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Major Cities of Australia vs Outer Regional Australia

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

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 261 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Outer Regional Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Outer Regional Australia differ sharply in their layout and demographics. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, with 85.3% of homes within a 10 minute walk of public transport, while Outer Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent. A much higher share of people in Major Cities of Australia were born overseas (27.6% compared to 15.0%) and more people there hold a bachelor degree or higher (26.2% versus 14.8%). In contrast, Outer Regional Australia has a higher proportion of First Nations people (8.6% compared to 2.7%) and a far higher share of separate houses (82.6% versus 69.1%).

Both areas share similar foundations of daily life, with an identical share of children under 15 (18.8%) and nearly the same unemployment rates. However, some gaps are widening; the difference in Year 12 completion has grown to 15.7 percentage points since 2011. The typical resident in Outer Regional Australia is now noticeably older than those in Major Cities of Australia, with a 3-year age gap that has also increased over time.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,642,629 larger in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 15.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 13.6 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia Born overseas: 12.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Bachelor+: 11.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +2,642,629 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

3,331,137 92nd pct 688,508 82nd pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +3 yrs older in Outer Regional Australia gap widening

37 yrs 25th pct 40 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

28.6% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +3.2 pts 25.4%

24.1% Older adults (45–64) +2.5 pts ▸ 26.7%

18.8% Children (0–14) even 18.8%

15.7% Seniors (65+) +1.6 pts ▸ 17.3%

12.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.0 pts 11.8%

Marital status

44.9% Married ◂ +1.8 pts 43.1%

37.9% Never married +0.2 pts ▸ 38.0%

9.4% Divorced +0.7 pts ▸ 10.1%

4.4% Widowed +0.4 pts ▸ 4.8%

3.4% Separated +0.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

67.8% Australia +7.7 pts ▸ 75.4%

5.0% New Zealand ◂ +2.6 pts 2.3%

4.2% England ◂ +1.5 pts 2.7%

1.8% India ◂ +1.1 pts 0.7%

1.5% China ◂ +1.3 pts 0.3%

1.2% South Africa ◂ +0.7 pts 0.5%

1.0% Philippines even 1.0%

0.7% Vietnam ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.3% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

37.7% English ◂ +1.5 pts 36.2%

31.4% Australian +4.1 pts ▸ 35.5%

11.1% Irish ◂ +0.5 pts 10.6%

10.3% Scottish ◂ +0.5 pts 9.8%

5.4% German +0.3 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.9% Italian +2.2 pts ▸ 5.1%

4.2% Chinese ◂ +3.0 pts 1.3%

2.4% Indian ◂ +1.5 pts 0.9%

1.7% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

1.5% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 1.4%

0.9% Vietnamese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.8% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

Language

Language used at home

78.5% English only +3.1 pts ▸ 81.5%

2.3% Mandarin ◂ +1.9 pts 0.4%

0.9% Vietnamese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.8% Punjabi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.8% Cantonese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

0.6% Hindi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.4% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% Arabic ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.4% Tagalog even 0.4%

0.3% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.1% Christianity +3.3 pts ▸ 47.4%

42.8% No religion ◂ +4.3 pts 38.4%

6.8% Not stated +4.7 pts ▸ 11.5%

1.8% Hinduism ◂ +1.2 pts 0.6%

1.8% Buddhism ◂ +0.8 pts 0.9%

1.6% Islam ◂ +1.2 pts 0.4%

1.1% Other religions ◂ +0.3 pts 0.8%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

63.3% Year 12 ◂ +15.7 pts 47.6%

17.8% Year 10 +6.3 pts ▸ 24.0%

6.8% Year 9 or below +3.0 pts ▸ 9.8%

6.1% Year 11 +1.4 pts ▸ 7.5%

Highest qualification level

27.0% Certificate III / IV +8.4 pts ▸ 35.4%

27.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +9.5 pts 17.8%

15.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.6 pts 13.3%

9.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +4.9 pts 4.3%

3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.2 pts 2.7%

2.0% Certificate I / II +0.6 pts ▸ 2.7%

Field of qualification

20.5% Management & commerce ◂ +6.9 pts 13.6%

13.2% Engineering & related +3.7 pts ▸ 16.9%

12.5% Society & culture ◂ +2.2 pts 10.3%

11.2% Health ◂ +1.0 pts 10.2%

7.6% Education +0.3 pts ▸ 7.9%

5.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.8% Architecture & building ◂ +0.4 pts 5.4%

4.0% Creative arts ◂ +2.1 pts 1.9%

3.1% Information technology ◂ +1.9 pts 1.1%

2.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.7 pts 2.1%

1.4% Agriculture & environment +1.3 pts ▸ 2.7%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$63 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$832 68th pct $769 58th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$316 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,818 71st pct $1,502 53rd pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$248 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,142 78th pct $1,894 58th pct

Household income distribution

31.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 29.0%

25.6% $650–$1,499 +2.6 pts ▸ 28.2%

13.7% Under $650 +3.2 pts ▸ 16.9%

12.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +4.8 pts 7.5%

10.7% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.9 pts 8.8%

Personal income distribution

38.1% Under $650 +0.2 pts ▸ 38.3%

32.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.6 pts 31.0%

18.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.4 pts 15.8%

4.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 3.1%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.6% Mental health ◂ +1.0 pts 8.6%

