# Hopetoun vs Rainbow — 2021 Census comparison

Urban Centre comparison · about 38 km apart

Hopetoun (L) (Vic.) and Rainbow (L) are nearby rural towns in Victoria. Rainbow (L) has a far higher share of recent arrivals from overseas at 14.9%, while Hopetoun (L) (Vic.) has none. Rainbow (L) is also more walkable, with a street connectivity score of 70 and 95.5% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport, compared to 34 and 84.3% in Hopetoun (L) (Vic.). In contrast, Hopetoun (L) (Vic.) has a higher typical weekly household income of $1,030, and a higher share of people in de facto relationships at 12.1%.

Since 2011, the two towns have tracked differently, with the gap in recent overseas arrivals widening and the difference in typical age narrowing to just one year. They do share several common traits, such as having a similar proportion of people aged 65 and over (around 37%) and a similar number of people living alone. Both areas also sit well below the national figure for people who have completed Year 12, though Rainbow (L) is slightly higher at 37.9% compared to 31.1% in Hopetoun (L) (Vic.).

## Where they differ most

- Recent arrivals: 14.9 pts higher in Rainbow
- Limited English: 1.0 pts higher in Hopetoun
- Unemployment: 7.5 pts higher in Rainbow
- Full-time: 9.1 pts higher in Rainbow
- Rent: $58 higher in Hopetoun

## Demographics & Identity

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Population | 509 | 487 | 22 larger in Hopetoun | gap widening |
| Median age | 58 yrs | 57 yrs | 1 yrs older in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |
| First Nations | 1.2% | 2.1% | 0.9 pts higher in Rainbow | gap steady |
| Aged 65+ | 37.5% | 36.8% | 0.8 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap steady |
| Under 15 | 10.4% | 14.0% | 3.6 pts higher in Rainbow | gap narrowing |
| De facto | 12.1% | 8.7% | 3.4 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap widening |

### Age structure

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Seniors (65+) | 37.5% | 36.8% | +0.8 |
| Older adults (45–64) | 25.7% | 24.6% | +1.1 |
| Young adults (25–44) | 18.5% | 19.1% | -0.6 |
| Children (0–14) | 10.4% | 14.0% | -3.6 |
| Youth (15–24) | 6.9% | 7.0% | -0.1 |

### Marital status

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Married | 45.6% | 49.6% | -4.1 |
| Never married | 28.9% | 24.1% | +4.7 |
| Widowed | 11.1% | 12.8% | -1.7 |
| Divorced | 11.5% | 12.1% | -0.6 |
| Separated | 3.3% | 2.1% | +1.1 |

### Age profile

Share of each region's population by age band and sex.

| Age band | Hopetoun male | Hopetoun female | Rainbow male | Rainbow female |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0–4 | 1.9% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 1.0% |
| 5–9 | 1.5% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 1.8% |
| 10–14 | 1.5% | 0.6% | 3.9% | 1.0% |
| 15–19 | 1.5% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 1.8% |
| 20–24 | 0.8% | 0.0% | 1.8% | 0.0% |
| 25–29 | 2.7% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 1.2% |
| 30–34 | 1.7% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 2.9% |
| 35–39 | 0.8% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| 40–44 | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| 45–49 | 2.3% | 0.6% | 3.1% | 1.0% |
| 50–54 | 3.6% | 3.2% | 0.8% | 2.9% |
| 55–59 | 4.8% | 5.5% | 4.1% | 3.1% |
| 60–64 | 4.6% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 4.7% |
| 65–69 | 5.9% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 4.9% |
| 70–74 | 4.2% | 4.8% | 6.6% | 4.9% |
| 75–79 | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 3.7% |
| 80–84 | 3.2% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| 85+ | 5.5% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 4.5% |

## Ancestry & Birthplace

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Born overseas | 8.3% | 9.7% | 1.4 pts higher in Rainbow | gap narrowing |

### Country of birth

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Australia | 84.9% | 79.3% | +5.6 |
| India | 2.4% | 1.0% | +1.3 |
| England | 1.4% | 2.1% | -0.7 |
| Philippines | 0.0% | 1.8% | -1.8 |
| New Zealand | 1.2% | 0.0% | +1.2 |
| Vietnam | 0.0% | 0.6% | -0.6 |
| Nepal | 0.0% | 0.6% | -0.6 |
| China | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Italy | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| South Africa | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Ancestry

