Section of State · Area profile
Major Urban
3,533 km²
Among the largest areas of its kind, Major Urban is a high-growth hub with a population of over 3.6 million people. This is a relatively young community where the typical resident is 37, and families with children are common. It is a place of significant movement and variety, with a large proportion of people born overseas and a workforce that is highly qualified. Recent growth is stark, with the population climbing 27% since 2011.
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The area is much younger than most similar places, with children under 15 making up 18.7% of the population. While 15.6% of residents are seniors, this figure has risen by 3.3 points since 2011.
A high proportion of people were born overseas at 26.8%, which is much higher than most similar areas. English, Australian, Irish and Scottish are the most common ancestries reported.
More people use a language other than English at home (16.4%) than in most similar areas, though this is well below the national figure. The number of people speaking another language has risen by 4.0 points since 2011.
The number of people reporting no religion has climbed steeply to 42.2%, which is 19 points higher than in 2011. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.
This is a highly qualified community, with 25.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 62.7% having completed Year 12. Both figures are much higher than in most similar areas.
Incomes are generally high, with a typical weekly household income of $1,787. The number of households earning $3,000 or more a week has more than doubled since 2011, rising from 10.1% to 22.2%.
Mental health conditions are more common here than in most similar areas, affecting 9.7% of residents. About 5.7% of people need help with daily activities, a figure that has risen since 2011.
The area has a very high rate of unpaid childcare at 27.2%, which is much higher than most similar areas. However, the share of people who volunteer has fallen by 4.3 points since 2011.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. One-parent families are also more common here (15.4%) than in most similar areas.
Rental properties are much more common here than in other similar areas, at 35.8%. While most homes have three or more bedrooms, those owned outright are much less common than the national average.
Working from home is far more common here than in most similar areas, at 15.7%. While 87.3% of homes are near public transport, use of these services for commuting has fallen since 2011.
The population is very mobile, with 47.3% of people having moved in the last five years. This is well above the national figure of 40.7%.
More adults are working or looking for work here (64.1%) than in most similar areas. The most common industries for local workers are health care and social assistance.
The area is very walkable, with a score of 6.3. Nearly all residents live within a 15-minute walk of a park, and over 70% are within a similar distance of schools and groceries.