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Ballina vs Colac

Name: Ballina vs Colac — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Urban Area comparison ≈ 1,397 km apart · Ballina profile · Colac profile

Ballina Colac

Ballina and Colac are two distant regional hubs with very different social and economic profiles. Ballina has a much more highly qualified workforce, with 22.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher compared to 11.4% in Colac. This is consistent with more people working from home in Ballina (16.7% versus 6.2%) and a higher share of people earning $2,000 or more a week. Living costs are also far higher in Ballina, where the typical weekly rent is $420, while Colac is much lower at $260. Conversely, Colac has seen a huge increase in recent arrivals from overseas, at 30.7% compared to just 9.1% in Ballina.

Everyday life in both places shares many similarities, including nearly identical unemployment rates and a similar proportion of people caring for children. Despite these commonalities, some gaps are widening; residents in Ballina are now noticeably older than those in Colac by six years, a gap that has grown since 2011. Colac also offers better local access to basics, with a far higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of schools (82.0% versus 55.3%) and groceries (74.8% versus 57.4%).

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Where they differ most

Recent arrivals: 21.7 pts higher in Colac Population: 33,434 larger in Ballina Rent: $160 higher in Ballina Limited English: 1.8 pts higher in Colac Bachelor+: 11.3 pts higher in Ballina

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballina in Colac +33,434 larger in Ballina gap widening

46,190 60th pct 12,756 12th pct

Median age in Ballina in Colac +6 yrs older in Ballina gap widening

48 yrs 87th pct 42 yrs 57th pct

Age structure

27.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.0 pts 24.1%

26.8% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.9 pts 23.9%

20.6% Young adults (25–44) +3.5 pts ▸ 24.1%

16.3% Children (0–14) +0.8 pts ▸ 17.0%

9.3% Youth (15–24) +1.5 pts ▸ 10.8%

Marital status

46.1% Married ◂ +3.9 pts 42.3%

32.0% Never married +4.7 pts ▸ 36.7%

11.2% Divorced ◂ +1.5 pts 9.7%

7.3% Widowed +0.5 pts ▸ 7.9%

3.3% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Ballina Colac

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

81.5% Australia +3.3 pts ▸ 84.7%

3.7% England ◂ +2.3 pts 1.3%

1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.8 pts 0.9%

0.1% China +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.4% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.4% India +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

44.5% English ◂ +4.1 pts 40.4%

39.3% Australian +2.4 pts ▸ 41.7%

14.4% Irish +0.3 pts ▸ 14.7%

12.5% Scottish ◂ +0.3 pts 12.3%

4.6% German ◂ +1.3 pts 3.3%

3.3% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 2.9%

0.8% Chinese +1.4 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.5% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.6% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Indian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

89.8% English only ◂ +2.0 pts 87.8%

0.1% Mandarin +2.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.3% Italian even 0.3%

0.1% Arabic +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Punjabi even 0.2%

0.1% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.1% Hindi even 0.1%

0.1% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

47.6% Christianity ◂ +1.0 pts 46.6%

42.9% No religion +1.7 pts ▸ 44.7%

7.2% Not stated ◂ +0.4 pts 6.8%

1.1% Buddhism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.6% Other religions ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.1% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Hinduism even 0.4%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

49.3% Year 12 ◂ +9.5 pts 39.8%

27.0% Year 10 ◂ +7.7 pts 19.3%

10.2% Year 9 or below +7.5 pts ▸ 17.7%

6.6% Year 11 +10.0 pts ▸ 16.6%

Highest qualification level

29.2% Certificate III / IV +12.0 pts ▸ 41.2%

24.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +8.6 pts 16.3%

15.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.8 pts 15.1%

6.4% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.1 pts 3.3%

3.8% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.0 pts 2.8%

1.9% Certificate I / II +0.3 pts ▸ 2.2%

Field of qualification

16.3% Management & commerce ◂ +3.7 pts 12.7%

11.3% Engineering & related +2.2 pts ▸ 13.5%

11.4% Society & culture +1.9 pts ▸ 13.3%

12.9% Health ◂ +2.1 pts 10.8%

11.4% Education ◂ +1.5 pts 9.9%

5.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.5 pts ▸ 7.9%

6.7% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 6.5%

3.9% Creative arts ◂ +1.8 pts 2.1%

3.4% Agriculture & environment even 3.4%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 1.5%

