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Outer Regional Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 679 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 far apart and offer very different lifestyles. Major Cities of Australia is much younger, with a typical resident aged 35, while residents in Outer Regional Australia are far older at 47. Major Cities of Australia is also more diverse and highly educated; 28.8% of people were born overseas and 43.0% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Outer Regional Australia has a much lower share of overseas births (11.1%) and university degrees (13.2%). Earnings are also far higher in Major Cities of Australia, where the typical household income is $2,372 a week, compared to $1,231 in Outer Regional Australia.

Everyday life shares some similarities, as both areas have nearly the same unemployment rate (about 3.9%) and similar proportions of people with no religion. However, the gaps between these two places are often widening. Since 2011, the age gap has grown and the difference in typical incomes has increased. While Outer Regional Australia sees far more people owning their homes outright (44.7% compared to 26.6%), the cost of renting and mortgage payments remains far higher in Major Cities of Australia.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 37.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Bachelor+: 29.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 27.9 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia Household income: $1,141 higher in Major Cities of Australia Rent: $210 higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +195,516 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
257,682 73rd pct 453,198 77th pct
Median age in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +12 yrs older in Outer Regional Australia gap widening
47 yrs 83rd pct 35 yrs 7th pct
First Nations in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap steady
3.0% 28th pct 2.0% 16th pct
Aged 65+ in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +11.3 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap widening
25.0% 89th pct 13.7% 36th pct
Under 15 in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
16.6% 40th pct 18.3% 61st pct
De facto in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
12.2% 28th pct 12.5% 37th pct

Age structure

21.1% Young adults (25–44) +11.3 pts ▸ 32.4%
27.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +5.2 pts 22.3%
25.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +11.3 pts 13.7%
16.6% Children (0–14) +1.7 pts ▸ 18.3%
9.8% Youth (15–24) +3.6 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

47.7% Married ◂ +0.9 pts 46.8%
31.6% Never married +7.6 pts ▸ 39.2%
10.0% Divorced ◂ +2.3 pts 7.7%
6.9% Widowed ◂ +3.2 pts 3.7%
3.8% Separated ◂ +1.2 pts 2.5%

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

Born overseas in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +17.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
11.1% 29th pct 28.8% 87th pct

Country of birth

80.4% Australia ◂ +12.9 pts 67.5%
0.6% India +3.2 pts ▸ 3.8%
2.2% England +0.7 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.2% China +2.4 pts ▸ 2.7%
0.1% Nepal +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.9% New Zealand +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.7% Philippines +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.3% Vietnam +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.3% South Africa +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.4% Italy even 0.4%

Ancestry

40.1% English ◂ +8.2 pts 32.0%
39.4% Australian ◂ +7.9 pts 31.5%
10.9% Irish +0.7 pts ▸ 11.6%
11.1% Scottish ◂ +1.1 pts 10.0%
1.1% Chinese +4.6 pts ▸ 5.7%
5.4% German ◂ +1.2 pts 4.2%
0.6% Indian +3.9 pts ▸ 4.5%
3.9% Italian ◂ +0.6 pts 3.4%
1.7% Dutch even 1.7%
0.8% Filipino +0.8 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.4% Vietnamese +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.6% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 1.2%

Language

Other language in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +17.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6.7% 36th pct 24.6% 86th pct
Limited English in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
1.5% 64th pct 2.5% 78th pct

Language used at home

85.5% English only ◂ +14.3 pts 71.2%
0.7% Mandarin +2.5 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.4% Vietnamese +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.3% Punjabi +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Hindi +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Cantonese +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.1% Arabic +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.6% Italian even 0.6%
0.2% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.2% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

No religion in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
43.5% 63rd pct 44.2% 66th pct

Religious affiliation

43.5% No religion +0.6 pts ▸ 44.2%
43.9% Christianity ◂ +5.8 pts 38.1%
9.5% Not stated ◂ +3.9 pts 5.6%
0.4% Hinduism +4.1 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.8% Islam +2.4 pts ▸ 3.2%
1.1% Buddhism +1.7 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.6% Other religions +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.0% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +37.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
39.3% 49th pct 77.1% 100th pct
Bachelor+ in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +29.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
13.2% 45th pct 43.0% 100th pct

Highest year of school

39.3% Year 12 +37.8 pts ▸ 77.1%
19.5% Year 10 ◂ +9.0 pts 10.5%
16.3% Year 11 ◂ +12.8 pts 3.5%
15.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +10.8 pts 4.2%

Highest qualification level

35.3% Certificate III / IV ◂ +20.3 pts 15.0%
16.6% Bachelor degree +17.4 pts ▸ 33.9%
3.5% Postgraduate degree +16.4 pts ▸ 19.9%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.2 pts 13.0%
3.5% Graduate diploma / certificate +2.8 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.3% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.0 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

