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Major Cities of Australia vs Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 1,884 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Remote Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are far apart in character. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, with 94.3% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. In contrast, Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent, where only 41.0% of homes have that same access. The two areas also differ in their people; Major Cities of Australia has a far higher share of people born overseas (28.0%) and those using another language at home (21.9%), while Remote Australia has a far higher Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (11.9%).

Despite these contrasts, the two areas are almost identical in the share of people who have no religion, sitting at 44.9% and 45.7%. This shared trait exists alongside gaps that are shifting over time. For example, the difference in education and income has grown; the gap in people with bachelor degrees has widened to 12 points since 2011, and the typical weekly household income is now $605 higher in Remote Australia.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,256,774 larger in Major Cities of Australia De facto: 8.2 pts higher in Remote Australia Needs assistance: 3.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Unpaid carers: 5.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Renting: 14.8 pts higher in Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1,256,774 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
1,344,200 87th pct 87,426 61st pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
39 yrs 38th pct 36 yrs 14th pct
First Nations in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +10.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
1.7% 14th pct 11.9% 72nd pct
Aged 65+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
18.6% 64th pct 11.2% 24th pct
Under 15 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
17.1% 45th pct 22.2% 97th pct
De facto in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +8.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
10.8% 14th pct 19.0% 95th pct

Age structure

27.5% Young adults (25–44) +3.5 pts ▸ 31.0%
24.6% Older adults (45–64) +1.1 pts ▸ 25.6%
17.1% Children (0–14) +5.1 pts ▸ 22.2%
18.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +7.5 pts 11.2%
12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.3 pts 9.9%

Marital status

45.4% Married ◂ +0.5 pts 45.0%
36.6% Never married +3.7 pts ▸ 40.3%
9.4% Divorced ◂ +1.4 pts 8.0%
5.5% Widowed ◂ +2.3 pts 3.2%
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 +12.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
28.0% 86th pct 16.0% 60th pct

Country of birth

68.3% Australia +1.7 pts ▸ 70.1%
5.6% England ◂ +2.7 pts 2.9%
0.7% New Zealand +2.6 pts ▸ 3.3%
3.2% India ◂ +2.5 pts 0.7%
1.8% China ◂ +1.6 pts 0.3%
0.9% Philippines +0.8 pts ▸ 1.7%
1.2% Vietnam ◂ +1.1 pts 0.1%
1.2% Italy ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
0.5% South Africa +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.5% Nepal ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

36.5% English ◂ +2.2 pts 34.4%
29.9% Australian +5.4 pts ▸ 35.3%
8.1% Scottish +0.2 pts ▸ 8.3%
7.6% Irish +0.3 pts ▸ 7.9%
6.9% Italian ◂ +4.1 pts 2.8%
6.6% German ◂ +3.1 pts 3.5%
4.2% Chinese ◂ +3.1 pts 1.1%
3.1% Indian ◂ +2.2 pts 0.9%
2.8% Greek ◂ +2.5 pts 0.3%
1.3% Filipino +0.7 pts ▸ 2.0%
1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.5 pts 0.2%
1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%

Language

Other language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +12.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
21.9% 83rd pct 9.2% 50th pct
Limited English in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
3.3% 86th pct 0.6% 31st pct

Language used at home

74.3% English only +2.2 pts ▸ 76.5%
2.3% Mandarin ◂ +1.9 pts 0.4%
1.7% Italian ◂ +1.5 pts 0.2%
1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +1.4 pts 0.2%
1.5% Greek ◂ +1.4 pts 0.1%
1.4% Punjabi ◂ +1.3 pts 0.1%
0.8% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.4% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.7% Cantonese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%
0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Religion

No religion in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
44.9% 69th pct 45.7% 73rd pct

Religious affiliation

44.9% No religion +0.8 pts ▸ 45.7%
39.9% Christianity ◂ +4.8 pts 35.1%
5.5% Not stated +10.5 pts ▸ 16.0%
2.9% Islam ◂ +1.9 pts 1.0%
2.7% Hinduism ◂ +2.0 pts 0.7%
2.3% Buddhism ◂ +1.3 pts 1.0%
1.7% Other religions ◂ +1.2 pts 0.5%
0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +13.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
59.4% 87th pct 45.9% 72nd pct
Bachelor+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +11.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.1% 86th pct 14.2% 60th pct

Highest year of school

59.4% Year 12 ◂ +13.5 pts 45.9%
12.7% Year 10 +8.6 pts ▸ 21.3%
14.7% Year 11 ◂ +3.9 pts 10.7%
8.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.9 pts 6.6%

