# Cape York vs South-Western WA — 2021 Census comparison

Indigenous Region comparison · about 3,176 km apart

Cape York and South-Western WA are both vast regions, but they differ sharply in their populations and layout. Cape York has a much higher share of people who speak a First Nations language at 54.4%, compared to 6.5% in South-Western WA. Access to services also varies; South-Western WA is more walkable, with 38.6% of homes in a 15-minute-city walkshed and 51.7% near public transport, while Cape York has no homes within a 15-minute walk of public transport.

Everyday life in both regions is shaped by a similar landscape, with almost identical average terrain slopes. They also share similar education levels, as about 30% of First Nations residents in both areas have completed Year 12. While South-Western WA is generally more walkable, the two areas have tracked similarly over time in their school accessibility, with Cape York being slightly higher at 49.1% and South-Western WA at 45.8%.

## First Nations

| Statistic | Cape York | South-Western WA | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Nations people | 8,906 | 14,355 | 5,449 larger in South-Western WA |  |
| Median age | 24 yrs | 23 yrs | 1 yrs older in Cape York |  |
| Year 12 | 31.1% | 30.2% | 0.9 pts higher in Cape York |  |
| Unemployment | 23.4% | 15.7% | 7.6 pts higher in Cape York |  |
| Median income | $402 | $497 | $95 higher in South-Western WA |  |
| Household income | $1,140 | $1,359 | $219 higher in South-Western WA |  |
| Indigenous language | 54.4% | 6.5% | 47.8 pts higher in Cape York |  |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Cape York | South-Western WA | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 1.8 | 3.5 | 1.7 higher in South-Western WA |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 2.3 | 3.6 | 1.3 more in South-Western WA |  |
| 15-min city | 20.1% | 38.6% | 18.5 pts higher in South-Western WA |  |
| Walk to shops | 34.3% | 39.3% | 4.9 pts higher in South-Western WA |  |
| Walk to transit | 0.0% | 51.7% | 51.7 pts higher in South-Western WA |  |
| Walk to school | 49.1% | 45.8% | 3.3 pts higher in Cape York |  |
| Walk to a park | 36.2% | 69.8% | 33.6 pts higher in South-Western WA |  |
| Walk to health | 25.6% | 28.6% | 3.1 pts higher in South-Western WA |  |
| Intersections/km² | 0 | 0 |  |  |
| Mean slope | 5.6% | 5.3% | 0.4 pts higher in Cape York |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ireg/IREG303/cape-york/vs/IREG507/south-western-wa