10.3% Society & culture +9.8 pts ▸ 20.1%
11.8% Management & commerce +8.3 pts ▸ 20.1%
13.6% Engineering & related ◂ +5.1 pts 8.4%
11.1% Health ◂ +2.4 pts 8.7%
9.2% Education ◂ +2.3 pts 6.9%
1.0% Information technology +6.5 pts ▸ 7.6%
6.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +5.1 pts 1.6%
5.8% Architecture & building ◂ +1.9 pts 3.9%
5.7% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +2.4 pts 3.3%
1.6% Natural & physical sciences +4.1 pts ▸ 5.6%
2.1% Creative arts +2.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

Income

Personal income in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$539 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$665 32nd pct $1,204 86th pct
Household income in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,141 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,231 16th pct $2,372 89th pct
Family income in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,283 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,589 24th pct $2,872 99th pct
High earners in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +16.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6.1% 26th pct 22.1% 92nd pct
High-income homes in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +25.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
11.1% 17th pct 36.4% 97th pct

Household income distribution

33.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +15.5 pts 17.5%
26.2% $1,500–$2,999 +6.4 pts ▸ 32.6%
5.0% $4,000 or more +16.9 pts ▸ 21.9%
21.5% Under $650 ◂ +13.0 pts 8.6%
6.1% $3,000–$3,999 +8.4 pts ▸ 14.5%

Personal income distribution

44.1% Under $650 ◂ +16.3 pts 27.9%
32.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.5 pts 29.7%
11.5% $1,500–$2,999 +18.3 pts ▸ 29.7%
2.2% $3,000 or more +5.7 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.0 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia
33.1% 84th pct 28.1% 57th pct
Mental health in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
9.7% 63rd pct 10.0% 67th pct
Needs assistance in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.4 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap steady
7.0% 89th pct 4.6% 39th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

12.0% Arthritis ◂ +4.3 pts 7.7%
9.7% Mental health +0.4 pts ▸ 10.0%
7.9% Other condition +1.8 pts ▸ 9.7%
9.5% Asthma ◂ +0.5 pts 9.0%
5.6% Diabetes ◂ +1.8 pts 3.9%
5.4% Heart disease ◂ +2.3 pts 3.1%
3.8% Cancer ◂ +1.1 pts 2.7%
2.7% Lung condition ◂ +1.4 pts 1.3%
1.3% Stroke ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.6% None +9.4 pts ▸ 66.0%
21.1% One condition ◂ +1.3 pts 19.8%
7.6% Two conditions ◂ +1.8 pts 5.8%
4.4% Three or more ◂ +2.0 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.1 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing
20.5% 82nd pct 18.4% 69th pct
Unpaid carers in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.8 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap steady
13.7% 94th pct 12.0% 65th pct
Unpaid child care in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
22.8% 41st pct 28.3% 87th pct
Defence service in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.1% 46th pct 6.0% 94th pct
Housework 15h+ in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.8 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing
24.1% 86th pct 19.3% 46th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1,193 larger in Major Cities of Australia
7,694 57th pct 8,887 60th pct
Median age in Outer 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 Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +29.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
29.8% 50th pct 58.9% 100th pct
Unemployment in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.3 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia
12.5% 37th pct 7.2% 0th pct
Median income in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$494 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$509 45th pct $1,003 89th pct
Household income in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,100 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,189 29th pct $2,289 92nd pct
Indigenous language in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.1% 29th pct 7.5% 55th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.2 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.3 22nd pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.0 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap widening
13.8% 36th pct 11.9% 14th pct
Living alone in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.3 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap steady
31.0% 76th pct 25.8% 28th pct

Family composition

49.7% Couples with children +10.1 pts ▸ 59.8%
35.4% Couples without children ◂ +8.2 pts 27.2%
13.8% One-parent families ◂ +2.0 pts 11.9%
1.0% Other families even 1.1%

Household size

38.2% 2 people ◂ +5.5 pts 32.7%
31.0% 1 person ◂ +5.3 pts 25.8%
12.3% 3 people +4.2 pts ▸ 16.5%
10.7% 4 people +5.8 pts ▸ 16.4%
5.3% 5 people +0.7 pts ▸ 6.0%
2.4% 6 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$210 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$240 41st pct $450 100th pct
Mortgage in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$910 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,170 27th pct $2,080 92nd pct
People / bedroom in Outer 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 Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
21.3% 13th pct 30.7% 57th pct
Owned outright in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +18.1 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap widening
44.7% 89th pct 26.6% 26th pct
Separate houses in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +27.9 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap widening
91.1% 71st pct 63.2% 3rd pct
3+ bedrooms in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.9 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap widening
77.8% 71st pct 73.0% 40th pct

