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Brisbane vs Toowoomba

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 114 km apart · Brisbane profile · Toowoomba profile

Brisbane Toowoomba

Brisbane and Toowoomba are two major Queensland hubs with distinct social profiles. Brisbane is far more international, with 27.6% of people born overseas compared to 15.1% in Toowoomba. It is also a more walkable area, where 84.9% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport and the walkability score is very walkable. In contrast, Toowoomba has a higher share of recent overseas arrivals at 25.2% and a higher proportion of people aged 65 and over at 18.7%.

Since 2011, these two areas have tracked in opposite directions across many measures. While the gap in Year 12 completion has flipped to be far higher in Brisbane, the share of people working from home has also widened, with Brisbane now at 17.6% and Toowoomba at 7.2%. Despite these shifting trends, the two areas remain very similar in some ways. They share a nearly identical typical resident age of 36 to 37 and have almost the same proportion of children under 15.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,305,117 larger in Brisbane PT commute: 4.4 pts higher in Brisbane People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Brisbane Born overseas: 12.5 pts higher in Brisbane Work from home: 10.4 pts higher in Brisbane

Demographics & Identity

Population in Brisbane in Toowoomba +2,305,117 larger in Brisbane gap widening

2,447,280 93rd pct 142,163 76th pct

Median age in Brisbane in Toowoomba +1 yrs older in Toowoomba gap narrowing

36 yrs 14th pct 37 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

29.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +4.0 pts 25.4%

23.7% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.6 pts 23.1%

19.2% Children (0–14) +0.5 pts ▸ 19.8%

14.5% Seniors (65+) +4.2 pts ▸ 18.7%

13.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.1 pts 13.1%

Marital status

44.9% Married +2.5 pts ▸ 47.4%

38.7% Never married ◂ +4.3 pts 34.4%

8.8% Divorced +0.2 pts ▸ 9.0%

4.2% Widowed +1.4 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.4% Separated +0.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Brisbane Toowoomba

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.0% Australia +12.3 pts ▸ 80.3%

4.5% New Zealand ◂ +3.0 pts 1.4%

3.8% England ◂ +1.9 pts 1.9%

2.1% India ◂ +0.7 pts 1.4%

1.7% China ◂ +1.3 pts 0.4%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

1.1% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%

0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.3% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

36.3% English +2.7 pts ▸ 38.9%

31.3% Australian +6.4 pts ▸ 37.7%

11.1% Irish +1.8 pts ▸ 12.9%

10.1% Scottish +1.1 pts ▸ 11.1%

5.5% German +5.0 pts ▸ 10.5%

4.8% Chinese ◂ +3.3 pts 1.5%

2.8% Indian ◂ +1.4 pts 1.4%

2.8% Italian ◂ +1.1 pts 1.7%

1.6% Filipino ◂ +0.4 pts 1.2%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.4%

1.2% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

0.8% Greek ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

77.0% English only +8.0 pts ▸ 85.0%

2.6% Mandarin ◂ +1.8 pts 0.8%

1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%

0.9% Punjabi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

0.5% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.4% Italian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.2% Christianity +10.8 pts ▸ 55.0%

42.0% No religion ◂ +9.1 pts 32.8%

6.6% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 6.4%

1.2% Other religions +1.0 pts ▸ 2.3%

2.1% Hinduism ◂ +0.6 pts 1.5%

1.9% Buddhism ◂ +1.0 pts 1.0%

1.9% Islam ◂ +0.9 pts 1.0%

0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

64.6% Year 12 ◂ +10.3 pts 54.3%

17.1% Year 10 +6.4 pts ▸ 23.5%

7.1% Year 9 or below +3.4 pts ▸ 10.4%

5.6% Year 11 +0.3 pts ▸ 5.9%

Highest qualification level

26.2% Certificate III / IV +6.8 pts ▸ 33.0%

28.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +5.1 pts 23.4%

15.3% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.5 pts 14.8%

10.0% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.8 pts 7.2%

4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

2.1% Certificate I / II +0.7 pts ▸ 2.8%

Field of qualification

20.9% Management & commerce ◂ +4.0 pts 16.8%

13.7% Engineering & related +0.5 pts ▸ 14.2%

10.9% Health +2.5 pts ▸ 13.4%

12.8% Society & culture ◂ +0.5 pts 12.3%

7.5% Education +2.7 pts ▸ 10.2%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.9 pts ▸ 5.8%

