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Central Desert vs MacDonnell

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 366 km apart · Central Desert profile · MacDonnell profile

Central Desert MacDonnell

MacDonnell and Central Desert are both sparsely populated areas of the Northern Territory with very high First Nations populations. MacDonnell has a higher proportion of First Nations people (85.6% compared to 79.2%) and more residents who live alone. Central Desert has a far higher First Nations unemployment rate (33.5% versus 21.3%) and a much larger share of people who speak a First Nations language (92.2% versus 76.8%). Access to amenities differs significantly, with MacDonnell being far more walkable; 66.7% of homes there are within a 15-minute walk of a park, compared to just 24.1% in Central Desert.

Everyday life is very similar in both places, with nearly identical typical weekly rents of $75 and typical personal incomes of around $280. Both areas have very few people born overseas and similar shares of adults with a university degree. While the gap in First Nations population has widened since 2011, other differences are shifting; for instance, the share of homes with no motor vehicle was higher in Central Desert a decade ago, but is now far higher in MacDonnell.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,157 larger in MacDonnell Mortgage: $260 higher in MacDonnell No car: 10.6 pts higher in MacDonnell Full-time: 5.4 pts higher in Central Desert Other language: 7.2 pts higher in Central Desert

Demographics & Identity

Population in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2,157 larger in MacDonnell gap steady
3,591 29th pct 5,748 36th pct
Median age in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2 yrs older in MacDonnell gap widening
28 yrs 2nd pct 30 yrs 5th pct
First Nations in Central Desertin MacDonnell +6.4 pts higher in MacDonnell gap widening
79.2% 98th pct 85.6% 99th pct
Aged 65+ in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.9 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
6.0% 5th pct 5.1% 3rd pct
Under 15 in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4.0 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
26.9% 98th pct 22.8% 89th pct
De facto in Central Desertin MacDonnell +3.6 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
11.3% 25th pct 7.7% 6th pct

Age structure

30.5% Young adults (25–44) +4.7 pts ▸ 35.2%
26.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +4.0 pts 22.8%
19.4% Older adults (45–64) +1.5 pts ▸ 20.9%
17.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.3 pts 15.8%
6.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.9 pts 5.1%

Marital status

41.3% Married +4.7 pts ▸ 46.0%
45.7% Never married ◂ +3.7 pts 42.0%
4.6% Widowed +0.3 pts ▸ 4.9%
4.5% Divorced ◂ +1.4 pts 3.0%
4.0% Separated even 4.1%

Age & sex structure

Central Desert MacDonnell

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.7 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
3.6% 5th pct 3.0% 3rd pct

Country of birth

89.1% Australia +3.5 pts ▸ 92.6%
0.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%
0.5% England even 0.5%
0.2% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%
0.3% India ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%
0.1% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.1% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.0% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%

Ancestry

6.2% English ◂ +1.9 pts 4.3%
6.1% Australian ◂ +1.7 pts 4.4%
1.9% Irish ◂ +0.4 pts 1.5%
1.5% Scottish even 1.5%
1.2% German ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%
0.5% Chinese ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%
0.4% Italian even 0.4%
0.4% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%
0.2% Filipino +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%
0.2% Indian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Central Desertin MacDonnell +7.2 pts higher in Central Desert gap widening
76.2% 100th pct 69.0% 98th pct
Limited English in Central Desertin MacDonnell +5.1 pts higher in MacDonnell gap steady
5.4% 89th pct 10.5% 97th pct

Language used at home

15.8% English only ◂ +0.1 pts 15.7%
0.3% Mandarin ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%
0.0% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.1% Hindi even 0.1%
0.1% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.0% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%
0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Central Desertin MacDonnell +3.8 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
20.5% 6th pct 16.8% 2nd pct

Religious affiliation

65.5% Christianity ◂ +5.5 pts 60.0%
12.1% Not stated +8.9 pts ▸ 21.0%
20.5% No religion ◂ +3.8 pts 16.8%
1.0% Other religions +0.9 pts ▸ 1.9%
0.3% Hinduism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%
0.3% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.2% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2.9 pts higher in Central Desert gap narrowing
19.2% 0th pct 16.4% 0th pct
Bachelor+ in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.8 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
6.2% 7th pct 5.5% 5th pct
Schools in Central Desertin MacDonnell +1 more in MacDonnell
12 57th pct 13 60th pct
Schools/1k kids in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2.53 more in Central Desert
12.44 88th pct 9.91 86th pct
Students in Central Desertin MacDonnell +82 more in Central Desert
709 32nd pct 627 31st pct
Avg size in Central Desertin MacDonnell +11 larger in Central Desert
59 10th pct 48 7th pct
ICSEA in Central Desertin MacDonnell +3 higher in Central Desert
612 0th pct 609 0th pct

