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Inner Regional Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 587 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 environments. Major Cities of Australia is much more diverse, with 28.0% of people born overseas and 21.9% using a language other than English at home. It is also more walkable, with a score of 6.7 (very walkable), while Inner Regional Australia scores 4.3 (somewhat walkable). Housing differs sharply as well; 91.0% of homes in Inner Regional Australia are separate houses, compared to 74.4% in Major Cities of Australia.

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of people born overseas and those who use a language other than English at home. Despite this, the gaps between them are often growing. The difference in the number of people who finished Year 12 and the share of adults with a bachelor degree have both widened since 2011. Similarly, the gap in the proportion of homes owned outright has increased, with 39.3% in Inner Regional Australia compared to 30.7% in Major Cities of Australia.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 16.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia Born overseas: 16.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 16.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia PT commute: 4.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia No car: 3.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +129,235 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
1,214,965 87th pct 1,344,200 87th pct
Median age in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
43 yrs 68th pct 39 yrs 38th pct
First Nations in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
1.9% 15th pct 1.7% 14th pct
Aged 65+ in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.6 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
22.2% 80th pct 18.6% 64th pct
Under 15 in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
17.9% 54th pct 17.1% 45th pct
De facto in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
12.7% 42nd pct 10.8% 14th pct

Age structure

22.7% Young adults (25–44) +4.8 pts ▸ 27.5%
26.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.0 pts 24.6%
22.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.6 pts 18.6%
17.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.7 pts 17.1%
10.7% Youth (15–24) +1.6 pts ▸ 12.2%

Marital status

47.0% Married ◂ +1.6 pts 45.4%
33.5% Never married +3.1 pts ▸ 36.6%
9.9% Divorced ◂ +0.5 pts 9.4%
6.0% Widowed ◂ +0.5 pts 5.5%
3.6% Separated ◂ +0.5 pts 3.1%

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 +16.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
11.5% 31st pct 28.0% 86th pct

Country of birth

81.9% Australia ◂ +13.5 pts 68.3%
2.8% England +2.8 pts ▸ 5.6%
0.8% India +2.4 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.3% China +1.6 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.1% Vietnam +1.1 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.4% Italy +0.8 pts ▸ 1.2%
1.1% New Zealand ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%
0.5% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.1% Nepal +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.3% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Ancestry

41.5% English ◂ +5.0 pts 36.5%
40.0% Australian ◂ +10.1 pts 29.9%
13.3% Irish ◂ +5.7 pts 7.6%
11.9% Scottish ◂ +3.8 pts 8.1%
3.8% Italian +3.1 pts ▸ 6.9%
4.4% German +2.2 pts ▸ 6.6%
1.0% Chinese +3.2 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.8% Indian +2.3 pts ▸ 3.1%
0.6% Greek +2.2 pts ▸ 2.8%
2.4% Dutch ◂ +0.8 pts 1.6%
0.2% Vietnamese +1.5 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.7% Filipino +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%

Language

Other language in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
5.8% 30th pct 21.9% 83rd pct
Limited English in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.8% 45th pct 3.3% 86th pct

Language used at home

87.8% English only ◂ +13.5 pts 74.3%
0.4% Mandarin +1.9 pts ▸ 2.3%
0.5% Italian +1.2 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.4 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.2% Greek +1.3 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.4% Punjabi +1.0 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.2% Arabic +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.1% Cantonese +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.1% Hindi +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.2% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Religion

No religion in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.6 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
46.5% 77th pct 44.9% 69th pct

Religious affiliation

46.5% No religion ◂ +1.6 pts 44.9%
42.7% Christianity ◂ +2.8 pts 39.9%
8.1% Not stated ◂ +2.6 pts 5.5%
0.7% Islam +2.1 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.5% Hinduism +2.2 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.8% Buddhism +1.5 pts ▸ 2.3%
0.6% Other religions +1.1 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +12.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
46.4% 72nd pct 59.4% 87th 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 26.1% 86th pct

Highest year of school

46.4% Year 12 +12.9 pts ▸ 59.4%
18.1% Year 10 ◂ +5.4 pts 12.7%
15.3% Year 11 ◂ +0.6 pts 14.7%
12.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.8 pts 8.6%

Highest qualification level

33.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +6.4 pts 27.1%
20.3% Bachelor degree +8.2 pts ▸ 28.5%
15.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.8 pts 14.8%
5.7% Postgraduate degree +4.6 pts ▸ 10.3%
4.5% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.4 pts 4.1%
2.0% Certificate I / II +0.1 pts ▸ 2.1%