8.1% Arthritis +0.7 pts ▸ 8.8%

8.6% Other condition ◂ +1.1 pts 7.5%

8.5% Asthma ◂ +1.0 pts 7.5%

4.1% Diabetes +0.5 pts ▸ 4.7%

3.8% Heart disease +0.3 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.0% Cancer even 3.0%

1.8% Lung condition +0.3 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.9% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.3% None ◂ +4.1 pts 60.2%

19.2% One condition ◂ +1.0 pts 18.2%

5.9% Two conditions +0.1 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.0% Three or more +0.3 pts ▸ 3.3%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +31,928 larger in Major Cities of Australia

90,830 94th pct 58,902 89th pct

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

23 yrs 14th pct 23 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$97 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$645 80th pct $548 58th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$285 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,706 81st pct $1,421 59th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +0.2 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

2.6 77th pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

57.4% Couples with children ◂ +5.2 pts 52.2%

26.4% Couples without children +3.8 pts ▸ 30.3%

14.9% One-parent families +1.4 pts ▸ 16.3%

1.2% Other families even 1.2%

Household size

34.1% 2 people +2.4 pts ▸ 36.5%

23.7% 1 person +3.4 pts ▸ 27.1%

16.7% 3 people ◂ +2.2 pts 14.5%

15.9% 4 people ◂ +3.0 pts 12.9%

6.3% 5 people ◂ +0.6 pts 5.7%

3.3% 6 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$110 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$400 89th pct $290 64th pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Outer 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 Australia in Outer Regional Australia even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.7% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +3.5 pts 32.1%

34.9% Rented ◂ +2.3 pts 32.5%

26.5% Owned outright +4.6 pts ▸ 31.2%

1.6% Other tenure +0.5 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.3% Not stated +0.7 pts ▸ 2.0%

Types of homes

69.1% Separate house +13.6 pts ▸ 82.6%

16.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +9.1 pts 7.5%

13.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.5 pts 8.2%

0.4% Other dwelling +0.7 pts ▸ 1.2%

Bedrooms per home

35.7% 3 bedrooms +4.5 pts ▸ 40.2%

31.5% 4 bedrooms ◂ +2.9 pts 28.5%

17.4% 2 bedrooms +0.5 pts ▸ 18.0%

8.7% 5 or more ◂ +2.9 pts 5.8%

5.0% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.3 pts 4.6%

0.4% Studio / none +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

Weekly rent distribution

53.2% $350–$549 ◂ +24.2 pts 29.0%

22.3% $200–$349 +23.2 pts ▸ 45.6%

7.5% Under $200 +10.9 pts ▸ 18.4%

10.9% $550–$749 ◂ +8.4 pts 2.5%

3.1% $750 or more ◂ +2.6 pts 0.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

30.2% $1,000–$1,799 +10.4 pts ▸ 40.5%

35.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +11.3 pts 24.6%

12.8% Under $1,000 +8.7 pts ▸ 21.6%

15.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +8.1 pts 7.4%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

57.0% Car (driver) +6.8 pts ▸ 63.7%

16.7% Worked at home ◂ +7.9 pts 8.7%

4.0% Car (passenger) +1.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

2.2% Walked +1.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.1% Bus ◂ +0.8 pts 1.3%

1.6% Train ◂ +1.6 pts 0.0%

0.7% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

Motor vehicles per home

38.3% 2 vehicles +0.3 pts ▸ 38.6%

36.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.6 pts 34.9%

12.4% 3 vehicles +1.4 pts ▸ 13.8%

6.8% 4 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 7.4%

6.0% No vehicle ◂ +0.8 pts 5.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.3 pts 14.3%

9.4% Retail trade ◂ +0.4 pts 9.0%

9.3% Construction ◂ +1.2 pts 8.1%

8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.3 pts 8.6%

8.1% Professional & technical ◂ +4.3 pts 3.8%

7.2% Accommodation & food +0.9 pts ▸ 8.0%

5.9% Public administration & safety +1.8 pts ▸ 7.8%

0.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +6.1 pts ▸ 6.7%

5.7% Manufacturing ◂ +1.0 pts 4.7%

1.1% Mining +4.1 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.8% Transport & warehousing even 4.8%

3.8% Other services +0.2 pts ▸ 4.0%

Occupations people work in

24.0% Professionals ◂ +7.6 pts 16.4%

12.7% Technicians & trades +2.5 pts ▸ 15.2%

12.0% Community & personal service +1.3 pts ▸ 13.3%

13.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.0 pts 11.3%

12.6% Managers ◂ +0.1 pts 12.5%

8.9% Labourers +3.1 pts ▸ 12.0%

5.8% Machinery operators & drivers +3.1 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.8% Sales workers ◂ +0.4 pts 8.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +2.8 higher in Major Cities of Australia

6.2 87th pct 3.4 54th pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +2.4 more in Major Cities of Australia

5.8 86th pct 3.4 40th pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +30.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

72.0% 86th pct 41.3% 44th pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +31.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

73.0% 90th pct 42.0% 39th pct

Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +51.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

85.3% 85th pct 34.1% 41st pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +26.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

71.9% 85th pct 45.2% 44th pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +27.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

95.3% 87th pct 67.6% 58th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +26.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

58.6% 88th pct 32.3% 44th pct

Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +0.7 more in Major Cities of Australia

13.6 9th pct 12.9 3rd pct

Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +72 higher in Major Cities of Australia

73 85th pct 1 43rd pct

Mean slope in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +0.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

6.1% 73rd pct 5.4% 58th 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 Outer Regional Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Outer 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/RA32/outer-regional-australia