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Ballarat vs Colac

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 93 km apart · Ballarat profile · Colac profile

Ballarat Colac

Ballarat and Colac are two Victorian centres with different social and economic profiles. Ballarat has a much more qualified workforce, with 23.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 52.8% having completed Year 12, compared to 11.4% and 39.8% in Colac. This is consistent with a higher share of professionals working in Ballarat. In contrast, Colac has a far higher proportion of recent overseas arrivals at 30.7%, compared to 15.5% in Ballarat. Residents in Colac also tend to be older, with a typical age of 42 and a higher share of people aged 65 and over.

Since 2011, the gaps between these two areas have shifted in several ways. The difference in education levels has widened, while the gap in typical age has narrowed. They do share some common ground, such as very similar rates of volunteering and a nearly identical number of people per home. Both areas also have a similar share of people using another language at home, and both sit around the national figure for the percentage of residents who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

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Where they differ most

Population: 99,217 larger in Ballarat Bachelor+: 11.9 pts higher in Ballarat Recent arrivals: 15.3 pts higher in Colac Recent movers: 7.9 pts higher in Ballarat Year 12: 13.0 pts higher in Ballarat

Demographics & Identity

Population in Ballarat in Colac +99,217 larger in Ballarat gap widening

111,973 74th pct 12,756 12th pct

Median age in Ballarat in Colac +4 yrs older in Colac gap narrowing

38 yrs 29th pct 42 yrs 57th pct

Age structure

26.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +2.1 pts 24.1%

18.9% Seniors (65+) +5.2 pts ▸ 24.1%

23.7% Older adults (45–64) +0.1 pts ▸ 23.9%

18.8% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.7 pts 17.0%

12.5% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.6 pts 10.8%

Marital status

42.0% Married +0.2 pts ▸ 42.3%

38.7% Never married ◂ +2.0 pts 36.7%

9.5% Divorced +0.2 pts ▸ 9.7%

5.9% Widowed +2.0 pts ▸ 7.9%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Ballarat Colac

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

83.7% Australia +1.1 pts ▸ 84.7%

2.1% England ◂ +0.8 pts 1.3%

1.6% India ◂ +1.2 pts 0.5%

0.6% China +0.7 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.9% New Zealand +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.6% Philippines even 0.6%

0.1% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

41.8% English ◂ +1.4 pts 40.4%

39.3% Australian +2.3 pts ▸ 41.7%

15.2% Irish ◂ +0.5 pts 14.7%

12.6% Scottish ◂ +0.3 pts 12.3%

4.4% German ◂ +1.1 pts 3.3%

2.7% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.8% Dutch ◂ +1.2 pts 1.6%

1.7% Chinese +0.5 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.8% Indian ◂ +1.2 pts 0.5%

0.8% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.5% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

88.0% English only ◂ +0.2 pts 87.8%

0.9% Mandarin +1.4 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.7% Punjabi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

0.2% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Hindi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.1% No religion ◂ +3.4 pts 44.7%

41.9% Christianity +4.7 pts ▸ 46.6%

6.4% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 6.8%

1.2% Hinduism ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

1.0% Other religions ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

0.8% Buddhism even 0.7%

0.7% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

52.8% Year 12 ◂ +13.0 pts 39.8%

15.9% Year 10 +3.5 pts ▸ 19.3%

11.2% Year 9 or below +6.5 pts ▸ 17.7%

13.7% Year 11 +2.9 pts ▸ 16.6%

Highest qualification level

30.0% Certificate III / IV +11.2 pts ▸ 41.2%

24.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +8.2 pts 16.3%

15.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.1 pts ▸ 15.1%

8.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +4.9 pts 3.3%

5.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.5 pts 2.8%

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

Field of qualification

15.2% Management & commerce ◂ +2.5 pts 12.7%

11.3% Engineering & related +2.2 pts ▸ 13.5%

13.5% Health ◂ +2.7 pts 10.8%

13.3% Society & culture +0.1 pts ▸ 13.3%

10.9% Education ◂ +1.0 pts 9.9%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.6 pts ▸ 7.9%

5.9% Architecture & building +0.6 pts ▸ 6.5%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +2.0 pts 2.1%

2.1% Agriculture & environment +1.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.7% Information technology ◂ +1.7 pts 1.1%

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

Income

Personal income in Ballarat in Colac +$42 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$743 53rd pct $701 40th pct

Household income in Ballarat in Colac +$177 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$1,427 50th pct $1,250 27th pct

Family income in Ballarat in Colac +$168 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$1,869 54th pct $1,701 35th pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $650–$1,499 +1.5 pts ▸ 32.4%

29.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.0 pts 28.0%

18.4% Under $650 +4.1 pts ▸ 22.5%

8.4% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.4 pts 6.0%

7.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.8 pts 4.5%

Personal income distribution

41.7% Under $650 +2.2 pts ▸ 43.9%

33.2% $650–$1,499 +4.4 pts ▸ 37.6%

15.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.8 pts 10.5%

3.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 1.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

13.2% Mental health ◂ +3.2 pts 10.0%

10.5% Arthritis +1.2 pts ▸ 11.6%

11.4% Asthma ◂ +2.3 pts 9.1%

9.7% Other condition ◂ +1.7 pts 7.9%

5.2% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 5.9%

4.6% Heart disease +0.4 pts ▸ 5.0%

3.4% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 3.4%

2.4% Lung condition even 2.4%

1.2% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.8% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.2% None +1.0 pts ▸ 58.2%

