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Wollongong vs Melbourne

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 632 km apart · Wollongong profile · Melbourne profile

Wollongong Melbourne

Melbourne and Wollongong are both large urban centres, but they differ sharply in their diversity and accessibility. Melbourne is far more multicultural, with 36.2% of people born overseas and 34.7% using a language other than English at home. It also has a more highly qualified workforce, with 33.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Melbourne is very walkable, meaning more homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services (73.9%) and groceries (82.9%).

Both areas share a very similar family life, with almost identical proportions of children under 15 and people living alone. They also have a similar typical weekly rent, sitting around $390 to $400. While Melbourne remains more walkable and diverse, Wollongong has a larger share of older residents (19.0%) and more people who own their homes outright (34.8%).

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Where they differ most

Population: 4,512,152 larger in Melbourne Other language: 21.0 pts higher in Melbourne Born overseas: 16.6 pts higher in Melbourne Year 12: 16.4 pts higher in Melbourne Housework 15h+: 3.9 pts higher in Wollongong

Demographics & Identity

Population in Wollongong in Melbourne +4,512,152 larger in Melbourne

305,691 86th pct 4,817,843 100th pct

Median age in Wollongong in Melbourne +2 yrs older in Wollongong

39 yrs 43rd pct 37 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

25.2% Young adults (25–44) +5.9 pts ▸ 31.1%

24.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.4 pts 23.5%

19.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.0 pts 15.0%

17.9% Children (0–14) +0.2 pts ▸ 18.1%

13.0% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.7 pts 12.3%

Marital status

45.8% Married +1.1 pts ▸ 46.9%

36.2% Never married +1.9 pts ▸ 38.1%

9.0% Divorced ◂ +1.4 pts 7.6%

5.8% Widowed ◂ +1.3 pts 4.5%

3.1% Separated ◂ +0.2 pts 2.9%

Age & sex structure

Wollongong Melbourne

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

76.3% Australia ◂ +16.8 pts 59.5%

0.9% India +4.2 pts ▸ 5.0%

3.9% England ◂ +1.2 pts 2.7%

0.7% China +2.8 pts ▸ 3.4%

0.4% Vietnam +1.5 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.1% New Zealand +0.6 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.6% Philippines +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.9% Italy +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.4% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Nepal +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Ancestry

37.0% English ◂ +11.8 pts 25.2%

35.8% Australian ◂ +12.7 pts 23.1%

10.1% Irish ◂ +1.9 pts 8.2%

9.8% Scottish ◂ +2.8 pts 7.0%

1.7% Chinese +6.8 pts ▸ 8.5%

5.5% Italian +1.1 pts ▸ 6.6%

1.1% Indian +4.3 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.9% German ◂ +1.1 pts 2.8%

1.5% Greek +2.0 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.5% Vietnamese +2.0 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.8% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.5%

1.0% Filipino +0.7 pts ▸ 1.7%

Language

Language used at home

81.7% English only ◂ +21.2 pts 60.5%

0.8% Mandarin +3.6 pts ▸ 4.4%

0.4% Vietnamese +2.0 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.6% Greek +1.5 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.1% Punjabi +1.9 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.1% Arabic +0.7 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.1% Italian +0.6 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.2% Cantonese +1.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.2% Hindi +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

51.3% Christianity ◂ +11.2 pts 40.1%

38.5% No religion ◂ +1.4 pts 37.1%

5.9% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 6.2%

2.1% Islam +3.2 pts ▸ 5.4%

0.7% Hinduism +3.5 pts ▸ 4.2%

1.0% Buddhism +2.9 pts ▸ 3.9%

0.4% Other religions +1.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.1% Judaism +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

50.7% Year 12 +16.4 pts ▸ 67.2%

26.5% Year 10 ◂ +17.1 pts 9.4%

11.2% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.0 pts 9.3%

5.9% Year 11 +2.6 pts ▸ 8.5%

Highest qualification level

22.9% Bachelor degree +9.7 pts ▸ 32.6%

32.2% Certificate III / IV ◂ +13.2 pts 19.0%

15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.2 pts ▸ 15.3%

8.8% Postgraduate degree +4.9 pts ▸ 13.7%

3.5% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.1 pts ▸ 4.6%

2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.8 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