1.1% Information technology even 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Ballina in Colac +$36 higher in Ballina gap widening

$737 52nd pct $701 40th pct

Household income in Ballina in Colac +$179 higher in Ballina gap widening

$1,429 50th pct $1,250 27th pct

Family income in Ballina in Colac +$147 higher in Ballina gap steady

$1,848 52nd pct $1,701 35th pct

Household income distribution

30.6% $650–$1,499 +1.8 pts ▸ 32.4%

27.9% $1,500–$2,999 +0.1 pts ▸ 28.0%

18.1% Under $650 +4.4 pts ▸ 22.5%

8.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.8 pts 4.5%

8.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.1 pts 6.0%

Personal income distribution

41.3% Under $650 +2.5 pts ▸ 43.9%

33.6% $650–$1,499 +4.0 pts ▸ 37.6%

14.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.8 pts 10.5%

3.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 1.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.9% Arthritis +0.8 pts ▸ 11.6%

10.0% Mental health even 10.0%

8.1% Asthma +0.9 pts ▸ 9.1%

8.5% Other condition ◂ +0.5 pts 7.9%

4.3% Diabetes +1.6 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.6 pts 5.0%

4.0% Cancer ◂ +0.6 pts 3.4%

2.5% Lung condition ◂ +0.1 pts 2.4%

1.5% Stroke even 1.4%

1.1% Dementia even 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.4% None ◂ +1.2 pts 58.2%

21.5% One condition +0.6 pts ▸ 22.0%

7.2% Two conditions +0.3 pts ▸ 7.4%

3.9% Three or more +0.2 pts ▸ 4.1%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Ballina in Colac +0.1 larger in Ballina gap narrowing

2.4 43rd pct 2.3 14th pct

Family composition

49.9% Couples with children +2.3 pts ▸ 52.1%

33.9% Couples without children ◂ +3.6 pts 30.3%

15.2% One-parent families +0.7 pts ▸ 16.0%

1.0% Other families +0.5 pts ▸ 1.4%

Household size

38.2% 2 people ◂ +5.0 pts 33.2%

28.2% 1 person +6.0 pts ▸ 34.3%

13.9% 3 people ◂ +1.2 pts 12.7%

12.4% 4 people ◂ +1.0 pts 11.4%

5.1% 5 people +0.8 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.2% 6 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 2.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballina in Colac +$160 higher in Ballina gap widening

$420 94th pct $260 22nd pct

Mortgage in Ballina in Colac +$650 higher in Ballina gap widening

$1,950 86th pct $1,300 29th pct

People / bedroom in Ballina in Colac +0.10 higher in Ballina gap widening

0.80 57th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.3% Owned outright ◂ +1.5 pts 39.8%

27.0% Owned with a mortgage +4.0 pts ▸ 31.0%

26.7% Rented ◂ +0.9 pts 25.8%

3.1% Other tenure ◂ +1.9 pts 1.3%

1.8% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 2.1%

Types of homes

71.7% Separate house +16.4 pts ▸ 88.1%

20.7% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +10.0 pts 10.7%

5.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +5.0 pts 0.0%

2.2% Other dwelling ◂ +1.1 pts 1.1%

Bedrooms per home

40.9% 3 bedrooms +11.9 pts ▸ 52.8%

26.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.1 pts 23.5%

20.3% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.8 pts 14.4%

6.5% 5 or more ◂ +3.2 pts 3.2%

3.7% 1 bedroom +0.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

0.4% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

19.6% $200–$349 +35.4 pts ▸ 55.0%

40.4% $350–$549 ◂ +22.9 pts 17.5%

11.5% Under $200 +9.7 pts ▸ 21.2%

20.9% $550–$749 ◂ +20.6 pts 0.4%

4.0% $750 or more ◂ +4.0 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

26.3% $1,000–$1,799 +23.1 pts ▸ 49.4%

33.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +17.6 pts 16.3%

15.8% Under $1,000 +9.2 pts ▸ 25.0%

17.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +13.4 pts 3.9%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

