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Inner Regional Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 1,288 km apart · Inner Regional Australia profile · Major Cities of Australia profile

Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Inner Regional Australia are very different in how people live and work. Major Cities of Australia is much more diverse, with 27.6% of people born overseas and 16.5% using another language at home. It is also more walkable, with 73.0% of homes within 15 minutes of groceries compared to 48.9% in Inner Regional Australia. In contrast, Inner Regional Australia has a much higher share of separate houses at 91.0% and more people who own their homes outright (39.3%).

Both areas have a very similar share of children under 15, sitting at around 18%. However, other gaps have grown since 2011. The typical resident in Inner Regional Australia is now six years older than in the cities, and the gap in typical weekly household income has widened to $396. While Major Cities of Australia has a higher share of adults with a university degree, the national figure for this is closely matched by Major Cities of Australia.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,116,172 larger in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 22.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia Year 12: 16.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 16.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Renting: 13.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2,116,172 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
1,214,965 87th pct 3,331,137 92nd pct
Median age in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +6 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
43 yrs 68th pct 37 yrs 25th pct
First Nations in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
1.9% 15th pct 2.7% 25th pct
Aged 65+ in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +6.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
22.2% 80th pct 15.7% 47th pct
Under 15 in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
17.9% 54th pct 18.8% 73rd pct
De facto in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
12.7% 42nd pct 12.8% 43rd pct

Age structure

22.7% Young adults (25–44) +5.9 pts ▸ 28.6%
26.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.5 pts 24.1%
22.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +6.5 pts 15.7%
17.9% Children (0–14) +0.9 pts ▸ 18.8%
10.7% Youth (15–24) +2.2 pts ▸ 12.9%

Marital status

47.0% Married ◂ +2.1 pts 44.9%
33.5% Never married +4.4 pts ▸ 37.9%
9.9% Divorced ◂ +0.5 pts 9.4%
6.0% Widowed ◂ +1.6 pts 4.4%
3.6% Separated ◂ +0.2 pts 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
11.5% 31st pct 27.6% 85th pct

Country of birth

81.9% Australia ◂ +14.1 pts 67.8%
1.1% New Zealand +3.9 pts ▸ 5.0%
2.8% England +1.4 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.8% India +1.1 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.3% China +1.3 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.3% South Africa +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.5% Philippines +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.1% Vietnam +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.4% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%
0.1% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

41.5% English ◂ +3.8 pts 37.7%
40.0% Australian ◂ +8.6 pts 31.4%
13.3% Irish ◂ +2.2 pts 11.1%
11.9% Scottish ◂ +1.6 pts 10.3%
4.4% German +1.1 pts ▸ 5.4%
1.0% Chinese +3.2 pts ▸ 4.2%
3.8% Italian ◂ +0.9 pts 2.9%
0.8% Indian +1.6 pts ▸ 2.4%
2.4% Dutch ◂ +0.7 pts 1.7%
0.7% Filipino +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.2% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.6% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

Language

Other language in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +10.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
5.8% 30th pct 16.5% 73rd pct
Limited English in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.8% 45th pct 2.2% 74th pct

Language used at home

87.8% English only ◂ +9.3 pts 78.5%
0.4% Mandarin +1.9 pts ▸ 2.3%
0.1% Vietnamese +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.4% Punjabi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.1% Cantonese +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.1% Hindi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.5% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%
0.2% Arabic +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

No religion in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
46.5% 77th pct 42.8% 59th pct

Religious affiliation

46.5% No religion ◂ +3.7 pts 42.8%
42.7% Christianity +1.4 pts ▸ 44.1%
8.1% Not stated ◂ +1.3 pts 6.8%
0.5% Hinduism +1.3 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.8% Buddhism +1.0 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.7% Islam +0.9 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.6% Other religions +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
46.4% 72nd pct 63.3% 93rd pct
Bachelor+ in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
18.3% 76th pct 26.2% 86th pct

Highest year of school

46.4% Year 12 +16.9 pts ▸ 63.3%
18.1% Year 10 ◂ +0.3 pts 17.8%
15.3% Year 11 ◂ +9.2 pts 6.1%
12.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +5.6 pts 6.8%

Highest qualification level

33.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +6.5 pts 27.0%
20.3% Bachelor degree +7.1 pts ▸ 27.3%
15.6% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.3 pts ▸ 15.9%
5.7% Postgraduate degree +3.5 pts ▸ 9.2%
4.5% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%
2.0% Certificate I / II even 2.0%

