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Inner Regional Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 432 km apart · Inner Regional Australia profile · Major Cities of Australia profile

Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia

Inner Regional Australia and Major Cities of Australia are far apart and differ sharply in their social and economic makeup. Residents in Inner Regional Australia are far older, with a typical age of 43 compared to 35 in Major Cities of Australia. Major Cities of Australia is much more diverse, with a far higher share of people born overseas (28.8% vs 11.5%) and those using another language at home (24.6% vs 5.8%). Higher qualifications and pay are also common in Major Cities of Australia, where the typical weekly personal income is $1,204, while the typical income in Inner Regional Australia is $722. In contrast, Inner Regional Australia has a far higher share of separate houses (91.0%) and homes owned outright (39.3%).

Many of these gaps have widened since 2011, especially the difference in typical ages and the share of people born overseas. Despite these diverging trends, some parts of life remain similar. Both areas have about the same share of children under 15 (around 18%) and an almost identical unemployment rate of about 3.8% to 3.9%. While Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, Inner Regional Australia is described as somewhat walkable.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 30.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 27.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia Bachelor+: 24.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 18.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 17.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +761,767 larger in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
1,214,965 87th pct 453,198 77th pct
Median age in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
43 yrs 68th pct 35 yrs 7th pct
First Nations in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
1.9% 15th pct 2.0% 16th pct
Aged 65+ in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
22.2% 80th pct 13.7% 36th pct
Under 15 in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
17.9% 54th pct 18.3% 61st pct
De facto in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
12.7% 42nd pct 12.5% 37th pct

Age structure

22.7% Young adults (25–44) +9.7 pts ▸ 32.4%
26.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.2 pts 22.3%
22.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +8.5 pts 13.7%
17.9% Children (0–14) +0.4 pts ▸ 18.3%
10.7% Youth (15–24) +2.7 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

47.0% Married ◂ +0.3 pts 46.8%
33.5% Never married +5.7 pts ▸ 39.2%
9.9% Divorced ◂ +2.1 pts 7.7%
6.0% Widowed ◂ +2.3 pts 3.7%
3.6% Separated ◂ +1.0 pts 2.5%

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 +17.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
11.5% 31st pct 28.8% 87th pct

Country of birth

81.9% Australia ◂ +14.4 pts 67.5%
0.8% India +3.0 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.8% England +0.1 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.3% China +2.4 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.1% Nepal +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%
1.1% New Zealand +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.5% Philippines +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Vietnam +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.3% South Africa +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.4% Italy even 0.4%

Ancestry

41.5% English ◂ +9.5 pts 32.0%
40.0% Australian ◂ +8.5 pts 31.5%
13.3% Irish ◂ +1.7 pts 11.6%
11.9% Scottish ◂ +1.9 pts 10.0%
1.0% Chinese +4.8 pts ▸ 5.7%
0.8% Indian +3.6 pts ▸ 4.5%
4.4% German ◂ +0.2 pts 4.2%
3.8% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 3.4%
2.4% Dutch ◂ +0.7 pts 1.7%
0.7% Filipino +0.9 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.2% Vietnamese +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.6% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%

Language

Other language in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +18.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
5.8% 30th pct 24.6% 86th pct
Limited English in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.8% 45th pct 2.5% 78th pct

Language used at home

87.8% English only ◂ +16.5 pts 71.2%
0.4% Mandarin +2.7 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.4% Punjabi +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Hindi +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Cantonese +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.2% Arabic +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.5% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.2% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.2% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

No religion in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
46.5% 77th pct 44.2% 66th pct

Religious affiliation

46.5% No religion ◂ +2.3 pts 44.2%
42.7% Christianity ◂ +4.6 pts 38.1%
8.1% Not stated ◂ +2.4 pts 5.6%
0.5% Hinduism +4.0 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.7% Islam +2.5 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.8% Buddhism +2.0 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.6% Other religions +0.7 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.1% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +30.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
46.4% 72nd pct 77.1% 100th pct
Bachelor+ in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +24.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
18.3% 76th pct 43.0% 100th pct

Highest year of school

46.4% Year 12 +30.6 pts ▸ 77.1%
18.1% Year 10 ◂ +7.6 pts 10.5%
15.3% Year 11 ◂ +11.7 pts 3.5%
12.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +8.1 pts 4.2%

Highest qualification level

20.3% Bachelor degree +13.7 pts ▸ 33.9%
33.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +18.5 pts 15.0%
5.7% Postgraduate degree +14.2 pts ▸ 19.9%
15.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.6 pts 13.0%
4.5% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.9 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.7 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