Highest year of school

36.1% Year 9 or below +2.8 pts ▸ 38.9%
21.4% Year 10 +3.8 pts ▸ 25.2%
19.2% Year 12 ◂ +2.9 pts 16.4%
11.2% Year 11 ◂ +2.5 pts 8.7%

Highest qualification level

21.8% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.9 pts 19.9%
11.6% Bachelor degree +1.9 pts ▸ 13.5%
5.5% Certificate I / II +1.6 pts ▸ 7.1%
6.5% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.5 pts ▸ 7.0%
4.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.5 pts 3.6%
1.7% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.8 pts ▸ 2.5%

Field of qualification

9.3% Society & culture +1.2 pts ▸ 10.4%
9.9% Education ◂ +0.5 pts 9.5%
7.6% Management & commerce +0.8 pts ▸ 8.3%
8.3% Engineering & related ◂ +1.5 pts 6.8%
5.7% Health +1.5 pts ▸ 7.1%
4.5% Agriculture & environment +1.0 pts ▸ 5.5%
3.5% Creative arts ◂ +2.0 pts 1.5%
1.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.2 pts ▸ 3.0%
2.5% Architecture & building +0.1 pts ▸ 2.5%
2.1% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.5 pts 0.6%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Central Desertin MacDonnell +$14 higher in MacDonnell gap steady
$272 0th pct $286 0th pct
Household income in Central Desertin MacDonnell +$29 higher in MacDonnell gap narrowing
$1,122 16th pct $1,151 19th pct
Family income in Central Desertin MacDonnell +$108 higher in MacDonnell gap widening
$635 0th pct $743 0th pct
High earners in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2.5 pts higher in Central Desert gap narrowing
4.7% 13th pct 2.2% 0th pct
High-income homes in Central Desertin MacDonnell +1.7 pts higher in MacDonnell gap steady
3.9% 0th pct 5.6% 4th pct

Household income distribution

35.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.9 pts 34.1%
28.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.8 pts 24.2%
23.2% Under $650 ◂ +2.3 pts 21.0%
2.1% $3,000–$3,999 +1.6 pts ▸ 3.7%
1.8% $4,000 or more even 1.9%

Personal income distribution

67.6% Under $650 ◂ +7.4 pts 60.2%
11.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.9 pts 10.2%
7.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.6 pts 4.9%
1.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2.4 pts higher in Central Desert
19.2% 11th pct 16.8% 7th pct
Mental health in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.1 pts higher in Central Desert
1.8% 0th pct 1.7% 0th pct
Needs assistance in Central Desertin MacDonnell +1.1 pts higher in MacDonnell gap steady
2.5% 8th pct 3.6% 17th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

10.2% Diabetes ◂ +1.7 pts 8.5%
4.2% Heart disease ◂ +0.9 pts 3.3%
3.7% Other condition even 3.7%
3.1% Asthma +0.2 pts ▸ 3.3%
1.8% Arthritis ◂ +0.5 pts 1.3%
1.8% Mental health ◂ +0.1 pts 1.7%
0.9% Lung condition ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%
0.4% Dementia even 0.5%
0.3% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.3% Cancer even 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

70.5% None ◂ +6.7 pts 63.8%
14.9% One condition ◂ +1.5 pts 13.3%
3.5% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 2.6%
0.7% Three or more even 0.7%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.7 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
6.3% 2nd pct 5.5% 1st pct
Unpaid carers in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2.7 pts higher in MacDonnell gap narrowing
9.3% 19th pct 12.0% 47th pct
Unpaid child care in Central Desertin MacDonnell +6.9 pts higher in Central Desert gap narrowing
46.7% 100th pct 39.8% 98th pct
Defence service in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.9 pts higher in Central Desert
1.2% 6th pct 0.3% 0th pct
Housework 15h+ in Central Desertin MacDonnell +1.3 pts higher in MacDonnell gap steady
12.1% 7th pct 13.4% 9th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2,076 larger in MacDonnell
2,843 86th pct 4,919 87th pct
Median age in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4 yrs older in MacDonnell
25 yrs 50th pct 29 yrs 75th pct
Year 12 in Central Desertin MacDonnell +1.3 pts higher in Central Desert
11.2% 0th pct 9.9% 0th pct
Unemployment in Central Desertin MacDonnell +12.2 pts higher in Central Desert
33.5% 95th pct 21.3% 87th pct
Median income in Central Desertin MacDonnell +$20 higher in MacDonnell
$241 0th pct $261 0th pct
Household income in Central Desertin MacDonnell +$80 higher in MacDonnell
$853 7th pct $933 11th pct
Indigenous language in Central Desertin MacDonnell +15.4 pts higher in Central Desert
92.2% 100th pct 76.8% 98th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.3 larger in Central Desert gap steady
4.1 100th pct 3.8 100th pct
One-parent in Central Desertin MacDonnell +1.5 pts higher in MacDonnell gap narrowing
26.8% 93rd pct 28.3% 94th pct
Living alone in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4.0 pts higher in MacDonnell gap narrowing
19.9% 10th pct 23.9% 22nd pct