59.0% Car (driver) +8.8 pts ▸ 67.8%

16.7% Worked at home ◂ +10.5 pts 6.2%

3.6% Car (passenger) +2.9 pts ▸ 6.4%

2.8% Walked +1.8 pts ▸ 4.5%

1.1% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%

0.3% Bus ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.0% Train even 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

39.1% 2 vehicles ◂ +3.3 pts 35.8%

37.1% 1 vehicle +0.5 pts ▸ 37.5%

12.3% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.1 pts 12.2%

4.9% No vehicle +2.9 pts ▸ 7.8%

6.6% 4 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 6.7%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

4.1% Manufacturing +15.7 pts ▸ 19.8%

18.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.2 pts 14.4%

10.7% Education & training ◂ +3.8 pts 6.8%

10.5% Retail trade ◂ +0.3 pts 10.2%

10.2% Construction ◂ +2.0 pts 8.2%

8.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.3 pts 6.5%

5.8% Professional & technical ◂ +3.0 pts 2.8%

4.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +1.5 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.2% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.2 pts 4.0%

3.8% Other services even 3.8%

3.3% Administrative & support +0.4 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.6% Transport & warehousing +0.8 pts ▸ 3.4%

Occupations people work in

10.0% Labourers +12.7 pts ▸ 22.8%

22.6% Professionals ◂ +11.1 pts 11.4%

13.8% Technicians & trades +0.6 pts ▸ 14.3%

13.9% Managers ◂ +4.2 pts 9.7%

13.5% Community & personal service even 13.5%

11.0% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.2 pts 8.8%

9.6% Sales workers ◂ +0.6 pts 9.1%

4.1% Machinery operators & drivers +4.2 pts ▸ 8.3%

Walkability

Walk score in Ballina in Colac +0.8 higher in Colac

5.0 51st pct 5.8 80th pct

Types ≤15 min in Ballina in Colac +1.0 more in Colac

4.7 48th pct 5.8 86th pct

15-min city in Ballina in Colac +18.7 pts higher in Colac

52.8% 48th pct 71.5% 86th pct

Walk to shops in Ballina in Colac +17.3 pts higher in Colac

57.4% 60th pct 74.8% 90th pct

Walk to transit in Ballina in Colac +7.9 pts higher in Colac

78.5% 39th pct 86.4% 64th pct

Walk to school in Ballina in Colac +26.6 pts higher in Colac

55.3% 29th pct 82.0% 91st pct

Walk to a park in Ballina in Colac +3.8 pts higher in Colac

87.6% 43rd pct 91.3% 59th pct

Walk to health in Ballina in Colac +12.3 pts higher in Colac

39.5% 46th pct 51.8% 80th pct

Amenities/1k in Ballina in Colac +8.6 more in Ballina

24.3 86th pct 15.7 55th pct

Intersections/km² in Ballina in Colac +7 higher in Colac

11 28th pct 18 46th pct

Mean slope in Ballina in Colac +2.1 pts higher in Ballina

5.5% 58th pct 3.4% 18th pct

Compare Ballina with nearby areas

Lismore Byron Bay Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Grafton Brisbane Coffs Harbour Warwick Toowoomba Kempsey Armidale Sunshine Coast Port Macquarie

Compare Colac with nearby areas

Ballarat Geelong Warrnambool Bacchus Marsh Gisborne Castlemaine Bendigo Melbourne Not in any Significant Urban Area Portland Horsham Warragul - Drouin

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballina vs Colac [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1003/ballina/vs/2006/colac