CensusAtlas

Compare

Major Cities of Australia vs Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 433 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Remote Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are vastly different environments. Major Cities of Australia is a high-population hub where 35.5% of people were born overseas and the typical weekly household income is $1,888. In contrast, Remote Australia is sparsely populated and much older, with a typical resident aged 55 and a typical weekly income of $1,050. Education and language also differ sharply; for example, 66.8% of people in Major Cities of Australia finished Year 12 compared to 34.4% in Remote Australia, and the share of people using a language other than English at home is far higher in the cities (33.9% versus 3.0%).

The gap in typical household income has widened since 2011, growing from $595 to $838. Despite these diverging trends, the two areas are effectively alike in their unemployment rates, which both sit around 5.2% to 5.3%. They also share similar proportions of people in de facto relationships and First Nations populations. While Major Cities of Australia is very walkable and Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent, both areas have a similar share of people who speak a First Nations language.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Median age: 18 yrs older in Remote Australia Born overseas: 28.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 30.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 32.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Owned outright: 32.1 pts higher in Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5,015,110 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
5,018,415 97th pct 3,305 29th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +18 yrs older in Remote Australia gap widening
37 yrs 25th pct 55 yrs 98th pct
First Nations in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
0.7% 5th pct 1.6% 13th pct
Aged 65+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +15.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
15.1% 43rd pct 30.7% 100th pct
Under 15 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
18.1% 57th pct 14.6% 28th pct
De facto in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
10.8% 14th pct 9.8% 5th pct

Age structure

31.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +12.9 pts 18.2%
15.1% Seniors (65+) +15.6 pts ▸ 30.7%
23.4% Older adults (45–64) +6.8 pts ▸ 30.2%
18.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.5 pts 14.6%
12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +5.9 pts 6.4%

Marital status

46.8% Married +4.9 pts ▸ 51.7%
38.1% Never married ◂ +11.9 pts 26.2%
7.7% Divorced +3.0 pts ▸ 10.6%
4.6% Widowed +3.1 pts ▸ 7.7%
2.9% Separated +0.9 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +28.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
35.5% 100th pct 7.3% 10th pct

Country of birth

60.2% Australia +23.3 pts ▸ 83.4%
4.9% India ◂ +4.5 pts 0.5%
3.3% China ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%
2.7% England ◂ +0.8 pts 1.9%
1.8% Vietnam ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%
1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.8 pts 0.9%
1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%
1.2% Italy ◂ +1.1 pts 0.1%
0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%
0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

25.7% English +16.6 pts ▸ 42.2%
23.5% Australian +18.6 pts ▸ 42.1%
2.9% German +8.6 pts ▸ 11.5%
7.2% Scottish +3.7 pts ▸ 10.9%
8.4% Irish +2.3 pts ▸ 10.7%
8.2% Chinese ◂ +7.6 pts 0.6%
6.5% Italian ◂ +5.2 pts 1.3%
5.3% Indian ◂ +4.8 pts 0.5%
3.4% Greek ◂ +2.9 pts 0.5%
2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.4 pts 0.0%
1.7% Filipino ◂ +1.1 pts 0.6%
1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.4 pts 1.1%

Language

Other language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +30.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
33.9% 93rd pct 3.0% 0th pct
Limited English in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.4% 92nd pct 0.4% 19th pct

Language used at home

61.3% English only +27.4 pts ▸ 88.7%
4.3% Mandarin ◂ +4.2 pts 0.1%
2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +2.2 pts 0.1%
2.1% Greek ◂ +2.0 pts 0.1%
2.0% Punjabi ◂ +2.0 pts 0.0%
1.8% Arabic ◂ +1.7 pts 0.1%
1.7% Italian ◂ +1.6 pts 0.1%
1.6% Cantonese ◂ +1.6 pts 0.0%
1.3% Hindi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%
0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

Religion

No religion in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
37.3% 39th pct 40.2% 48th pct

Religious affiliation

40.3% Christianity +7.8 pts ▸ 48.1%
37.3% No religion +2.9 pts ▸ 40.2%
6.2% Not stated +4.2 pts ▸ 10.4%
5.2% Islam ◂ +5.0 pts 0.2%
4.1% Hinduism ◂ +3.9 pts 0.2%
3.8% Buddhism ◂ +3.4 pts 0.4%
2.1% Other religions ◂ +1.7 pts 0.5%
0.9% Judaism ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +32.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
66.8% 99th pct 34.4% 29th pct
Bachelor+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +23.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
32.7% 98th pct 9.7% 14th pct

Highest year of school

66.8% Year 12 ◂ +32.4 pts 34.4%
9.6% Year 10 +11.4 pts ▸ 21.0%
8.7% Year 11 +9.2 pts ▸ 17.8%
9.3% Year 9 or below +7.7 pts ▸ 17.0%

