Section of State Range · Area profile
1 million or more
2,027 km²
Rapid growth has defined 1 million or more since 2011, with the population climbing by 22% to reach nearly 2.3 million people. This is a notably young community where the typical resident is just 36, and children under 15 make up a much higher proportion of the area than in most other places. High levels of education and typical incomes that sit above the national figure suggest a professional character. It is a diverse and mobile hub where nearly half of all residents have moved home in the last five years.
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The area is much younger than most, with 19.2% of people being children under 15. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 14.1% of the population, which is well below the national figure.
Overseas births are much more common here than in most areas, with 28.3% of people born abroad. English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish are the most frequent ancestries.
Many residents use a language other than English at home, accounting for 19.1% of the population. This is much higher than in most similar areas, though still well below the national figure.
People with no religion now make up 41.8% of the community, a figure that has risen by 19 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 44.1%.
Education levels are very high, with 65.7% of residents completing Year 12 and 28.3% holding a bachelor degree or higher, both of which are among the highest for this level.
Typical incomes are much higher than in most areas, with a typical family earning $2,214 a week. This wealth is reflected in the 24.4% of households earning $3,000 or more weekly.
Long-term health conditions are less common here than in most areas, affecting 28.0% of people. Mental health is the most reported condition at 10.1%.
Unpaid childcare is very common here, with 28.0% of people providing this care. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011 to 13.8%, which is lower than most areas.
Homes here are larger than usual, with a typical 2.6 people per dwelling. This is consistent with the fact that 58.6% of households are couples with children.
Renting is much more common than elsewhere, at 36.6%, while only 24.8% of homes are owned outright. Typical weekly rents are $380, which is among the highest for this level.
Working from home is very common at 17.7%, though this is still well below the national figure. Public transport use for commuting is 5.0%, which is much higher than most areas.
The population is highly mobile, with 46.8% of people moving in the last five years. This is well above the national figure of 40.7%.
Working or looking for work is very common here, at 65.5%, which is well above the national figure. Health care and social assistance is the largest industry, employing 15.6% of the workforce.
The area is very walkable, with a score of 6.6. Nearly all homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, and 88.8% are within 10 minutes of public transport.