22.9% One condition ◂ +0.8 pts 22.0%

8.0% Two conditions ◂ +0.6 pts 7.4%

4.1% Three or more even 4.1%

Community Participation

Family & Households

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

2.4 43rd pct 2.3 14th pct

Family composition

53.5% Couples with children ◂ +1.4 pts 52.1%

27.7% Couples without children +2.6 pts ▸ 30.3%

17.6% One-parent families ◂ +1.7 pts 16.0%

1.1% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

Household size

30.4% 1 person +3.9 pts ▸ 34.3%

34.1% 2 people ◂ +0.9 pts 33.2%

14.3% 3 people ◂ +1.6 pts 12.7%

13.4% 4 people ◂ +1.9 pts 11.4%

5.7% 5 people +0.1 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.2% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 2.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Ballarat in Colac +$40 higher in Ballarat gap widening

$300 48th pct $260 22nd pct

Mortgage in Ballarat in Colac +$173 higher in Ballarat gap narrowing

$1,473 41st pct $1,300 29th pct

People / bedroom in Ballarat in Colac even gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.4% Owned outright +7.4 pts ▸ 39.8%

32.9% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.9 pts 31.0%

31.9% Rented ◂ +6.1 pts 25.8%

1.4% Not stated +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.4% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

85.0% Separate house +3.1 pts ▸ 88.1%

12.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +1.4 pts 10.7%

2.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%

0.2% Other dwelling +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

Bedrooms per home

47.3% 3 bedrooms +5.5 pts ▸ 52.8%

28.6% 4 bedrooms ◂ +5.0 pts 23.5%

15.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +1.3 pts 14.4%

3.2% 1 bedroom +0.6 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.7% 5 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 3.2%

0.1% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

53.8% $200–$349 +1.2 pts ▸ 55.0%

26.6% $350–$549 ◂ +9.2 pts 17.5%

15.3% Under $200 +5.9 pts ▸ 21.2%

0.8% $550–$749 ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.4% $750 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

45.1% $1,000–$1,799 +4.3 pts ▸ 49.4%

21.1% Under $1,000 +3.9 pts ▸ 25.0%

22.7% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +6.4 pts 16.3%

6.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.3 pts 3.9%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

61.6% Car (driver) +6.2 pts ▸ 67.8%

15.4% Worked at home ◂ +9.2 pts 6.2%

4.8% Car (passenger) +1.6 pts ▸ 6.4%

2.4% Walked +2.2 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.6% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.3% Train ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

38.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.6 pts 37.5%

37.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.8 pts 35.8%

11.8% 3 vehicles +0.4 pts ▸ 12.2%

6.1% No vehicle +1.6 pts ▸ 7.8%

6.3% 4 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 6.7%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

7.2% Manufacturing +12.6 pts ▸ 19.8%

19.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.8 pts 14.4%

10.9% Education & training ◂ +4.0 pts 6.8%

10.1% Retail trade +0.1 pts ▸ 10.2%

9.5% Construction ◂ +1.4 pts 8.2%

7.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.8 pts 6.5%

6.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.4 pts 4.0%

1.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +4.1 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.4% Professional & technical ◂ +2.6 pts 2.8%

3.5% Other services +0.4 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.7% Administrative & support +1.0 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.4% Transport & warehousing even 3.4%

Occupations people work in

22.8% Professionals ◂ +11.4 pts 11.4%

9.9% Labourers +12.9 pts ▸ 22.8%

13.8% Technicians & trades +0.5 pts ▸ 14.3%

13.8% Community & personal service ◂ +0.3 pts 13.5%

12.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.5 pts 8.8%

11.2% Managers ◂ +1.5 pts 9.7%

9.5% Sales workers ◂ +0.4 pts 9.1%

5.2% Machinery operators & drivers +3.1 pts ▸ 8.3%

Walkability

Walk score in Ballarat in Colac even

5.8 79th pct 5.8 80th pct

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

5.6 84th pct 5.8 86th pct

15-min city in Ballarat in Colac +5.1 pts higher in Colac

66.4% 76th pct 71.5% 86th pct

Walk to shops in Ballarat in Colac +8.5 pts higher in Colac

66.3% 78th pct 74.8% 90th pct

Walk to transit in Ballarat in Colac +4.8 pts higher in Colac

81.6% 45th pct 86.4% 64th pct

Walk to school in Ballarat in Colac +9.4 pts higher in Colac

72.6% 73rd pct 82.0% 91st pct

Walk to a park in Ballarat in Colac +4.5 pts higher in Ballarat

95.8% 88th pct 91.3% 59th pct

Walk to health in Ballarat in Colac +1.9 pts higher in Colac

49.9% 75th pct 51.8% 80th pct

Amenities/1k in Ballarat in Colac +0.4 more in Ballarat

16.1 58th pct 15.7 55th pct

Intersections/km² in Ballarat in Colac +56 higher in Ballarat

74 96th pct 18 46th pct

Mean slope in Ballarat in Colac +1.4 pts higher in Ballarat

4.8% 44th pct 3.4% 18th 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 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). Ballarat vs Colac [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/2003/ballarat/vs/2006/colac