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Australian | 50.1% | 35.7% | +14.4 |
| English | 40.9% | 47.0% | -6.2 |
| German | 7.9% | 16.4% | -8.6 |
| Irish | 8.4% | 9.2% | -0.8 |
| Scottish | 7.1% | 8.8% | -1.8 |
| Indian | 3.1% | 0.8% | +2.3 |
| Filipino | 0.0% | 1.8% | -1.8 |
| Italian | 1.2% | 1.4% | -0.3 |
| Dutch | 1.0% | 0.8% | +0.2 |
| Chinese | 0.8% | 0.6% | +0.2 |
| Greek | 0.6% | 0.0% | +0.6 |
| Vietnamese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Language

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other language | 4.9% | 6.0% | 1.0 pts higher in Rainbow | gap steady |
| Limited English | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.0 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap steady |

### Language used at home

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English only | 88.4% | 83.6% | +4.8 |
| Arabic | 0.0% | 0.6% | -0.6 |
| Vietnamese | 0.0% | 0.6% | -0.6 |
| Tagalog | 0.0% | 0.6% | -0.6 |
| Mandarin | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Cantonese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Punjabi | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Greek | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Italian | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Hindi | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Religion

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No religion | 34.4% | 34.1% | 0.3 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |

### Religious affiliation

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Christianity | 55.6% | 51.7% | +3.9 |
| No religion | 34.4% | 34.1% | +0.3 |
| Not stated | 6.1% | 11.9% | -5.8 |
| Buddhism | 1.0% | 0.8% | +0.2 |
| Other religions | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0 |
| Islam | 0.0% | 0.6% | -0.6 |
| Hinduism | 0.6% | 0.0% | +0.6 |
| Judaism | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Education & Qualifications

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 31.1% | 37.9% | 6.8 pts higher in Rainbow | gap narrowing |
| Bachelor+ | 8.7% | 12.3% | 3.6 pts higher in Rainbow | gap steady |

### Highest year of school

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 31.1% | 37.9% | -6.8 |
| Year 9 or below | 26.3% | 16.6% | +9.6 |
| Year 10 | 19.2% | 17.8% | +1.4 |
| Year 11 | 15.7% | 14.7% | +1.0 |

### Highest qualification level

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Certificate III / IV | 36.4% | 36.8% | -0.5 |
| Bachelor degree | 15.7% | 17.7% | -2.1 |
| Advanced diploma / diploma | 13.6% | 11.4% | +2.3 |
| Postgraduate degree | 4.5% | 3.6% | +0.9 |
| Graduate diploma / certificate | 0.0% | 2.3% | -2.3 |
| Certificate I / II | 0.0% | 1.8% | -1.8 |

### Field of qualification

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health | 11.1% | 15.0% | -3.9 |
| Education | 13.1% | 11.4% | +1.8 |
| Society & culture | 9.6% | 12.7% | -3.1 |
| Engineering & related | 12.1% | 8.6% | +3.5 |
| Food, hospitality & personal services | 10.1% | 7.7% | +2.4 |
| Agriculture & environment | 8.1% | 8.2% | -0.1 |
| Management & commerce | 8.1% | 6.8% | +1.3 |
| Architecture & building | 6.1% | 3.2% | +2.9 |
| Creative arts | 1.5% | 4.1% | -2.6 |
| Information technology | 2.5% | 0.0% | +2.5 |
| Natural & physical sciences | 1.5% | 1.4% | +0.2 |

## Income

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Personal income | $529 | $562 | $33 higher in Rainbow | gap widening |
| Household income | $1,030 | $887 | $143 higher in Hopetoun | gap widening |
| Family income | $1,309 | $1,312 | $3 higher in Rainbow | gap narrowing |
| High earners | 4.1% | 3.3% | 0.8 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |
| High-income homes | 3.7% | 3.2% | 0.5 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |

### Household income distribution

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $650–$1,499 | 34.0% | 41.4% | -7.4 |
| Under $650 | 27.5% | 31.1% | -3.6 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 25.8% | 19.8% | +6.0 |
| $4,000 or more | 1.2% | 3.2% | -1.9 |
| $3,000–$3,999 | 2.5% | 0.0% | +2.5 |

### Personal income distribution

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $650 | 54.7% | 48.5% | +6.2 |
| $650–$1,499 | 23.6% | 30.5% | -6.9 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 10.2% | 5.7% | +4.5 |
| $3,000 or more | 1.3% | 1.4% | -0.1 |