5.3% Architecture & building ◂ +0.1 pts 5.2%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +1.6 pts 2.4%

3.5% Information technology ◂ +1.6 pts 1.9%

3.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.1 pts 1.9%

1.4% Agriculture & environment +1.5 pts ▸ 2.9%

Income

Personal income in Brisbane in Toowoomba +$85 higher in Brisbane gap narrowing

$851 84th pct $766 62nd pct

Household income in Brisbane in Toowoomba +$366 higher in Brisbane gap narrowing

$1,870 86th pct $1,504 58th pct

Family income in Brisbane in Toowoomba +$285 higher in Brisbane gap narrowing

$2,195 85th pct $1,910 58th pct

Household income distribution

31.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.6 pts 30.7%

25.0% $650–$1,499 +4.8 pts ▸ 29.8%

13.3% Under $650 +3.3 pts ▸ 16.6%

13.1% $4,000 or more ◂ +5.7 pts 7.4%

11.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.5 pts 8.5%

Personal income distribution

37.8% Under $650 +3.1 pts ▸ 40.8%

32.2% $650–$1,499 +1.7 pts ▸ 33.9%

19.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.6 pts 16.4%

4.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 2.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.1% Mental health +1.1 pts ▸ 11.2%

7.8% Arthritis +2.5 pts ▸ 10.4%

8.8% Asthma +1.0 pts ▸ 9.9%

8.8% Other condition +0.2 pts ▸ 9.0%

4.4% Diabetes +0.7 pts ▸ 5.1%

3.8% Heart disease +0.9 pts ▸ 4.7%

2.9% Cancer +0.4 pts ▸ 3.3%

1.8% Lung condition +0.1 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.9% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.4% None ◂ +4.1 pts 60.3%

19.3% One condition +1.7 pts ▸ 21.0%

6.0% Two conditions +1.3 pts ▸ 7.2%

3.1% Three or more +1.0 pts ▸ 4.0%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Brisbane in Toowoomba +0.1 larger in Brisbane gap narrowing

2.6 86th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

58.4% Couples with children ◂ +4.3 pts 54.1%

25.4% Couples without children +3.4 pts ▸ 28.8%

14.9% One-parent families +1.0 pts ▸ 16.0%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Household size

33.3% 2 people +2.2 pts ▸ 35.5%

23.6% 1 person +4.2 pts ▸ 27.8%

16.8% 3 people ◂ +2.7 pts 14.2%

16.1% 4 people ◂ +3.2 pts 12.9%

6.6% 5 people ◂ +0.5 pts 6.0%

3.6% 6 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 3.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Brisbane in Toowoomba +$70 higher in Brisbane gap widening

$380 85th pct $310 57th pct

Mortgage in Brisbane in Toowoomba +$379 higher in Brisbane gap narrowing

$1,896 83rd pct $1,517 46th pct

People / bedroom in Brisbane in Toowoomba +0.10 higher in Brisbane gap widening

0.80 57th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +3.6 pts 32.5%

35.6% Rented ◂ +1.8 pts 33.8%

25.5% Owned outright +5.3 pts ▸ 30.8%

1.5% Other tenure +0.2 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.3% Not stated even 1.2%

Types of homes

72.6% Separate house +7.5 pts ▸ 80.1%

15.1% Flat or apartment ◂ +10.7 pts 4.4%

11.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +3.5 pts ▸ 15.1%

0.4% Other dwelling ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

36.0% 3 bedrooms +4.0 pts ▸ 40.0%

31.9% 4 bedrooms +0.7 pts ▸ 32.6%

16.1% 2 bedrooms +0.1 pts ▸ 16.2%

9.2% 5 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 7.1%

5.0% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.4 pts 2.6%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

