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Major Cities of Australia vs Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 338 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Remote Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are vastly different in their layout and makeup. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, while Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent. There are also stark differences in education and diversity: 28.0% of people in Major Cities of Australia were born overseas compared to 9.3% in Remote Australia. Additionally, 26.1% of adults in Major Cities of Australia have a bachelor degree or higher, which is far higher than the 11.9% in Remote Australia.

The gap in educational attainment has widened since 2011, mirroring a growing divide in other areas. Despite these contrasts, the two places share a very similar typical weekly income, with Major Cities of Australia at $760 and Remote Australia at $740. They also have almost identical rates of full-time employment, sitting at 57.5% and 56.6% respectively. While Major Cities of Australia has more people born overseas and using other languages at home, Remote Australia sees far more residents volunteering, at 26.2% compared to 15.3%.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,300,608 larger in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 18.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 18.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 18.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Limited English: 3.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1,300,608 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
1,344,200 87th pct 43,592 55th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5 yrs older in Remote Australia gap widening
39 yrs 38th pct 44 yrs 72nd pct
First Nations in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
1.7% 14th pct 3.8% 34th pct
Aged 65+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
18.6% 64th pct 22.0% 80th pct
Under 15 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
17.1% 45th pct 18.2% 59th pct
De facto in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
10.8% 14th pct 14.1% 61st pct

Age structure

24.6% Older adults (45–64) +3.0 pts ▸ 27.5%
27.5% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +4.4 pts 23.1%
18.6% Seniors (65+) +3.3 pts ▸ 22.0%
17.1% Children (0–14) +1.1 pts ▸ 18.2%
12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.0 pts 9.2%

Marital status

45.4% Married +3.5 pts ▸ 49.0%
36.6% Never married ◂ +4.4 pts 32.2%
9.4% Divorced +0.2 pts ▸ 9.6%
5.5% Widowed +0.4 pts ▸ 5.9%
3.1% Separated +0.4 pts ▸ 3.5%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Remote 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 Remote Australia +18.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
28.0% 86th pct 9.3% 20th pct

Country of birth

68.3% Australia +13.9 pts ▸ 82.2%
5.6% England ◂ +2.7 pts 3.0%
3.2% India ◂ +2.9 pts 0.3%
1.8% China ◂ +1.8 pts 0.1%
1.2% Vietnam ◂ +1.1 pts 0.1%
1.2% Italy ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
0.7% New Zealand +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.9% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%
0.5% Nepal ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%
0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Ancestry

29.9% Australian +12.5 pts ▸ 42.4%
36.5% English +5.2 pts ▸ 41.7%
6.6% German +2.8 pts ▸ 9.4%
8.1% Scottish +1.2 pts ▸ 9.4%
7.6% Irish +0.4 pts ▸ 8.0%
6.9% Italian ◂ +5.2 pts 1.8%
4.2% Chinese ◂ +3.8 pts 0.4%
3.1% Indian ◂ +2.8 pts 0.3%
2.8% Greek ◂ +2.3 pts 0.5%
1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%
1.6% Dutch even 1.6%
1.3% Filipino ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

Language

Other language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +18.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
21.9% 83rd pct 3.8% 10th pct
Limited English in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
3.3% 86th pct 0.3% 14th pct

Language used at home

74.3% English only +13.9 pts ▸ 88.2%
2.3% Mandarin ◂ +2.1 pts 0.2%
1.7% Italian ◂ +1.5 pts 0.2%
1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.5 pts 0.1%
1.5% Greek ◂ +1.4 pts 0.2%
1.4% Punjabi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%
0.8% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.7% Cantonese ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%
0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Religion

No religion in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
44.9% 69th pct 48.6% 87th pct

Religious affiliation

44.9% No religion +3.7 pts ▸ 48.6%
39.9% Christianity ◂ +0.1 pts 39.7%
5.5% Not stated +4.7 pts ▸ 10.2%
2.9% Islam ◂ +2.6 pts 0.3%
2.7% Hinduism ◂ +2.5 pts 0.3%
2.3% Buddhism ◂ +1.7 pts 0.6%
1.7% Other religions ◂ +1.4 pts 0.4%
0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +18.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
59.4% 87th pct 41.0% 55th pct
Bachelor+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +14.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.1% 86th pct 11.9% 35th pct

Highest year of school

59.4% Year 12 ◂ +18.3 pts 41.0%
14.7% Year 11 +6.3 pts ▸ 21.0%
12.7% Year 10 +5.7 pts ▸ 18.3%
8.6% Year 9 or below +1.6 pts ▸ 10.2%