Highest qualification level

19.3% Certificate III / IV +18.2 pts ▸ 37.5%
32.4% Bachelor degree ◂ +17.6 pts 14.8%
15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.5 pts 13.9%
13.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +11.1 pts 2.4%
4.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.4 pts 2.2%
1.3% Certificate I / II +1.3 pts ▸ 2.6%

Field of qualification

20.8% Management & commerce ◂ +13.5 pts 7.3%
12.5% Society & culture ◂ +2.7 pts 9.8%
12.3% Engineering & related +0.1 pts ▸ 12.5%
10.0% Health +1.1 pts ▸ 11.0%
1.2% Agriculture & environment +9.5 pts ▸ 10.7%
7.5% Education +2.8 pts ▸ 10.3%
4.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.3 pts ▸ 6.8%
5.2% Architecture & building ◂ +1.8 pts 3.5%
5.2% Information technology ◂ +4.5 pts 0.7%
4.8% Creative arts ◂ +2.5 pts 2.3%
3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.4 pts 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$241 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$838 69th pct $597 24th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$838 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,888 75th pct $1,050 1st pct
Family income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$807 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$2,236 82nd pct $1,429 11th pct
High earners in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +8.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
13.5% 76th pct 5.3% 18th pct
High-income homes in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +17.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
25.1% 85th pct 7.9% 0th pct

Household income distribution

24.0% $650–$1,499 +9.5 pts ▸ 33.5%
30.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.3 pts 23.5%
14.1% Under $650 +12.2 pts ▸ 26.3%
14.0% $4,000 or more ◂ +10.2 pts 3.8%
11.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +7.0 pts 4.1%

Personal income distribution

38.8% Under $650 +8.8 pts ▸ 47.6%
30.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.2 pts 28.5%
18.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.7 pts 11.1%
5.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.6 pts 2.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +10.4 pts higher in Remote Australia
25.7% 42nd pct 36.0% 100th pct
Mental health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.2 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.2% 42nd pct 10.4% 72nd pct
Needs assistance in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
5.6% 60th pct 7.1% 90th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

7.0% Arthritis +7.0 pts ▸ 14.0%
8.2% Mental health +2.2 pts ▸ 10.4%
7.9% Asthma +2.2 pts ▸ 10.2%
7.8% Other condition +0.2 pts ▸ 8.0%
4.5% Diabetes +1.6 pts ▸ 6.1%
3.3% Heart disease +2.3 pts ▸ 5.7%
2.5% Cancer +1.8 pts ▸ 4.3%
1.2% Lung condition +2.3 pts ▸ 3.5%
0.8% Stroke +0.7 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.3% None ◂ +14.4 pts 52.9%
18.0% One condition +4.7 pts ▸ 22.7%
5.2% Two conditions +3.1 pts ▸ 8.3%
2.5% Three or more +2.6 pts ▸ 5.1%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +21.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
12.0% 31st pct 33.5% 100th pct
Unpaid carers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
12.6% 74th pct 15.3% 100th pct
Unpaid child care in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +8.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.5% 75th pct 18.4% 28th pct
Defence service in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.1 pts higher in Remote Australia
1.6% 12th pct 3.7% 74th pct
Housework 15h+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +9.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
19.0% 43rd pct 28.6% 100th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +34,499 larger in Major Cities of Australia
34,553 86th pct 54 18th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +24 yrs older in Remote Australia
25 yrs 43rd pct 49 yrs 96th pct
Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
49.1% 96th pct 42.1% 87th pct
Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +12.9 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.9% 11th pct 21.7% 73rd pct
Median income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$221 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$687 86th pct $466 35th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$820 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,786 86th pct $966 0th pct
Indigenous language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.2% 47th pct 5.6% 43rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.5 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.6 77th pct 2.1 11th pct
One-parent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
13.1% 25th pct 10.5% 4th pct
Living alone in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +11.4 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
25.0% 23rd pct 36.4% 97th pct

Family composition

61.8% Couples with children ◂ +18.1 pts 43.7%
23.9% Couples without children +21.2 pts ▸ 45.0%
13.1% One-parent families ◂ +2.5 pts 10.5%
1.3% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

Household size

31.3% 2 people +10.3 pts ▸ 41.6%
25.0% 1 person +11.4 pts ▸ 36.4%
17.1% 4 people ◂ +10.7 pts 6.4%
16.9% 3 people ◂ +7.7 pts 9.2%
6.5% 5 people ◂ +1.7 pts 4.8%
3.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 1.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$268 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$388 86th pct $120 9th pct
Mortgage in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$1,350 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$2,000 89th pct $650 0th pct
People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.20 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
0.90 71st pct 0.70 0th pct
Renting in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +17.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
30.6% 57th pct 13.6% 0th pct
Owned outright in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +32.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
29.6% 36th pct 61.7% 100th pct
Separate houses in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +28.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
68.0% 11th pct 96.0% 94th pct
3+ bedrooms in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
72.2% 36th pct 75.7% 56th pct