17.7% Management & commerce +3.3 pts ▸ 21.0%

16.9% Engineering & related ◂ +4.6 pts 12.3%

12.5% Society & culture even 12.5%

10.4% Health ◂ +0.6 pts 9.8%

9.1% Education ◂ +1.7 pts 7.4%

6.5% Architecture & building ◂ +1.3 pts 5.2%

2.4% Information technology +2.9 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.9% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.4 pts 4.5%

3.7% Creative arts +1.2 pts ▸ 4.9%

2.7% Natural & physical sciences +1.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

1.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

Income

Personal income in Wollongong in Melbourne +$90 higher in Melbourne

$751 56th pct $841 82nd pct

Household income in Wollongong in Melbourne +$224 higher in Melbourne

$1,676 74th pct $1,900 87th pct

Family income in Wollongong in Melbourne +$139 higher in Melbourne

$2,104 78th pct $2,243 86th pct

Household income distribution

28.9% $1,500–$2,999 +2.0 pts ▸ 30.9%

26.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.3 pts 23.9%

17.0% Under $650 ◂ +3.0 pts 14.0%

11.0% $4,000 or more +3.2 pts ▸ 14.2%

10.8% $3,000–$3,999 +0.4 pts ▸ 11.1%

Personal income distribution

42.2% Under $650 ◂ +3.4 pts 38.8%

30.5% $650–$1,499 +0.1 pts ▸ 30.6%

17.8% $1,500–$2,999 +1.1 pts ▸ 18.9%

3.8% $3,000 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 5.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.4% Arthritis ◂ +3.5 pts 6.9%

10.2% Mental health ◂ +2.1 pts 8.1%

8.8% Other condition ◂ +1.1 pts 7.7%

8.7% Asthma ◂ +0.9 pts 7.8%

5.2% Diabetes ◂ +0.7 pts 4.5%

4.2% Heart disease ◂ +0.9 pts 3.3%

3.2% Cancer ◂ +0.7 pts 2.5%

2.1% Lung condition ◂ +1.0 pts 1.2%

1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.8%

0.9% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.6% None +6.0 pts ▸ 67.6%

20.7% One condition ◂ +2.8 pts 17.9%

6.8% Two conditions ◂ +1.7 pts 5.1%

3.7% Three or more ◂ +1.2 pts 2.4%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Wollongong in Melbourne +0.1 larger in Melbourne

2.5 71st pct 2.6 86th pct

Family composition

57.2% Couples with children +4.8 pts ▸ 62.0%

26.7% Couples without children ◂ +3.0 pts 23.8%

15.1% One-parent families ◂ +2.1 pts 12.9%

1.0% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

34.0% 2 people ◂ +2.7 pts 31.2%

25.1% 1 person ◂ +0.2 pts 24.9%

15.9% 4 people +1.3 pts ▸ 17.2%

15.8% 3 people +1.1 pts ▸ 16.9%

6.4% 5 people +0.1 pts ▸ 6.6%

2.8% 6 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Wollongong in Melbourne +$10 higher in Wollongong

$400 90th pct $390 88th pct

Mortgage in Wollongong in Melbourne +$167 higher in Wollongong

$2,167 95th pct $2,000 88th pct

People / bedroom in Wollongong in Melbourne +0.10 higher in Melbourne

0.80 57th pct 0.90 100th pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.0% Owned with a mortgage +3.8 pts ▸ 36.9%

34.8% Owned outright ◂ +5.2 pts 29.6%

29.3% Rented +1.2 pts ▸ 30.5%

1.6% Other tenure even 1.6%

1.3% Not stated +0.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

Types of homes

71.3% Separate house ◂ +4.0 pts 67.3%

12.9% Townhouse / semi-detached +3.5 pts ▸ 16.4%

14.8% Flat or apartment +1.0 pts ▸ 15.9%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

41.6% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.2 pts 39.4%

26.4% 4 bedrooms +0.4 pts ▸ 26.8%

19.1% 2 bedrooms +1.5 pts ▸ 20.6%

7.2% 5 or more ◂ +1.5 pts 5.7%

4.2% 1 bedroom +1.7 pts ▸ 5.9%

0.3% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

43.5% $350–$549 +7.5 pts ▸ 51.0%

20.3% $200–$349 +3.4 pts ▸ 23.7%

16.0% Under $200 ◂ +9.0 pts 7.0%

14.6% $550–$749 ◂ +4.6 pts 10.0%

2.4% $750 or more +2.3 pts ▸ 4.7%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.7% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +3.8 pts 34.8%

