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Alice Springs vs MacDonnell

Name: Alice Springs vs MacDonnell — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 171 km apart · Alice Springs profile · MacDonnell profile

Alice Springs MacDonnell

Alice Springs and MacDonnell are two distinct Northern Territory areas with a vast difference in demographics and wealth. MacDonnell has a much stronger First Nations presence, with 85.6% of its population identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, compared to 20.6% in Alice Springs. Economic gaps are significant; the typical household income in Alice Springs is $2,142 a week, which is far higher than the $1,151 seen in MacDonnell. Educational attainment also differs sharply, as 27.2% of adults in Alice Springs hold a bachelor degree or higher, while the figure is 5.5% in MacDonnell.

Everyday life in both places is shaped by a similar climate, with almost identical average minimum and maximum temperatures. They also share similar housing patterns, as both have about 65% of homes with three or more bedrooms. However, many gaps have widened since 2011, particularly regarding income and education. For example, the difference in typical weekly personal income has grown to $845, and the gap in Year 12 completion has increased to 39 percentage points.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 65.0 pts higher in MacDonnell Other language: 44.5 pts higher in MacDonnell No religion: 26.2 pts higher in Alice Springs Year 12: 39.1 pts higher in Alice Springs No car: 32.8 pts higher in MacDonnell

Demographics & Identity

Population in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +20,164 larger in Alice Springs gap steady

25,912 63rd pct 5,748 36th pct

Median age in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +4 yrs older in Alice Springs gap narrowing

34 yrs 12th pct 30 yrs 5th pct

Age structure

34.3% Young adults (25–44) +0.9 pts ▸ 35.2%

24.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.7 pts 20.9%

20.8% Children (0–14) +2.0 pts ▸ 22.8%

10.7% Youth (15–24) +5.1 pts ▸ 15.8%

9.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.4 pts 5.1%

Marital status

46.5% Never married ◂ +4.5 pts 42.0%

39.2% Married +6.8 pts ▸ 46.0%

7.6% Divorced ◂ +4.6 pts 3.0%

3.0% Widowed +1.9 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.6% Separated +0.5 pts ▸ 4.1%

Age & sex structure

Alice Springs MacDonnell

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

67.1% Australia +25.6 pts ▸ 92.6%

3.7% India ◂ +3.7 pts 0.1%

3.2% New Zealand ◂ +2.8 pts 0.4%

2.4% England ◂ +1.9 pts 0.5%

2.3% Philippines ◂ +2.0 pts 0.3%

0.8% Nepal ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.7% China ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.6% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.3% Vietnam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

26.9% English ◂ +22.6 pts 4.3%

26.1% Australian ◂ +21.7 pts 4.4%

9.2% Irish ◂ +7.7 pts 1.5%

7.6% Scottish ◂ +6.0 pts 1.5%

5.1% German ◂ +4.2 pts 1.0%

3.6% Indian ◂ +3.5 pts 0.1%

2.8% Filipino ◂ +2.5 pts 0.3%

2.3% Italian ◂ +1.9 pts 0.4%

2.1% Chinese ◂ +2.1 pts 0.1%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +1.3 pts 0.2%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.4% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

68.1% English only ◂ +52.5 pts 15.7%

1.6% Punjabi ◂ +1.6 pts 0.0%

1.1% Tagalog ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%

1.0% Mandarin ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.4% Arabic ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% Cantonese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

41.0% Christianity +19.0 pts ▸ 60.0%

42.9% No religion ◂ +26.2 pts 16.8%

9.0% Not stated +11.9 pts ▸ 21.0%

2.4% Hinduism ◂ +2.2 pts 0.2%

2.0% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 1.9%

1.5% Buddhism ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%

1.0% Islam ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

0.2% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +5 more in Alice Springs

18 71st pct 13 60th pct

Schools/1k kids in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +6.58 more in MacDonnell

3.33 45th pct 9.91 86th pct

Students in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +4,060 more in Alice Springs

4,687 64th pct 627 31st pct

Avg size in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +212 larger in Alice Springs

260 55th pct 48 7th pct

ICSEA in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +323 higher in Alice Springs

932 27th pct 609 0th pct

Highest year of school

55.5% Year 12 ◂ +39.1 pts 16.4%

10.1% Year 9 or below +28.8 pts ▸ 38.9%

14.8% Year 10 +10.4 pts ▸ 25.2%

11.0% Year 11 ◂ +2.2 pts 8.7%

Highest qualification level

26.1% Bachelor degree ◂ +12.6 pts 13.5%

25.8% Certificate III / IV ◂ +5.9 pts 19.9%

12.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +5.8 pts 7.0%

11.0% Postgraduate degree ◂ +7.4 pts 3.6%

1.8% Certificate I / II +5.3 pts ▸ 7.1%

4.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.1 pts 2.5%

Field of qualification

15.5% Health ◂ +8.4 pts 7.1%

14.9% Management & commerce ◂ +6.6 pts 8.3%

14.8% Society & culture ◂ +4.4 pts 10.4%

11.2% Engineering & related ◂ +4.4 pts 6.8%

8.1% Education +1.3 pts ▸ 9.5%

1.9% Agriculture & environment +3.6 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +2.3 pts 3.0%

