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Major Cities of Australia vs Outer Regional Australia

Name: Major Cities of Australia vs Outer Regional Australia — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 256 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Outer Regional Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Outer Regional Australia are very different environments. Major Cities of Australia is a very walkable area where 35.3% of people were born overseas and 33.5% use another language at home. It is also more highly qualified, with 31.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Outer Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent and has a much older population, with a typical age of 45 compared to 37 in the cities. Housing differs sharply too; 91.3% of homes in Outer Regional Australia are separate houses, while 43.6% are owned outright.

Both areas are remarkably similar in the share of children under 15 and the proportion of people who claim no religion. However, the gaps between them are generally widening. Since 2011, the difference in the share of overseas-born residents has grown, and the gap in typical weekly rents has increased to $200. The divide in working habits has also sharpened, with people now far more likely to work from home in Major Cities of Australia.

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Where they differ most

Born overseas: 26.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 28.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 27.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 32.9 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia Population: 5,702,735 larger in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +5,702,735 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

6,080,428 100th pct 377,693 75th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +8 yrs older in Outer Regional Australia gap widening

37 yrs 25th pct 45 yrs 76th pct

Age structure

29.8% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +8.8 pts 21.0%

23.9% Older adults (45–64) +3.7 pts ▸ 27.6%

15.8% Seniors (65+) +7.6 pts ▸ 23.4%

18.3% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.3 pts 18.0%

12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.2 pts 10.0%

Marital status

47.7% Married ◂ +0.4 pts 47.3%

36.5% Never married ◂ +3.8 pts 32.7%

8.1% Divorced +1.4 pts ▸ 9.5%

4.7% Widowed +2.1 pts ▸ 6.8%

3.0% Separated +0.7 pts ▸ 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

60.1% Australia +21.3 pts ▸ 81.4%

4.0% China ◂ +3.8 pts 0.2%

3.2% India ◂ +2.4 pts 0.8%

2.9% England ◂ +1.1 pts 1.8%

1.6% Philippines ◂ +1.0 pts 0.6%

1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.7 pts 0.9%

1.6% Vietnam ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%

1.0% Nepal ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

0.7% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.7% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Ancestry

24.6% Australian +16.4 pts ▸ 41.0%

26.1% English +12.9 pts ▸ 39.0%

8.1% Irish +3.0 pts ▸ 11.1%

6.7% Scottish +3.3 pts ▸ 10.0%

9.3% Chinese ◂ +8.7 pts 0.6%

2.6% German +1.6 pts ▸ 4.2%

4.1% Italian ◂ +0.6 pts 3.5%

4.1% Indian ◂ +3.4 pts 0.6%

2.3% Filipino ◂ +1.6 pts 0.7%

2.2% Greek ◂ +1.9 pts 0.3%

2.0% Vietnamese ◂ +1.9 pts 0.1%

1.0% Dutch even 1.0%

Language

Language used at home

61.2% English only +24.6 pts ▸ 85.8%

4.4% Mandarin ◂ +4.1 pts 0.3%

3.7% Arabic ◂ +3.6 pts 0.1%

2.4% Cantonese ◂ +2.3 pts 0.1%

1.9% Vietnamese ◂ +1.8 pts 0.1%

1.3% Hindi ◂ +1.2 pts 0.1%

1.3% Greek ◂ +1.2 pts 0.1%

1.0% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.8% Tagalog ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Religion

Religious affiliation

46.2% Christianity +8.9 pts ▸ 55.1%

32.2% No religion ◂ +0.4 pts 31.8%

6.5% Not stated +4.5 pts ▸ 11.0%

5.6% Islam ◂ +5.2 pts 0.4%

4.3% Hinduism ◂ +3.7 pts 0.6%

3.4% Buddhism ◂ +2.9 pts 0.5%

1.2% Other religions ◂ +0.6 pts 0.6%

0.6% Judaism ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

64.4% Year 12 ◂ +27.2 pts 37.2%

16.5% Year 10 +13.6 pts ▸ 30.1%

8.7% Year 9 or below +5.5 pts ▸ 14.1%

4.2% Year 11 +2.9 pts ▸ 7.1%

Highest qualification level

20.0% Certificate III / IV +15.1 pts ▸ 35.1%

31.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +15.4 pts 16.4%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.0 pts 12.8%

13.4% Postgraduate degree ◂ +10.0 pts 3.4%

3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.8 pts 2.5%

1.5% Certificate I / II +1.1 pts ▸ 2.6%

Field of qualification

23.7% Management & commerce ◂ +10.5 pts 13.3%

12.5% Engineering & related +2.2 pts ▸ 14.7%

12.2% Society & culture ◂ +3.0 pts 9.2%

9.2% Health +0.5 pts ▸ 9.6%

6.9% Education +1.6 pts ▸ 8.5%

1.1% Agriculture & environment +5.3 pts ▸ 6.4%

5.0% Architecture & building +0.3 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.7 pts ▸ 4.9%

4.8% Information technology ◂ +3.8 pts 1.0%

4.6% Creative arts ◂ +2.7 pts 1.9%

3.3% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.7 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$185 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$862 72nd pct $677 34th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$731 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,009 81st pct $1,278 22nd pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$681 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,326 86th pct $1,645 30th pct

Household income distribution

22.5% $650–$1,499 +8.6 pts ▸ 31.1%

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.1 pts 26.1%

13.9% Under $650 +7.4 pts ▸ 21.3%

17.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +11.4 pts 5.8%

11.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +4.5 pts 6.9%

Personal income distribution

37.9% Under $650 +4.9 pts ▸ 42.8%

29.7% $650–$1,499 +1.0 pts ▸ 30.7%

19.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +6.9 pts 12.5%

6.6% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.2 pts 2.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.3% Arthritis +4.5 pts ▸ 11.8%

