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Outer Regional Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

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

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 356 km apart · Outer Regional Australia profile · Major Cities of Australia profile

Outer Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Outer Regional Australia are two very different environments. Major Cities of Australia is a very walkable area where 28.0% of people were born overseas and 26.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Outer Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent, with a far older population where the typical resident is 47 compared to 39 in the cities. Housing also differs sharply; separate houses are far more common in Outer Regional Australia, where 44.7% of homes are owned outright.

Both areas are similar in the size of their households, with about 2.4 people per home. While they share these basic living patterns, other gaps are widening. The difference in typical weekly income has grown to $308, with Major Cities of Australia seeing higher pay. At the same time, the age gap has increased, with residents in Outer Regional Australia now far older than those in the cities by eight years.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,086,518 larger in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 20.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia PT commute: 4.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 16.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 16.7 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +1,086,518 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

257,682 73rd pct 1,344,200 87th pct

Median age in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +8 yrs older in Outer Regional Australia gap widening

47 yrs 83rd pct 39 yrs 38th pct

Age structure

27.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.0 pts 24.6%

21.1% Young adults (25–44) +6.3 pts ▸ 27.5%

25.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +6.3 pts 18.6%

16.6% Children (0–14) +0.5 pts ▸ 17.1%

9.8% Youth (15–24) +2.5 pts ▸ 12.2%

Marital status

47.7% Married ◂ +2.3 pts 45.4%

31.6% Never married +5.0 pts ▸ 36.6%

10.0% Divorced ◂ +0.6 pts 9.4%

6.9% Widowed ◂ +1.4 pts 5.5%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.7 pts 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Outer Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

80.4% Australia ◂ +12.0 pts 68.3%

2.2% England +3.4 pts ▸ 5.6%

0.6% India +2.6 pts ▸ 3.2%

0.2% China +1.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.3% Vietnam +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.4% Italy +0.7 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.7% Philippines +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.9% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.1% Nepal +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% South Africa +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Ancestry

40.1% English ◂ +3.6 pts 36.5%

39.4% Australian ◂ +9.5 pts 29.9%

11.1% Scottish ◂ +3.0 pts 8.1%

10.9% Irish ◂ +3.3 pts 7.6%

3.9% Italian +3.0 pts ▸ 6.9%

5.4% German +1.2 pts ▸ 6.6%

1.1% Chinese +3.1 pts ▸ 4.2%

0.6% Indian +2.5 pts ▸ 3.1%

0.6% Greek +2.2 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.7% Dutch even 1.6%

0.4% Vietnamese +1.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.8% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

Language

Language used at home

85.5% English only ◂ +11.2 pts 74.3%

0.7% Mandarin +1.6 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.6% Italian +1.0 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.4% Vietnamese +1.2 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.2% Greek +1.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.3% Punjabi +1.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.1% Arabic +0.7 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

Religious affiliation

43.5% No religion +1.3 pts ▸ 44.9%

43.9% Christianity ◂ +4.0 pts 39.9%

9.5% Not stated ◂ +4.0 pts 5.5%

0.8% Islam +2.0 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.4% Hinduism +2.3 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.1% Buddhism +1.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.6% Other religions +1.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

39.3% Year 12 +20.1 pts ▸ 59.4%

19.5% Year 10 ◂ +6.9 pts 12.7%

16.3% Year 11 ◂ +1.6 pts 14.7%

15.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +6.4 pts 8.6%

Highest qualification level

35.3% Certificate III / IV ◂ +8.3 pts 27.1%

16.6% Bachelor degree +11.9 pts ▸ 28.5%

15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.4 pts 14.8%

3.5% Postgraduate degree +6.8 pts ▸ 10.3%

3.5% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.6 pts ▸ 4.1%

2.3% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.2 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

11.8% Management & commerce +7.6 pts ▸ 19.3%

13.6% Engineering & related +0.4 pts ▸ 14.0%

10.3% Society & culture +3.5 pts ▸ 13.7%

11.1% Health +1.5 pts ▸ 12.6%

9.2% Education ◂ +1.2 pts 8.0%

6.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +5.1 pts 1.6%

5.8% Architecture & building ◂ +1.1 pts 4.8%

5.7% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.7 pts 5.0%

2.1% Creative arts +1.6 pts ▸ 3.6%

1.6% Natural & physical sciences +1.8 pts ▸ 3.4%

1.0% Information technology +2.2 pts ▸ 3.3%

Income

Personal income in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$95 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady

$665 32nd pct $760 56th pct

Household income in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$308 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,231 16th pct $1,539 58th pct

Family income in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$394 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,589 24th pct $1,983 71st pct

Household income distribution

33.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.2 pts 28.7%

26.2% $1,500–$2,999 +3.6 pts ▸ 29.8%

21.5% Under $650 ◂ +4.2 pts 17.3%

6.1% $3,000–$3,999 +3.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

5.0% $4,000 or more +4.0 pts ▸ 8.9%

Personal income distribution

44.1% Under $650 ◂ +2.0 pts 42.1%

32.2% $650–$1,499 +0.9 pts ▸ 33.1%

11.5% $1,500–$2,999 +4.9 pts ▸ 16.4%

2.2% $3,000 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.0% Arthritis ◂ +2.6 pts 9.5%

9.7% Mental health +0.2 pts ▸ 9.8%

9.5% Asthma ◂ +0.7 pts 8.7%

7.9% Other condition +1.1 pts ▸ 9.0%

5.6% Diabetes ◂ +0.2 pts 5.5%

5.4% Heart disease ◂ +1.0 pts 4.4%

3.8% Cancer ◂ +0.7 pts 3.1%

2.7% Lung condition ◂ +0.8 pts 1.8%

1.3% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

0.7% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.6% None +7.1 pts ▸ 63.7%