Field of qualification

13.3% Management & commerce +6.0 pts ▸ 19.3%
14.1% Engineering & related ◂ +0.1 pts 14.0%
11.9% Society & culture +1.8 pts ▸ 13.7%
11.9% Health +0.6 pts ▸ 12.6%
9.9% Education ◂ +1.9 pts 8.0%
6.6% Architecture & building ◂ +1.9 pts 4.8%
5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.3 pts 5.0%
3.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.1 pts 1.6%
3.0% Creative arts +0.6 pts ▸ 3.6%
2.1% Natural & physical sciences +1.3 pts ▸ 3.4%
1.5% Information technology +1.7 pts ▸ 3.3%

Income

Personal income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$38 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
$722 45th pct $760 56th pct
Household income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$117 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
$1,422 40th pct $1,539 58th pct
Family income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$136 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,847 53rd pct $1,983 71st pct
High earners in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
8.6% 49th pct 9.8% 61st pct
High-income homes in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
15.6% 47th pct 18.1% 66th pct

Household income distribution

30.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.4 pts 28.7%
28.4% $1,500–$2,999 +1.4 pts ▸ 29.8%
18.7% Under $650 ◂ +1.4 pts 17.3%
8.2% $3,000–$3,999 +1.0 pts ▸ 9.2%
7.4% $4,000 or more +1.5 pts ▸ 8.9%

Personal income distribution

42.0% Under $650 +0.1 pts ▸ 42.1%
32.0% $650–$1,499 +1.1 pts ▸ 33.1%
14.5% $1,500–$2,999 +1.9 pts ▸ 16.4%
3.1% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 3.5%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
33.4% 86th pct 30.2% 66th pct
Mental health in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
10.9% 78th pct 9.8% 65th pct
Needs assistance in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
6.7% 84th pct 6.6% 82nd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

11.3% Arthritis ◂ +1.8 pts 9.5%
10.9% Mental health ◂ +1.0 pts 9.8%
9.9% Asthma ◂ +1.2 pts 8.7%
8.7% Other condition +0.2 pts ▸ 9.0%
5.2% Diabetes +0.3 pts ▸ 5.5%
5.0% Heart disease ◂ +0.6 pts 4.4%
3.6% Cancer ◂ +0.6 pts 3.1%
2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 1.8%
1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%
0.8% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.6% None +6.1 pts ▸ 63.7%
21.7% One condition ◂ +1.7 pts 20.0%
7.5% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 6.6%
4.1% Three or more ◂ +0.6 pts 3.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
17.2% 56th pct 15.3% 45th pct
Unpaid carers in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
14.3% 99th pct 13.1% 86th pct
Unpaid child care in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
26.3% 72nd pct 27.1% 82nd pct
Defence service in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
3.3% 60th pct 3.1% 47th pct
Housework 15h+ in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
23.9% 84th pct 20.5% 59th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +388 larger in Major Cities of Australia
22,884 78th pct 23,272 78th 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 +5.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
36.5% 72nd pct 41.8% 87th pct
Unemployment in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
9.6% 17th pct 14.3% 49th pct
Median income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$26 higher in Inner Regional Australia
$576 72nd pct $550 59th pct
Household income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$36 higher in Inner Regional Australia
$1,405 57th pct $1,369 53rd pct
Indigenous language in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.3% 31st pct 8.4% 59th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia even gap narrowing
2.4 43rd pct 2.4 43rd pct
One-parent in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
14.3% 45th pct 15.2% 58th pct
Living alone in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
28.3% 50th pct 28.0% 47th pct

Family composition

53.8% Couples with children +2.8 pts ▸ 56.6%
31.0% Couples without children ◂ +4.1 pts 26.9%
14.3% One-parent families +0.9 pts ▸ 15.2%
0.9% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

36.5% 2 people ◂ +3.1 pts 33.4%
28.3% 1 person ◂ +0.3 pts 28.0%
13.6% 3 people +2.3 pts ▸ 15.9%
13.1% 4 people +1.8 pts ▸ 14.9%
5.9% 5 people ◂ +0.5 pts 5.4%
2.6% 6 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 2.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$35 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$285 62nd pct $320 73rd pct
Mortgage in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$60 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,500 55th pct $1,560 60th 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 +7.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
21.9% 14th pct 28.9% 51st pct
Owned outright in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.6 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
39.3% 72nd pct 30.7% 41st pct
Separate houses in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
91.0% 71st pct 74.4% 20th pct
3+ bedrooms in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.4 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
80.8% 87th pct 76.3% 60th pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.3% Owned outright ◂ +8.6 pts 30.7%
35.1% Owned with a mortgage +1.7 pts ▸ 36.8%
21.9% Rented +7.0 pts ▸ 28.9%
1.9% Other tenure +0.6 pts ▸ 2.4%
1.8% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

