# Mount Isa vs Torres Strait — 2021 Census comparison

Indigenous Region comparison · about 1,200 km apart

Mount Isa and Torres Strait are two very different Queensland regions. Mount Isa has a much larger First Nations population, with 8,265 people compared to 6,093 in Torres Strait. Life in Mount Isa is more walkable, with 69.8% of homes within 15 minutes of a school and 42.3% near groceries, whereas these figures are 26.2% and 24.5% in Torres Strait. Cultural profiles differ sharply, as 82.4% of people in Torres Strait speak a First Nations language, compared to 7.8% in Mount Isa. Educational outcomes for First Nations people are also far higher in Torres Strait, where 52.8% finish Year 12, compared to 27.5% in Mount Isa.

Both areas share a typical First Nations age of 25, and both are well below the national figure for the share of homes within 10 minutes of public transport, which is 0.0% for each. While both are mostly car-dependent, Mount Isa is slightly more walkable. The gap in First Nations unemployment is also notable, as the rate is well higher in Mount Isa at 15.9% compared to 9.1% in Torres Strait.

## First Nations

| Statistic | Mount Isa | Torres Strait | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Nations people | 8,265 | 6,093 | 2,172 larger in Mount Isa |  |
| Median age | 25 yrs | 25 yrs |  |  |
| Year 12 | 27.5% | 52.8% | 25.3 pts higher in Torres Strait |  |
| Unemployment | 15.9% | 9.1% | 6.8 pts higher in Mount Isa |  |
| Median income | $435 | $470 | $35 higher in Torres Strait |  |
| Household income | $1,303 | $1,201 | $102 higher in Mount Isa |  |
| Indigenous language | 7.8% | 82.4% | 74.6 pts higher in Torres Strait |  |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Mount Isa | Torres Strait | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 3.0 | 2.1 | 0.9 higher in Mount Isa |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 3.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 more in Mount Isa |  |
| 15-min city | 37.4% | 24.8% | 12.7 pts higher in Mount Isa |  |
| Walk to shops | 42.3% | 24.5% | 17.8 pts higher in Mount Isa |  |
| Walk to transit | 0.0% | 0.0% |  |  |
| Walk to school | 69.8% | 26.2% | 43.6 pts higher in Mount Isa |  |
| Walk to a park | 75.2% | 67.4% | 7.8 pts higher in Mount Isa |  |
| Walk to health | 37.6% | 16.7% | 20.9 pts higher in Mount Isa |  |
| Intersections/km² | 0 | 1 | 1 higher in Torres Strait |  |
| Mean slope | 3.2% | 6.8% | 3.6 pts higher in Torres Strait |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ireg/IREG304/mount-isa/vs/IREG307/torres-strait