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Inner Regional Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Name: Inner 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 ≈ 3,503 km apart · Inner Regional Australia profile · Major Cities of Australia profile

Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Inner Regional Australia are very different places, separated by over 3,500km. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, while Inner Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent. The urban area has a much more diverse population, with 36.2% born overseas and 21.1% using another language at home, compared to 13.5% and 5.5% in the regional area. Education and income are also significantly higher in Major Cities of Australia, where 26.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree and the typical weekly household income is $1,865, versus 14.1% and $1,373 in Inner Regional Australia.

Both areas sit close to the national figure for the share of children under 15, at around 18% to 19%. However, many other gaps have widened since 2011. The difference in typical age has grown to 6 years, with residents noticeably older in Inner Regional Australia. Gaps in weekly household income and the share of people working or looking for work have also increased. Meanwhile, the share of people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander is well higher in Inner Regional Australia at 5.5%.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,089,861 larger in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 22.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 17.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 15.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Needs assistance: 3.0 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +1,089,861 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

997,806 86th pct 2,087,667 89th pct

Median age in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +6 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening

43 yrs 68th pct 37 yrs 25th pct

Age structure

22.6% Young adults (25–44) +6.3 pts ▸ 28.9%

26.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.3 pts 24.2%

21.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.7 pts 15.8%

18.2% Children (0–14) +0.8 pts ▸ 19.0%

11.1% Youth (15–24) +0.9 pts ▸ 12.1%

Marital status

47.4% Married +0.2 pts ▸ 47.6%

32.3% Never married +3.8 pts ▸ 36.1%

10.5% Divorced ◂ +1.8 pts 8.7%

5.8% Widowed ◂ +1.4 pts 4.4%

4.0% Separated ◂ +0.8 pts 3.2%

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

Country of birth

79.8% Australia ◂ +20.5 pts 59.3%

3.1% England +4.9 pts ▸ 8.0%

2.4% New Zealand +0.4 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.6% India +2.2 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.7% South Africa +1.2 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.9% Philippines +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.2% China +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.1% Vietnam +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Italy +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Ancestry

41.5% English ◂ +4.4 pts 37.0%

39.2% Australian ◂ +11.2 pts 27.9%

11.2% Irish ◂ +2.4 pts 8.8%

10.8% Scottish ◂ +2.1 pts 8.7%

8.3% German ◂ +5.5 pts 2.8%

1.9% Italian +3.6 pts ▸ 5.5%

0.9% Chinese +4.4 pts ▸ 5.4%

0.7% Indian +2.8 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.5% Dutch +0.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.2% Filipino +0.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

Language

Language used at home

87.6% English only ◂ +13.7 pts 73.9%

0.4% Mandarin +2.0 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.1% Italian +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.9 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.2% Punjabi +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Cantonese +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Arabic +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Hindi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

49.5% Christianity ◂ +7.6 pts 41.9%

39.2% No religion +3.0 pts ▸ 42.2%

8.8% Not stated ◂ +2.3 pts 6.5%

0.4% Islam +2.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.8% Buddhism +1.8 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.6% Hinduism +1.8 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.7% Other religions +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.0% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

45.1% Year 12 +17.0 pts ▸ 62.1%

27.9% Year 10 ◂ +10.4 pts 17.5%

11.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +5.4 pts 6.3%

7.2% Year 11 +0.9 pts ▸ 8.1%

Highest qualification level

38.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +12.3 pts 26.2%

17.4% Bachelor degree +10.8 pts ▸ 28.2%

14.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.1 pts ▸ 15.2%

4.2% Postgraduate degree +5.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.0 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.6 pts 2.4%

Field of qualification

14.5% Management & commerce +4.4 pts ▸ 18.9%

17.5% Engineering & related ◂ +0.7 pts 16.8%

11.0% Society & culture +0.4 pts ▸ 11.4%

10.7% Health +0.2 pts ▸ 11.0%

8.7% Education ◂ +0.8 pts 7.9%

6.0% Architecture & building ◂ +1.1 pts 4.9%

5.9% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.8 pts 5.1%

1.6% Natural & physical sciences +2.1 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.0% Creative arts +1.5 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.4% Information technology +1.5 pts ▸ 2.8%

2.8% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.3 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$184 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$676 34th pct $860 72nd pct

Household income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$492 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,373 34th pct $1,865 74th pct

Family income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$568 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,692 36th pct $2,260 83rd pct

Household income distribution

30.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +7.4 pts 23.3%

27.2% $1,500–$2,999 +1.9 pts ▸ 29.1%

18.7% Under $650 ◂ +4.4 pts 14.3%

6.7% $4,000 or more +6.8 pts ▸ 13.5%

7.8% $3,000–$3,999 +3.0 pts ▸ 10.8%

Personal income distribution

44.3% Under $650 ◂ +5.9 pts 38.4%

30.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.1 pts 29.1%

14.0% $1,500–$2,999 +6.0 pts ▸ 20.0%

2.7% $3,000 or more +3.5 pts ▸ 6.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.8% Arthritis ◂ +4.4 pts 7.4%

10.8% Mental health ◂ +2.4 pts 8.4%

9.3% Asthma ◂ +2.0 pts 7.3%

9.0% Other condition ◂ +1.4 pts 7.6%

5.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.2 pts 4.3%

5.3% Heart disease ◂ +1.8 pts 3.5%

3.7% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 2.7%

2.9% Lung condition ◂ +1.4 pts 1.5%

1.3% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.8%

0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.0% None +9.6 pts ▸ 66.5%

20.9% One condition ◂ +2.7 pts 18.2%

7.7% Two conditions ◂ +2.4 pts 5.3%

4.6% Three or more ◂ +2.2 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +13,678 larger in Inner Regional Australia

