Compare

Major Cities of Australia vs Inner Regional Australia

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

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 656 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Inner Regional Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Inner Regional Australia are far apart in their makeup. Residents in Major Cities of Australia are much younger, with a typical age of 37, while the typical resident in Inner Regional Australia is 48. Major Cities of Australia is also far more diverse, with 35.5% of people born overseas and 33.9% using a language other than English at home. Education and income gaps are also wide; 32.7% of adults in Major Cities of Australia hold a bachelor degree or higher compared to 14.7% in Inner Regional Australia, and a far higher 25.1% of city households earn $3,000 or more a week.

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of one-parent families. This similarity exists alongside a widening gap in housing and lifestyle. Inner Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent and has a much higher share of separate houses (93.4%), while Major Cities of Australia is very walkable. Since 2011, the divide has grown as more people in Major Cities of Australia work from home and the gap in typical resident ages has increased from 6 to 11 years.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Other language: 30.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 25.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia Population: 4,843,108 larger in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 22.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 21.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +4,843,108 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

5,018,415 97th pct 175,307 69th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +11 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening

37 yrs 25th pct 48 yrs 86th pct

Age structure

31.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +11.3 pts 19.8%

23.4% Older adults (45–64) +4.9 pts ▸ 28.3%

15.1% Seniors (65+) +10.5 pts ▸ 25.6%

18.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.8 pts 16.3%

12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.2 pts 10.1%

Marital status

46.8% Married +4.2 pts ▸ 51.0%

38.1% Never married ◂ +8.7 pts 29.4%

7.7% Divorced +2.7 pts ▸ 10.3%

4.6% Widowed +1.4 pts ▸ 6.0%

2.9% Separated +0.4 pts ▸ 3.3%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

60.2% Australia +20.1 pts ▸ 80.3%

2.7% England +4.0 pts ▸ 6.7%

4.9% India ◂ +4.7 pts 0.2%

3.3% China ◂ +3.1 pts 0.2%

1.8% Vietnam ◂ +1.6 pts 0.2%

1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.9 pts 0.8%

1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.6 pts 0.6%

1.2% Italy ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

25.7% English +20.3 pts ▸ 45.9%

23.5% Australian +16.4 pts ▸ 40.0%

2.9% German +9.8 pts ▸ 12.7%

7.2% Scottish +2.7 pts ▸ 9.8%

8.4% Irish ◂ +0.3 pts 8.1%

8.2% Chinese ◂ +7.7 pts 0.5%

6.5% Italian ◂ +3.9 pts 2.7%

5.3% Indian ◂ +5.0 pts 0.3%

3.4% Greek ◂ +2.9 pts 0.5%

2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.1 pts 0.3%

1.5% Dutch +0.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.7% Filipino ◂ +0.9 pts 0.8%

Language

Language used at home

61.3% English only +29.5 pts ▸ 90.7%

4.3% Mandarin ◂ +4.0 pts 0.3%

2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +2.1 pts 0.2%

2.1% Greek ◂ +1.9 pts 0.2%

2.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.9 pts 0.1%

1.8% Arabic ◂ +1.7 pts 0.0%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.4 pts 0.3%

1.6% Cantonese ◂ +1.6 pts 0.0%

1.3% Hindi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

37.3% No religion +12.8 pts ▸ 50.1%

40.3% Christianity +0.2 pts ▸ 40.5%

6.2% Not stated +1.7 pts ▸ 7.9%

5.2% Islam ◂ +5.0 pts 0.2%

4.1% Hinduism ◂ +4.0 pts 0.1%

3.8% Buddhism ◂ +3.2 pts 0.7%

2.1% Other religions ◂ +1.7 pts 0.5%

0.9% Judaism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.8% Year 12 ◂ +22.4 pts 44.4%

8.7% Year 11 +11.4 pts ▸ 20.1%

9.6% Year 10 +9.1 pts ▸ 18.7%

9.3% Year 9 or below +0.9 pts ▸ 10.2%

Highest qualification level

19.3% Certificate III / IV +18.2 pts ▸ 37.5%

32.4% Bachelor degree ◂ +14.2 pts 18.2%

15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.2 pts ▸ 15.5%

13.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +9.2 pts 4.3%

4.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.3 pts 3.3%

1.3% Certificate I / II +1.6 pts ▸ 2.8%

Field of qualification

20.8% Management & commerce ◂ +6.5 pts 14.3%

12.3% Engineering & related +4.1 pts ▸ 16.5%

12.5% Society & culture ◂ +0.2 pts 12.3%

10.0% Health +1.6 pts ▸ 11.5%

7.5% Education +1.3 pts ▸ 8.8%

4.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.0 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.2% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 5.0%

5.2% Information technology ◂ +4.0 pts 1.2%

4.8% Creative arts ◂ +2.4 pts 2.4%

1.2% Agriculture & environment +3.5 pts ▸ 4.7%

3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.2 pts 2.6%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$177 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$838 69th pct $661 31st pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$592 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,888 75th pct $1,296 24th pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$604 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,236 82nd pct $1,632 28th pct

Household income distribution

24.0% $650–$1,499 +9.4 pts ▸ 33.5%

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.3 pts 26.5%

14.1% Under $650 +5.2 pts ▸ 19.3%

14.0% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.2 pts 5.8%

11.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +4.2 pts 7.0%

Personal income distribution

38.8% Under $650 +7.1 pts ▸ 45.9%

30.7% $650–$1,499 +1.4 pts ▸ 32.1%

18.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +6.2 pts 12.7%

5.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.2 pts 2.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.0% Arthritis +5.5 pts ▸ 12.5%

