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New South Wales vs South Australia

Name: New South Wales vs South Australia — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

State / Territory comparison ≈ 1,070 km apart · New South Wales profile · South Australia profile

New South Wales South Australia

New South Wales and South Australia show distinct differences in how people live and work. New South Wales has a far higher proportion of people working from home at 31.0%, compared to just 9.6% in South Australia. Incomes and housing costs are also notably higher in New South Wales, where the typical weekly household income is $1,829, while in South Australia it is $1,455. South Australia is more likely to have detached houses, at 78.0% compared to 65.6% in New South Wales, and a higher share of people report having no religion (45.8% versus 33.2%).

Both areas sit close to the national figure for unemployment, with New South Wales at 4.9% and South Australia at 5.4%. They also share similar patterns in recent overseas arrivals, which hover around 15%. However, some gaps are growing; the difference in typical weekly income and monthly mortgage payments has widened since 2011, and New South Wales has seen its share of people born overseas rise further above that of South Australia.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 21.4 pts higher in New South Wales Population: 6,290,647 larger in New South Wales No religion: 12.6 pts higher in South Australia Separate houses: 12.4 pts higher in South Australia Other language: 8.8 pts higher in New South Wales

Demographics & Identity

Population in New South Wales in South Australia +6,290,647 larger in New South Wales gap widening

8,072,163 1,781,516

Median age in New South Wales in South Australia +2 yrs older in South Australia gap widening

39 yrs 41 yrs

Age structure

27.8% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.9 pts 25.9%

24.5% Older adults (45–64) +0.8 pts ▸ 25.4%

17.6% Seniors (65+) +2.4 pts ▸ 20.0%

18.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.2 pts 17.0%

11.8% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.1 pts 11.7%

Marital status

47.3% Married ◂ +1.2 pts 46.1%

35.7% Never married ◂ +0.3 pts 35.4%

8.6% Divorced +0.9 pts ▸ 9.5%

5.1% Widowed +0.6 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.2% Separated even 3.2%

Age & sex structure

New South Wales South Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

65.4% Australia +6.1 pts ▸ 71.5%

2.9% England +2.5 pts ▸ 5.3%

3.1% China ◂ +1.6 pts 1.4%

2.6% India ◂ +0.1 pts 2.5%

1.5% New Zealand ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%

1.3% Philippines ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

1.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

0.6% Italy +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.8% Nepal ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

Ancestry

29.8% English +8.2 pts ▸ 38.0%

28.6% Australian +3.9 pts ▸ 32.5%

9.1% Irish ◂ +1.5 pts 7.6%

7.7% Scottish +0.7 pts ▸ 8.4%

3.0% German +4.6 pts ▸ 7.6%

7.2% Chinese ◂ +3.9 pts 3.3%

3.7% Italian +2.1 pts ▸ 5.8%

3.2% Indian ◂ +0.8 pts 2.4%

1.8% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.9% Filipino ◂ +0.7 pts 1.2%

1.1% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.5% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

Language

Language used at home

67.6% English only +10.0 pts ▸ 77.6%

3.4% Mandarin ◂ +1.5 pts 1.8%

2.8% Arabic ◂ +2.2 pts 0.6%

1.8% Cantonese ◂ +1.3 pts 0.6%

1.5% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

0.8% Italian +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.0% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.7% Punjabi +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

1.0% Hindi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.6% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Religion

Religious affiliation

47.6% Christianity ◂ +7.6 pts 40.0%

33.2% No religion +12.6 pts ▸ 45.8%

7.1% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 6.4%

4.3% Islam ◂ +2.1 pts 2.3%

3.4% Hinduism ◂ +1.3 pts 2.1%

2.8% Buddhism ◂ +0.9 pts 1.9%

1.1% Other religions +0.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.5% Judaism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

58.9% Year 12 ◂ +4.3 pts 54.6%

19.7% Year 10 ◂ +5.4 pts 14.3%

4.9% Year 11 +11.3 pts ▸ 16.2%

9.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.2 pts 9.4%

Highest qualification level

23.4% Certificate III / IV +6.3 pts ▸ 29.7%

28.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.0 pts 25.8%

14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma even 14.6%

11.5% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.7 pts 8.8%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.6 pts ▸ 3.8%

