# Katherine vs Alice Springs — 2021 Census comparison

Indigenous Region comparison · about 959 km apart

Katherine and Alice Springs are two distinct Northern Territory hubs separated by nearly 1,000 kilometres. Katherine has a much larger First Nations population, with 8,620 people, and a far higher share of residents who speak a First Nations language (69.8%). In contrast, Alice Springs is more walkable, with a score of 4.9 (somewhat walkable) compared to Katherine's 2.7 (mostly car-dependent). This difference is clear in transport access, as 86.4% of Alice Springs homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport, while Katherine has 0.0%.

Both areas have a similar flat terrain, with a mean slope of 2.9%. They also share a similar profile for First Nations residents in terms of age, as the typical age in Katherine is 24 and in Alice Springs it is 27, both of which sit near the national figure. However, Alice Springs shows better outcomes in several areas: the typical personal income for First Nations residents is far higher at $452, compared to $281 in Katherine, and the First Nations unemployment rate is well lower.

## First Nations

| Statistic | Katherine | Alice Springs | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Nations people | 8,620 | 5,343 | 3,277 larger in Katherine |  |
| Median age | 24 yrs | 27 yrs | 3 yrs older in Alice Springs |  |
| Year 12 | 16.2% | 23.4% | 7.2 pts higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Unemployment | 23.1% | 14.4% | 8.6 pts higher in Katherine |  |
| Median income | $281 | $452 | $171 higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Household income | $1,173 | $1,355 | $182 higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Indigenous language | 69.8% | 36.5% | 33.3 pts higher in Katherine |  |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Katherine | Alice Springs | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 2.7 | 4.9 | 2.2 higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 3.1 | 4.8 | 1.7 more in Alice Springs |  |
| 15-min city | 25.3% | 56.4% | 31.1 pts higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Walk to shops | 36.6% | 57.1% | 20.5 pts higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Walk to transit | 0.0% | 86.4% | 86.4 pts higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Walk to school | 63.1% | 76.7% | 13.6 pts higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Walk to a park | 65.7% | 90.8% | 25.1 pts higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Walk to health | 30.1% | 34.7% | 4.6 pts higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Intersections/km² | 0 | 10 | 10 higher in Alice Springs |  |
| Mean slope | 2.9% | 2.9% |  |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ireg/IREG705/katherine/vs/IREG708/alice-springs