# Torres Strait vs South Hedland — 2021 Census comparison

Indigenous Region comparison · about 2,495 km apart

Torres Strait and South Hedland are both remote regions with large First Nations populations, but they differ sharply in culture and infrastructure. In Torres Strait, 82.4% of people speak a First Nations language, and Year 12 completion for First Nations residents is far higher at 52.8%. In contrast, South Hedland has a much higher typical First Nations household income of $2,034, compared to $1,201 in Torres Strait.

Both areas are mostly car-dependent, but a gap in accessibility is widening in favour of South Hedland. Many more homes in South Hedland are within a 15-minute walk of a school (67.9% versus 26.2% in Torres Strait) and groceries (40.9% versus 24.5%). While South Hedland has more First Nations residents overall, the unemployment rate for this group is well higher there at 12.8%, compared to 9.1% in Torres Strait.

## First Nations

| Statistic | Torres Strait | South Hedland | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Nations people | 6,093 | 8,113 | 2,020 larger in South Hedland |  |
| Median age | 25 yrs | 26 yrs | 1 yrs older in South Hedland |  |
| Year 12 | 52.8% | 32.8% | 20.0 pts higher in Torres Strait |  |
| Unemployment | 9.1% | 12.8% | 3.6 pts higher in South Hedland |  |
| Median income | $470 | $520 | $50 higher in South Hedland |  |
| Household income | $1,201 | $2,034 | $833 higher in South Hedland |  |
| Indigenous language | 82.4% | 29.3% | 53.1 pts higher in Torres Strait |  |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Torres Strait | South Hedland | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 2.1 | 3.9 | 1.8 higher in South Hedland |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 2.5 | 4.3 | 1.8 more in South Hedland |  |
| 15-min city | 24.8% | 45.0% | 20.2 pts higher in South Hedland |  |
| Walk to shops | 24.5% | 40.9% | 16.4 pts higher in South Hedland |  |
| Walk to transit | 0.0% | 46.1% | 46.1 pts higher in South Hedland |  |
| Walk to school | 26.2% | 67.9% | 41.7 pts higher in South Hedland |  |
| Walk to a park | 67.4% | 87.3% | 19.9 pts higher in South Hedland |  |
| Walk to health | 16.7% | 32.0% | 15.3 pts higher in South Hedland |  |
| Intersections/km² | 1 | 0 | 1 higher in Torres Strait |  |
| Mean slope | 6.8% | 2.8% | 4.0 pts higher in Torres Strait |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ireg/IREG307/torres-strait/vs/IREG506/south-hedland