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Ballarat vs Bendigo

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 96 km apart · Ballarat profile · Bendigo profile

Ballarat Bendigo

Ballarat and Bendigo are two large regional centres in Victoria, located about 96 km apart. Ballarat has a far higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, at 66.3% compared to 54.4% in Bendigo. Education levels also differ, with Year 12 completion well higher in Ballarat at 52.8% versus 48.9% in Bendigo. In contrast, Bendigo has a much higher share of separate houses, at 90.4% compared to 85.0% in Ballarat, and better access to public transport, with 89.3% of homes within a 10-minute walk compared to 81.6% in Ballarat.

Since 2011, the two areas have tracked apart in several key ways. The gap in Year 12 completion and the share of separate houses have both widened over the last decade. However, they remain very similar in other respects, including typical weekly personal incomes of around $744 and nearly identical shares of children and seniors. Both areas also sit well below the national figure for Year 12 completion.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 5.4 pts higher in Bendigo Limited English: 0.7 pts higher in Bendigo Recent movers: 2.5 pts higher in Ballarat Renting: 2.2 pts higher in Ballarat Year 12: 3.9 pts higher in Ballarat

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballarat in Bendigo +8,939 larger in Ballarat gap widening

111,973 74th pct 103,034 73rd pct

Median age in Ballarat in Bendigo +1 yrs older in Bendigo gap widening

38 yrs 29th pct 39 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

26.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +0.4 pts 25.8%

23.7% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.1 pts 23.6%

18.9% Seniors (65+) +0.8 pts ▸ 19.7%

18.8% Children (0–14) +0.1 pts ▸ 18.8%

12.5% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.4 pts 12.1%

Marital status

42.0% Married +0.9 pts ▸ 43.0%

38.7% Never married ◂ +1.2 pts 37.5%

9.5% Divorced +0.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

5.9% Widowed even 5.9%

3.8% Separated even 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Ballarat Bendigo

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

83.7% Australia +1.2 pts ▸ 84.8%

2.1% England ◂ +0.6 pts 1.6%

1.6% India ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

0.9% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.6% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.6% China ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.2% South Africa even 0.2%

0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Italy even 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

41.8% English +0.9 pts ▸ 42.7%

39.3% Australian +1.1 pts ▸ 40.4%

15.2% Irish ◂ +1.4 pts 13.7%

12.6% Scottish ◂ +0.8 pts 11.8%

4.4% German even 4.4%

2.7% Italian +0.4 pts ▸ 3.1%

2.8% Dutch ◂ +1.3 pts 1.5%

1.8% Indian ◂ +0.4 pts 1.3%

1.7% Chinese ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

0.8% Filipino even 0.8%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

88.0% English only ◂ +0.5 pts 87.5%

0.9% Mandarin ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.7% Punjabi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.3% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.2% Arabic even 0.2%

0.2% Italian even 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.1% Greek even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.1% No religion ◂ +0.8 pts 47.3%

41.9% Christianity +0.7 pts ▸ 42.6%

6.4% Not stated +0.2 pts ▸ 6.6%

0.8% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.2% Hinduism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

1.0% Other religions ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.7% Islam even 0.7%

0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

52.8% Year 12 ◂ +3.9 pts 48.9%

15.9% Year 10 +1.8 pts ▸ 17.7%

13.7% Year 11 +0.2 pts ▸ 13.9%

11.2% Year 9 or below +1.4 pts ▸ 12.7%

Highest qualification level

30.0% Certificate III / IV +2.6 pts ▸ 32.6%

24.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +2.0 pts 22.5%

15.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.2 pts ▸ 15.1%

8.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.0 pts 6.2%

5.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.3 pts 5.1%

2.1% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.2%

Field of qualification

15.2% Management & commerce ◂ +1.3 pts 13.9%

13.5% Health +1.4 pts ▸ 14.9%

13.3% Society & culture ◂ +0.2 pts 13.0%

11.3% Engineering & related +1.1 pts ▸ 12.4%

10.9% Education ◂ +0.4 pts 10.5%

5.9% Architecture & building +0.3 pts ▸ 6.2%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.2 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +1.2 pts 2.9%

2.7% Information technology ◂ +0.6 pts 2.1%

2.1% Agriculture & environment +0.3 pts ▸ 2.4%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.4 pts 1.9%

Income

Personal income in Ballarat in Bendigo even gap steady

$743 53rd pct $744 54th pct

Household income in Ballarat in Bendigo +$8 higher in Bendigo gap steady

$1,427 50th pct $1,435 51st pct

Family income in Ballarat in Bendigo +$12 higher in Ballarat gap steady

$1,869 54th pct $1,857 53rd pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $650–$1,499 +0.1 pts ▸ 31.0%

29.0% $1,500–$2,999 +1.0 pts ▸ 30.0%

18.4% Under $650 ◂ +0.5 pts 17.9%

8.4% $3,000–$3,999 +0.2 pts ▸ 8.6%

7.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 6.3%

Personal income distribution

41.7% Under $650 ◂ +0.2 pts 41.5%

33.2% $650–$1,499 +0.6 pts ▸ 33.9%

15.3% $1,500–$2,999 even 15.4%

3.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 2.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

13.2% Mental health ◂ +0.1 pts 13.0%

10.5% Arthritis +1.1 pts ▸ 11.6%

11.4% Asthma ◂ +0.7 pts 10.7%

9.7% Other condition ◂ +0.3 pts 9.4%

5.2% Diabetes ◂ +0.2 pts 5.0%

4.6% Heart disease even 4.7%

3.4% Cancer even 3.5%

2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 2.1%

1.2% Stroke even 1.2%

0.8% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.2% None ◂ +0.3 pts 56.9%