7.2% Asthma +2.4 pts ▸ 9.6%

7.3% Mental health +1.4 pts ▸ 8.8%

7.6% Other condition ◂ +0.3 pts 7.3%

4.7% Diabetes +0.9 pts ▸ 5.6%

3.5% Heart disease +1.5 pts ▸ 5.1%

2.5% Cancer +0.9 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.4% Lung condition +1.3 pts ▸ 2.7%

0.8% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.6% None ◂ +11.9 pts 55.7%

17.4% One condition +3.0 pts ▸ 20.4%

5.0% Two conditions +2.3 pts ▸ 7.3%

2.5% Three or more +1.8 pts ▸ 4.3%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +101,957 larger in Major Cities of Australia

135,921 100th pct 33,964 86th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia even

24 yrs 29th pct 24 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$127 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$652 81st pct $525 50th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$462 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,746 83rd pct $1,284 42nd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +0.3 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap steady

2.7 86th pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

61.4% Couples with children ◂ +11.2 pts 50.1%

23.9% Couples without children +10.0 pts ▸ 33.9%

13.5% One-parent families +1.4 pts ▸ 14.9%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

Household size

31.3% 2 people +6.5 pts ▸ 37.8%

23.8% 1 person +5.9 pts ▸ 29.7%

17.0% 3 people ◂ +4.4 pts 12.6%

16.9% 4 people ◂ +5.9 pts 11.0%

7.1% 5 people ◂ +1.2 pts 5.9%

3.9% 6 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 3.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$200 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$450 100th pct $250 45th pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$1,000 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,300 100th pct $1,300 36th pct

People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +0.10 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady

0.90 71st pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

28.6% Owned outright +15.1 pts ▸ 43.6%

35.2% Rented ◂ +12.8 pts 22.4%

33.2% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.4 pts 27.8%

1.7% Other tenure +2.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.3% Not stated +1.0 pts ▸ 2.3%

Types of homes

58.4% Separate house +32.9 pts ▸ 91.3%

27.8% Flat or apartment ◂ +24.9 pts 3.0%

13.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +9.0 pts 4.1%

0.5% Other dwelling +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

Bedrooms per home

32.6% 3 bedrooms +10.6 pts ▸ 43.1%

24.4% 4 bedrooms +2.6 pts ▸ 26.9%

24.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +8.8 pts 16.1%

8.5% 5 or more ◂ +1.5 pts 6.9%

7.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.6 pts 4.0%

0.8% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

14.1% $200–$349 +33.1 pts ▸ 47.2%

43.5% $350–$549 ◂ +27.4 pts 16.1%

8.9% Under $200 +19.2 pts ▸ 28.1%

20.6% $550–$749 ◂ +19.5 pts 1.1%

9.7% $750 or more ◂ +9.0 pts 0.7%

Monthly mortgage distribution

18.3% $1,000–$1,799 +17.8 pts ▸ 36.1%

33.3% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +15.2 pts 18.1%

11.3% Under $1,000 +20.8 pts ▸ 32.1%

30.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +23.5 pts 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

37.3% Car (driver) +25.1 pts ▸ 62.4%

36.2% Worked at home ◂ +22.5 pts 13.7%

2.7% Car (passenger) +2.1 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.2% Walked +2.6 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.2% Train ◂ +2.2 pts 0.0%

1.1% Bus ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

0.4% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Motor vehicles per home

39.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.8 pts 32.8%

33.6% 2 vehicles +3.9 pts ▸ 37.5%

10.4% 3 vehicles +4.9 pts ▸ 15.3%

10.6% No vehicle ◂ +5.8 pts 4.8%

5.8% 4 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 9.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

0.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +17.7 pts ▸ 18.1%

14.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.2 pts 11.9%

10.2% Professional & technical ◂ +7.0 pts 3.2%

8.9% Retail trade ◂ +0.7 pts 8.2%

8.6% Education & training ◂ +0.3 pts 8.4%

8.3% Construction ◂ +1.0 pts 7.3%

5.8% Accommodation & food +0.7 pts ▸ 6.5%

6.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +5.4 pts 1.0%

5.4% Manufacturing +0.7 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.8% Public administration & safety even 5.8%

4.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.2 pts 3.7%

3.3% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

Occupations people work in

28.4% Professionals ◂ +14.8 pts 13.6%

14.5% Managers +5.5 pts ▸ 20.1%

7.1% Labourers +6.8 pts ▸ 13.9%

13.6% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.5 pts 10.1%

11.0% Technicians & trades +2.1 pts ▸ 13.1%

9.9% Community & personal service +1.3 pts ▸ 11.2%

5.7% Machinery operators & drivers +2.9 pts ▸ 8.6%

7.9% Sales workers ◂ +0.6 pts 7.3%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +3.9 higher in Major Cities of Australia

7.1 100th pct 3.3 38th pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +3.2 more in Major Cities of Australia

6.6 100th pct 3.4 39th pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +41.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

82.4% 100th pct 40.9% 43rd pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +41.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

78.0% 96th pct 36.4% 23rd pct

Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +56.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

96.1% 99th pct 39.5% 49th pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +43.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

87.0% 100th pct 43.4% 40th pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +40.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

96.8% 93rd pct 56.8% 28th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +34.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

66.3% 97th pct 31.9% 42nd pct

Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +7.2 more in Outer Regional Australia

13.4 8th pct 20.6 50th pct

Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +87 higher in Major Cities of Australia

87 88th pct 0 34th pct

Mean slope in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +1.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

7.0% 86th pct 6.0% 71st pct

Compare Major Cities of Australia with nearby areas

Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia

Compare Outer Regional Australia with nearby areas

Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Outer Regional Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA10/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA12/outer-regional-australia