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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 ≈ 2,162 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 far apart and differ sharply in age, diversity, and lifestyle. Residents are far older in Inner Regional Australia, where the typical age is 48 compared to 37 in Major Cities of Australia. Diversity is also much higher in Major Cities of Australia, where 36.2% of people were born overseas and 21.1% use a language other than English at home. This is consistent with a more qualified and higher earning workforce; adults with a bachelor degree or higher are far more common in Major Cities of Australia (26.7%), and the typical weekly household income is well higher at $1,865 compared to $1,296 in Inner Regional Australia.

Both areas are almost identical in the size of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, each sitting at around 2%. While they share this trait, many other gaps have widened since 2011, such as the difference in typical age and the share of people born overseas. Life is also very different in terms of accessibility; Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, while Inner Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent, with far more separate houses and a much higher share of homes owned outright.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,912,360 larger in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 22.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Median age: 11 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia Other language: 17.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 17.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +1,912,360 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

175,307 69th pct 2,087,667 89th pct

Median age in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +11 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening

48 yrs 86th pct 37 yrs 25th pct

Age structure

19.8% Young adults (25–44) +9.2 pts ▸ 28.9%

28.3% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.1 pts 24.2%

25.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +9.8 pts 15.8%

16.3% Children (0–14) +2.7 pts ▸ 19.0%

10.1% Youth (15–24) +2.0 pts ▸ 12.1%

Marital status

51.0% Married ◂ +3.4 pts 47.6%

29.4% Never married +6.7 pts ▸ 36.1%

10.3% Divorced ◂ +1.6 pts 8.7%

6.0% Widowed ◂ +1.6 pts 4.4%

3.3% Separated ◂ +0.1 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

80.3% Australia ◂ +21.0 pts 59.3%

6.7% England +1.3 pts ▸ 8.0%

0.8% New Zealand +2.0 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.2% India +2.6 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.3% South Africa +1.6 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.6% Philippines +0.9 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.2% China +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Vietnam +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.3% Italy +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.0% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Ancestry

45.9% English ◂ +8.9 pts 37.0%

40.0% Australian ◂ +12.0 pts 27.9%

12.7% German ◂ +9.8 pts 2.8%

9.8% Scottish ◂ +1.2 pts 8.7%

8.1% Irish +0.7 pts ▸ 8.8%

2.7% Italian +2.9 pts ▸ 5.5%

0.5% Chinese +4.9 pts ▸ 5.4%

0.3% Indian +3.2 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.0% Dutch even 2.0%

0.8% Filipino +1.1 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.3% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.5% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

Language

Language used at home

90.7% English only ◂ +16.8 pts 73.9%

0.3% Mandarin +2.1 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.3% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Punjabi +0.9 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.0% Cantonese +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Arabic +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.2% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Hindi +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Greek even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.1% No religion ◂ +7.9 pts 42.2%

40.5% Christianity +1.4 pts ▸ 41.9%

7.9% Not stated ◂ +1.4 pts 6.5%

0.2% Islam +2.8 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.7% Buddhism +1.9 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.1% Hinduism +2.2 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.5% Other religions +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.0% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

44.4% Year 12 +17.7 pts ▸ 62.1%

20.1% Year 11 ◂ +11.9 pts 8.1%

18.7% Year 10 ◂ +1.1 pts 17.5%

10.2% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.9 pts 6.3%

Highest qualification level

37.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +11.3 pts 26.2%

18.2% Bachelor degree +10.1 pts ▸ 28.2%

15.5% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.4 pts 15.2%

4.3% Postgraduate degree +4.9 pts ▸ 9.2%

3.3% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.7 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.5 pts 2.4%

Field of qualification

14.3% Management & commerce +4.6 pts ▸ 18.9%

16.5% Engineering & related +0.3 pts ▸ 16.8%

12.3% Society & culture ◂ +0.9 pts 11.4%

11.5% Health ◂ +0.6 pts 11.0%

8.8% Education ◂ +0.9 pts 7.9%

5.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.4 pts 5.1%

5.0% Architecture & building ◂ +0.1 pts 4.9%

4.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +3.2 pts 1.5%

2.6% Natural & physical sciences +1.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.4% Creative arts +1.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

1.2% Information technology +1.6 pts ▸ 2.8%

Income

Personal income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$199 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$661 31st pct $860 72nd pct

Household income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$569 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,296 24th pct $1,865 74th pct

Family income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$628 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,632 28th pct $2,260 83rd pct

Household income distribution

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +10.1 pts 23.3%

26.5% $1,500–$2,999 +2.6 pts ▸ 29.1%

19.3% Under $650 ◂ +5.0 pts 14.3%

5.8% $4,000 or more +7.7 pts ▸ 13.5%

7.0% $3,000–$3,999 +3.8 pts ▸ 10.8%

Personal income distribution

45.9% Under $650 ◂ +7.5 pts 38.4%

32.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.0 pts 29.1%

12.7% $1,500–$2,999 +7.4 pts ▸ 20.0%

2.4% $3,000 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 6.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.5% Arthritis ◂ +5.1 pts 7.4%

10.5% Mental health ◂ +2.1 pts 8.4%

9.4% Asthma ◂ +2.1 pts 7.3%

9.1% Other condition ◂ +1.5 pts 7.6%

6.0% Diabetes ◂ +1.7 pts 4.3%

5.6% Heart disease ◂ +2.0 pts 3.5%

3.9% Cancer ◂ +1.2 pts 2.7%

2.5% Lung condition ◂ +0.9 pts 1.5%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