Field of qualification

13.3% Management & commerce +7.3 pts ▸ 20.5%
14.1% Engineering & related ◂ +0.9 pts 13.2%
11.9% Society & culture +0.6 pts ▸ 12.5%
11.9% Health ◂ +0.7 pts 11.2%
9.9% Education ◂ +2.3 pts 7.6%
6.6% Architecture & building ◂ +0.8 pts 5.8%
5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.1 pts ▸ 5.5%
3.0% Creative arts +1.0 pts ▸ 4.0%
3.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.3 pts 1.4%
1.5% Information technology +1.6 pts ▸ 3.1%
2.1% Natural & physical sciences +0.7 pts ▸ 2.8%

Income

Personal income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$110 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
$722 45th pct $832 68th pct
Household income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$396 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,422 40th pct $1,818 71st pct
Family income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$295 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
$1,847 53rd pct $2,142 78th pct
High earners in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
8.6% 49th pct 12.2% 72nd pct
High-income homes in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
15.6% 47th pct 22.9% 80th pct

Household income distribution

28.4% $1,500–$2,999 +2.8 pts ▸ 31.2%
30.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.5 pts 25.6%
18.7% Under $650 ◂ +5.0 pts 13.7%
7.4% $4,000 or more +4.8 pts ▸ 12.2%
8.2% $3,000–$3,999 +2.5 pts ▸ 10.7%

Personal income distribution

42.0% Under $650 ◂ +3.9 pts 38.1%
32.0% $650–$1,499 +0.6 pts ▸ 32.6%
14.5% $1,500–$2,999 +3.6 pts ▸ 18.2%
3.1% $3,000 or more +1.6 pts ▸ 4.7%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
33.4% 86th pct 28.0% 57th pct
Mental health in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
10.9% 78th pct 9.6% 63rd pct
Needs assistance in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.1 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
6.7% 84th pct 5.6% 60th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

11.3% Arthritis ◂ +3.2 pts 8.1%
10.9% Mental health ◂ +1.2 pts 9.6%
9.9% Asthma ◂ +1.4 pts 8.5%
8.7% Other condition ◂ +0.2 pts 8.6%
5.2% Diabetes ◂ +1.0 pts 4.1%
5.0% Heart disease ◂ +1.2 pts 3.8%
3.6% Cancer ◂ +0.7 pts 3.0%
2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 1.8%
1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%
0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.6% None +6.7 pts ▸ 64.3%
21.7% One condition ◂ +2.5 pts 19.2%
7.5% Two conditions ◂ +1.7 pts 5.9%
4.1% Three or more ◂ +1.1 pts 3.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.6 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
17.2% 56th pct 13.5% 37th pct
Unpaid carers in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
14.3% 99th pct 11.2% 55th pct
Unpaid child care in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.3% 72nd pct 27.5% 86th pct
Defence service in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.3% 60th pct 3.5% 69th pct
Housework 15h+ in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
23.9% 84th pct 20.1% 56th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +67,946 larger in Major Cities of Australia
22,884 78th pct 90,830 94th pct
Median age in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia even
23 yrs 14th pct 23 yrs 14th pct
Year 12 in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +14.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
36.5% 72nd pct 51.1% 98th pct
Unemployment in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
9.6% 17th pct 11.2% 30th pct
Median income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$69 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$576 72nd pct $645 80th pct
Household income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$301 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,405 57th pct $1,706 81st pct
Indigenous language in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.3% 31st pct 5.4% 41st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.2 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2.4 43rd pct 2.6 77th pct
One-parent in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
14.3% 45th pct 14.9% 54th pct
Living alone in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
28.3% 50th pct 23.7% 14th pct

Family composition

53.8% Couples with children +3.6 pts ▸ 57.4%
31.0% Couples without children ◂ +4.5 pts 26.4%
14.3% One-parent families +0.6 pts ▸ 14.9%
0.9% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

36.5% 2 people ◂ +2.4 pts 34.1%
28.3% 1 person ◂ +4.7 pts 23.7%
13.6% 3 people +3.1 pts ▸ 16.7%
13.1% 4 people +2.8 pts ▸ 15.9%
5.9% 5 people +0.4 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.6% 6 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 3.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$115 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$285 62nd pct $400 89th pct
Mortgage in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$407 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,500 55th pct $1,907 86th pct
People / bedroom in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.10 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
21.9% 14th pct 34.9% 70th pct
Owned outright in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +12.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
39.3% 72nd pct 26.5% 26th pct
Separate houses in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +22.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
91.0% 71st pct 69.1% 13th pct
3+ bedrooms in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
80.8% 87th pct 75.9% 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.3% Owned outright ◂ +12.8 pts 26.5%
35.1% Owned with a mortgage +0.6 pts ▸ 35.7%
21.9% Rented +13.0 pts ▸ 34.9%
1.9% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 1.6%
1.8% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 1.3%