8.2% Mental health +2.3 pts ▸ 10.5%

7.9% Asthma +1.5 pts ▸ 9.4%

7.8% Other condition +1.3 pts ▸ 9.1%

4.5% Diabetes +1.5 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.3% Heart disease +2.2 pts ▸ 5.6%

2.5% Cancer +1.4 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.2% Lung condition +1.2 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.8% Stroke +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.7% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.3% None ◂ +9.6 pts 57.7%

18.0% One condition +4.1 pts ▸ 22.2%

5.2% Two conditions +2.9 pts ▸ 8.0%

2.5% Three or more +1.9 pts ▸ 4.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +30,944 larger in Major Cities of Australia

34,553 86th pct 3,609 48th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +2 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia

25 yrs 43rd pct 23 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$168 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$687 86th pct $519 48th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$415 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,786 86th pct $1,371 53rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +0.2 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

2.6 77th pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

61.8% Couples with children ◂ +10.1 pts 51.7%

23.9% Couples without children +11.4 pts ▸ 35.3%

13.1% One-parent families ◂ +0.8 pts 12.3%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

Household size

31.3% 2 people +8.4 pts ▸ 39.7%

25.0% 1 person +1.9 pts ▸ 26.9%

17.1% 4 people ◂ +4.7 pts 12.4%

16.9% 3 people ◂ +4.0 pts 13.0%

6.5% 5 people ◂ +1.1 pts 5.4%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 2.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$128 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$388 86th pct $260 51st pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$613 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,000 89th pct $1,387 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +0.20 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

0.90 71st pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

29.6% Owned outright +10.8 pts ▸ 40.4%

36.8% Owned with a mortgage +0.2 pts ▸ 37.0%

30.6% Rented ◂ +12.4 pts 18.2%

1.6% Other tenure +1.3 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.4% Not stated +0.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

Types of homes

68.0% Separate house +25.5 pts ▸ 93.4%

16.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +11.5 pts 4.7%

15.3% Flat or apartment ◂ +14.6 pts 0.7%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

39.7% 3 bedrooms +8.8 pts ▸ 48.5%

26.8% 4 bedrooms +1.0 pts ▸ 27.9%

20.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +6.4 pts 14.0%

5.8% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.1 pts 2.7%

5.6% 5 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 5.2%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

24.4% $200–$349 +33.8 pts ▸ 58.2%

50.6% $350–$549 ◂ +34.3 pts 16.4%

7.2% Under $200 +12.9 pts ▸ 20.1%

9.7% $550–$749 ◂ +8.7 pts 1.0%

4.5% $750 or more ◂ +4.3 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

25.7% $1,000–$1,799 +15.8 pts ▸ 41.5%

34.7% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +13.7 pts 21.1%

13.1% Under $1,000 +13.0 pts ▸ 26.1%

20.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +13.2 pts 6.8%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

46.8% Car (driver) +19.4 pts ▸ 66.2%

28.5% Worked at home ◂ +17.6 pts 10.9%

3.2% Car (passenger) +0.7 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.0% Walked +1.2 pts ▸ 3.2%

2.0% Train ◂ +2.0 pts 0.0%

0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

0.6% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Motor vehicles per home

37.0% 2 vehicles +0.6 pts ▸ 37.6%

37.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.4 pts 31.2%

11.0% 3 vehicles +5.2 pts ▸ 16.2%

5.9% 4 or more +5.7 pts ▸ 11.6%

8.6% No vehicle ◂ +5.1 pts 3.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.1 pts 13.6%

6.8% Manufacturing +3.3 pts ▸ 10.2%

9.2% Construction +0.3 pts ▸ 9.5%

9.5% Professional & technical ◂ +5.5 pts 4.0%

9.5% Retail trade ◂ +0.1 pts 9.3%

0.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +8.4 pts ▸ 9.0%

8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.9 pts 7.9%

6.1% Accommodation & food +0.2 pts ▸ 6.3%

5.5% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.2 pts 5.2%

4.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.0 pts 3.9%

4.7% Finance & insurance ◂ +3.2 pts 1.4%

3.2% Administrative & support +0.7 pts ▸ 4.0%

Occupations people work in

26.9% Professionals ◂ +11.9 pts 15.0%

13.7% Managers +2.1 pts ▸ 15.7%

12.1% Technicians & trades +3.3 pts ▸ 15.3%

7.9% Labourers +6.1 pts ▸ 14.0%

12.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.9 pts 10.9%

10.6% Community & personal service +1.8 pts ▸ 12.4%

8.3% Sales workers ◂ +0.1 pts 8.2%

5.8% Machinery operators & drivers +0.8 pts ▸ 6.6%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +4.3 higher in Major Cities of Australia

7.2 100th pct 2.8 23rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +3.7 more in Major Cities of Australia

6.7 100th pct 2.9 21st pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +51.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

83.4% 100th pct 31.9% 23rd pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +50.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

82.7% 100th pct 32.2% 14th pct

Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +51.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

92.0% 93rd pct 40.8% 51st pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +53.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

87.9% 100th pct 34.0% 24th pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +39.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

98.2% 99th pct 59.2% 37th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +49.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

73.8% 100th pct 24.0% 20th pct

Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +0.6 more in Inner Regional Australia

14.2 14th pct 14.8 21st pct

Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +153 higher in Major Cities of Australia

155 99th pct 2 56th pct

Mean slope in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +0.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia

4.7% 42nd pct 5.2% 53rd 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 Inner Regional Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Inner Regional Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA20/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA41/inner-regional-australia