22.7% $1,000–$1,799 +2.5 pts ▸ 25.2%

20.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 20.5%

12.5% Under $1,000 +0.5 pts ▸ 13.0%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

50.7% Car (driver) ◂ +4.4 pts 46.3%

24.6% Worked at home +4.4 pts ▸ 29.0%

3.0% Car (passenger) +0.2 pts ▸ 3.2%

0.6% Train +1.5 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.8% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.4% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Bus even 0.6%

Motor vehicles per home

37.5% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.6 pts 36.9%

35.1% 1 vehicle +2.3 pts ▸ 37.5%

12.5% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.5 pts 11.0%

7.4% No vehicle +1.2 pts ▸ 8.7%

7.5% 4 or more ◂ +1.5 pts 5.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.3% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.7 pts 13.5%

10.5% Education & training ◂ +1.8 pts 8.7%

10.0% Construction ◂ +0.9 pts 9.1%

6.1% Professional & technical +3.6 pts ▸ 9.7%

9.0% Retail trade +0.4 pts ▸ 9.4%

7.3% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.9 pts 5.4%

6.9% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.8 pts 6.1%

6.0% Manufacturing +0.9 pts ▸ 6.9%

4.5% Transport & warehousing +0.4 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.3% Finance & insurance +1.4 pts ▸ 4.7%

3.8% Other services ◂ +0.3 pts 3.4%

3.1% Administrative & support +0.2 pts ▸ 3.3%

Occupations people work in

23.1% Professionals +3.9 pts ▸ 27.0%

14.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.7 pts 12.0%

11.3% Managers +2.5 pts ▸ 13.8%

13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +2.7 pts 10.5%

12.6% Clerical & administrative +0.2 pts ▸ 12.9%

8.7% Labourers ◂ +0.9 pts 7.8%

8.2% Sales workers +0.1 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.8 pts 5.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Wollongong in Melbourne +1.2 higher in Melbourne

5.9 84th pct 7.2 100th pct

Types ≤15 min in Wollongong in Melbourne +0.9 more in Melbourne

5.7 86th pct 6.7 99th pct

15-min city in Wollongong in Melbourne +12.8 pts higher in Melbourne

70.7% 85th pct 83.5% 98th pct

Walk to shops in Wollongong in Melbourne +22.1 pts higher in Melbourne

60.8% 70th pct 82.9% 100th pct

Walk to transit in Wollongong in Melbourne +2.1 pts higher in Wollongong

93.8% 91st pct 91.7% 84th pct

Walk to school in Wollongong in Melbourne +9.0 pts higher in Melbourne

79.0% 87th pct 88.0% 100th pct

Walk to a park in Wollongong in Melbourne +3.4 pts higher in Melbourne

94.5% 80th pct 97.9% 97th pct

Walk to health in Wollongong in Melbourne +32.4 pts higher in Melbourne

41.5% 57th pct 73.9% 100th pct

Amenities/1k in Wollongong in Melbourne +1.9 more in Melbourne

12.0 22nd pct 13.9 43rd pct

Intersections/km² in Wollongong in Melbourne +58 higher in Melbourne

47 85th pct 105 100th pct

Mean slope in Wollongong in Melbourne +2.2 pts higher in Wollongong

6.9% 83rd pct 4.7% 42nd pct

Compare Wollongong with nearby areas

Bowral - Mittagong Nowra - Bomaderry Sydney St Georges Basin - Sanctuary Point Ulladulla Central Coast Goulburn Lithgow Batemans Bay Morisset - Cooranbong Bathurst Newcastle - Maitland

Compare Melbourne with nearby areas

Warragul - Drouin Gisborne Bacchus Marsh Geelong Traralgon - Morwell Moe - Newborough Castlemaine Ballarat Shepparton - Mooroopna Bendigo Colac Sale

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Wollongong vs Melbourne [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/1036/wollongong/vs/2011/melbourne