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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 ≈ 2,603 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 far apart and differ across many measures. Outer Regional Australia has a much higher share of renters (43.8%) and households earning $3,000 or more a week (28.6%), compared to 28.9% and 18.1% in Major Cities of Australia. In contrast, homes are far more likely to be owned outright in Major Cities of Australia (30.7%) than in Outer Regional Australia (17.3%). Residents in Major Cities of Australia also have much better access to walkable amenities; far more homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school (83.2%) or health services (64.5%) than in Outer Regional Australia (72.5% and 53.9% respectively).

The gap in high-income households has widened since 2011, as Outer Regional Australia has seen more people earn $3,000 or more a week. Despite this, the two areas are very similar in other ways, such as the share of adults with a bachelor degree (about 26%) and the proportion of people born overseas (around 28%). Both areas also have a similar share of volunteers and one-parent families.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,204,298 larger in Major Cities of Australia De facto: 5.2 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia Renting: 14.9 pts higher in Outer Regional Australia Needs assistance: 2.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Unpaid carers: 4.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +1,204,298 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

1,344,200 87th pct 139,902 66th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +5 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia gap steady

39 yrs 38th pct 34 yrs 0th pct

Age structure

27.5% Young adults (25–44) +6.9 pts ▸ 34.3%

24.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.9 pts 23.6%

17.1% Children (0–14) +3.1 pts ▸ 20.2%

18.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +8.8 pts 9.9%

12.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.3 pts 11.9%

Marital status

45.4% Married ◂ +3.2 pts 42.3%

36.6% Never married +6.5 pts ▸ 43.1%

9.4% Divorced ◂ +1.1 pts 8.2%

5.5% Widowed ◂ +2.5 pts 3.0%

3.1% Separated +0.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

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 ◂ +4.5 pts 63.8%

5.6% England ◂ +2.9 pts 2.7%

0.9% Philippines +2.8 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.2% India ◂ +0.5 pts 2.7%

1.8% China ◂ +0.8 pts 1.0%

0.5% Nepal +1.3 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.7% New Zealand +1.0 pts ▸ 1.7%

1.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

1.2% Italy ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

0.5% South Africa even 0.5%

Ancestry

36.5% English ◂ +8.9 pts 27.7%

29.9% Australian ◂ +1.0 pts 28.9%

7.6% Irish +0.9 pts ▸ 8.5%

8.1% Scottish ◂ +0.7 pts 7.5%

6.9% Italian ◂ +4.6 pts 2.3%

6.6% German ◂ +2.5 pts 4.1%

1.3% Filipino +3.6 pts ▸ 4.9%

4.2% Chinese even 4.3%

3.1% Indian ◂ +0.3 pts 2.8%

2.8% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +0.6 pts 1.0%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

Language

Language used at home

74.3% English only ◂ +7.6 pts 66.7%

2.3% Mandarin ◂ +0.8 pts 1.5%

1.5% Greek +0.8 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.4% Tagalog +1.4 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.7% Italian ◂ +1.3 pts 0.4%

1.6% Vietnamese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

1.4% Punjabi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.8%

0.8% Arabic ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%

0.7% Cantonese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.9% No religion ◂ +2.8 pts 42.1%

39.9% Christianity ◂ +3.0 pts 36.9%

5.5% Not stated +5.5 pts ▸ 11.0%

2.7% Hinduism +1.0 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.3% Buddhism +0.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.9% Islam ◂ +0.8 pts 2.1%

1.7% Other religions ◂ +0.6 pts 1.1%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

59.4% Year 12 ◂ +1.5 pts 57.9%

12.7% Year 10 +2.4 pts ▸ 15.1%

14.7% Year 11 ◂ +4.3 pts 10.4%

8.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.9 pts 6.7%

Highest qualification level

28.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.3 pts 24.2%

27.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +0.1 pts 27.0%

14.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.6 pts 13.2%

10.3% Postgraduate degree even 10.3%

4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate even 4.1%

2.1% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

Field of qualification

19.3% Management & commerce ◂ +0.6 pts 18.7%

14.0% Engineering & related +0.7 pts ▸ 14.6%

13.7% Society & culture ◂ +1.8 pts 11.9%

12.6% Health ◂ +1.8 pts 10.8%

8.0% Education ◂ +0.6 pts 7.4%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.3 pts 4.7%

4.8% Architecture & building ◂ +0.6 pts 4.2%

3.6% Creative arts ◂ +1.5 pts 2.2%

3.4% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.0 pts 2.4%

3.3% Information technology ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%

1.6% Agriculture & environment +0.6 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$360 higher in Outer Regional Australia gap widening

$760 56th pct $1,120 82nd pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$670 higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing

$1,539 58th pct $2,209 87th pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$502 higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing

$1,983 71st pct $2,485 90th pct

Household income distribution

29.8% $1,500–$2,999 +3.0 pts ▸ 32.8%

28.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +10.3 pts 18.4%

17.3% Under $650 ◂ +7.8 pts 9.5%

8.9% $4,000 or more +6.2 pts ▸ 15.1%

9.2% $3,000–$3,999 +4.3 pts ▸ 13.4%

Personal income distribution

42.1% Under $650 ◂ +15.2 pts 27.0%

33.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.2 pts 31.9%

16.4% $1,500–$2,999 +9.3 pts ▸ 25.7%

3.5% $3,000 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 4.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.8% Mental health ◂ +4.0 pts 5.9%

