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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 ≈ 186 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 are very different in their makeup and layout. Major Cities of Australia is far more diverse and highly educated, with 28.0% of people born overseas and 26.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Outer Regional Australia has a much lower share of overseas-born residents at 10.8% and a typical weekly rent that is $120 lower than the city. Major Cities of Australia is also very walkable, while Outer Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent.

Everyday life shares several common threads, as both areas have almost identical rates of full-time employment and similar shares of one-parent families. However, other gaps are growing; the typical resident in Outer Regional Australia is now 7 years older than those in Major Cities of Australia, a gap that has widened since 2011. Income differences are also increasing, with typical weekly household incomes in Major Cities of Australia now $365 higher than in Outer Regional Australia.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 22.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Population: 1,142,941 larger in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 17.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Bachelor+: 16.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 16.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +1,142,941 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

1,344,200 87th pct 201,259 71st pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +7 yrs older in Outer Regional Australia gap widening

39 yrs 38th pct 46 yrs 79th pct

Age structure

27.5% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +5.9 pts 21.5%

24.6% Older adults (45–64) +2.9 pts ▸ 27.5%

18.6% Seniors (65+) +5.4 pts ▸ 24.0%

17.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.3 pts 16.8%

12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.1 pts 10.2%

Marital status

45.4% Married +1.2 pts ▸ 46.6%

36.6% Never married ◂ +3.6 pts 33.0%

9.4% Divorced +0.3 pts ▸ 9.7%

5.5% Widowed +1.5 pts ▸ 7.0%

3.1% Separated +0.6 pts ▸ 3.7%

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

68.3% Australia +13.5 pts ▸ 81.8%

5.6% England ◂ +2.5 pts 3.2%

3.2% India ◂ +2.5 pts 0.7%

1.8% China ◂ +1.6 pts 0.2%

1.2% Vietnam ◂ +1.1 pts 0.1%

1.2% Italy ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

0.9% Philippines ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.7% New Zealand even 0.8%

0.5% Nepal ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Ancestry

29.9% Australian +11.5 pts ▸ 41.4%

36.5% English +4.0 pts ▸ 40.6%

6.6% German +2.8 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.1% Scottish +0.9 pts ▸ 9.0%

7.6% Irish ◂ +0.2 pts 7.4%

6.9% Italian ◂ +4.4 pts 2.5%

4.2% Chinese ◂ +3.6 pts 0.6%

3.1% Indian ◂ +2.5 pts 0.6%

2.8% Greek ◂ +1.8 pts 1.0%

1.6% Dutch even 1.6%

1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%

1.3% Filipino ◂ +0.5 pts 0.8%

Language

Language used at home

74.3% English only +12.7 pts ▸ 87.0%

2.3% Mandarin ◂ +2.0 pts 0.3%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.3 pts 0.4%

1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.4 pts 0.1%

1.5% Greek ◂ +1.0 pts 0.5%

1.4% Punjabi ◂ +0.9 pts 0.5%

0.8% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.7% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.9% No religion +2.7 pts ▸ 47.6%

39.9% Christianity +0.7 pts ▸ 40.6%

5.5% Not stated +3.9 pts ▸ 9.4%

2.9% Islam ◂ +2.3 pts 0.6%

2.7% Hinduism ◂ +2.4 pts 0.4%

2.3% Buddhism ◂ +1.8 pts 0.6%

1.7% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 0.8%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

59.4% Year 12 ◂ +22.8 pts 36.6%

14.7% Year 11 +7.0 pts ▸ 21.6%

12.7% Year 10 +7.2 pts ▸ 19.9%

8.6% Year 9 or below +4.7 pts ▸ 13.3%

Highest qualification level

27.1% Certificate III / IV +13.5 pts ▸ 40.6%

28.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +13.8 pts 14.7%

14.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.0 pts 12.8%

10.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +7.7 pts 2.6%

4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.7 pts 2.4%

2.1% Certificate I / II +1.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

Field of qualification

19.3% Management & commerce ◂ +6.7 pts 12.6%

14.0% Engineering & related +3.4 pts ▸ 17.4%

13.7% Society & culture ◂ +2.7 pts 11.0%

12.6% Health ◂ +1.9 pts 10.7%

8.0% Education +0.5 pts ▸ 8.5%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.8 pts ▸ 5.8%

1.6% Agriculture & environment +3.6 pts ▸ 5.2%

4.8% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 4.6%

3.6% Creative arts ◂ +2.3 pts 1.3%

3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.1 pts 1.3%

3.3% Information technology ◂ +2.4 pts 0.9%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$113 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$760 56th pct $647 28th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$365 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,539 58th pct $1,174 11th pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$443 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,983 71st pct $1,540 19th pct

Household income distribution

28.7% $650–$1,499 +4.4 pts ▸ 33.1%

29.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.6 pts 25.2%

17.3% Under $650 +5.7 pts ▸ 23.0%

9.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.2 pts 6.0%

8.9% $4,000 or more ◂ +4.6 pts 4.3%

Personal income distribution

42.1% Under $650 +3.3 pts ▸ 45.4%

33.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.0 pts 31.1%

16.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.3 pts 12.1%

3.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.5 pts 2.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.5% Arthritis +2.8 pts ▸ 12.3%