21.1% One condition ◂ +1.1 pts 20.0%

7.6% Two conditions ◂ +1.0 pts 6.6%

4.4% Three or more ◂ +0.8 pts 3.6%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +15,578 larger in Major Cities of Australia

7,694 57th pct 23,272 78th pct

Median age in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia even

23 yrs 14th pct 23 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$41 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$509 45th pct $550 59th pct

Household income in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$180 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,189 29th pct $1,369 53rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +0.1 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

2.3 22nd pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

49.7% Couples with children +6.9 pts ▸ 56.6%

35.4% Couples without children ◂ +8.5 pts 26.9%

13.8% One-parent families +1.4 pts ▸ 15.2%

1.0% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

38.2% 2 people ◂ +4.8 pts 33.4%

31.0% 1 person ◂ +3.0 pts 28.0%

12.3% 3 people +3.5 pts ▸ 15.9%

10.7% 4 people +4.2 pts ▸ 14.9%

5.3% 5 people +0.1 pts ▸ 5.4%

2.4% 6 or more even 2.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$80 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$240 41st pct $320 73rd pct

Mortgage in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$390 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$1,170 27th pct $1,560 60th pct

People / bedroom in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +0.10 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

44.7% Owned outright ◂ +14.0 pts 30.7%

28.7% Owned with a mortgage +8.0 pts ▸ 36.8%

21.3% Rented +7.6 pts ▸ 28.9%

3.0% Other tenure ◂ +0.6 pts 2.4%

2.2% Not stated ◂ +1.0 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

91.1% Separate house ◂ +16.7 pts 74.4%

5.1% Townhouse / semi-detached +11.6 pts ▸ 16.8%

2.4% Flat or apartment +6.0 pts ▸ 8.4%

1.1% Other dwelling ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

49.7% 3 bedrooms +1.8 pts ▸ 51.5%

23.8% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.0 pts 20.8%

16.2% 2 bedrooms +2.8 pts ▸ 19.0%

4.4% 5 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 4.0%

3.5% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.1 pts 3.4%

0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

48.2% $200–$349 ◂ +6.8 pts 41.4%

14.5% $350–$549 +19.8 pts ▸ 34.3%

30.3% Under $200 ◂ +13.7 pts 16.6%

0.6% $550–$749 +2.9 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.6% $750 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.7% $1,000–$1,799 +0.8 pts ▸ 39.5%

36.1% Under $1,000 ◂ +16.8 pts 19.3%

14.1% $1,800–$2,999 +12.3 pts ▸ 26.4%

4.8% $3,000 or more +5.2 pts ▸ 10.0%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

62.3% Car (driver) +1.0 pts ▸ 63.3%

13.2% Worked at home ◂ +3.5 pts 9.7%

5.3% Walked ◂ +3.4 pts 1.9%

5.0% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.7 pts 4.3%

0.3% Bus +3.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

0.6% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.0% Train +0.8 pts ▸ 0.8%

Motor vehicles per home

32.2% 1 vehicle +5.4 pts ▸ 37.6%

37.4% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.6 pts 36.8%

15.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.8 pts 11.6%

10.1% 4 or more ◂ +4.0 pts 6.2%

4.8% No vehicle +3.1 pts ▸ 7.8%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

14.3% Health care & social assistance +3.0 pts ▸ 17.2%

17.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +16.0 pts 1.0%

8.8% Retail trade +0.9 pts ▸ 9.7%

7.9% Education & training +1.1 pts ▸ 9.1%

8.0% Construction +0.3 pts ▸ 8.3%

5.3% Public administration & safety +1.8 pts ▸ 7.2%

3.2% Professional & technical +4.0 pts ▸ 7.1%

6.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.2 pts 6.6%

6.0% Manufacturing +0.7 pts ▸ 6.7%

4.1% Transport & warehousing even 4.1%

3.5% Other services +0.5 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.8% Administrative & support +1.0 pts ▸ 3.8%

Occupations people work in

14.8% Professionals +9.0 pts ▸ 23.8%

19.6% Managers ◂ +7.6 pts 12.0%

14.1% Labourers ◂ +4.8 pts 9.3%

11.8% Community & personal service +1.5 pts ▸ 13.2%

9.5% Clerical & administrative +3.7 pts ▸ 13.2%

13.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.3 pts 12.8%

8.0% Sales workers +0.5 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.9% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.4 pts 5.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +3.1 higher in Major Cities of Australia

3.6 67th pct 6.7 95th pct

Types ≤15 min in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +2.8 more in Major Cities of Australia

3.7 53rd pct 6.4 97th pct

15-min city in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +40.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

42.0% 48th pct 82.2% 99th pct

Walk to shops in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +34.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

44.1% 51st pct 78.3% 97th pct

Walk to transit in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +45.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

48.7% 70th pct 94.3% 97th pct

Walk to school in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +37.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

45.4% 45th pct 83.2% 96th pct

Walk to a park in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +31.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

66.4% 55th pct 97.7% 96th pct

Walk to health in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +33.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

30.8% 39th pct 64.5% 95th pct

Amenities/1k in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +20.2 more in Outer Regional Australia

34.7 71st pct 14.5 18th pct

Intersections/km² in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +110 higher in Major Cities of Australia

1 45th pct 110 92nd pct

Mean slope in Outer Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia even

4.6% 40th pct 4.6% 41st pct

Compare Outer Regional Australia with nearby areas

Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Inner Regional 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). Outer Regional Australia vs Major Cities of Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA22/outer-regional-australia/vs/RA40/major-cities-of-australia