## Health & Disability

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health condition | 44.8% | 40.9% | 3.9 pts higher in Hopetoun |  |
| Mental health | 11.8% | 12.5% | 0.7 pts higher in Rainbow |  |
| Needs assistance | 12.6% | 10.5% | 2.1 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap steady |

### Long-term health conditions reported

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Arthritis | 17.5% | 16.6% | +0.9 |
| Mental health | 11.8% | 12.5% | -0.7 |
| Asthma | 11.4% | 11.5% | -0.1 |
| Other condition | 8.1% | 9.2% | -1.2 |
| Diabetes | 8.3% | 8.6% | -0.4 |
| Heart disease | 8.1% | 6.6% | +1.5 |
| Cancer | 4.7% | 3.3% | +1.4 |
| Lung condition | 3.7% | 3.9% | -0.2 |
| Stroke | 2.2% | 1.8% | +0.3 |
| Dementia | 0.8% | 1.2% | -0.4 |

### Number of long-term health conditions

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| None | 45.0% | 48.0% | -3.1 |
| One condition | 28.3% | 22.0% | +6.3 |
| Two conditions | 10.4% | 10.7% | -0.3 |
| Three or more | 5.7% | 7.8% | -2.1 |

## Community Participation

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteering | 28.6% | 31.0% | 2.3 pts higher in Rainbow | gap widening |
| Unpaid carers | 13.7% | 15.8% | 2.2 pts higher in Rainbow | gap widening |
| Unpaid child care | 13.2% | 15.4% | 2.1 pts higher in Rainbow | gap steady |
| Defence service | 3.7% | 4.5% | 0.8 pts higher in Rainbow |  |
| Housework 15h+ | 22.8% | 25.8% | 3.0 pts higher in Rainbow | gap narrowing |

## Family & Households

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Household size | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.1 larger in Rainbow | gap narrowing |
| One-parent | 10.4% | 11.5% | 1.1 pts higher in Rainbow | gap narrowing |
| Living alone | 42.2% | 41.4% | 0.8 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap steady |

### Family composition

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Couples without children | 54.5% | 44.2% | +10.2 |
| Couples with children | 33.6% | 43.3% | -9.7 |
| One-parent families | 10.4% | 11.5% | -1.1 |
| Other families | 1.8% | 0.9% | +0.9 |

### Household size

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 person | 42.2% | 41.4% | +0.8 |
| 2 people | 41.0% | 38.7% | +2.2 |
| 3 people | 11.1% | 10.8% | +0.3 |
| 4 people | 2.5% | 4.5% | -2.0 |
| 5 people | 3.3% | 4.5% | -1.2 |
| 6 or more | 2.0% | 0.0% | +2.0 |

## Housing & Dwellings

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rent | $158 | $100 | $58 higher in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |
| Mortgage | $650 | $510 | $140 higher in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |
| People / bedroom | 0.60 | 0.70 | 0.10 higher in Rainbow | gap steady |
| Renting | 18.4% | 13.5% | 4.9 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap widening |
| Owned outright | 58.2% | 58.1% |  | gap narrowing |
| Separate houses | 95.9% | 94.1% | 1.8 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |
| 3+ bedrooms | 73.0% | 75.2% | 2.3 pts higher in Rainbow | gap narrowing |

### How homes are owned or rented

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Owned outright | 58.2% | 58.1% | +0.1 |
| Owned with a mortgage | 17.6% | 25.2% | -7.6 |
| Rented | 18.4% | 13.5% | +4.9 |
| Other tenure | 1.6% | 4.5% | -2.9 |
| Not stated | 3.3% | 0.0% | +3.3 |

### Types of homes

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Separate house | 95.9% | 94.1% | +1.8 |
| Townhouse / semi-detached | 1.2% | 4.1% | -2.8 |
| Flat or apartment | 2.9% | 0.0% | +2.9 |
| Other dwelling | 1.2% | 2.7% | -1.5 |

### Bedrooms per home

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 bedrooms | 58.6% | 54.1% | +4.6 |
| 2 bedrooms | 18.4% | 20.3% | -1.8 |
| 4 bedrooms | 14.3% | 19.8% | -5.5 |
| 1 bedroom | 2.5% | 4.5% | -2.0 |
| 5 or more | 0.0% | 1.4% | -1.4 |
| Studio / none | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Weekly rent distribution