8.7% Asthma +1.3 pts ▸ 10.1%

9.8% Mental health +0.1 pts ▸ 9.9%

9.0% Other condition ◂ +0.8 pts 8.2%

5.5% Diabetes +1.6 pts ▸ 7.1%

4.4% Heart disease +1.1 pts ▸ 5.5%

3.1% Cancer +0.4 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.8% Lung condition +1.0 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.0% Stroke +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%

1.0% Dementia +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.7% None ◂ +7.6 pts 56.1%

20.0% One condition +1.3 pts ▸ 21.3%

6.6% Two conditions +1.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

3.6% Three or more +1.4 pts ▸ 4.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +13,635 larger in Major Cities of Australia

23,272 78th pct 9,637 61st pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +2 yrs older in Outer Regional Australia

23 yrs 14th pct 25 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$80 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$550 59th pct $470 36th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$312 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,369 53rd pct $1,057 14th pct

Family & Households

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

2.4 43rd pct 2.2 14th pct

Family composition

56.6% Couples with children ◂ +8.2 pts 48.4%

26.9% Couples without children +8.3 pts ▸ 35.2%

15.2% One-parent families +0.1 pts ▸ 15.3%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

Household size

33.4% 2 people +4.6 pts ▸ 38.0%

28.0% 1 person +4.4 pts ▸ 32.4%

15.9% 3 people ◂ +3.8 pts 12.0%

14.9% 4 people ◂ +4.4 pts 10.4%

5.4% 5 people ◂ +0.5 pts 4.9%

2.4% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 2.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$120 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$320 73rd pct $200 30th pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$477 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,560 60th pct $1,083 19th pct

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

0.80 43rd pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

30.7% Owned outright +7.9 pts ▸ 38.6%

36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +6.8 pts 29.9%

28.9% Rented ◂ +2.6 pts 26.3%

2.4% Other tenure +0.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

1.2% Not stated +0.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

Types of homes

74.4% Separate house +10.5 pts ▸ 84.9%

16.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.5 pts 11.2%

8.4% Flat or apartment ◂ +5.6 pts 2.8%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

51.5% 3 bedrooms +2.3 pts ▸ 53.8%

20.8% 4 bedrooms +0.8 pts ▸ 21.7%

19.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.3 pts 15.7%

4.0% 5 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 3.7%

3.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.4 pts 3.0%

0.2% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

16.6% Under $200 +28.5 pts ▸ 45.1%

41.4% $200–$349 +3.4 pts ▸ 44.8%

34.3% $350–$549 ◂ +29.8 pts 4.5%

3.5% $550–$749 ◂ +3.3 pts 0.2%

1.0% $750 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

19.3% Under $1,000 +23.5 pts ▸ 42.8%

39.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +1.6 pts 37.8%

26.4% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +15.4 pts 11.0%

10.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +6.9 pts 3.1%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

63.3% Car (driver) +4.5 pts ▸ 67.8%

9.7% Worked at home ◂ +1.9 pts 7.8%

4.3% Car (passenger) +0.6 pts ▸ 4.9%

1.9% Walked +2.3 pts ▸ 4.3%

3.9% Bus ◂ +3.2 pts 0.7%

1.0% Bicycle ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%

0.8% Train ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.5 pts 34.1%

36.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.9 pts 35.9%

11.6% 3 vehicles +2.7 pts ▸ 14.3%

6.2% 4 or more +3.0 pts ▸ 9.1%

7.8% No vehicle ◂ +1.3 pts 6.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.4 pts 13.8%

1.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +13.9 pts ▸ 14.9%

9.7% Retail trade even 9.7%

6.7% Manufacturing +2.9 pts ▸ 9.6%

9.1% Education & training ◂ +1.1 pts 7.9%

8.3% Construction ◂ +1.0 pts 7.3%

7.2% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.4 pts 4.8%

7.1% Professional & technical ◂ +4.9 pts 2.3%

6.6% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.1 pts 6.5%

4.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%

4.0% Other services ◂ +0.3 pts 3.7%

3.8% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 3.2%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +11.0 pts 12.8%

12.0% Managers +4.6 pts ▸ 16.6%

9.3% Labourers +5.8 pts ▸ 15.1%

12.8% Technicians & trades +1.0 pts ▸ 13.8%

13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +0.6 pts 12.6%

13.2% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.5 pts 9.7%

5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +3.4 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.5% Sales workers ◂ +0.1 pts 8.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +3.3 higher in Major Cities of Australia

6.7 95th pct 3.4 55th pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +2.9 more in Major Cities of Australia

6.4 97th pct 3.5 46th pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +40.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

82.2% 99th pct 41.8% 48th pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +38.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

78.3% 97th pct 40.4% 33rd pct

Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +50.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

94.3% 97th pct 43.8% 58th pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +38.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

83.2% 96th pct 44.5% 43rd pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +36.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

97.7% 96th pct 61.1% 44th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +31.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

64.5% 95th pct 33.5% 48th pct

Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +7.5 more in Outer Regional Australia

14.5 18th pct 22.1 56th pct

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

110 92nd pct 0 42nd pct

Mean slope in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +0.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

4.6% 41st pct 3.8% 27th pct

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

Compare Outer Regional Australia with nearby areas

Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of 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/RA40/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA42/outer-regional-australia