1.0% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.7% None +8.8 pts ▸ 66.5%

22.2% One condition ◂ +3.9 pts 18.2%

8.0% Two conditions ◂ +2.8 pts 5.3%

4.4% Three or more ◂ +1.9 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +37,197 larger in Major Cities of Australia

3,609 48th pct 40,806 87th pct

Median age in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia even

23 yrs 14th pct 23 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$81 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$519 48th pct $600 75th pct

Household income in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$282 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,371 53rd pct $1,653 78th pct

Family & Households

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

2.4 43rd pct 2.6 77th pct

Family composition

51.7% Couples with children +8.3 pts ▸ 60.0%

35.3% Couples without children ◂ +9.8 pts 25.5%

12.3% One-parent families +1.1 pts ▸ 13.4%

0.7% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

39.7% 2 people ◂ +6.8 pts 32.9%

26.9% 1 person ◂ +1.9 pts 25.0%

12.4% 4 people +4.1 pts ▸ 16.5%

13.0% 3 people +3.5 pts ▸ 16.4%

5.4% 5 people +0.9 pts ▸ 6.4%

2.6% 6 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 2.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$90 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$260 51st pct $350 79th pct

Mortgage in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +$520 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$1,387 43rd pct $1,907 86th pct

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

0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.0% Owned with a mortgage +4.9 pts ▸ 41.8%

40.4% Owned outright ◂ +12.0 pts 28.4%

18.2% Rented +8.6 pts ▸ 26.8%

3.0% Other tenure ◂ +1.2 pts 1.7%

1.4% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

93.4% Separate house ◂ +15.9 pts 77.5%

4.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +9.6 pts ▸ 14.3%

0.7% Flat or apartment +7.0 pts ▸ 7.7%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

48.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +11.7 pts 36.8%

27.9% 4 bedrooms +11.3 pts ▸ 39.1%

14.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +1.4 pts 12.7%

5.2% 5 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 6.4%

2.7% 1 bedroom +0.9 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

58.2% $200–$349 ◂ +23.9 pts 34.2%

16.4% $350–$549 +26.9 pts ▸ 43.3%

20.1% Under $200 ◂ +9.7 pts 10.4%

1.0% $550–$749 +5.4 pts ▸ 6.4%

0.3% $750 or more +2.3 pts ▸ 2.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +11.0 pts 30.5%

21.1% $1,800–$2,999 +14.4 pts ▸ 35.5%

26.1% Under $1,000 ◂ +13.4 pts 12.7%

6.8% $3,000 or more +9.1 pts ▸ 15.9%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

66.2% Car (driver) ◂ +4.1 pts 62.1%

10.9% Worked at home ◂ +3.4 pts 7.6%

3.9% Car (passenger) +0.5 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.2% Walked ◂ +1.6 pts 1.6%

0.5% Bus +2.5 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.0% Train +2.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.3% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

Motor vehicles per home

37.6% 2 vehicles +2.3 pts ▸ 39.9%

31.2% 1 vehicle +4.1 pts ▸ 35.2%

16.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.3 pts 12.9%

11.6% 4 or more ◂ +4.6 pts 7.0%

3.5% No vehicle +1.5 pts ▸ 5.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.6% Health care & social assistance +0.6 pts ▸ 14.2%

10.2% Manufacturing ◂ +4.9 pts 5.3%

9.5% Construction ◂ +0.7 pts 8.8%

9.3% Retail trade ◂ +0.4 pts 8.9%

9.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +8.3 pts 0.7%

7.9% Education & training +0.9 pts ▸ 8.8%

4.0% Professional & technical +3.8 pts ▸ 7.8%

1.6% Mining +5.0 pts ▸ 6.6%

6.3% Accommodation & food +0.2 pts ▸ 6.5%

5.2% Public administration & safety +0.7 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.9% Transport & warehousing +0.7 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.0% Administrative & support ◂ +0.8 pts 3.1%

Occupations people work in

15.0% Professionals +8.9 pts ▸ 23.8%

15.7% Managers ◂ +3.9 pts 11.8%

15.3% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.7 pts 14.6%

14.0% Labourers ◂ +5.3 pts 8.7%

10.9% Clerical & administrative +1.6 pts ▸ 12.5%

12.4% Community & personal service ◂ +0.4 pts 12.0%

8.2% Sales workers ◂ +0.3 pts 8.0%

6.6% Machinery operators & drivers +0.3 pts ▸ 6.9%

Walkability

Walk score in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +3.2 higher in Major Cities of Australia

2.8 23rd pct 6.1 86th pct

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

2.9 21st pct 5.8 87th pct

15-min city in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +40.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

31.9% 23rd pct 72.7% 87th pct

Walk to shops in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +36.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

32.2% 14th pct 69.0% 85th pct

Walk to transit in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +53.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

40.8% 51st pct 94.1% 96th pct

Walk to school in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +46.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

34.0% 24th pct 80.0% 93rd pct

Walk to a park in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +37.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

59.2% 37th pct 96.1% 91st pct

Walk to health in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +30.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

24.0% 20th pct 54.8% 83rd pct

Amenities/1k in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +0.6 more in Major Cities of Australia

14.8 21st pct 15.4 27th pct

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

2 56th pct 104 91st pct

Mean slope in Inner Regional Australia in Major Cities of Australia +0.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

5.2% 53rd pct 6.1% 73rd pct

Compare Inner Regional Australia with nearby areas

Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Remote Australia Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Very Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Inner Regional Australia Major Cities of 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/RA41/inner-regional-australia/vs/RA50/major-cities-of-australia