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Major Cities of Australia vs Inner Regional Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 98 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Inner Regional Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Inner Regional Australia are two very different environments. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable and more diverse, with 27.6% of people born overseas and 16.5% using another language at home. It also has a more qualified workforce, where 26.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Inner Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent and more residential, with separate houses making up 87.2% of homes. The typical resident there is also older, at 43 years, compared to 37 in the major cities.

The gap between these two areas has widened in several ways since 2011. The difference in typical weekly household income has grown to $445, and the age gap has increased from three years to six. Despite these drifting trends, the two areas remain similar in some respects, such as their unemployment rates and the share of children under 15. They also both have about the same number of people per home, averaging 2.6 and 2.5 respectively.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 18.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 18.1 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia Population: 2,333,331 larger in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 14.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Bachelor+: 12.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +2,333,331 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
3,331,137 92nd pct 997,806 86th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +6 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
37 yrs 25th pct 43 yrs 68th pct
First Nations in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +2.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
2.7% 25th pct 5.5% 44th pct
Aged 65+ in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +5.8 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
15.7% 47th pct 21.5% 78th pct
Under 15 in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +0.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
18.8% 73rd pct 18.2% 60th pct
De facto in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +0.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
12.8% 43rd pct 12.0% 26th pct

Age structure

28.6% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +6.0 pts 22.6%
24.1% Older adults (45–64) +2.5 pts ▸ 26.6%
15.7% Seniors (65+) +5.8 pts ▸ 21.5%
18.8% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.5 pts 18.2%
12.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.7 pts 11.1%

Marital status

44.9% Married +2.5 pts ▸ 47.4%
37.9% Never married ◂ +5.6 pts 32.3%
9.4% Divorced +1.1 pts ▸ 10.5%
4.4% Widowed +1.4 pts ▸ 5.8%
3.4% Separated +0.6 pts ▸ 4.0%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +14.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
27.6% 85th pct 13.5% 45th pct

Country of birth

67.8% Australia +12.0 pts ▸ 79.8%
5.0% New Zealand ◂ +2.5 pts 2.4%
4.2% England ◂ +1.1 pts 3.1%
1.8% India ◂ +1.3 pts 0.6%
1.5% China ◂ +1.3 pts 0.2%
1.2% South Africa ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%
1.0% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%
0.7% Vietnam ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%
0.3% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%
0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

37.7% English +3.7 pts ▸ 41.5%
31.4% Australian +7.8 pts ▸ 39.2%
11.1% Irish +0.1 pts ▸ 11.2%
10.3% Scottish +0.5 pts ▸ 10.8%
5.4% German +2.9 pts ▸ 8.3%
4.2% Chinese ◂ +3.3 pts 0.9%
2.9% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 1.9%
2.4% Indian ◂ +1.7 pts 0.7%
1.7% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%
1.5% Filipino ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%
0.9% Vietnamese ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%
0.8% Greek ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Language

Other language in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +11.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
16.5% 73rd pct 5.5% 28th pct
Limited English in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.2% 74th pct 0.8% 41st pct

Language used at home

78.5% English only +9.2 pts ▸ 87.6%
2.3% Mandarin ◂ +1.9 pts 0.4%
0.9% Vietnamese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%
0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%
0.8% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.6% Hindi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%
0.4% Arabic ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%
0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%
0.4% Italian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%
0.3% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +3.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
42.8% 59th pct 39.2% 44th pct

Religious affiliation

44.1% Christianity +5.4 pts ▸ 49.5%
42.8% No religion ◂ +3.5 pts 39.2%
6.8% Not stated +2.0 pts ▸ 8.8%
1.8% Hinduism ◂ +1.2 pts 0.6%
1.8% Buddhism ◂ +1.0 pts 0.8%
1.6% Islam ◂ +1.2 pts 0.4%
1.1% Other religions ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%
0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +18.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
63.3% 93rd pct 45.1% 69th pct
Bachelor+ in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +12.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.2% 86th pct 14.1% 58th pct

Highest year of school

63.3% Year 12 ◂ +18.2 pts 45.1%
17.8% Year 10 +10.1 pts ▸ 27.9%
6.8% Year 9 or below +4.9 pts ▸ 11.7%
6.1% Year 11 +1.1 pts ▸ 7.2%

Highest qualification level

27.0% Certificate III / IV +11.5 pts ▸ 38.5%
27.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +9.9 pts 17.4%
15.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.8 pts 14.1%
9.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.1 pts 4.2%
3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.0 pts 2.9%
2.0% Certificate I / II +1.0 pts ▸ 3.0%