11.9% Society & culture +8.1 pts ▸ 20.1%
13.3% Management & commerce +6.8 pts ▸ 20.1%
14.1% Engineering & related ◂ +5.7 pts 8.4%
11.9% Health ◂ +3.2 pts 8.7%
9.9% Education ◂ +3.0 pts 6.9%
1.5% Information technology +6.0 pts ▸ 7.6%
6.6% Architecture & building ◂ +2.7 pts 3.9%
2.1% Natural & physical sciences +3.5 pts ▸ 5.6%
5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +2.0 pts 3.3%
3.0% Creative arts +1.2 pts ▸ 4.2%
3.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.1 pts 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$482 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$722 45th pct $1,204 86th pct
Household income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$950 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,422 40th pct $2,372 89th pct
Family income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,025 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
$1,847 53rd pct $2,872 99th pct
High earners in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
8.6% 49th pct 22.1% 92nd pct
High-income homes in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +20.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
15.6% 47th pct 36.4% 97th pct

Household income distribution

28.4% $1,500–$2,999 +4.2 pts ▸ 32.6%
30.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +12.6 pts 17.5%
7.4% $4,000 or more +14.5 pts ▸ 21.9%
18.7% Under $650 ◂ +10.1 pts 8.6%
8.2% $3,000–$3,999 +6.3 pts ▸ 14.5%

Personal income distribution

42.0% Under $650 ◂ +14.2 pts 27.9%
32.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.4 pts 29.7%
14.5% $1,500–$2,999 +15.2 pts ▸ 29.7%
3.1% $3,000 or more +4.8 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
33.4% 86th pct 28.1% 57th pct
Mental health in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
10.9% 78th pct 10.0% 67th pct
Needs assistance in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
6.7% 84th pct 4.6% 39th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

11.3% Arthritis ◂ +3.6 pts 7.7%
10.9% Mental health ◂ +0.8 pts 10.0%
9.9% Asthma ◂ +0.9 pts 9.0%
8.7% Other condition +1.0 pts ▸ 9.7%
5.2% Diabetes ◂ +1.3 pts 3.9%
5.0% Heart disease ◂ +1.9 pts 3.1%
3.6% Cancer ◂ +0.9 pts 2.7%
2.4% Lung condition ◂ +1.1 pts 1.3%
1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%
0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.6% None +8.4 pts ▸ 66.0%
21.7% One condition ◂ +1.9 pts 19.8%
7.5% Two conditions ◂ +1.8 pts 5.8%
4.1% Three or more ◂ +1.7 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
17.2% 56th pct 18.4% 69th pct
Unpaid carers in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
14.3% 99th pct 12.0% 65th pct
Unpaid child care in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.3% 72nd pct 28.3% 87th pct
Defence service in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.3% 60th pct 6.0% 94th pct
Housework 15h+ in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.6 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
23.9% 84th pct 19.3% 46th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +13,997 larger in Inner Regional Australia
22,884 78th pct 8,887 60th pct
Median age in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia
23 yrs 14th pct 24 yrs 29th pct
Year 12 in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +22.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
36.5% 72nd pct 58.9% 100th pct
Unemployment in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
9.6% 17th pct 7.2% 0th pct
Median income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$427 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$576 72nd pct $1,003 89th pct
Household income in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$884 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,405 57th pct $2,289 92nd pct
Indigenous language in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.3% 31st pct 7.5% 55th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.4 43rd pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.5 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
14.3% 45th pct 11.9% 14th pct
Living alone in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.6 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
28.3% 50th pct 25.8% 28th pct

Family composition

53.8% Couples with children +6.1 pts ▸ 59.8%
31.0% Couples without children ◂ +3.8 pts 27.2%
14.3% One-parent families ◂ +2.5 pts 11.9%
0.9% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

36.5% 2 people ◂ +3.8 pts 32.7%
28.3% 1 person ◂ +2.6 pts 25.8%
13.6% 3 people +3.0 pts ▸ 16.5%
13.1% 4 people +3.4 pts ▸ 16.4%
5.9% 5 people +0.1 pts ▸ 6.0%
2.6% 6 or more even 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$165 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$285 62nd pct $450 100th pct
Mortgage in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$580 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,500 55th pct $2,080 92nd 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 +8.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
21.9% 14th pct 30.7% 57th pct
Owned outright in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +12.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
39.3% 72nd pct 26.6% 26th pct
Separate houses in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +27.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
91.0% 71st pct 63.2% 3rd pct
3+ bedrooms in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
80.8% 87th pct 73.0% 40th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.1% Owned with a mortgage +5.1 pts ▸ 40.2%
39.3% Owned outright ◂ +12.7 pts 26.6%
21.9% Rented +8.8 pts ▸ 30.7%
1.9% Other tenure ◂ +0.3 pts 1.6%
1.8% Not stated ◂ +1.0 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