22.9% One condition ◂ +0.3 pts 22.5%

8.0% Two conditions even 8.0%

4.1% Three or more +0.2 pts ▸ 4.4%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Ballarat in Bendigo even gap narrowing

2.4 43rd pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

53.5% Couples with children ◂ +0.1 pts 53.4%

27.7% Couples without children ◂ +0.1 pts 27.7%

17.6% One-parent families +0.1 pts ▸ 17.7%

1.1% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

34.1% 2 people +0.1 pts ▸ 34.3%

30.4% 1 person ◂ +0.6 pts 29.7%

14.3% 3 people +0.3 pts ▸ 14.6%

13.4% 4 people ◂ +0.2 pts 13.1%

5.7% 5 people ◂ +0.1 pts 5.7%

2.2% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 2.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballarat in Bendigo +$5 higher in Ballarat gap steady

$300 48th pct $295 43rd pct

Mortgage in Ballarat in Bendigo +$65 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$1,473 41st pct $1,408 36th pct

People / bedroom in Ballarat in Bendigo even gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.9% Owned with a mortgage +1.4 pts ▸ 34.3%

32.4% Owned outright +1.0 pts ▸ 33.4%

31.9% Rented ◂ +2.2 pts 29.8%

1.4% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

1.4% Not stated even 1.3%

Types of homes

85.0% Separate house +5.4 pts ▸ 90.4%

12.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +4.0 pts 8.1%

2.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.5 pts 1.1%

0.2% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

47.3% 3 bedrooms +0.9 pts ▸ 48.2%

28.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +0.4 pts 28.2%

15.8% 2 bedrooms +0.2 pts ▸ 16.0%

3.7% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.2% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.8 pts 2.4%

0.1% Studio / none even 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

53.8% $200–$349 +1.1 pts ▸ 54.9%

26.6% $350–$549 ◂ +0.9 pts 25.8%

15.3% Under $200 ◂ +0.1 pts 15.2%

0.8% $550–$749 +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% $750 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

45.1% $1,000–$1,799 +2.2 pts ▸ 47.3%

22.7% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 20.5%

21.1% Under $1,000 +0.5 pts ▸ 21.6%

6.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 5.5%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

61.6% Car (driver) +2.2 pts ▸ 63.8%

15.4% Worked at home ◂ +2.2 pts 13.1%

4.8% Car (passenger) +0.1 pts ▸ 4.9%

2.4% Walked even 2.3%

0.5% Bus +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.3% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

38.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.6 pts 36.5%

37.6% 2 vehicles +0.5 pts ▸ 38.1%

11.8% 3 vehicles +1.0 pts ▸ 12.7%

6.3% 4 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 7.0%

6.1% No vehicle ◂ +0.5 pts 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

19.2% Health care & social assistance +0.5 pts ▸ 19.7%

10.9% Education & training ◂ +2.0 pts 8.9%

10.1% Retail trade ◂ +0.1 pts 10.0%

9.5% Construction ◂ +0.4 pts 9.2%

7.2% Manufacturing +1.1 pts ▸ 8.3%

7.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.1 pts 7.2%

6.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.2 pts 6.3%

5.4% Professional & technical ◂ +1.2 pts 4.2%

3.5% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.7% Finance & insurance +1.8 pts ▸ 3.5%

3.4% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.3 pts 3.1%

2.7% Administrative & support +0.1 pts ▸ 2.9%

Occupations people work in

22.8% Professionals ◂ +0.7 pts 22.1%

13.8% Community & personal service even 13.8%

13.8% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.4 pts 13.4%

12.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.6 pts 11.8%

9.9% Labourers +2.0 pts ▸ 11.8%

11.2% Managers ◂ +0.8 pts 10.4%

9.5% Sales workers ◂ +0.3 pts 9.2%

5.2% Machinery operators & drivers +0.7 pts ▸ 5.9%

Walkability

Walk score in Ballarat in Bendigo +0.1 higher in Ballarat

5.8 79th pct 5.7 76th pct

Types ≤15 min in Ballarat in Bendigo +0.1 more in Ballarat

5.6 84th pct 5.5 79th pct

15-min city in Ballarat in Bendigo +3.8 pts higher in Ballarat

66.4% 76th pct 62.6% 68th pct

Walk to shops in Ballarat in Bendigo +11.8 pts higher in Ballarat

66.3% 78th pct 54.4% 51st pct

Walk to transit in Ballarat in Bendigo +7.7 pts higher in Bendigo

81.6% 45th pct 89.3% 76th pct

Walk to school in Ballarat in Bendigo +0.3 pts higher in Bendigo

72.6% 73rd pct 73.0% 74th pct

Walk to a park in Ballarat in Bendigo +0.2 pts higher in Ballarat

95.8% 88th pct 95.5% 86th pct

Walk to health in Ballarat in Bendigo +0.3 pts higher in Ballarat

49.9% 75th pct 49.6% 74th pct

Amenities/1k in Ballarat in Bendigo +3.3 more in Bendigo

16.1 58th pct 19.4 73rd pct

Intersections/km² in Ballarat in Bendigo +7 higher in Bendigo

74 96th pct 81 99th pct

Mean slope in Ballarat in Bendigo +0.1 pts higher in Ballarat

4.8% 44th pct 4.7% 43rd pct

Compare Ballarat with nearby areas

Castlemaine Bacchus Marsh Geelong Gisborne Colac Bendigo Not in any Significant Urban Area Melbourne Warrnambool Echuca - Moama Horsham Shepparton - Mooroopna

Compare Bendigo with nearby areas

Castlemaine Gisborne Echuca - Moama Ballarat Bacchus Marsh Not in any Significant Urban Area Shepparton - Mooroopna Geelong Melbourne Swan Hill Colac Horsham

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Ballarat vs Bendigo [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/2003/ballarat/vs/2004/bendigo