Field of qualification

20.5% Management & commerce ◂ +6.0 pts 14.5%
13.2% Engineering & related +4.3 pts ▸ 17.5%
12.5% Society & culture ◂ +1.5 pts 11.0%
11.2% Health ◂ +0.5 pts 10.7%
7.6% Education +1.1 pts ▸ 8.7%
5.8% Architecture & building +0.2 pts ▸ 6.0%
5.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.4 pts ▸ 5.9%
4.0% Creative arts ◂ +1.9 pts 2.0%
3.1% Information technology ◂ +1.7 pts 1.4%
1.4% Agriculture & environment +1.4 pts ▸ 2.8%
2.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.1 pts 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +$156 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$832 68th pct $676 34th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +$445 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,818 71st pct $1,373 34th pct
Family income in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +$450 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$2,142 78th pct $1,692 36th pct
High earners in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +4.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
12.2% 72nd pct 8.2% 43rd pct
High-income homes in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +8.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
22.9% 80th pct 14.5% 39th pct

Household income distribution

31.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.0 pts 27.2%
25.6% $650–$1,499 +5.1 pts ▸ 30.7%
13.7% Under $650 +5.0 pts ▸ 18.7%
12.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +5.5 pts 6.7%
10.7% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.9 pts 7.8%

Personal income distribution

38.1% Under $650 +6.2 pts ▸ 44.3%
32.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.4 pts 30.2%
18.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.2 pts 14.0%
4.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 2.7%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +5.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
28.0% 57th pct 33.3% 85th pct
Mental health in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.1 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
9.6% 63rd pct 10.8% 77th pct
Needs assistance in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +2.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
5.6% 60th pct 7.6% 100th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

8.1% Arthritis +3.7 pts ▸ 11.8%
9.6% Mental health +1.1 pts ▸ 10.8%
8.5% Asthma +0.8 pts ▸ 9.3%
8.6% Other condition +0.4 pts ▸ 9.0%
4.1% Diabetes +1.4 pts ▸ 5.5%
3.8% Heart disease +1.5 pts ▸ 5.3%
3.0% Cancer +0.7 pts ▸ 3.7%
1.8% Lung condition +1.1 pts ▸ 2.9%
0.9% Stroke +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.7% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.3% None ◂ +7.3 pts 57.0%
19.2% One condition +1.8 pts ▸ 20.9%
5.9% Two conditions +1.8 pts ▸ 7.7%
3.0% Three or more +1.6 pts ▸ 4.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.4 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
13.5% 37th pct 14.9% 43rd pct
Unpaid carers in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
11.2% 55th pct 12.9% 84th pct
Unpaid child care in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +2.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
27.5% 86th pct 25.0% 57th pct
Defence service in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +0.9 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
3.5% 69th pct 4.4% 87th pct
Housework 15h+ in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +3.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap narrowing
20.1% 56th pct 23.3% 77th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +36,346 larger in Major Cities of Australia
90,830 94th pct 54,484 89th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia
23 yrs 14th pct 22 yrs 3rd pct
Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +11.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
51.1% 98th pct 39.8% 83rd pct
Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +2.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
11.2% 30th pct 13.5% 43rd pct
Median income in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +$102 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$645 80th pct $543 56th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +$265 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,706 81st pct $1,441 61st pct
Indigenous language in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
5.4% 41st pct 4.2% 31st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +0.1 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.6 77th pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
14.9% 54th pct 15.9% 70th pct
Living alone in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +2.1 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
23.7% 14th pct 25.8% 29th pct

Family composition

57.4% Couples with children ◂ +6.5 pts 50.9%
26.4% Couples without children +5.7 pts ▸ 32.2%
14.9% One-parent families +1.0 pts ▸ 15.9%
1.2% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

Household size

34.1% 2 people +4.0 pts ▸ 38.2%
23.7% 1 person +2.1 pts ▸ 25.8%
16.7% 3 people ◂ +2.7 pts 14.0%
15.9% 4 people ◂ +3.2 pts 12.7%
6.3% 5 people ◂ +0.5 pts 5.9%
3.3% 6 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +$100 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$400 89th pct $300 67th pct
Mortgage in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +$390 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,907 86th pct $1,517 57th pct
People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia even gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +8.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
34.9% 70th pct 26.9% 43rd pct
Owned outright in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +9.4 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
26.5% 26th pct 35.9% 57th pct
Separate houses in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +18.1 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
69.1% 13th pct 87.2% 53rd pct
3+ bedrooms in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +3.7 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap widening
75.9% 57th pct 79.5% 80th pct

