Compare

New South Wales vs Australian Capital Territory

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

State / Territory comparison ≈ 397 km apart · New South Wales profile · Australian Capital Territory profile

New South Wales Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are distinct regions with a sharp contrast in education and income. The Australian Capital Territory has a far more qualified workforce, with 42.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher compared to 27.8% in New South Wales. This educational gap is reflected in typical weekly personal incomes, which are well higher in the Australian Capital Territory at $1,203, compared to $813 in New South Wales. While New South Wales has a far larger First Nations population, the Australian Capital Territory sees far higher Year 12 completion rates among First Nations people at 58.7% compared to 35.0% in New South Wales.

The gap in working from home has widened since 2011, with 31.0% of people in New South Wales now working remotely compared to just 10.9% in the Australian Capital Territory. Despite this, both areas are very similar in other ways, such as the share of children under 15 and the proportion of people born overseas. Both regions also show similar trends in housing, with typical monthly home-loan payments sitting at $2,167 in New South Wales and $2,080 in the Australian Capital Territory.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Population: 7,617,664 larger in New South Wales Work from home: 20.0 pts higher in New South Wales Year 12: 18.1 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory Bachelor+: 15.1 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory Personal income: $390 higher in Australian Capital Territory

Demographics & Identity

Population in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +7,617,664 larger in New South Wales gap widening

8,072,163 454,499

Median age in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +4 yrs older in New South Wales gap steady

39 yrs 35 yrs

Age structure

27.8% Young adults (25–44) +4.6 pts ▸ 32.4%

24.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.2 pts 22.4%

18.2% Children (0–14) even 18.2%

17.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.0 pts 13.7%

11.8% Youth (15–24) +1.5 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

47.3% Married ◂ +0.6 pts 46.7%

35.7% Never married +3.5 pts ▸ 39.3%

8.6% Divorced ◂ +0.9 pts 7.7%

5.1% Widowed ◂ +1.4 pts 3.7%

3.2% Separated ◂ +0.6 pts 2.6%

Age & sex structure

New South Wales Australian Capital Territory

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

65.4% Australia +2.1 pts ▸ 67.5%

2.6% India +1.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.1% China ◂ +0.4 pts 2.7%

2.9% England even 2.9%

1.5% New Zealand ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

1.3% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.8% Nepal +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.6% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

Ancestry

29.8% English +2.2 pts ▸ 32.0%

28.6% Australian +3.0 pts ▸ 31.5%

9.1% Irish +2.5 pts ▸ 11.6%

7.7% Scottish +2.3 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.2% Chinese ◂ +1.5 pts 5.7%

3.2% Indian +1.3 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.0% German +1.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.7% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 3.3%

1.9% Filipino ◂ +0.3 pts 1.6%

1.8% Greek ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

1.1% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.5% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 1.3%

Language

Language used at home

67.6% English only +3.6 pts ▸ 71.3%

3.4% Mandarin ◂ +0.2 pts 3.2%

2.8% Arabic ◂ +2.0 pts 0.9%

1.8% Cantonese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.9%

1.5% Vietnamese ◂ +0.4 pts 1.1%

0.7% Punjabi +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

1.0% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

1.0% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.8% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

0.6% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

47.6% Christianity ◂ +9.5 pts 38.1%

33.2% No religion +11.0 pts ▸ 44.2%

7.1% Not stated ◂ +1.4 pts 5.7%

3.4% Hinduism +1.1 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.3% Islam ◂ +1.1 pts 3.2%

2.8% Buddhism even 2.8%

1.1% Other religions +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% Judaism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

58.9% Year 12 +18.1 pts ▸ 77.0%

19.7% Year 10 ◂ +9.2 pts 10.5%

9.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +5.3 pts 4.2%

4.9% Year 11 ◂ +1.4 pts 3.5%

Highest qualification level

28.8% Bachelor degree +5.1 pts ▸ 33.9%

23.4% Certificate III / IV ◂ +8.4 pts 15.0%

11.5% Postgraduate degree +8.4 pts ▸ 19.9%

14.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.6 pts 13.0%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +3.1 pts ▸ 6.3%