9.5% Arthritis ◂ +4.2 pts 5.3%

9.0% Other condition ◂ +2.5 pts 6.5%

8.7% Asthma ◂ +2.7 pts 6.1%

5.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.7 pts 3.7%

4.4% Heart disease ◂ +2.0 pts 2.4%

3.1% Cancer ◂ +1.2 pts 1.9%

1.8% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.6 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.7% None +4.6 pts ▸ 68.3%

20.0% One condition ◂ +5.2 pts 14.8%

6.6% Two conditions ◂ +2.9 pts 3.7%

3.6% Three or more ◂ +1.9 pts 1.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +8,733 larger in Major Cities of Australia

23,272 78th pct 14,539 71st 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 +$149 higher in Outer Regional Australia

$550 59th pct $699 86th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$499 higher in Outer Regional Australia

$1,369 53rd pct $1,868 87th pct

Family & Households

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

2.4 43rd pct 2.6 77th pct

Family composition

56.6% Couples with children +2.5 pts ▸ 59.2%

26.9% Couples without children ◂ +1.9 pts 25.0%

15.2% One-parent families ◂ +0.5 pts 14.6%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Household size

33.4% 2 people ◂ +1.5 pts 31.9%

28.0% 1 person ◂ +4.6 pts 23.4%

15.9% 3 people +2.3 pts ▸ 18.1%

14.9% 4 people +1.1 pts ▸ 15.9%

5.4% 5 people +1.4 pts ▸ 6.8%

2.4% 6 or more +1.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$65 higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing

$320 73rd pct $385 86th pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +$540 higher in Outer Regional Australia gap narrowing

$1,560 60th pct $2,100 93rd pct

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

0.80 43rd pct 0.90 71st pct

How homes are owned or rented

28.9% Rented +14.9 pts ▸ 43.8%

36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.1 pts 35.7%

30.7% Owned outright ◂ +13.4 pts 17.3%

2.4% Other tenure ◂ +1.0 pts 1.4%

1.2% Not stated +0.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

Types of homes

74.4% Separate house ◂ +11.1 pts 63.3%

8.4% Flat or apartment +16.6 pts ▸ 25.0%

16.8% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +6.3 pts 10.5%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

51.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +10.6 pts 40.9%

19.0% 2 bedrooms +3.8 pts ▸ 22.8%

20.8% 4 bedrooms +1.0 pts ▸ 21.8%

3.4% 1 bedroom +2.7 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.0% 5 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 5.7%

0.2% Studio / none +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

Weekly rent distribution

41.4% $200–$349 ◂ +14.2 pts 27.2%

34.3% $350–$549 +6.4 pts ▸ 40.7%

16.6% Under $200 ◂ +6.3 pts 10.3%

3.5% $550–$749 +10.5 pts ▸ 14.0%

1.0% $750 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 3.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

26.4% $1,800–$2,999 +13.5 pts ▸ 39.9%

39.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +13.8 pts 25.7%

19.3% Under $1,000 ◂ +8.9 pts 10.4%

10.0% $3,000 or more +8.8 pts ▸ 18.9%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

63.3% Car (driver) +4.6 pts ▸ 67.8%

9.7% Worked at home ◂ +5.3 pts 4.3%

4.3% Car (passenger) +1.6 pts ▸ 5.9%

3.9% Bus ◂ +1.6 pts 2.3%

1.9% Walked +1.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.0% Bicycle +0.7 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.8% Train ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

36.8% 2 vehicles +2.7 pts ▸ 39.5%

37.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.6 pts 34.0%

11.6% 3 vehicles +2.0 pts ▸ 13.6%

7.8% No vehicle ◂ +2.3 pts 5.6%

6.2% 4 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 7.4%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

7.2% Public administration & safety +11.5 pts ▸ 18.7%

17.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.6 pts 13.6%

9.7% Retail trade ◂ +2.4 pts 7.3%

9.1% Education & training ◂ +0.7 pts 8.3%

8.3% Construction +0.5 pts ▸ 8.8%

6.6% Accommodation & food +1.0 pts ▸ 7.7%

7.1% Professional & technical ◂ +1.6 pts 5.5%

6.7% Manufacturing ◂ +4.1 pts 2.6%

4.1% Transport & warehousing +0.3 pts ▸ 4.4%

4.0% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.9%

3.8% Administrative & support ◂ +0.8 pts 3.1%

3.2% Finance & insurance ◂ +2.1 pts 1.1%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +2.1 pts 21.7%

13.2% Community & personal service +1.4 pts ▸ 14.7%

12.8% Technicians & trades +1.7 pts ▸ 14.5%

13.2% Clerical & administrative +1.0 pts ▸ 14.2%

12.0% Managers +1.0 pts ▸ 13.0%

9.3% Labourers ◂ +1.6 pts 7.8%

8.5% Sales workers ◂ +1.5 pts 7.0%

5.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.1 pts 5.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +0.8 higher in Major Cities of Australia

6.7 95th pct 5.9 85th pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +0.9 more in Major Cities of Australia

6.4 97th pct 5.5 84th pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +11.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

82.2% 99th pct 70.9% 85th pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +8.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

78.3% 97th pct 70.0% 86th pct

Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +8.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

94.3% 97th pct 85.3% 85th pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +10.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

83.2% 96th pct 72.5% 86th pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +12.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

97.7% 96th pct 85.2% 79th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +10.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

64.5% 95th pct 53.9% 82nd pct

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

14.5 18th pct 22.0 56th pct

Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australia in Outer Regional Australia +103 higher in Major Cities of Australia

110 92nd pct 8 72nd 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 3.9% 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

Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional 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/RA72/outer-regional-australia