91.0% Separate house ◂ +16.7 pts 74.4%
6.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +10.3 pts ▸ 16.8%
1.6% Flat or apartment +6.8 pts ▸ 8.4%
0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

46.9% 3 bedrooms +4.7 pts ▸ 51.5%
28.8% 4 bedrooms ◂ +8.0 pts 20.8%
14.5% 2 bedrooms +4.5 pts ▸ 19.0%
5.1% 5 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 4.0%
2.8% 1 bedroom +0.6 pts ▸ 3.4%
0.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

49.1% $200–$349 ◂ +7.7 pts 41.4%
25.4% $350–$549 +8.9 pts ▸ 34.3%
18.7% Under $200 ◂ +2.1 pts 16.6%
1.9% $550–$749 +1.6 pts ▸ 3.5%
0.6% $750 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.3% $1,000–$1,799 +0.1 pts ▸ 39.5%
23.6% $1,800–$2,999 +2.8 pts ▸ 26.4%
22.7% Under $1,000 ◂ +3.4 pts 19.3%
8.5% $3,000 or more +1.6 pts ▸ 10.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.3% 16th pct 7.8% 74th pct
Work from home in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +6.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
15.7% 82nd pct 9.7% 49th pct
PT commute in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
0.5% 23rd pct 5.0% 86th pct

How people get to work

61.4% Car (driver) +1.8 pts ▸ 63.3%
15.7% Worked at home ◂ +6.0 pts 9.7%
4.3% Car (passenger) even 4.3%
0.3% Bus +3.6 pts ▸ 3.9%
3.0% Walked ◂ +1.1 pts 1.9%
0.5% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.2% Train +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

Motor vehicles per home

38.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.0 pts 36.8%
32.6% 1 vehicle +5.0 pts ▸ 37.6%
14.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.2 pts 11.6%
9.5% 4 or more ◂ +3.4 pts 6.2%
4.3% No vehicle +3.5 pts ▸ 7.8%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
37.0% 50th pct 38.3% 56th pct
Recent arrivals in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
11.1% 20th pct 15.8% 51st pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
3.9% 19th pct 5.6% 60th pct
Participation in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
57.7% 58th pct 61.6% 77th pct
Full-time in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
55.8% 27th pct 57.5% 43rd pct

Industries people work in

15.8% Health care & social assistance +1.4 pts ▸ 17.2%
10.8% Construction ◂ +2.5 pts 8.3%
9.3% Retail trade +0.5 pts ▸ 9.7%
8.7% Education & training +0.3 pts ▸ 9.1%
7.9% Manufacturing ◂ +1.2 pts 6.7%
6.4% Public administration & safety +0.7 pts ▸ 7.2%
4.7% Professional & technical +2.5 pts ▸ 7.1%
6.4% Accommodation & food +0.3 pts ▸ 6.6%
6.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.0 pts 1.0%
3.8% Transport & warehousing +0.4 pts ▸ 4.1%
3.8% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 4.0%
2.8% Administrative & support +1.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

Occupations people work in

18.8% Professionals +5.0 pts ▸ 23.8%
15.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.4 pts 12.8%
14.2% Managers ◂ +2.3 pts 12.0%
12.5% Community & personal service +0.7 pts ▸ 13.2%
11.2% Clerical & administrative +2.0 pts ▸ 13.2%
11.6% Labourers ◂ +2.3 pts 9.3%
8.4% Sales workers +0.1 pts ▸ 8.5%
6.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.7 pts 5.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.4 higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.3 75th pct 6.7 95th pct
Types ≤15 min in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.2 more in Major Cities of Australia
4.2 74th pct 6.4 97th pct
15-min city in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +34.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
48.0% 71st pct 82.2% 99th pct
Walk to shops in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +29.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
48.9% 66th pct 78.3% 97th pct
Walk to transit in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +32.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
62.2% 76th pct 94.3% 97th pct
Walk to school in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +29.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
54.3% 68th pct 83.2% 96th pct
Walk to a park in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +20.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
77.5% 74th pct 97.7% 96th pct
Walk to health in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +28.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
36.1% 56th pct 64.5% 95th pct
Amenities/1k in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.0 more in Inner Regional Australia
17.5 36th pct 14.5 18th pct
Intersections/km² in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +107 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3 69th pct 110 92nd pct
Mean slope in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
5.0% 48th pct 4.6% 41st 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 Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote 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/RA40/major-cities-of-australia