1.7% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.4 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

21.8% Management & commerce ◂ +1.7 pts 20.0%

11.8% Society & culture +8.2 pts ▸ 20.1%

12.9% Engineering & related ◂ +4.5 pts 8.4%

9.5% Health ◂ +0.8 pts 8.7%

4.0% Information technology +3.5 pts ▸ 7.5%

7.4% Education ◂ +0.5 pts 6.9%

2.9% Natural & physical sciences +2.7 pts ▸ 5.6%

5.3% Architecture & building ◂ +1.4 pts 3.9%

4.4% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.1 pts 3.3%

4.2% Creative arts +0.1 pts ▸ 4.2%

1.8% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.1 pts 1.6%

Income

Personal income in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +$390 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap widening

$813 $1,203

Household income in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +$544 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap narrowing

$1,829 $2,373

Family income in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +$687 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap narrowing

$2,185 $2,872

Household income distribution

28.6% $1,500–$2,999 +3.9 pts ▸ 32.6%

24.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +7.1 pts 17.5%

14.7% $4,000 or more +7.2 pts ▸ 21.9%

15.3% Under $650 ◂ +6.7 pts 8.6%

10.5% $3,000–$3,999 +3.9 pts ▸ 14.5%

Personal income distribution

39.0% Under $650 ◂ +11.1 pts 27.9%

30.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.5 pts 29.7%

18.0% $1,500–$2,999 +11.7 pts ▸ 29.7%

5.7% $3,000 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.0% Mental health +2.0 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.8% Other condition +1.9 pts ▸ 9.7%

7.8% Asthma +1.2 pts ▸ 9.0%

8.4% Arthritis ◂ +0.7 pts 7.7%

4.8% Diabetes ◂ +1.0 pts 3.9%

3.9% Heart disease ◂ +0.8 pts 3.1%

2.8% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 2.7%

1.7% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 1.3%

0.9% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.9% None +1.0 pts ▸ 65.9%

18.3% One condition +1.5 pts ▸ 19.8%

5.7% Two conditions +0.1 pts ▸ 5.8%

3.0% Three or more ◂ +0.5 pts 2.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +269,094 larger in New South Wales

278,043 8,949

Median age in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +1 yrs older in Australian Capital Territory

23 yrs 24 yrs

Median income in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +$398 higher in Australian Capital Territory

$600 $998

Household income in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +$731 higher in Australian Capital Territory

$1,558 $2,289

Family & Households

Household size in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +0.1 larger in New South Wales gap widening

2.6 2.5

Family composition

59.0% Couples with children +0.8 pts ▸ 59.8%

25.8% Couples without children +1.4 pts ▸ 27.2%

14.0% One-parent families ◂ +2.1 pts 11.9%

1.1% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

Household size

32.8% 2 people ◂ +0.1 pts 32.7%

25.0% 1 person +0.8 pts ▸ 25.7%

16.1% 3 people +0.5 pts ▸ 16.5%

15.7% 4 people +0.8 pts ▸ 16.5%

6.8% 5 people ◂ +0.7 pts 6.0%

3.7% 6 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +$30 higher in Australian Capital Territory gap widening

$420 $450

Mortgage in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +$87 higher in New South Wales gap narrowing

$2,167 $2,080

People / bedroom in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +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 +7.7 pts ▸ 40.2%

32.6% Rented ◂ +1.9 pts 30.7%

31.5% Owned outright ◂ +4.9 pts 26.6%

1.9% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.6%

1.5% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

65.6% Separate house ◂ +2.4 pts 63.2%

21.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.3 pts 19.4%

11.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +5.4 pts ▸ 17.2%

0.7% Other dwelling ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

34.7% 3 bedrooms +2.4 pts ▸ 37.1%

25.6% 4 bedrooms +3.1 pts ▸ 28.8%

22.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.2 pts 17.5%

6.6% 1 bedroom +1.8 pts ▸ 8.4%

8.3% 5 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 7.1%

0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

41.2% $350–$549 +4.6 pts ▸ 45.8%

17.4% $550–$749 +3.8 pts ▸ 21.2%

19.4% $200–$349 ◂ +6.9 pts 12.4%

10.5% Under $200 +2.0 pts ▸ 12.5%

8.0% $750 or more ◂ +3.1 pts 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