Highest qualification level

27.1% Certificate III / IV +11.6 pts ▸ 38.6%
28.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +12.3 pts 16.2%
14.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.6 pts 13.2%
10.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +7.3 pts 3.0%
4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.7 pts 2.4%
2.1% Certificate I / II +0.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

Field of qualification

19.3% Management & commerce ◂ +7.3 pts 12.0%
14.0% Engineering & related +3.2 pts ▸ 17.1%
13.7% Society & culture ◂ +4.5 pts 9.2%
12.6% Health ◂ +2.1 pts 10.5%
8.0% Education +1.2 pts ▸ 9.2%
1.6% Agriculture & environment +4.6 pts ▸ 6.2%
5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.9 pts ▸ 5.9%
4.8% Architecture & building +0.9 pts ▸ 5.6%
3.6% Creative arts ◂ +2.2 pts 1.5%
3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.8 pts 1.5%
3.3% Information technology ◂ +2.6 pts 0.7%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$20 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
$760 56th pct $740 50th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$232 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,539 58th pct $1,307 25th pct
Family income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$255 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,983 71st pct $1,728 41st pct
High earners in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
9.8% 61st pct 9.1% 58th pct
High-income homes in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
18.1% 66th pct 13.1% 29th pct

Household income distribution

28.7% $650–$1,499 +2.0 pts ▸ 30.7%
29.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.6 pts 26.2%
17.3% Under $650 +3.4 pts ▸ 20.7%
9.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +2.3 pts 6.9%
8.9% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.7 pts 6.2%

Personal income distribution

42.1% Under $650 ◂ +1.8 pts 40.3%
33.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.0 pts 32.1%
16.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +2.2 pts 14.2%
3.5% $3,000 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 3.6%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
30.2% 66th pct 29.2% 62nd pct
Mental health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
9.8% 65th pct 7.8% 40th pct
Needs assistance in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
6.6% 82nd pct 5.3% 52nd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

9.8% Mental health ◂ +2.0 pts 7.8%
9.5% Arthritis +0.2 pts ▸ 9.7%
9.0% Other condition ◂ +2.2 pts 6.7%
8.7% Asthma ◂ +0.2 pts 8.6%
5.5% Diabetes even 5.4%
4.4% Heart disease +0.1 pts ▸ 4.5%
3.1% Cancer +0.1 pts ▸ 3.2%
1.8% Lung condition +0.3 pts ▸ 2.1%
1.0% Stroke even 1.0%
1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.7% None ◂ +3.1 pts 60.5%
20.0% One condition ◂ +0.5 pts 19.5%
6.6% Two conditions ◂ +0.2 pts 6.4%
3.6% Three or more ◂ +0.3 pts 3.3%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +10.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
15.3% 45th pct 26.2% 91st pct
Unpaid carers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
13.1% 86th pct 11.8% 64th pct
Unpaid child care in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
27.1% 82nd pct 25.9% 67th pct
Defence service in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia even
3.1% 47th pct 3.1% 48th pct
Housework 15h+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
20.5% 59th pct 24.6% 89th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +21,598 larger in Major Cities of Australia
23,272 78th pct 1,674 44th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia even
23 yrs 14th pct 23 yrs 14th pct
Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
41.8% 87th pct 34.4% 65th pct
Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
14.3% 49th pct 14.2% 48th pct
Median income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$3 higher in Remote Australia
$550 59th pct $553 61st pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$81 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,369 53rd pct $1,288 43rd pct
Indigenous language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.3 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.4% 59th pct 8.7% 60th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2.4 43rd pct 2.3 22nd pct
One-parent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
15.2% 58th pct 11.9% 14th pct
Living alone in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.4 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
28.0% 47th pct 31.4% 78th pct

Family composition

56.6% Couples with children ◂ +5.0 pts 51.7%
26.9% Couples without children +8.7 pts ▸ 35.6%
15.2% One-parent families ◂ +3.3 pts 11.9%
1.3% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

Household size

33.4% 2 people +4.9 pts ▸ 38.4%
28.0% 1 person +3.4 pts ▸ 31.4%
15.9% 3 people ◂ +4.3 pts 11.5%
14.9% 4 people ◂ +3.7 pts 11.1%
5.4% 5 people even 5.4%
2.4% 6 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 2.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$100 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$320 73rd pct $220 36th pct
Mortgage in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$368 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,560 60th pct $1,192 29th pct
People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.10 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
0.80 43rd pct 0.70 0th pct
Renting in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
28.9% 51st pct 27.0% 43rd pct
Owned outright in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +8.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
30.7% 41st pct 39.2% 71st pct
Separate houses in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +15.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
74.4% 20th pct 90.1% 67th pct
3+ bedrooms in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
76.3% 60th pct 77.4% 68th pct

