

3.6% 1 bedroom +11.6 pts ▸ 15.2%

6.3% 5 or more ◂ +3.9 pts 2.4%

0.2% Studio / none +2.0 pts ▸ 2.2%

Weekly rent distribution

10.4% Under $200 +68.5 pts ▸ 78.9%

43.4% $350–$549 ◂ +41.3 pts 2.1%

34.2% $200–$349 ◂ +25.5 pts 8.7%

6.4% $550–$749 ◂ +5.8 pts 0.6%

2.5% $750 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 0.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

35.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +1.2 pts 34.3%

30.6% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +14.2 pts 16.4%

15.8% $3,000 or more +14.3 pts ▸ 30.0%

12.7% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.5 pts 12.2%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

62.1% Car (driver) ◂ +18.3 pts 43.8%

1.5% Walked +25.1 pts ▸ 26.7%

4.4% Car (passenger) +5.7 pts ▸ 10.1%

7.5% Worked at home ◂ +5.2 pts 2.3%

3.1% Bus +0.2 pts ▸ 3.3%

0.7% Bicycle +1.6 pts ▸ 2.2%

2.2% Train ◂ +2.2 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +20.7 pts 19.2%

35.5% 1 vehicle +2.4 pts ▸ 37.9%

5.1% No vehicle +27.5 pts ▸ 32.5%

12.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +6.4 pts 6.4%

6.7% 4 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 4.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

6.0% Public administration & safety +10.0 pts ▸ 16.0%

8.8% Education & training +5.8 pts ▸ 14.6%

6.5% Accommodation & food +7.8 pts ▸ 14.3%

14.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.3 pts 11.0%

8.9% Retail trade ◂ +2.0 pts 6.9%

8.8% Construction ◂ +3.3 pts 5.4%

7.9% Professional & technical ◂ +6.6 pts 1.3%

6.5% Mining +0.3 pts ▸ 6.8%

5.2% Manufacturing ◂ +4.0 pts 1.2%

4.5% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.0 pts 3.5%

3.9% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

1.8% Arts & recreation +1.8 pts ▸ 3.6%

Occupations people work in

24.0% Professionals ◂ +3.3 pts 20.8%

12.0% Community & personal service +9.1 pts ▸ 21.2%

14.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.8 pts 12.7%

11.8% Managers +1.1 pts ▸ 12.9%

12.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.7 pts 9.8%

8.6% Labourers +0.7 pts ▸ 9.3%

8.0% Sales workers ◂ +3.2 pts 4.8%

6.9% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.1 pts 5.7%

Walkability

Walk score in 1 million or more in 500 or more +3.0 higher in 1 million or more

6.2 88th pct 3.1 25th pct

Types ≤15 min in 1 million or more in 500 or more +2.2 more in 1 million or more

5.9 89th pct 3.7 28th pct

15-min city in 1 million or more in 500 or more +37.6 pts higher in 1 million or more

74.1% 90th pct 36.4% 26th pct

Walk to shops in 1 million or more in 500 or more +1.7 pts higher in 500 or more

70.3% 86th pct 72.0% 88th pct

Walk to transit in 1 million or more in 500 or more +90.7 pts higher in 1 million or more

95.3% 94th pct 4.6% 16th pct

Walk to school in 1 million or more in 500 or more +11.6 pts higher in 1 million or more

81.3% 92nd pct 69.7% 70th pct

Walk to a park in 1 million or more in 500 or more +29.1 pts higher in 1 million or more

97.2% 86th pct 68.1% 24th pct

Walk to health in 1 million or more in 500 or more +22.0 pts higher in 1 million or more

55.8% 86th pct 33.8% 37th pct

Amenities/1k in 1 million or more in 500 or more +2.5 more in 1 million or more

15.2 35th pct 12.7 14th pct

Intersections/km² in 1 million or more in 500 or more +160 higher in 1 million or more

166 93rd pct 6 14th pct

Mean slope in 1 million or more in 500 or more +2.1 pts higher in 1 million or more

6.1% 71st pct 3.9% 15th 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 500 or more with nearby areas

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

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/SOSR501/1-million-or-more/vs/SOSR721/500-or-more