1.7% Certificate I / II +0.6 pts ▸ 2.3%

Field of qualification

21.8% Management & commerce ◂ +3.8 pts 17.9%

12.9% Engineering & related +1.7 pts ▸ 14.6%

11.8% Society & culture +1.3 pts ▸ 13.2%

9.5% Health +2.7 pts ▸ 12.2%

7.4% Education +0.7 pts ▸ 8.1%

5.3% Architecture & building ◂ +0.5 pts 4.8%

4.4% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.8 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.2% Creative arts ◂ +0.9 pts 3.2%

4.0% Information technology ◂ +1.3 pts 2.8%

2.9% Natural & physical sciences +0.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.8% Agriculture & environment +0.6 pts ▸ 2.4%

Income

Personal income in New South Wales in South Australia +$79 higher in New South Wales gap widening

$813 $734

Household income in New South Wales in South Australia +$374 higher in New South Wales gap widening

$1,829 $1,455

Family income in New South Wales in South Australia +$296 higher in New South Wales gap widening

$2,185 $1,889

Household income distribution

24.6% $650–$1,499 +5.2 pts ▸ 29.7%

28.6% $1,500–$2,999 +0.2 pts ▸ 28.8%

15.3% Under $650 +3.0 pts ▸ 18.3%

14.7% $4,000 or more ◂ +6.7 pts 8.0%

10.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.0 pts 8.5%

Personal income distribution

39.0% Under $650 +3.8 pts ▸ 42.9%

30.1% $650–$1,499 +2.5 pts ▸ 32.7%

18.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.6 pts 15.4%

5.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 3.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.4% Arthritis +1.7 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.0% Mental health +1.8 pts ▸ 9.8%

7.8% Asthma +1.2 pts ▸ 8.9%

7.8% Other condition +1.0 pts ▸ 8.8%

4.8% Diabetes +0.9 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.9% Heart disease +0.7 pts ▸ 4.6%

2.8% Cancer +0.4 pts ▸ 3.2%

1.7% Lung condition +0.3 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.9% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.8% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.9% None ◂ +2.8 pts 62.1%

18.3% One condition +2.0 pts ▸ 20.3%

5.7% Two conditions +1.2 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.0% Three or more +0.8 pts ▸ 3.8%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in New South Wales in South Australia +235,481 larger in New South Wales

278,043 42,562

Median age in New South Wales in South Australia +1 yrs older in South Australia

23 yrs 24 yrs

Median income in New South Wales in South Australia +$113 higher in New South Wales

$600 $487

Household income in New South Wales in South Australia +$276 higher in New South Wales

$1,558 $1,282

Family & Households

Household size in New South Wales in South Australia +0.2 larger in New South Wales gap steady

2.6 2.4

Family composition

59.0% Couples with children ◂ +3.9 pts 55.1%

25.8% Couples without children +3.0 pts ▸ 28.8%

14.0% One-parent families +0.8 pts ▸ 14.8%

1.1% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

32.8% 2 people +1.9 pts ▸ 34.7%

25.0% 1 person +3.6 pts ▸ 28.5%

16.1% 3 people ◂ +1.1 pts 15.0%

15.7% 4 people ◂ +1.7 pts 14.0%

6.8% 5 people ◂ +1.4 pts 5.4%

3.7% 6 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 2.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in New South Wales in South Australia +$120 higher in New South Wales gap steady

$420 $300

Mortgage in New South Wales in South Australia +$667 higher in New South Wales gap widening

$2,167 $1,500

People / bedroom in New South Wales in South Australia +0.10 higher in New South Wales gap steady

0.90 0.80

How homes are owned or rented

32.5% Owned with a mortgage +3.1 pts ▸ 35.6%

31.5% Owned outright +1.3 pts ▸ 32.8%

32.6% Rented ◂ +5.0 pts 27.6%

1.9% Other tenure +0.7 pts ▸ 2.6%

1.5% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

65.6% Separate house +12.4 pts ▸ 78.0%

21.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +14.9 pts 6.8%

11.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.8 pts ▸ 14.6%

0.7% Other dwelling ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

34.7% 3 bedrooms +16.8 pts ▸ 51.5%

25.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.0 pts 21.6%

22.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +4.6 pts 18.0%

8.3% 5 or more ◂ +4.2 pts 4.1%

6.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.3 pts 3.3%

0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

19.4% $200–$349 +23.5 pts ▸ 42.8%

41.2% $350–$549 ◂ +12.2 pts 29.0%

10.5% Under $200 +10.5 pts ▸ 20.9%

17.4% $550–$749 ◂ +14.6 pts 2.9%

8.0% $750 or more ◂ +7.2 pts 0.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

