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Major Cities of Australia vs Very Remote Australia

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

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 332 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Very Remote Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Very Remote Australia are vastly different environments. The cities are far more diverse and highly educated, with 35.5% of people born overseas and 32.7% holding a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, residents in Very Remote Australia are far older, with a typical age of 51 compared to 37 in the cities, and a much higher share of people aged 65 and over (28.7% versus 15.1%). Housing also differs sharply; 95.1% of homes in Very Remote Australia are separate houses, while the cities see much higher typical rents ($388 compared to $150) and monthly mortgage payments ($2,000 compared to $1,029).

Everyday life shares some common ground, as both areas have similar rates of people needing help with daily activities (around 5%) and those living with a mental health condition (about 8%). However, many gaps have widened since 2011. The difference in typical age has grown to 14 years, and the gap in home ownership has increased, with 45.3% of homes in Very Remote Australia owned outright compared to 29.6% in Major Cities of Australia.

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Where they differ most

Other language: 29.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 27.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 27.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Population: 5,015,882 larger in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 23.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +5,015,882 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

5,018,415 97th pct 2,533 25th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +14 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap widening

37 yrs 25th pct 51 yrs 91st pct

Age structure

31.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +8.6 pts 22.5%

15.1% Seniors (65+) +13.6 pts ▸ 28.7%

23.4% Older adults (45–64) +4.3 pts ▸ 27.7%

18.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.7 pts 15.4%

12.3% Youth (15–24) ◂ +6.3 pts 6.0%

Marital status

46.8% Married ◂ +2.2 pts 44.6%

38.1% Never married ◂ +4.5 pts 33.7%

7.7% Divorced +3.8 pts ▸ 11.5%

4.6% Widowed +2.2 pts ▸ 6.8%

2.9% Separated +0.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Very Remote 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 +17.8 pts ▸ 78.0%

4.9% India ◂ +4.6 pts 0.3%

3.3% China ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%

2.7% England ◂ +0.5 pts 2.2%

1.8% Vietnam ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%

1.7% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

1.2% Italy ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

25.7% English +15.7 pts ▸ 41.4%

23.5% Australian +16.4 pts ▸ 39.9%

7.2% Scottish +3.0 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.4% Irish +0.8 pts ▸ 9.2%

8.2% Chinese ◂ +7.5 pts 0.7%

6.5% Italian ◂ +4.4 pts 2.1%

5.3% Indian ◂ +4.8 pts 0.5%

2.9% German +1.7 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.4% Greek ◂ +3.0 pts 0.4%

1.5% Dutch +0.9 pts ▸ 2.4%

2.4% Vietnamese ◂ +2.4 pts 0.0%

1.7% Filipino ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%

Language

Language used at home

61.3% English only +24.8 pts ▸ 86.1%

4.3% Mandarin ◂ +4.3 pts 0.0%

2.3% Vietnamese ◂ +2.3 pts 0.0%

2.1% Greek ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%

2.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.8 pts 0.2%

1.8% Arabic ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.6 pts 0.1%

1.6% Cantonese ◂ +1.6 pts 0.0%

1.3% Hindi ◂ +1.1 pts 0.2%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Religion

Religious affiliation

37.3% No religion +14.8 pts ▸ 52.1%

40.3% Christianity ◂ +4.5 pts 35.8%

6.2% Not stated +3.7 pts ▸ 9.9%

5.2% Islam ◂ +4.8 pts 0.4%

4.1% Hinduism ◂ +3.9 pts 0.2%

3.8% Buddhism ◂ +3.0 pts 0.9%

2.1% Other religions ◂ +1.8 pts 0.3%

0.9% Judaism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

66.8% Year 12 ◂ +27.3 pts 39.5%

9.6% Year 10 +20.5 pts ▸ 30.1%

9.3% Year 9 or below +0.9 pts ▸ 10.2%

8.7% Year 11 +0.7 pts ▸ 9.4%

Highest qualification level

19.3% Certificate III / IV +15.5 pts ▸ 34.9%

32.4% Bachelor degree ◂ +15.9 pts 16.5%

15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.4 pts 13.9%

13.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +8.6 pts 5.0%

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

1.3% Certificate I / II +0.4 pts ▸ 1.7%

Field of qualification

20.8% Management & commerce ◂ +8.1 pts 12.8%

12.3% Engineering & related +4.2 pts ▸ 16.6%

12.5% Society & culture ◂ +3.8 pts 8.7%

10.0% Health ◂ +1.0 pts 8.9%

7.5% Education +1.6 pts ▸ 9.1%

1.2% Agriculture & environment +6.1 pts ▸ 7.2%

5.2% Architecture & building +0.8 pts ▸ 6.1%

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

5.2% Information technology ◂ +4.7 pts 0.5%

4.8% Creative arts ◂ +2.1 pts 2.7%

3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.2 pts 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$64 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$838 69th pct $774 59th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$667 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,888 75th pct $1,221 15th pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$573 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,236 82nd pct $1,663 32nd pct

Household income distribution

24.0% $650–$1,499 +9.2 pts ▸ 33.2%

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.3 pts 25.6%

14.1% Under $650 +7.2 pts ▸ 21.3%

14.0% $4,000 or more ◂ +9.2 pts 4.9%

11.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +5.2 pts 5.9%

Personal income distribution

38.8% Under $650 ◂ +0.6 pts 38.3%

30.7% $650–$1,499 +3.9 pts ▸ 34.6%

18.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.2 pts 13.6%

5.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 3.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.0% Arthritis +5.3 pts ▸ 12.3%