Family composition

55.4% Couples with children ◂ +0.9 pts 54.5%
26.8% One-parent families +1.5 pts ▸ 28.3%
14.4% Couples without children ◂ +0.4 pts 14.0%
3.4% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 3.2%

Household size

30.6% 6 or more ◂ +2.6 pts 28.1%
19.9% 1 person +4.0 pts ▸ 23.9%
17.1% 2 people +1.8 pts ▸ 18.8%
11.9% 5 people ◂ +3.2 pts 8.7%
9.7% 4 people +1.9 pts ▸ 11.5%
10.1% 3 people ◂ +0.7 pts 9.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Central Desertin MacDonnell even gap steady
$75 0th pct $75 0th pct
Mortgage in Central Desertin MacDonnell +$260 higher in MacDonnell
$498 0th pct $758 10th pct
People / bedroom in Central Desertin MacDonnell even gap steady
1.40 100th pct 1.40 100th pct
Renting in Central Desertin MacDonnell +5.1 pts higher in Central Desert gap widening
71.9% 95th pct 66.8% 93rd pct
Owned outright in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4.0 pts higher in MacDonnell gap widening
2.7% 0th pct 6.7% 3rd pct
Separate houses in Central Desertin MacDonnell +3.0 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
90.2% 54th pct 87.2% 42nd pct
3+ bedrooms in Central Desertin MacDonnell +5.2 pts higher in Central Desert gap narrowing
69.7% 24th pct 64.5% 15th pct

How homes are owned or rented

71.9% Rented ◂ +5.1 pts 66.8%
19.4% Other tenure +2.2 pts ▸ 21.7%
2.7% Owned outright +4.0 pts ▸ 6.7%
3.9% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 4.4%
1.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.3 pts 0.8%

Types of homes

90.2% Separate house ◂ +3.0 pts 87.2%
2.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.3 pts ▸ 4.8%
2.4% Other dwelling +1.8 pts ▸ 4.2%
1.8% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.2 pts 1.6%

Bedrooms per home

50.3% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.4 pts 48.0%
18.3% 2 bedrooms +4.8 pts ▸ 23.1%
15.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.6 pts 14.0%
5.7% 1 bedroom +2.5 pts ▸ 8.3%
3.6% 5 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 2.5%
0.4% Studio / none +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%

Weekly rent distribution

85.8% Under $200 ◂ +3.9 pts 81.9%
3.9% $200–$349 +0.9 pts ▸ 4.8%
0.0% $350–$549 +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.0% $550–$749 even 0.0%
0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

37.5% Under $1,000 ◂ +4.2 pts 33.3%
0.0% $1,000–$1,799 even 0.0%
0.0% $1,800–$2,999 even 0.0%
0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Central Desertin MacDonnell +10.6 pts higher in MacDonnell gap widening
31.0% 94th pct 41.5% 98th pct
Work from home in Central Desertin MacDonnell +1.2 pts higher in Central Desert gap widening
6.0% 17th pct 4.8% 12th pct
PT commute in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.1 pts higher in Central Desert gap narrowing
2.8% 74th pct 2.7% 73rd pct
PT stops in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

39.0% Walked +7.5 pts ▸ 46.5%
30.5% Car (driver) ◂ +2.0 pts 28.5%
7.1% Car (passenger) +1.8 pts ▸ 8.9%
6.0% Worked at home ◂ +1.2 pts 4.8%
2.8% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 2.7%
0.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