91.0% Separate house ◂ +27.9 pts 63.2%
1.6% Flat or apartment +17.8 pts ▸ 19.4%
6.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +10.7 pts ▸ 17.2%
0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

46.9% 3 bedrooms ◂ +9.7 pts 37.1%
28.8% 4 bedrooms even 28.8%
14.5% 2 bedrooms +3.0 pts ▸ 17.5%
2.8% 1 bedroom +5.6 pts ▸ 8.4%
5.1% 5 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 7.1%
0.3% Studio / none even 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

49.1% $200–$349 ◂ +36.7 pts 12.4%
25.4% $350–$549 +20.4 pts ▸ 45.8%
1.9% $550–$749 +19.3 pts ▸ 21.2%
18.7% Under $200 ◂ +6.3 pts 12.5%
0.6% $750 or more +4.3 pts ▸ 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.3% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +13.7 pts 25.6%
23.6% $1,800–$2,999 +14.9 pts ▸ 38.5%
22.7% Under $1,000 ◂ +11.6 pts 11.0%
8.5% $3,000 or more +12.4 pts ▸ 20.9%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
4.3% 16th pct 5.6% 51st pct
Work from home in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
15.7% 82nd pct 10.9% 58th pct
PT commute in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.5% 23rd pct 4.6% 83rd pct

How people get to work

61.4% Car (driver) ◂ +2.4 pts 59.0%
15.7% Worked at home ◂ +4.7 pts 10.9%
4.3% Car (passenger) +0.7 pts ▸ 5.0%
3.0% Walked +1.0 pts ▸ 4.0%
0.3% Bus +3.3 pts ▸ 3.6%
0.5% Bicycle +1.6 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.2% Train ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

32.6% 1 vehicle +6.7 pts ▸ 39.2%
38.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.1 pts 38.7%
14.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.8 pts 10.9%
9.5% 4 or more ◂ +4.0 pts 5.5%
4.3% No vehicle +1.2 pts ▸ 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
37.0% 50th pct 46.1% 83rd pct
Recent arrivals in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
11.1% 20th pct 16.7% 58th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
3.9% 19th pct 3.8% 16th pct
Participation in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +11.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
57.7% 58th pct 69.6% 99th pct
Full-time in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +10.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
55.8% 27th pct 65.8% 76th pct

Industries people work in

6.4% Public administration & safety +23.4 pts ▸ 29.8%
15.8% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.3 pts 11.5%
4.7% Professional & technical +6.3 pts ▸ 10.9%
10.8% Construction ◂ +4.2 pts 6.6%
8.7% Education & training +0.7 pts ▸ 9.4%
9.3% Retail trade ◂ +2.8 pts 6.5%
7.9% Manufacturing ◂ +6.2 pts 1.7%
6.4% Accommodation & food even 6.3%
6.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.7 pts 0.2%
3.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.7 pts 2.1%
3.8% Other services ◂ +0.9 pts 2.9%
2.8% Administrative & support ◂ +0.2 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

18.8% Professionals +12.7 pts ▸ 31.5%
14.2% Managers +3.6 pts ▸ 17.9%
15.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +5.6 pts 9.6%
11.2% Clerical & administrative +3.3 pts ▸ 14.5%
12.5% Community & personal service ◂ +1.6 pts 10.9%
11.6% Labourers ◂ +6.7 pts 5.0%
8.4% Sales workers ◂ +2.3 pts 6.1%
6.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.8 pts 2.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.7 higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.3 75th pct 7.0 98th pct
Types ≤15 min in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.3 more in Major Cities of Australia
4.2 74th pct 6.5 98th pct
15-min city in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +34.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
48.0% 71st pct 82.1% 99th pct
Walk to shops in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +31.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
48.9% 66th pct 80.1% 99th pct
Walk to transit in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +35.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
62.2% 76th pct 97.7% 100th pct
Walk to school in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +31.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
54.3% 68th pct 85.5% 98th pct
Walk to a park in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +22.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
77.5% 74th pct 99.5% 100th pct
Walk to health in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +28.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
36.1% 56th pct 64.4% 95th pct
Amenities/1k in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.5 more in Major Cities of Australia
17.5 36th pct 19.1 43rd pct
Intersections/km² in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +168 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3 69th pct 171 100th pct
Mean slope in Inner Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
5.0% 48th pct 5.5% 61st 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 Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Outer 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/RA80/major-cities-of-australia