How homes are owned or rented

26.5% Owned outright +9.4 pts ▸ 35.9%
35.7% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +2.1 pts 33.6%
34.9% Rented ◂ +8.0 pts 26.9%
1.6% Other tenure +0.3 pts ▸ 1.9%
1.3% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 1.8%

Types of homes

69.1% Separate house +18.1 pts ▸ 87.2%
16.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +12.9 pts 3.6%
13.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +6.0 pts 7.7%
0.4% Other dwelling +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%

Bedrooms per home

35.7% 3 bedrooms +5.2 pts ▸ 40.9%
31.5% 4 bedrooms +0.3 pts ▸ 31.7%
17.4% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.6 pts 14.8%
8.7% 5 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 6.9%
5.0% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.6 pts 3.4%
0.4% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

Weekly rent distribution

53.2% $350–$549 ◂ +25.1 pts 28.1%
22.3% $200–$349 +29.3 pts ▸ 51.6%
7.5% Under $200 +6.4 pts ▸ 14.0%
10.9% $550–$749 ◂ +8.8 pts 2.1%
3.1% $750 or more ◂ +2.7 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

30.2% $1,000–$1,799 +10.5 pts ▸ 40.7%
35.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +10.3 pts 25.5%
12.8% Under $1,000 +7.6 pts ▸ 20.5%
15.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +8.0 pts 7.4%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
6.0% 58th pct 4.9% 34th pct
Work from home in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +8.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
16.7% 86th pct 8.5% 39th pct
PT commute in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +3.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
3.9% 75th pct 0.7% 30th pct

How people get to work

57.0% Car (driver) +10.5 pts ▸ 67.5%
16.7% Worked at home ◂ +8.2 pts 8.5%
4.0% Car (passenger) +1.3 pts ▸ 5.3%
2.2% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.4%
2.1% Bus ◂ +1.5 pts 0.6%
1.6% Train ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%
0.7% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Motor vehicles per home

38.3% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.6 pts 37.7%
36.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +2.3 pts 34.2%
12.4% 3 vehicles +2.0 pts ▸ 14.4%
6.8% 4 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 8.8%
6.0% No vehicle ◂ +1.1 pts 4.9%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +6.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
47.3% 86th pct 40.9% 71st pct
Recent arrivals in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
13.8% 36th pct 12.6% 30th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +0.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
5.4% 57th pct 5.6% 60th pct
Participation in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +8.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
64.2% 86th pct 55.3% 46th pct
Full-time in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +0.6 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia gap steady
58.3% 48th pct 58.9% 51st pct

Industries people work in

15.6% Health care & social assistance +0.3 pts ▸ 16.0%
9.4% Retail trade +0.2 pts ▸ 9.6%
9.3% Construction +0.1 pts ▸ 9.4%
8.8% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 9.1%
8.1% Professional & technical ◂ +4.0 pts 4.1%
7.2% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.6 pts 6.5%
5.7% Manufacturing +1.4 pts ▸ 7.1%
5.9% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.5 pts 5.5%
0.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +4.3 pts ▸ 4.9%
4.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.2 pts 4.6%
3.8% Other services +0.4 pts ▸ 4.3%
3.5% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 2.9%

Occupations people work in

24.0% Professionals ◂ +7.7 pts 16.3%
12.7% Technicians & trades +3.3 pts ▸ 16.0%
13.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.5 pts 11.8%
12.0% Community & personal service +1.0 pts ▸ 13.0%
12.6% Managers ◂ +1.4 pts 11.2%
8.9% Labourers +3.7 pts ▸ 12.6%
8.8% Sales workers ◂ +0.1 pts 8.7%
5.8% Machinery operators & drivers +2.6 pts ▸ 8.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +2.9 higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.2 87th pct 3.3 38th pct
Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +2.4 more in Major Cities of Australia
5.8 86th pct 3.4 34th pct
15-min city in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +33.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
72.0% 86th pct 38.1% 36th pct
Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +31.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
73.0% 90th pct 41.8% 38th pct
Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +53.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
85.3% 85th pct 32.1% 40th pct
Walk to school in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +27.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
71.9% 85th pct 44.2% 42nd pct
Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +27.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
95.3% 87th pct 68.0% 59th pct
Walk to health in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +28.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
58.6% 88th pct 30.1% 38th pct
Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +1.9 more in Major Cities of Australia
13.6 9th pct 11.7 0th pct
Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +70 higher in Major Cities of Australia
73 85th pct 2 64th pct
Mean slope in Major Cities of Australiain Inner Regional Australia +0.2 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia
6.1% 73rd pct 6.3% 77th pct

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

Compare Inner Regional Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Inner Regional Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA30/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA31/inner-regional-australia