Types of homes

91.0% Separate house ◂ +22.0 pts 69.1%
1.6% Flat or apartment +15.0 pts ▸ 16.5%
6.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +7.3 pts ▸ 13.8%
0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

46.9% 3 bedrooms ◂ +11.1 pts 35.7%
28.8% 4 bedrooms +2.7 pts ▸ 31.5%
14.5% 2 bedrooms +2.9 pts ▸ 17.4%
5.1% 5 or more +3.6 pts ▸ 8.7%
2.8% 1 bedroom +2.2 pts ▸ 5.0%
0.3% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

25.4% $350–$549 +27.8 pts ▸ 53.2%
49.1% $200–$349 ◂ +26.8 pts 22.3%
18.7% Under $200 ◂ +11.2 pts 7.5%
1.9% $550–$749 +9.0 pts ▸ 10.9%
0.6% $750 or more +2.5 pts ▸ 3.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.3% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +9.2 pts 30.2%
23.6% $1,800–$2,999 +12.2 pts ▸ 35.8%
22.7% Under $1,000 ◂ +9.8 pts 12.8%
8.5% $3,000 or more +7.0 pts ▸ 15.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.3% 16th pct 6.0% 58th pct
Work from home in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
15.7% 82nd pct 16.7% 86th pct
PT commute in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
0.5% 23rd pct 3.9% 75th pct

How people get to work

61.4% Car (driver) ◂ +4.5 pts 57.0%
15.7% Worked at home +1.0 pts ▸ 16.7%
4.3% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%
3.0% Walked ◂ +0.9 pts 2.2%
0.3% Bus +1.8 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.2% Train +1.4 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.5% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

Motor vehicles per home

38.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.5 pts 38.3%
32.6% 1 vehicle +3.9 pts ▸ 36.5%
14.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +2.3 pts 12.4%
9.5% 4 or more ◂ +2.8 pts 6.8%
4.3% No vehicle +1.7 pts ▸ 6.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +10.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
37.0% 50th pct 47.3% 86th pct
Recent arrivals in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
11.1% 20th pct 13.8% 36th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
3.9% 19th pct 5.4% 57th pct
Participation in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +6.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
57.7% 58th pct 64.2% 86th pct
Full-time in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
55.8% 27th pct 58.3% 48th pct

Industries people work in

15.8% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.2 pts 15.6%
10.8% Construction ◂ +1.5 pts 9.3%
9.3% Retail trade +0.1 pts ▸ 9.4%
8.7% Education & training +0.1 pts ▸ 8.8%
4.7% Professional & technical +3.4 pts ▸ 8.1%
7.9% Manufacturing ◂ +2.2 pts 5.7%
6.4% Accommodation & food +0.8 pts ▸ 7.2%
6.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.5 pts 5.9%
6.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.4 pts 0.6%
3.8% Transport & warehousing +1.0 pts ▸ 4.8%
3.8% Other services +0.1 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.8% Administrative & support +0.7 pts ▸ 3.5%

Occupations people work in

18.8% Professionals +5.2 pts ▸ 24.0%
15.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.4 pts 12.7%
14.2% Managers ◂ +1.6 pts 12.6%
11.2% Clerical & administrative +2.1 pts ▸ 13.3%
12.5% Community & personal service ◂ +0.5 pts 12.0%
11.6% Labourers ◂ +2.8 pts 8.9%
8.4% Sales workers +0.4 pts ▸ 8.8%
6.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.4 pts 5.8%

Walkability

Walk score in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.9 higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.3 75th pct 6.2 87th pct
Types ≤15 min in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.6 more in Major Cities of Australia
4.2 74th pct 5.8 86th pct
15-min city in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +24.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
48.0% 71st pct 72.0% 86th pct
Walk to shops in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +24.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
48.9% 66th pct 73.0% 90th pct
Walk to transit in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +23.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
62.2% 76th pct 85.3% 85th pct
Walk to school in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +17.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
54.3% 68th pct 71.9% 85th pct
Walk to a park in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +17.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
77.5% 74th pct 95.3% 87th pct
Walk to health in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +22.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
36.1% 56th pct 58.6% 88th pct
Amenities/1k in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.0 more in Inner Regional Australia
17.5 36th pct 13.6 9th pct
Intersections/km² in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +70 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3 69th pct 73 85th pct
Mean slope in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
5.0% 48th pct 6.1% 73rd pct

Compare Inner Regional Australia with nearby areas

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

Compare Major Cities of Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Inner Regional Australia vs Major Cities of Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA21/inner-regional-australia/vs/RA30/major-cities-of-australia