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $200 | 64.4% | 53.3% | +11.1 |
| $200–$349 | 13.3% | 10.0% | +3.3 |
| $350–$549 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| $550–$749 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| $750 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Monthly mortgage distribution

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $1,000 | 76.7% | 67.9% | +8.9 |
| $1,000–$1,799 | 18.6% | 16.1% | +2.5 |
| $1,800–$2,999 | 9.3% | 0.0% | +9.3 |
| $3,000 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Transport & Vehicles

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No car | 5.0% | 4.5% | 0.5 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 4.9% | 3.2 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap steady |
| PT commute | 0.0% | 0.0% |  | gap narrowing |

### How people get to work

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Car (driver) | 65.5% | 57.3% | +8.2 |
| Walked | 8.6% | 18.3% | -9.7 |
| Worked at home | 8.1% | 4.9% | +3.2 |
| Car (passenger) | 3.0% | 3.0% | 0.0 |
| Train | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Bus | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Bicycle | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Motor vehicles per home

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 vehicle | 40.0% | 33.8% | +6.2 |
| 2 vehicles | 34.2% | 34.7% | -0.5 |
| 3 vehicles | 13.8% | 19.4% | -5.6 |
| 4 or more | 4.6% | 9.5% | -4.9 |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 4.5% | +0.5 |

## Migration & Movement

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Recent movers | 28.5% | 25.4% | 3.1 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap narrowing |
| Recent arrivals | 0.0% | 14.9% | 14.9 pts higher in Rainbow | gap widening |

## Jobs & Industry

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment | 1.9% | 9.4% | 7.5 pts higher in Rainbow | gap widening |
| Participation | 44.7% | 42.8% | 1.9 pts higher in Hopetoun | gap steady |
| Full-time | 48.2% | 57.3% | 9.1 pts higher in Rainbow | gap widening |

### Industries people work in

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agriculture, forestry & fishing | 21.3% | 17.1% | +4.2 |
| Health care & social assistance | 21.3% | 15.2% | +6.1 |
| Education & training | 12.2% | 10.4% | +1.8 |
| Public administration & safety | 11.7% | 6.7% | +5.0 |
| Retail trade | 7.1% | 10.4% | -3.3 |
| Transport & warehousing | 6.1% | 7.9% | -1.8 |
| Construction | 6.6% | 4.3% | +2.3 |
| Administrative & support | 3.6% | 5.5% | -1.9 |
| Electricity, gas & water | 4.1% | 4.3% | -0.2 |
| Manufacturing | 0.0% | 3.0% | -3.0 |
| Accommodation & food | 1.5% | 3.0% | -1.5 |
| Professional & technical | 0.0% | 3.0% | -3.0 |

### Occupations people work in

| Category | Hopetoun % | Rainbow % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professionals | 16.2% | 19.5% | -3.3 |
| Managers | 16.8% | 18.9% | -2.2 |
| Labourers | 17.3% | 11.6% | +5.7 |
| Community & personal service | 12.7% | 13.4% | -0.7 |
| Machinery operators & drivers | 11.7% | 12.2% | -0.5 |
| Clerical & administrative | 7.1% | 9.8% | -2.6 |
| Technicians & trades | 9.6% | 4.3% | +5.4 |
| Sales workers | 6.1% | 4.3% | +1.8 |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Hopetoun | Rainbow | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 7.3 | 7.7 | 0.4 higher in Rainbow |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 7.9 | 7.9 |  |  |
| 15-min city | 99.8% | 99.3% | 0.5 pts higher in Hopetoun |  |
| Walk to shops | 99.8% | 99.3% | 0.5 pts higher in Hopetoun |  |
| Walk to transit | 84.3% | 95.5% | 11.3 pts higher in Rainbow |  |
| Walk to school | 100.0% | 97.8% | 2.2 pts higher in Hopetoun |  |
| Walk to a park | 100.0% | 100.0% |  |  |
| Walk to health | 98.8% | 99.6% | 0.8 pts higher in Rainbow |  |
| Amenities/1k | 45.2 | 65.7 | 20.5 more in Rainbow |  |
| Intersections/km² | 34 | 70 | 36 higher in Rainbow |  |
| Mean slope | 3.0% | 3.8% | 0.8 pts higher in Rainbow |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL221033/hopetoun/vs/UCL222077/rainbow