Section of State · Area profile
Major Urban
3,341 km²
A large and diverse population defines Major Urban, where over a third of residents were born overseas. The community is relatively young, with a typical resident aged 37 and a high proportion of children. This is a highly educated and prosperous area, with a significant shift towards high-income households and a strong presence of professionals. The region is growing quickly, adding over a million people since 2011 to create a densely populated, urban environment.
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The population is much younger than most similar areas, with 18.0% of residents being children under 15. While the number of seniors has risen to 15.3%, the typical resident is 37, which is a little younger than the national figure.
Born overseas, 35.2% of the population hail from other countries, a figure well above the national average of 27.7%. The most common ancestries are English and Australian, followed by Irish, Chinese and Scottish.
Language diversity is high, with 33.7% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure, and there is a higher proportion of people who speak little or no English compared to most areas.
Christianity is the most common religion at 40.2%, while 37.6% of residents report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 14 points since 2011.
Residents are highly qualified, with 33.0% holding a bachelor degree or higher, well above the national figure of 26.3%. Two-thirds of the population have completed Year 12, and many hold qualifications in management and commerce.
Typical family income is $2,229 a week, which is higher than most similar areas. There has been a significant increase in prosperity, with the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week rising by 14 points since 2011.
While 25.9% of people have a long-term health condition, this is a little below the national figure. However, the proportion of people needing help with daily activities is higher than most areas.
More people provide unpaid care here than in most similar areas, though volunteering has fallen by 3.6 points since 2011. There is also a lower proportion of former Defence Force members compared to other areas.
Homes here are more crowded than usual, with 2.6 people per home. Family life is dominated by couples with children, who make up 61.4% of households.
Housing is expensive, with typical weekly rents at $383 and monthly mortgage payments at $2,000, both of which are much higher than most areas. Detached houses are less common here than across Australia.
Working from home has surged to 28.5% since 2011, placing the area among the highest for this trend. About 8.7% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is much higher than most similar areas.
The area is dynamic, with 41.2% of residents having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas also make up a higher proportion of the population than the national figure.
A higher proportion of adults are working or looking for work than in most similar areas. The workforce is dominated by professionals and managers, with health care and social assistance being the largest industry.
The area is very walkable, with a score of 7.3. Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, and 93.5% are close to public transport.