44.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.6 pts 41.0%
31.0% No vehicle +10.6 pts ▸ 41.5%
15.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +3.4 pts 11.7%
4.5% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.0 pts 3.5%
4.2% 4 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 2.2%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4.2 pts higher in Central Desert gap widening
24.2% 11th pct 20.0% 5th pct
Recent arrivals in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.9 pts higher in MacDonnell gap narrowing
32.1% 97th pct 32.9% 98th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4.2 pts higher in Central Desert gap widening
18.4% 94th pct 14.2% 91st pct
Participation in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4.3 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
34.5% 4th pct 30.3% 1st pct
Full-time in Central Desertin MacDonnell +5.4 pts higher in Central Desert gap steady
62.5% 67th pct 57.1% 33rd pct

Industries people work in

20.2% Public administration & safety +5.1 pts ▸ 25.3%
12.5% Health care & social assistance +4.4 pts ▸ 16.9%
16.4% Education & training ◂ +2.6 pts 13.8%
14.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.6 pts 9.0%
6.9% Retail trade +1.1 pts ▸ 8.0%
3.5% Arts & recreation +4.5 pts ▸ 8.0%
7.7% Mining ◂ +7.3 pts 0.3%
2.4% Accommodation & food +3.6 pts ▸ 6.1%
3.2% Construction ◂ +1.3 pts 1.9%
2.7% Administrative & support +0.3 pts ▸ 3.0%
1.6% Other services +0.7 pts ▸ 2.3%
1.9% Media & telecommunications ◂ +1.9 pts 0.0%

Occupations people work in

21.9% Community & personal service +6.7 pts ▸ 28.7%
20.4% Professionals +2.5 pts ▸ 22.9%
16.1% Managers ◂ +3.3 pts 12.8%
14.7% Labourers ◂ +0.2 pts 14.5%
7.9% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +5.5 pts 2.4%
7.4% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.3 pts 7.1%
5.5% Technicians & trades +0.8 pts ▸ 6.3%
3.6% Sales workers +0.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
1 0th pct 1 0th pct
IRSD decile in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
1 0th pct 1 0th pct
IER decile in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
1 0th pct 1 0th pct
IEO decile in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
1 0th pct 1 0th pct
IRSAD score in Central Desertin MacDonnell +30 higher in MacDonnell
697 0th pct 727 2nd pct
ERP in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2,808 higher in MacDonnell
4,170 29th pct 6,978 37th pct
Growth in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4.9 pts higher in MacDonnell
1.3% 25th pct 6.1% 72nd pct
Businesses in Central Desertin MacDonnell +11 higher in MacDonnell
25 2nd pct 36 3rd pct
Approvals in Central Desertin MacDonnell +7 higher in MacDonnell
45 47th pct 52 49th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Central Desertin MacDonnell +25 higher in Central Desert
268 9th pct 243 7th pct
Max temp in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2.9 higher in Central Desert
33.9 97th pct 31.0 88th pct
Min temp in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2.9 higher in Central Desert
17.3 88th pct 14.5 78th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.6 higher in MacDonnell
2.2 16th pct 2.9 27th pct
Types ≤15 min in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.7 more in MacDonnell
2.7 20th pct 3.4 34th pct
15-min city in Central Desertin MacDonnell +12.8 pts higher in MacDonnell
16.4% 9th pct 29.1% 18th pct
Walk to shops in Central Desertin MacDonnell +5.8 pts higher in MacDonnell
50.2% 55th pct 56.0% 64th pct
Walk to transit in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Central Desertin MacDonnell +4.1 pts higher in Central Desert
79.8% 80th pct 75.7% 77th pct
Walk to a park in Central Desertin MacDonnell +42.7 pts higher in MacDonnell
24.1% 8th pct 66.7% 45th pct
Walk to health in Central Desertin MacDonnell +2.5 pts higher in MacDonnell
69.6% 85th pct 72.2% 86th pct
Amenities/1k in Central Desertin MacDonnell +3.5 more in MacDonnell
18.1 47th pct 21.6 57th pct
Intersections/km² in Central Desertin MacDonnell even
0 0th pct 0 2nd pct
Mean slope in Central Desertin MacDonnell +0.1 pts higher in MacDonnell
3.1% 18th pct 3.2% 21st pct

Compare Central Desert with nearby areas

MacDonnell Alice Springs Halls Creek Barkly Victoria Daly Ngaanyatjarraku Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yunkunytjatjara Katherine

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). Central Desert vs MacDonnell [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA70620/central-desert/vs/LGA72330/macdonnell