22.2% $1,000–$1,799 +17.3 pts ▸ 39.5%

31.7% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +7.7 pts 24.1%

26.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +17.2 pts 8.9%

13.7% Under $1,000 +9.0 pts ▸ 22.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in New South Wales in South Australia +33,689 more in New South Wales

42,519 8,830

Stops/1k in New South Wales in South Australia +0.31 more in New South Wales

5.27 4.96

Departures/1k in New South Wales in South Australia +3.3 more in South Australia

1,313.6 1,317.0

PT routes in New South Wales in South Australia +942 more in New South Wales

1,481 539

How people get to work

43.1% Car (driver) +20.8 pts ▸ 63.9%

31.0% Worked at home ◂ +21.4 pts 9.6%

3.2% Car (passenger) +1.1 pts ▸ 4.3%

0.9% Bus +2.2 pts ▸ 3.1%

2.5% Walked ◂ +0.1 pts 2.5%

1.7% Train ◂ +1.1 pts 0.6%

0.4% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

Motor vehicles per home

38.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.0 pts 36.4%

34.6% 2 vehicles +2.2 pts ▸ 36.8%

11.2% 3 vehicles +1.2 pts ▸ 12.4%

9.2% No vehicle ◂ +2.0 pts 7.2%

6.6% 4 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 7.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

14.4% Health care & social assistance +2.0 pts ▸ 16.4%

9.0% Retail trade +0.7 pts ▸ 9.7%

8.9% Professional & technical ◂ +2.7 pts 6.2%

8.7% Education & training +0.1 pts ▸ 8.8%

8.6% Construction ◂ +0.3 pts 8.3%

5.5% Manufacturing +1.7 pts ▸ 7.2%

6.1% Public administration & safety +0.6 pts ▸ 6.7%

6.2% Accommodation & food +0.4 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +2.5 pts 2.8%

4.6% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.5 pts 4.1%

3.4% Other services +0.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.2% Administrative & support +0.6 pts ▸ 3.8%

Occupations people work in

25.8% Professionals ◂ +4.3 pts 21.5%

14.6% Managers ◂ +1.5 pts 13.0%

11.9% Technicians & trades +1.3 pts ▸ 13.2%

10.6% Community & personal service +2.4 pts ▸ 13.0%

13.0% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.5 pts 12.5%

8.2% Labourers +2.3 pts ▸ 10.5%

8.0% Sales workers +0.5 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.0% Machinery operators & drivers even 6.0%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in New South Wales in South Australia +6,689,859 higher in New South Wales

8,592,524 1,902,665

Growth in New South Wales in South Australia +0.6 pts higher in New South Wales

6.1% 5.6%

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in New South Wales in South Australia +372 higher in New South Wales

515 143

Max temp in New South Wales in South Australia +4.2 higher in South Australia

25.2 29.4

Min temp in New South Wales in South Australia +3.8 higher in South Australia

10.0 13.8

Walkability

Walk score in New South Wales in South Australia +0.7 higher in New South Wales

6.2 5.5

Types ≤15 min in New South Wales in South Australia +0.5 more in New South Wales

5.8 5.4

15-min city in New South Wales in South Australia +4.9 pts higher in New South Wales

71.9% 67.0%

Walk to shops in New South Wales in South Australia +3.4 pts higher in New South Wales

67.7% 64.4%

Walk to transit in New South Wales in South Australia +9.7 pts higher in New South Wales

85.7% 76.1%

Walk to school in New South Wales in South Australia +7.6 pts higher in New South Wales

76.0% 68.4%

Walk to a park in New South Wales in South Australia +4.1 pts higher in New South Wales

89.0% 84.9%

Walk to health in New South Wales in South Australia +4.7 pts higher in New South Wales

57.1% 52.4%

Amenities/1k in New South Wales in South Australia +1.6 more in South Australia

14.7 16.3

Intersections/km² in New South Wales in South Australia +1 higher in New South Wales

1 0

Mean slope in New South Wales in South Australia +2.2 pts higher in New South Wales

6.8% 4.6%

Compare New South Wales with nearby areas

Australian Capital Territory Victoria Tasmania Queensland South Australia Northern Territory Western Australia Other Territories

Compare South Australia with nearby areas

Northern Territory Queensland Victoria New South Wales Western Australia Australian Capital Territory Tasmania Other Territories

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). New South Wales vs South Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ste/1/new-south-wales/vs/4/south-australia