4.2% Architecture & building ◂ +1.7 pts 2.5%

3.1% Creative arts ◂ +1.6 pts 1.5%

2.1% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.5 pts 0.6%

1.8% Information technology ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +$845 higher in Alice Springs gap widening

$1,131 89th pct $286 0th pct

Household income in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +$991 higher in Alice Springs gap widening

$2,142 88th pct $1,151 19th pct

Family income in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +$1,741 higher in Alice Springs gap widening

$2,484 87th pct $743 0th pct

Household income distribution

20.0% $650–$1,499 +14.1 pts ▸ 34.1%

32.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.9 pts 24.2%

10.5% Under $650 +10.5 pts ▸ 21.0%

14.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +12.5 pts 1.9%

13.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +9.5 pts 3.7%

Personal income distribution

27.7% Under $650 +32.5 pts ▸ 60.2%

32.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +22.7 pts 10.2%

26.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +21.5 pts 4.9%

4.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.3 pts 0.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

5.0% Diabetes +3.4 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.8% Asthma ◂ +3.5 pts 3.3%

6.6% Other condition ◂ +2.9 pts 3.7%

6.0% Mental health ◂ +4.3 pts 1.7%

4.9% Arthritis ◂ +3.6 pts 1.3%

2.9% Heart disease +0.4 pts ▸ 3.3%

1.8% Cancer ◂ +1.4 pts 0.4%

1.1% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

0.7% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.5% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

68.7% None ◂ +4.9 pts 63.8%

16.0% One condition ◂ +2.6 pts 13.3%

4.0% Two conditions ◂ +1.4 pts 2.6%

2.1% Three or more ◂ +1.3 pts 0.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +424 larger in Alice Springs

5,343 88th pct 4,919 87th pct

Median age in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +2 yrs older in MacDonnell

27 yrs 64th pct 29 yrs 75th pct

Median income in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +$191 higher in Alice Springs

$452 21st pct $261 0th pct

Household income in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +$422 higher in Alice Springs

$1,355 48th pct $933 11th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +1.2 larger in MacDonnell gap narrowing

2.6 79th pct 3.8 100th pct

Family composition

56.5% Couples with children ◂ +2.0 pts 54.5%

17.5% One-parent families +10.8 pts ▸ 28.3%

24.5% Couples without children ◂ +10.5 pts 14.0%

1.5% Other families +1.6 pts ▸ 3.2%

Household size

29.8% 2 people ◂ +11.0 pts 18.8%

4.5% 6 or more +23.6 pts ▸ 28.1%

27.1% 1 person ◂ +3.2 pts 23.9%

17.5% 3 people ◂ +8.1 pts 9.4%

14.5% 4 people ◂ +3.0 pts 11.5%

6.6% 5 people +2.1 pts ▸ 8.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +$300 higher in Alice Springs gap widening

$375 82nd pct $75 0th pct

Mortgage in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +$1,042 higher in Alice Springs gap widening

$1,800 74th pct $758 10th pct

People / bedroom in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +0.50 higher in MacDonnell gap steady

0.90 86th pct 1.40 100th pct

How homes are owned or rented

43.2% Rented +23.6 pts ▸ 66.8%

36.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +35.3 pts 0.8%

2.7% Other tenure +18.9 pts ▸ 21.7%

15.7% Owned outright ◂ +9.1 pts 6.7%

2.2% Not stated +2.1 pts ▸ 4.4%

Types of homes

64.2% Separate house +23.0 pts ▸ 87.2%

27.9% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +23.1 pts 4.8%

4.2% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.6 pts 1.6%

2.0% Other dwelling +2.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

Bedrooms per home

41.9% 3 bedrooms +6.0 pts ▸ 48.0%

22.1% 2 bedrooms +1.0 pts ▸ 23.1%

19.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +5.1 pts 14.0%

8.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.4 pts 8.3%

4.3% 5 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 2.5%

1.6% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

Weekly rent distribution

18.9% Under $200 +63.0 pts ▸ 81.9%

37.4% $350–$549 ◂ +36.9 pts 0.5%

20.9% $200–$349 ◂ +16.1 pts 4.8%

12.3% $550–$749 ◂ +12.3 pts 0.0%

3.3% $750 or more ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

36.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +36.9 pts 0.0%

35.0% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +35.0 pts 0.0%

12.4% Under $1,000 +20.9 pts ▸ 33.3%

11.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +11.3 pts 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +99 more in Alice Springs

99 61st pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +3.82 more in Alice Springs