8.2% Mental health ◂ +0.1 pts 8.1%

7.9% Asthma ◂ +0.5 pts 7.5%

7.8% Other condition ◂ +0.1 pts 7.7%

3.3% Heart disease +2.3 pts ▸ 5.7%

4.5% Diabetes even 4.5%

2.5% Cancer +2.0 pts ▸ 4.5%

1.2% Lung condition +1.8 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.8% Stroke +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.7% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.3% None ◂ +10.1 pts 57.2%

18.0% One condition +1.6 pts ▸ 19.6%

5.2% Two conditions +2.5 pts ▸ 7.7%

2.5% Three or more +1.6 pts ▸ 4.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +34,375 larger in Major Cities of Australia

34,553 86th pct 178 29th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +17 yrs older in Very Remote Australia

25 yrs 43rd pct 42 yrs 88th pct

Median income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$119 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$687 86th pct $568 68th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$679 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,786 86th pct $1,107 20th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +0.6 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

2.6 77th pct 2.0 9th pct

Family composition

61.8% Couples with children ◂ +17.0 pts 44.8%

23.9% Couples without children +20.3 pts ▸ 44.2%

13.1% One-parent families ◂ +3.0 pts 10.0%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Household size

31.3% 2 people +9.5 pts ▸ 40.8%

25.0% 1 person +11.8 pts ▸ 36.8%

17.1% 4 people ◂ +8.9 pts 8.2%

16.9% 3 people ◂ +6.9 pts 10.0%

6.5% 5 people ◂ +3.2 pts 3.3%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 1.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$238 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$388 86th pct $150 17th pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +$971 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,000 89th pct $1,029 14th pct

People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote 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 +15.7 pts ▸ 45.3%

36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +17.2 pts 19.6%

30.6% Rented ◂ +5.6 pts 25.0%

1.6% Other tenure +4.7 pts ▸ 6.3%

1.4% Not stated +2.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

Types of homes

68.0% Separate house +27.2 pts ▸ 95.1%

16.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +13.4 pts 2.9%

15.3% Flat or apartment ◂ +14.3 pts 1.0%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

Bedrooms per home

39.7% 3 bedrooms +12.6 pts ▸ 52.3%

26.8% 4 bedrooms ◂ +10.4 pts 16.4%

20.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.0 pts 18.4%

5.8% 1 bedroom +0.3 pts ▸ 6.2%

5.6% 5 or more ◂ +2.9 pts 2.7%

0.3% Studio / none +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

Weekly rent distribution

7.2% Under $200 +50.2 pts ▸ 57.5%

50.6% $350–$549 ◂ +48.8 pts 1.9%

24.4% $200–$349 +5.9 pts ▸ 30.2%

9.7% $550–$749 ◂ +9.7 pts 0.0%

4.5% $750 or more ◂ +3.4 pts 1.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

13.1% Under $1,000 +30.2 pts ▸ 43.3%

34.7% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +21.4 pts 13.3%

25.7% $1,000–$1,799 +6.2 pts ▸ 31.9%

20.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +16.2 pts 3.8%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

46.8% Car (driver) +14.1 pts ▸ 60.9%

28.5% Worked at home ◂ +14.7 pts 13.8%

2.0% Walked +5.7 pts ▸ 7.7%

3.2% Car (passenger) +1.1 pts ▸ 4.3%

2.0% Train ◂ +2.0 pts 0.0%

0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

0.6% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

37.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.8 pts 35.7%

37.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.2 pts 35.8%

11.0% 3 vehicles +5.5 pts ▸ 16.5%

8.6% No vehicle ◂ +3.8 pts 4.8%

5.9% 4 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 7.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

0.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +24.0 pts ▸ 24.6%

13.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.1 pts 9.6%

9.5% Professional & technical ◂ +7.1 pts 2.4%

9.5% Retail trade ◂ +2.6 pts 6.9%

9.2% Construction ◂ +1.6 pts 7.6%

8.8% Education & training ◂ +2.0 pts 6.8%

6.8% Manufacturing +1.2 pts ▸ 8.0%

5.5% Public administration & safety +0.8 pts ▸ 6.3%

6.1% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.5 pts 5.7%

4.9% Transport & warehousing +0.3 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.7% Finance & insurance ◂ +4.4 pts 0.3%

3.4% Other services ◂ +0.5 pts 3.0%

Occupations people work in

26.9% Professionals ◂ +16.2 pts 10.6%

13.7% Managers +12.3 pts ▸ 25.9%

7.9% Labourers +11.8 pts ▸ 19.6%

12.1% Technicians & trades +0.9 pts ▸ 13.0%

12.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.7 pts 9.1%

10.6% Community & personal service ◂ +2.5 pts 8.1%

8.3% Sales workers ◂ +2.8 pts 5.5%

5.8% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.2 pts 5.6%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +4.8 higher in Major Cities of Australia

7.2 100th pct 2.4 14th pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +4.0 more in Major Cities of Australia

6.7 100th pct 2.6 14th pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +55.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

83.4% 100th pct 28.2% 14th pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +43.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

82.7% 100th pct 39.0% 28th pct

Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +92.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

92.0% 93rd pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +68.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

87.9% 100th pct 19.0% 11th pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +41.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

98.2% 99th pct 56.4% 27th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +53.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

73.8% 100th pct 20.4% 13th pct

Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +93.6 more in Very Remote Australia

14.2 14th pct 107.8 99th pct

Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +154 higher in Major Cities of Australia

155 99th pct 1 45th pct

Mean slope in Major Cities of Australia in Very Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

4.7% 42nd pct 6.0% 71st 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 Very Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Very 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/RA64/very-remote-australia