Highest qualification level

27.1% Certificate III / IV +6.1 pts ▸ 33.1%
28.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +11.8 pts 16.7%
14.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.1 pts 11.7%
10.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +7.0 pts 3.3%
4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.4 pts 2.7%
2.1% Certificate I / II +0.9 pts ▸ 3.1%

Field of qualification

19.3% Management & commerce ◂ +6.7 pts 12.6%
14.0% Engineering & related +5.3 pts ▸ 19.2%
13.7% Society & culture ◂ +6.6 pts 7.1%
12.6% Health ◂ +4.6 pts 8.0%
8.0% Education +0.1 pts ▸ 8.1%
5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.5 pts 4.5%
4.8% Architecture & building ◂ +0.1 pts 4.6%
1.6% Agriculture & environment +2.3 pts ▸ 3.9%
3.6% Creative arts ◂ +1.9 pts 1.8%
3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.8 pts 1.6%
3.3% Information technology ◂ +2.5 pts 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$353 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$760 56th pct $1,113 82nd pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$605 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$1,539 58th pct $2,144 86th pct
Family income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$588 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$1,983 71st pct $2,571 92nd pct
High earners in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +9.2 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
9.8% 61st pct 19.0% 89th pct
High-income homes in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +10.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
18.1% 66th pct 29.0% 89th pct

Household income distribution

29.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.6 pts 28.2%
28.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +9.9 pts 18.8%
17.3% Under $650 ◂ +5.3 pts 12.0%
8.9% $4,000 or more +7.5 pts ▸ 16.4%
9.2% $3,000–$3,999 +3.4 pts ▸ 12.5%

Personal income distribution

42.1% Under $650 ◂ +14.6 pts 27.5%
33.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +7.7 pts 25.4%
16.4% $1,500–$2,999 +6.9 pts ▸ 23.3%
3.5% $3,000 or more +4.5 pts ▸ 8.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +9.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
30.2% 66th pct 20.7% 22nd pct
Mental health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
9.8% 65th pct 5.9% 28th pct
Needs assistance in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
6.6% 82nd pct 2.9% 14th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

9.8% Mental health ◂ +3.9 pts 5.9%
9.5% Arthritis ◂ +4.0 pts 5.5%
9.0% Other condition ◂ +4.0 pts 4.9%
8.7% Asthma ◂ +2.2 pts 6.6%
5.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.8 pts 3.7%
4.4% Heart disease ◂ +1.8 pts 2.6%
3.1% Cancer ◂ +1.1 pts 2.0%
1.8% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%
1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%
1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.7% None ◂ +1.0 pts 62.6%
20.0% One condition ◂ +5.0 pts 15.1%
6.6% Two conditions ◂ +2.7 pts 3.9%
3.6% Three or more ◂ +1.8 pts 1.8%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
15.3% 45th pct 21.0% 84th pct
Unpaid carers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
13.1% 86th pct 8.0% 18th pct
Unpaid child care in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
27.1% 82nd pct 27.6% 86th pct
Defence service in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.1% 47th pct 2.5% 27th pct
Housework 15h+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
20.5% 59th pct 18.7% 41st pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +12,861 larger in Major Cities of Australia
23,272 78th pct 10,411 63rd pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2 yrs older in Remote Australia
23 yrs 14th pct 25 yrs 43rd pct
Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +8.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
41.8% 87th pct 32.9% 60th pct
Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
14.3% 49th pct 13.5% 43rd pct
Median income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$17 higher in Remote Australia
$550 59th pct $567 67th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$371 higher in Remote Australia
$1,369 53rd pct $1,740 83rd pct
Indigenous language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +8.2 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.4% 59th pct 16.7% 75th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 larger in Remote Australia gap narrowing
2.4 43rd pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
15.2% 58th pct 11.8% 13th pct
Living alone in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
28.0% 47th pct 26.7% 36th pct

Family composition

56.6% Couples with children +3.3 pts ▸ 59.9%
26.9% Couples without children +0.4 pts ▸ 27.4%
15.2% One-parent families ◂ +3.4 pts 11.8%
1.3% Other families ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

Household size

33.4% 2 people ◂ +0.1 pts 33.3%
28.0% 1 person ◂ +1.3 pts 26.7%
15.9% 3 people ◂ +2.0 pts 13.9%
14.9% 4 people +0.4 pts ▸ 15.2%
5.4% 5 people +2.0 pts ▸ 7.4%
2.4% 6 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 3.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$70 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$320 73rd pct $250 45th pct
Mortgage in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$100 higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
$1,560 60th pct $1,660 68th pct
People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia even gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +14.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
28.9% 51st pct 43.7% 85th pct
Owned outright in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +6.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
30.7% 41st pct 24.5% 23rd pct
Separate houses in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
74.4% 20th pct 82.3% 32nd pct
3+ bedrooms in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
76.3% 60th pct 78.0% 72nd pct