How homes are owned or rented

30.7% Owned outright +8.5 pts ▸ 39.2%
36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +8.9 pts 27.8%
28.9% Rented ◂ +1.9 pts 27.0%
2.4% Other tenure +1.4 pts ▸ 3.9%
1.2% Not stated +0.9 pts ▸ 2.1%

Types of homes

74.4% Separate house +15.8 pts ▸ 90.1%
16.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +11.3 pts 5.4%
8.4% Flat or apartment ◂ +5.6 pts 2.8%
0.3% Other dwelling +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

Bedrooms per home

51.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.4 pts 51.1%
20.8% 4 bedrooms +1.7 pts ▸ 22.5%
19.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.8 pts 16.2%
4.0% 5 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 3.8%
3.4% 1 bedroom +0.6 pts ▸ 4.0%
0.2% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

41.4% $200–$349 +3.5 pts ▸ 45.0%
16.6% Under $200 +20.9 pts ▸ 37.5%
34.3% $350–$549 ◂ +22.3 pts 12.0%
3.5% $550–$749 ◂ +3.1 pts 0.4%
1.0% $750 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.7 pts 38.8%
19.3% Under $1,000 +17.2 pts ▸ 36.5%
26.4% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +11.9 pts 14.4%
10.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.5 pts 4.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
7.8% 74th pct 4.9% 33rd pct
Work from home in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
9.7% 49th pct 9.9% 50th pct
PT commute in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
5.0% 86th pct 0.8% 31st pct

How people get to work

63.3% Car (driver) +0.4 pts ▸ 63.7%
9.7% Worked at home +0.2 pts ▸ 9.9%
1.9% Walked +3.9 pts ▸ 5.8%
4.3% Car (passenger) +0.1 pts ▸ 4.3%
3.9% Bus ◂ +3.1 pts 0.7%
1.0% Bicycle ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%
0.8% Train ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

36.8% 2 vehicles +2.3 pts ▸ 39.1%
37.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +5.3 pts 32.3%
11.6% 3 vehicles +3.6 pts ▸ 15.2%
6.2% 4 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 8.6%
7.8% No vehicle ◂ +3.0 pts 4.9%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
38.3% 56th pct 33.8% 34th pct
Recent arrivals in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
15.8% 51st pct 12.4% 28th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.6% 60th pct 3.5% 12th pct
Participation in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
61.6% 77th pct 58.4% 62nd pct
Full-time in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
57.5% 43rd pct 56.6% 33rd pct

Industries people work in

1.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +18.5 pts ▸ 19.6%
17.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +6.1 pts 11.1%
9.7% Retail trade ◂ +1.0 pts 8.8%
9.1% Education & training ◂ +1.3 pts 7.8%
8.3% Construction ◂ +0.2 pts 8.1%
7.2% Public administration & safety ◂ +3.1 pts 4.1%
7.1% Professional & technical ◂ +4.5 pts 2.7%
0.9% Mining +6.1 pts ▸ 7.1%
6.6% Accommodation & food +0.3 pts ▸ 6.9%
6.7% Manufacturing ◂ +3.4 pts 3.3%
4.1% Transport & warehousing +0.1 pts ▸ 4.3%
4.0% Other services ◂ +0.5 pts 3.5%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +10.6 pts 13.1%
12.0% Managers +7.7 pts ▸ 19.6%
12.8% Technicians & trades +2.0 pts ▸ 14.8%
9.3% Labourers +4.1 pts ▸ 13.4%
13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +1.9 pts 11.3%
13.2% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.5 pts 9.7%
8.5% Sales workers ◂ +0.6 pts 7.9%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +2.6 pts ▸ 8.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.9 higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.7 95th pct 2.8 22nd pct
Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.4 more in Major Cities of Australia
6.4 97th pct 3.0 22nd pct
15-min city in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +48.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
82.2% 99th pct 33.6% 27th pct
Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +45.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
78.3% 97th pct 33.2% 16th pct
Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +60.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
94.3% 97th pct 34.2% 41st pct
Walk to school in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +50.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
83.2% 96th pct 32.5% 22nd pct
Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +38.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
97.7% 96th pct 59.3% 37th pct
Walk to health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +42.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
64.5% 95th pct 22.2% 14th pct
Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +22.8 more in Remote Australia
14.5 18th pct 37.3 73rd pct
Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +110 higher in Major Cities of Australia
110 92nd pct 0 26th pct
Mean slope in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Remote Australia
4.6% 41st pct 4.9% 45th 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 Remote Australia with nearby areas

Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Inner Regional 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 Remote Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA40/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA43/remote-australia