54,484 89th pct 40,806 87th pct

Median age in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +1 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia

22 yrs 3rd pct 23 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$57 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$543 56th pct $600 75th pct

Household income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$212 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,441 61st pct $1,653 78th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +0.1 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap steady

2.5 67th pct 2.6 77th pct

Family composition

50.9% Couples with children +9.1 pts ▸ 60.0%

32.2% Couples without children ◂ +6.7 pts 25.5%

15.9% One-parent families ◂ +2.6 pts 13.4%

1.0% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

38.2% 2 people ◂ +5.3 pts 32.9%

25.8% 1 person ◂ +0.8 pts 25.0%

12.7% 4 people +3.8 pts ▸ 16.5%

14.0% 3 people +2.4 pts ▸ 16.4%

5.9% 5 people +0.5 pts ▸ 6.4%

3.5% 6 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 2.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$50 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$300 67th pct $350 79th pct

Mortgage in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$390 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,517 57th pct $1,907 86th pct

People / bedroom in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

33.6% Owned with a mortgage +8.3 pts ▸ 41.8%

35.9% Owned outright ◂ +7.5 pts 28.4%

26.9% Rented ◂ +0.1 pts 26.8%

1.9% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 1.7%

1.8% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

87.2% Separate house ◂ +9.7 pts 77.5%

7.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +6.6 pts ▸ 14.3%

3.6% Flat or apartment +4.1 pts ▸ 7.7%

1.1% Other dwelling ◂ +0.8 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

40.9% 3 bedrooms ◂ +4.1 pts 36.8%

31.7% 4 bedrooms +7.4 pts ▸ 39.1%

14.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.1 pts 12.7%

6.9% 5 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 6.4%

3.4% 1 bedroom +0.2 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.6% Studio / none ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

51.6% $200–$349 ◂ +17.4 pts 34.2%

28.1% $350–$549 +15.2 pts ▸ 43.3%

14.0% Under $200 ◂ +3.5 pts 10.4%

2.1% $550–$749 +4.2 pts ▸ 6.4%

0.4% $750 or more +2.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

40.7% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +10.2 pts 30.5%

25.5% $1,800–$2,999 +10.0 pts ▸ 35.5%

20.5% Under $1,000 ◂ +7.8 pts 12.7%

7.4% $3,000 or more +8.5 pts ▸ 15.9%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

67.5% Car (driver) ◂ +5.5 pts 62.1%

8.5% Worked at home ◂ +0.9 pts 7.6%

5.3% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.9 pts 4.4%

0.6% Bus +2.4 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.4% Walked ◂ +0.8 pts 1.6%

0.1% Train +2.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.4% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

Motor vehicles per home

37.7% 2 vehicles +2.1 pts ▸ 39.9%

34.2% 1 vehicle +1.0 pts ▸ 35.2%

14.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.5 pts 12.9%

8.8% 4 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 7.0%

4.9% No vehicle +0.1 pts ▸ 5.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.8 pts 14.2%

9.6% Retail trade ◂ +0.7 pts 8.9%

9.4% Construction ◂ +0.6 pts 8.8%

9.1% Education & training ◂ +0.3 pts 8.8%

4.1% Professional & technical +3.8 pts ▸ 7.8%

7.1% Manufacturing ◂ +1.8 pts 5.3%

3.4% Mining +3.2 pts ▸ 6.6%

6.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.1 pts 6.5%

5.5% Public administration & safety +0.5 pts ▸ 6.0%

4.9% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +4.2 pts 0.7%

4.6% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.1 pts 4.5%

4.3% Other services ◂ +0.4 pts 3.9%

Occupations people work in

16.3% Professionals +7.5 pts ▸ 23.8%

16.0% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.4 pts 14.6%

13.0% Community & personal service ◂ +1.0 pts 12.0%

12.6% Labourers ◂ +3.9 pts 8.7%

11.8% Clerical & administrative +0.7 pts ▸ 12.5%

11.2% Managers +0.6 pts ▸ 11.8%

8.7% Sales workers ◂ +0.8 pts 8.0%

8.4% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.5 pts 6.9%

Walkability

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

3.3 38th pct 6.1 86th pct

Types ≤15 min in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +2.5 more in Major Cities of Australia

3.4 34th pct 5.8 87th pct

15-min city in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +34.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

38.1% 36th pct 72.7% 87th pct

Walk to shops in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +27.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

41.8% 38th pct 69.0% 85th pct

Walk to transit in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +62.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

32.1% 40th pct 94.1% 96th pct

Walk to school in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +35.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

44.2% 42nd pct 80.0% 93rd pct

Walk to a park in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +28.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

68.0% 59th pct 96.1% 91st pct

Walk to health in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +24.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

30.1% 38th pct 54.8% 83rd pct

Amenities/1k in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +3.8 more in Major Cities of Australia

11.7 0th pct 15.4 27th pct

Intersections/km² in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +102 higher in Major Cities of Australia

2 64th pct 104 91st pct

Mean slope in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia

6.3% 77th pct 6.1% 73rd pct

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

Compare Major Cities of Australia with nearby areas

Inner Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Remote 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/RA31/inner-regional-australia/vs/RA50/major-cities-of-australia