How homes are owned or rented

28.9% Rented +14.8 pts ▸ 43.7%
36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +13.3 pts 23.5%
30.7% Owned outright ◂ +6.2 pts 24.5%
2.4% Other tenure +3.7 pts ▸ 6.1%
1.2% Not stated +1.0 pts ▸ 2.2%

Types of homes

74.4% Separate house +7.9 pts ▸ 82.3%
16.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +5.6 pts 11.1%
8.4% Flat or apartment ◂ +4.8 pts 3.6%
0.3% Other dwelling +1.7 pts ▸ 2.0%

Bedrooms per home

51.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +10.2 pts 41.4%
20.8% 4 bedrooms +10.5 pts ▸ 31.3%
19.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.4 pts 13.6%
3.4% 1 bedroom +2.3 pts ▸ 5.6%
4.0% 5 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 5.3%
0.2% Studio / none +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

41.4% $200–$349 ◂ +15.0 pts 26.4%
34.3% $350–$549 ◂ +17.5 pts 16.9%
16.6% Under $200 +16.6 pts ▸ 33.2%
3.5% $550–$749 +4.5 pts ▸ 8.0%
1.0% $750 or more +5.5 pts ▸ 6.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +9.9 pts 29.6%
26.4% $1,800–$2,999 +0.9 pts ▸ 27.3%
19.3% Under $1,000 +3.5 pts ▸ 22.8%
10.0% $3,000 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 14.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
7.8% 74th pct 4.6% 22nd pct
Work from home in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
9.7% 49th pct 7.2% 25th pct
PT commute in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.0% 86th pct 1.6% 48th pct

How people get to work

63.3% Car (driver) +0.5 pts ▸ 63.8%
9.7% Worked at home ◂ +2.5 pts 7.2%
1.9% Walked +3.4 pts ▸ 5.3%
4.3% Car (passenger) +1.0 pts ▸ 5.3%
3.9% Bus ◂ +2.3 pts 1.5%
1.0% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.8% Train ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

36.8% 2 vehicles +3.2 pts ▸ 40.0%
37.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +8.6 pts 29.0%
11.6% 3 vehicles +4.5 pts ▸ 16.1%
6.2% 4 or more +4.2 pts ▸ 10.4%
7.8% No vehicle ◂ +3.3 pts 4.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
38.3% 56th pct 43.1% 76th pct
Recent arrivals in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
15.8% 51st pct 14.7% 42nd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.6% 60th pct 3.2% 11th pct
Participation in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
61.6% 77th pct 65.0% 88th pct
Full-time in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +10.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
57.5% 43rd pct 67.7% 83rd pct

Industries people work in

17.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +7.5 pts 9.7%
0.9% Mining +12.2 pts ▸ 13.2%
1.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +11.5 pts ▸ 12.5%
9.7% Retail trade ◂ +3.2 pts 6.5%
9.1% Education & training ◂ +0.4 pts 8.7%
8.3% Construction ◂ +0.9 pts 7.4%
7.2% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.8 pts 6.3%
7.1% Professional & technical ◂ +5.1 pts 2.1%
4.1% Transport & warehousing +2.6 pts ▸ 6.7%
6.7% Manufacturing ◂ +4.0 pts 2.7%
6.6% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.6 pts 6.1%
4.0% Other services ◂ +0.4 pts 3.6%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +9.8 pts 14.0%
12.8% Technicians & trades +5.4 pts ▸ 18.2%
12.0% Managers +6.1 pts ▸ 18.1%
13.2% Community & personal service ◂ +3.8 pts 9.4%
13.2% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.3 pts 10.8%
9.3% Labourers +1.7 pts ▸ 11.0%
5.5% Machinery operators & drivers +5.0 pts ▸ 10.5%
8.5% Sales workers ◂ +2.6 pts 5.9%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.4 higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.7 95th pct 3.4 50th pct
Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.8 more in Major Cities of Australia
6.4 97th pct 3.6 51st pct
15-min city in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +41.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
82.2% 99th pct 40.6% 42nd pct
Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +37.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
78.3% 97th pct 40.8% 34th pct
Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +53.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
94.3% 97th pct 41.0% 52nd pct
Walk to school in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +28.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
83.2% 96th pct 55.3% 70th pct
Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +25.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
97.7% 96th pct 71.7% 68th pct
Walk to health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +40.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
64.5% 95th pct 23.8% 19th pct
Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +14.4 more in Remote Australia
14.5 18th pct 28.9 64th pct
Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +110 higher in Major Cities of Australia
110 92nd pct 0 27th pct
Mean slope in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.6% 41st pct 3.5% 20th 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

Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Outer Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional 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/RA53/remote-australia