How homes are owned or rented

44.7% Owned outright ◂ +18.1 pts 26.6%
28.7% Owned with a mortgage +11.5 pts ▸ 40.2%
21.3% Rented +9.4 pts ▸ 30.7%
3.0% Other tenure ◂ +1.4 pts 1.6%
2.2% Not stated ◂ +1.4 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

91.1% Separate house ◂ +27.9 pts 63.2%
2.4% Flat or apartment +17.0 pts ▸ 19.4%
5.1% Townhouse / semi-detached +12.1 pts ▸ 17.2%
1.1% Other dwelling ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

49.7% 3 bedrooms ◂ +12.6 pts 37.1%
23.8% 4 bedrooms +5.0 pts ▸ 28.8%
16.2% 2 bedrooms +1.4 pts ▸ 17.5%
3.5% 1 bedroom +4.9 pts ▸ 8.4%
4.4% 5 or more +2.7 pts ▸ 7.1%
0.4% Studio / none ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

48.2% $200–$349 ◂ +35.8 pts 12.4%
14.5% $350–$549 +31.3 pts ▸ 45.8%
30.3% Under $200 ◂ +17.9 pts 12.5%
0.6% $550–$749 +20.6 pts ▸ 21.2%
0.6% $750 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.7% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +13.1 pts 25.6%
14.1% $1,800–$2,999 +24.4 pts ▸ 38.5%
36.1% Under $1,000 ◂ +25.0 pts 11.0%
4.8% $3,000 or more +16.1 pts ▸ 20.9%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.8% 28th pct 5.6% 51st pct
Work from home in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.2 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing
13.2% 71st pct 10.9% 58th pct
PT commute in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.4% 18th pct 4.6% 83rd pct

How people get to work

62.3% Car (driver) ◂ +3.3 pts 59.0%
13.2% Worked at home ◂ +2.2 pts 10.9%
5.3% Walked ◂ +1.3 pts 4.0%
5.0% Car (passenger) even 5.0%
0.3% Bus +3.3 pts ▸ 3.6%
0.6% Bicycle +1.5 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

32.2% 1 vehicle +7.0 pts ▸ 39.2%
37.4% 2 vehicles +1.3 pts ▸ 38.7%
15.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +4.5 pts 10.9%
10.1% 4 or more ◂ +4.6 pts 5.5%
4.8% No vehicle +0.8 pts ▸ 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +12.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
33.7% 33rd pct 46.1% 83rd pct
Recent arrivals in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing
17.7% 63rd pct 16.7% 58th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing
3.9% 20th pct 3.8% 16th pct
Participation in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +15.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
54.6% 43rd pct 69.6% 99th pct
Full-time in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
56.5% 32nd pct 65.8% 76th pct

Industries people work in

5.3% Public administration & safety +24.5 pts ▸ 29.8%
17.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +16.7 pts 0.2%
14.3% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.8 pts 11.5%
3.2% Professional & technical +7.7 pts ▸ 10.9%
7.9% Education & training +1.5 pts ▸ 9.4%
8.8% Retail trade ◂ +2.4 pts 6.5%
8.0% Construction ◂ +1.4 pts 6.6%
6.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.4 pts 6.3%
6.0% Manufacturing ◂ +4.3 pts 1.7%
4.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.0 pts 2.1%
3.5% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 2.9%
2.8% Administrative & support ◂ +0.2 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

14.8% Professionals +16.7 pts ▸ 31.5%
19.6% Managers ◂ +1.7 pts 17.9%
9.5% Clerical & administrative +5.0 pts ▸ 14.5%
14.1% Labourers ◂ +9.2 pts 5.0%
13.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.5 pts 9.6%
11.8% Community & personal service ◂ +0.8 pts 10.9%
8.0% Sales workers ◂ +1.9 pts 6.1%
6.9% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.5 pts 2.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.3 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.6 67th pct 7.0 98th pct
Types ≤15 min in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.8 more in Major Cities of Australia
3.7 53rd pct 6.5 98th pct
15-min city in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +40.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
42.0% 48th pct 82.1% 99th pct
Walk to shops in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +36.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
44.1% 51st pct 80.1% 99th pct
Walk to transit in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +49.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
48.7% 70th pct 97.7% 100th pct
Walk to school in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +40.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
45.4% 45th pct 85.5% 98th pct
Walk to a park in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +33.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
66.4% 55th pct 99.5% 100th pct
Walk to health in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +33.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
30.8% 39th pct 64.4% 95th pct
Amenities/1k in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +15.7 more in Outer Regional Australia
34.7 71st pct 19.1 43rd pct
Intersections/km² in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +170 higher in Major Cities of Australia
1 45th pct 171 100th pct
Mean slope in Outer Regional Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.6% 40th pct 5.5% 61st 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 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). 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/RA80/major-cities-of-australia