26.0% $200–$349 +29.7 pts ▸ 55.7%

52.2% $350–$549 ◂ +22.6 pts 29.5%

8.2% Under $200 +2.1 pts ▸ 10.3%

8.5% $550–$749 ◂ +7.0 pts 1.5%

2.4% $750 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

31.2% $1,000–$1,799 +13.2 pts ▸ 44.4%

35.3% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +9.0 pts 26.2%

12.8% Under $1,000 +4.7 pts ▸ 17.5%

15.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +8.3 pts 7.1%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

55.0% Car (driver) +15.3 pts ▸ 70.3%

17.6% Worked at home ◂ +10.4 pts 7.2%

4.1% Car (passenger) +1.8 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.5% Bus ◂ +2.2 pts 0.3%

2.2% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.4%

2.1% Train ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%

0.7% Bicycle ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Motor vehicles per home

37.8% 2 vehicles even 37.9%

36.4% 1 vehicle +0.4 pts ▸ 36.9%

12.4% 3 vehicles +0.1 pts ▸ 12.5%

6.9% 4 or more even 6.8%

6.5% No vehicle ◂ +0.6 pts 5.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.4% Health care & social assistance +4.4 pts ▸ 19.8%

9.0% Education & training +2.3 pts ▸ 11.3%

9.0% Retail trade +0.6 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.6% Professional & technical ◂ +3.7 pts 4.9%

8.6% Construction ◂ +0.1 pts 8.4%

6.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.6 pts 6.1%

6.0% Manufacturing +0.5 pts ▸ 6.5%

6.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.1 pts 6.4%

5.3% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.6 pts 3.7%

3.8% Other services +0.5 pts ▸ 4.3%

3.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.9 pts 2.4%

3.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.7 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

25.0% Professionals ◂ +3.5 pts 21.5%

12.2% Technicians & trades +2.2 pts ▸ 14.4%

11.6% Community & personal service +2.5 pts ▸ 14.1%

13.6% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.7 pts 12.8%

12.6% Managers ◂ +2.2 pts 10.3%

8.8% Labourers +1.9 pts ▸ 10.6%

8.2% Sales workers +0.7 pts ▸ 8.9%

6.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.4 pts 5.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Brisbane in Toowoomba +1.1 higher in Brisbane

6.3 90th pct 5.2 56th pct

Types ≤15 min in Brisbane in Toowoomba +0.9 more in Brisbane

5.9 89th pct 5.1 63rd pct

15-min city in Brisbane in Toowoomba +11.3 pts higher in Brisbane

73.7% 88th pct 62.5% 68th pct

Walk to shops in Brisbane in Toowoomba +12.8 pts higher in Brisbane

74.2% 89th pct 61.4% 71st pct

Walk to transit in Brisbane in Toowoomba +15.7 pts higher in Brisbane

84.9% 57th pct 69.2% 28th pct

Walk to school in Brisbane in Toowoomba +9.2 pts higher in Brisbane

78.5% 86th pct 69.3% 65th pct

Walk to a park in Brisbane in Toowoomba +4.4 pts higher in Brisbane

94.9% 83rd pct 90.5% 55th pct

Walk to health in Brisbane in Toowoomba +16.8 pts higher in Brisbane

59.7% 90th pct 42.9% 60th pct

Amenities/1k in Brisbane in Toowoomba +0.3 more in Toowoomba

13.6 39th pct 13.9 43rd pct

Intersections/km² in Brisbane in Toowoomba +17 higher in Brisbane

41 79th pct 24 61st pct

Mean slope in Brisbane in Toowoomba +0.5 pts higher in Toowoomba

6.0% 65th pct 6.5% 73rd pct

Compare Brisbane with nearby areas

Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Lismore Toowoomba Warwick Byron Bay Ballina Sunshine Coast Gympie Kingaroy Grafton Maryborough Coffs Harbour

Compare Toowoomba with nearby areas

Warwick Kingaroy Brisbane Gympie Sunshine Coast Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Lismore Ballina Byron Bay Maryborough Grafton Hervey Bay

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Brisbane vs Toowoomba [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3002/brisbane/vs/3016/toowoomba