31.7% $1,800–$2,999 +6.7 pts ▸ 38.5%

26.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.2 pts 20.9%

22.2% $1,000–$1,799 +3.4 pts ▸ 25.6%

13.7% Under $1,000 ◂ +2.7 pts 11.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +39,917 more in New South Wales

42,519 2,602

Stops/1k in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +0.46 more in Australian Capital Territory

5.27 5.72

Departures/1k in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +150.7 more in Australian Capital Territory

1,313.6 1,464.3

PT routes in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +1,381 more in New South Wales

1,481 100

How people get to work

43.1% Car (driver) +15.9 pts ▸ 59.0%

31.0% Worked at home ◂ +20.0 pts 10.9%

3.2% Car (passenger) +1.8 pts ▸ 5.0%

2.5% Walked +1.5 pts ▸ 4.0%

0.9% Bus +2.7 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.4% Bicycle +1.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.7% Train ◂ +1.7 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

38.4% 1 vehicle +0.8 pts ▸ 39.2%

34.6% 2 vehicles +4.1 pts ▸ 38.7%

11.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.3 pts 11.0%

9.2% No vehicle ◂ +3.6 pts 5.6%

6.6% 4 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

6.1% Public administration & safety +23.7 pts ▸ 29.8%

14.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.9 pts 11.5%

8.9% Professional & technical +2.1 pts ▸ 10.9%

8.7% Education & training +0.7 pts ▸ 9.4%

9.0% Retail trade ◂ +2.5 pts 6.5%

8.6% Construction ◂ +1.9 pts 6.7%

6.2% Accommodation & food +0.2 pts ▸ 6.3%

5.5% Manufacturing ◂ +3.8 pts 1.7%

5.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +3.8 pts 1.4%

4.6% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.5 pts 2.1%

3.4% Other services ◂ +0.5 pts 2.9%

3.2% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

25.8% Professionals +5.6 pts ▸ 31.4%

14.6% Managers +3.3 pts ▸ 17.9%

13.0% Clerical & administrative +1.5 pts ▸ 14.5%

11.9% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.2 pts 9.6%

10.6% Community & personal service +0.3 pts ▸ 10.9%

8.2% Labourers ◂ +3.2 pts 5.0%

8.0% Sales workers ◂ +1.9 pts 6.1%

6.0% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.6 pts 2.4%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +8,107,894 higher in New South Wales

8,592,524 484,630

Growth in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +1.0 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

6.1% 7.1%

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +393 higher in Australian Capital Territory

515 908

Max temp in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +5.5 higher in New South Wales

25.2 19.7

Min temp in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +4.0 higher in New South Wales

10.0 6.0

Walkability

Walk score in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +0.7 higher in Australian Capital Territory

6.2 6.9

Types ≤15 min in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +0.7 more in Australian Capital Territory

5.8 6.5

15-min city in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +10.1 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

71.9% 81.9%

Walk to shops in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +12.3 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

67.7% 80.0%

Walk to transit in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +11.8 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

85.7% 97.6%

Walk to school in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +9.4 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

76.0% 85.4%

Walk to a park in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +10.4 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

89.0% 99.4%

Walk to health in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +7.1 pts higher in Australian Capital Territory

57.1% 64.3%

Amenities/1k in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +4.5 more in Australian Capital Territory

14.7 19.2

Intersections/km² in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +43 higher in Australian Capital Territory

1 44

Mean slope in New South Wales in Australian Capital Territory +1.2 pts higher in New South Wales

6.8% 5.5%

Compare New South Wales with nearby areas

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

Compare Australian Capital Territory with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). New South Wales vs Australian Capital Territory [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ste/1/new-south-wales/vs/8/australian-capital-territory