How homes are owned or rented

29.6% Owned outright +32.1 pts ▸ 61.7%
36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +20.4 pts 16.4%
30.6% Rented ◂ +17.1 pts 13.6%
1.6% Other tenure +4.6 pts ▸ 6.3%
1.4% Not stated +0.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

Types of homes

68.0% Separate house +28.0 pts ▸ 96.0%
16.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +14.6 pts 1.6%
15.3% Flat or apartment ◂ +14.8 pts 0.5%
0.3% Other dwelling +1.0 pts ▸ 1.4%

Bedrooms per home

39.7% 3 bedrooms +11.2 pts ▸ 50.9%
26.8% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.7 pts 22.2%
20.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.5 pts 17.0%
5.8% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.2 pts 4.6%
5.6% 5 or more ◂ +3.0 pts 2.6%
0.3% Studio / none +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

Weekly rent distribution

7.2% Under $200 +58.0 pts ▸ 65.3%
50.6% $350–$549 ◂ +50.6 pts 0.0%
24.4% $200–$349 ◂ +10.2 pts 14.2%
9.7% $550–$749 ◂ +9.7 pts 0.0%
4.5% $750 or more ◂ +4.5 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

13.1% Under $1,000 +53.9 pts ▸ 67.0%
34.7% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +31.3 pts 3.5%
25.7% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +9.6 pts 16.1%
20.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +18.7 pts 1.3%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
8.6% 76th pct 4.1% 13th pct
Work from home in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +9.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
28.5% 99th pct 19.1% 89th pct
PT commute in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
3.5% 71st pct 0.2% 12th pct

How people get to work

46.8% Car (driver) +7.7 pts ▸ 54.5%
28.5% Worked at home ◂ +9.4 pts 19.1%
2.0% Walked +8.0 pts ▸ 10.0%
3.2% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.5 pts 2.7%
2.0% Train ◂ +2.0 pts 0.0%
0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%
0.6% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

37.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +8.2 pts 29.3%
37.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.4 pts 35.6%
11.0% 3 vehicles +7.4 pts ▸ 18.4%
5.9% 4 or more +6.7 pts ▸ 12.6%
8.6% No vehicle ◂ +4.4 pts 4.1%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +17.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
41.1% 72nd pct 24.0% 2nd pct
Recent arrivals in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +10.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
15.9% 52nd pct 5.0% 1st pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.3% 56th pct 5.2% 51st pct
Participation in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +13.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
64.1% 86th pct 50.5% 29th pct
Full-time in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
60.0% 57th pct 56.7% 35th pct

Industries people work in

0.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +40.8 pts ▸ 41.3%
13.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.9 pts 12.8%
9.5% Professional & technical ◂ +8.0 pts 1.6%
9.5% Retail trade ◂ +4.9 pts 4.5%
9.2% Construction ◂ +5.8 pts 3.4%
8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.4 pts 8.4%
6.8% Manufacturing ◂ +4.8 pts 2.0%
6.1% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.9 pts 4.2%
5.5% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.7 pts 4.8%
4.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.2 pts 4.7%
4.7% Finance & insurance ◂ +4.4 pts 0.3%
3.4% Other services ◂ +1.6 pts 1.9%

Occupations people work in

13.7% Managers +21.9 pts ▸ 35.6%
26.9% Professionals ◂ +15.1 pts 11.8%
7.9% Labourers +5.5 pts ▸ 13.3%
12.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +4.6 pts 8.2%
12.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +5.8 pts 6.3%
10.6% Community & personal service ◂ +0.8 pts 9.8%
5.8% Machinery operators & drivers +2.9 pts ▸ 8.7%
8.3% Sales workers ◂ +4.2 pts 4.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.7 higher in Major Cities of Australia
7.2 100th pct 3.4 58th pct
Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.9 more in Major Cities of Australia
6.7 100th pct 3.7 58th pct
15-min city in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +35.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
83.4% 100th pct 48.2% 71st pct
Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +39.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
82.7% 100th pct 43.0% 43rd pct
Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +48.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
92.0% 93rd pct 43.5% 57th pct
Walk to school in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +43.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
87.9% 100th pct 44.7% 43rd pct
Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +44.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
98.2% 99th pct 53.6% 21st pct
Walk to health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +33.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
73.8% 100th pct 40.1% 64th pct
Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +99.6 more in Remote Australia
14.2 14th pct 113.8 100th pct
Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +155 higher in Major Cities of Australia
155 99th pct 0 32nd pct
Mean slope in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.2 pts higher in Remote Australia
4.7% 42nd pct 5.9% 68th pct

Compare Major Cities of Australia with nearby areas

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

Compare Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA20/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA23/remote-australia