3.82 56th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +215.4 more in Alice Springs

215.4 61st pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +8 more in Alice Springs

8 52nd pct 0 0th pct

Stop walk in Alice Springs in MacDonnell

2 14th pct —

How people get to work

66.0% Car (driver) ◂ +37.5 pts 28.5%

4.8% Walked +41.7 pts ▸ 46.5%

7.6% Car (passenger) +1.3 pts ▸ 8.9%

3.2% Worked at home +1.7 pts ▸ 4.8%

4.0% Bicycle ◂ +4.0 pts 0.0%

1.5% Bus +1.2 pts ▸ 2.7%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

8.7% No vehicle +32.8 pts ▸ 41.5%

37.0% 1 vehicle +4.0 pts ▸ 41.0%

34.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +22.9 pts 11.7%

13.0% 3 vehicles ◂ +9.5 pts 3.5%

6.7% 4 or more ◂ +4.5 pts 2.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.4% Public administration & safety +7.8 pts ▸ 25.3%

22.5% Health care & social assistance ◂ +5.7 pts 16.9%

9.4% Education & training +4.3 pts ▸ 13.8%

0.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +8.6 pts ▸ 9.0%

7.6% Retail trade +0.4 pts ▸ 8.0%

2.4% Arts & recreation +5.5 pts ▸ 8.0%

7.2% Construction ◂ +5.3 pts 1.9%

5.8% Accommodation & food +0.3 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.1% Professional & technical ◂ +3.8 pts 1.4%

4.6% Other services ◂ +2.3 pts 2.3%

3.5% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.8 pts 0.7%

2.5% Administrative & support +0.5 pts ▸ 3.0%

Occupations people work in

17.6% Community & personal service +11.1 pts ▸ 28.7%

25.4% Professionals ◂ +2.5 pts 22.9%

7.1% Labourers +7.4 pts ▸ 14.5%

12.3% Managers +0.6 pts ▸ 12.8%

12.7% Clerical & administrative ◂ +5.6 pts 7.1%

12.6% Technicians & trades ◂ +6.3 pts 6.3%

6.2% Sales workers ◂ +2.4 pts 3.8%

3.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.1 pts 2.4%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +7 higher in Alice Springs

8 71st pct 1 0th pct

IRSD decile in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +6 higher in Alice Springs

7 64th pct 1 0th pct

IER decile in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +2 higher in Alice Springs

3 29th pct 1 0th pct

IEO decile in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +8 higher in Alice Springs

9 86th pct 1 0th pct

IRSAD score in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +277 higher in Alice Springs

1,004 77th pct 727 2nd pct

ERP in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +23,897 higher in Alice Springs

30,875 64th pct 6,978 37th pct

Growth in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +2.3 pts higher in Alice Springs

8.4% 83rd pct 6.1% 72nd pct

Businesses in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +2,110 higher in Alice Springs

2,146 59th pct 36 3rd pct

Approvals in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +32 higher in MacDonnell

20 35th pct 52 49th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +33 higher in Alice Springs

276 10th pct 243 7th pct

Max temp in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +0.1 higher in MacDonnell

30.9 88th pct 31.0 88th pct

Min temp in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +0.8 higher in MacDonnell

13.7 74th pct 14.5 78th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +2.0 higher in Alice Springs

4.9 72nd pct 2.9 27th pct

Types ≤15 min in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +1.4 more in Alice Springs

4.8 71st pct 3.4 34th pct

15-min city in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +27.3 pts higher in Alice Springs

56.4% 65th pct 29.1% 18th pct

Walk to shops in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +1.1 pts higher in Alice Springs

57.1% 66th pct 56.0% 64th pct

Walk to transit in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +86.4 pts higher in Alice Springs

86.4% 80th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +1.0 pts higher in Alice Springs

76.7% 78th pct 75.7% 77th pct

Walk to a park in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +24.1 pts higher in Alice Springs

90.8% 75th pct 66.7% 45th pct

Walk to health in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +37.4 pts higher in MacDonnell

34.7% 44th pct 72.2% 86th pct

Amenities/1k in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +7.6 more in MacDonnell

13.9 29th pct 21.6 57th pct

Intersections/km² in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +10 higher in Alice Springs

10 72nd pct 0 2nd pct

Mean slope in Alice Springs in MacDonnell +0.3 pts higher in MacDonnell

2.9% 15th pct 3.2% 21st pct

Compare Alice Springs with nearby areas

MacDonnell Central Desert Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yunkunytjatjara Barkly Boulia Coober Pedy Diamantina Unincorporated SA

Compare MacDonnell with nearby areas

Alice Springs Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yunkunytjatjara Central Desert Maralinga Tjarutja Coober Pedy Ngaanyatjarraku Barkly Unincorporated SA

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Alice Springs vs MacDonnell [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA70200/alice-springs/vs/LGA72330/macdonnell