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Major Cities of Australia vs Inner Regional Australia

Name: Major Cities of Australia vs Inner Regional Australia — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 101 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Inner Regional Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Inner Regional Australia are very different in their layout and people. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, with 94.1% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport and a typical resident aged 37. In contrast, Inner Regional Australia is mostly car-dependent, with only 48.1% of homes near public transport and an older typical resident of 43. Diversity and education also differ sharply; 36.2% of people in Major Cities of Australia were born overseas and 26.7% have a bachelor degree or higher, while those figures are 19.8% and 14.2% in Inner Regional Australia.

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of children under 15. They also share similar rates of unemployment and a similar number of people living alone. However, the gap between them is growing in several areas. People in Major Cities of Australia are becoming more likely to have higher qualifications and be born overseas compared to those in Inner Regional Australia. The age gap has also widened, as residents in Inner Regional Australia are now 6 years older than those in Major Cities of Australia.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,856,217 larger in Major Cities of Australia Year 12: 17.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 16.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 14.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Separate houses: 13.1 pts higher in Inner Regional Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +1,856,217 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

2,087,667 89th pct 231,450 72nd pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +6 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia gap widening

37 yrs 25th pct 43 yrs 68th pct

Age structure

28.9% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +5.5 pts 23.4%

24.2% Older adults (45–64) +3.5 pts ▸ 27.8%

15.8% Seniors (65+) +4.0 pts ▸ 19.8%

19.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.4 pts 18.6%

12.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.7 pts 10.4%

Marital status

47.6% Married +1.6 pts ▸ 49.2%

36.1% Never married ◂ +3.9 pts 32.2%

8.7% Divorced +1.3 pts ▸ 10.0%

4.4% Widowed +0.5 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.2% Separated +0.5 pts ▸ 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Inner Regional Australia

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

59.3% Australia +14.1 pts ▸ 73.4%

8.0% England ◂ +1.0 pts 7.0%

2.8% New Zealand ◂ +0.1 pts 2.7%

2.8% India ◂ +2.3 pts 0.4%

1.8% South Africa ◂ +0.5 pts 1.3%

1.5% Philippines ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

1.3% China ◂ +1.1 pts 0.2%

0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.8% Italy ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

37.0% English +8.5 pts ▸ 45.5%

27.9% Australian +10.5 pts ▸ 38.4%

8.7% Scottish +1.3 pts ▸ 9.9%

8.8% Irish +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%

5.5% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 5.0%

5.4% Chinese ◂ +4.6 pts 0.8%

3.5% Indian ◂ +2.9 pts 0.6%

2.8% German +0.6 pts ▸ 3.5%

2.0% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.8% Filipino ◂ +0.7 pts 1.1%

1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%

0.7% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

Language

Language used at home

73.9% English only +12.0 pts ▸ 85.9%

2.4% Mandarin ◂ +2.0 pts 0.4%

1.1% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

1.0% Vietnamese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%

1.0% Punjabi ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%

0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%

0.7% Arabic ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

0.7% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.5% Hindi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

42.2% No religion +6.3 pts ▸ 48.5%

41.9% Christianity ◂ +2.3 pts 39.5%

6.5% Not stated +3.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

3.0% Islam ◂ +2.5 pts 0.5%

2.5% Buddhism ◂ +1.7 pts 0.8%

2.4% Hinduism ◂ +2.1 pts 0.3%

1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.8 pts 0.5%

0.3% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

62.1% Year 12 ◂ +17.3 pts 44.8%

17.5% Year 10 +10.2 pts ▸ 27.7%

8.1% Year 11 +3.1 pts ▸ 11.2%

6.3% Year 9 or below +1.5 pts ▸ 7.8%

Highest qualification level

26.2% Certificate III / IV +11.9 pts ▸ 38.1%

28.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +10.7 pts 17.6%

15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.0 pts 14.2%

9.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.9 pts 3.4%

3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.0 pts 2.9%

2.4% Certificate I / II +1.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

Field of qualification

18.9% Management & commerce ◂ +5.3 pts 13.6%

16.8% Engineering & related +1.8 pts ▸ 18.6%

11.4% Society & culture ◂ +1.9 pts 9.5%

11.0% Health ◂ +0.7 pts 10.3%

7.9% Education +1.3 pts ▸ 9.2%

4.9% Architecture & building +1.0 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.6 pts ▸ 5.7%

3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.5 pts 2.3%

3.5% Creative arts ◂ +1.0 pts 2.5%

1.5% Agriculture & environment +1.9 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.8% Information technology ◂ +1.6 pts 1.2%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$116 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$860 72nd pct $744 51st pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$340 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$1,865 74th pct $1,525 57th pct

Family income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$333 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

$2,260 83rd pct $1,927 63rd pct

Household income distribution

29.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.6 pts 27.6%

23.3% $650–$1,499 +3.6 pts ▸ 26.9%

14.3% Under $650 +2.5 pts ▸ 16.8%

13.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +5.4 pts 8.1%

10.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.7 pts 9.1%

Personal income distribution

38.4% Under $650 +2.3 pts ▸ 40.7%

29.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.5 pts 28.6%

20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.1 pts 16.9%

6.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 4.1%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.4% Arthritis +2.5 pts ▸ 9.9%

8.4% Mental health +0.8 pts ▸ 9.2%

7.3% Asthma +0.6 pts ▸ 8.0%

7.6% Other condition ◂ +0.1 pts 7.4%

4.3% Diabetes +0.4 pts ▸ 4.7%

3.5% Heart disease +0.5 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.7% Cancer +0.6 pts ▸ 3.3%

1.5% Lung condition +0.4 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.8% Stroke +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

66.5% None ◂ +6.6 pts 60.0%

18.2% One condition +1.5 pts ▸ 19.7%

5.3% Two conditions +1.1 pts ▸ 6.3%

2.5% Three or more +0.7 pts ▸ 3.2%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +33,380 larger in Major Cities of Australia

40,806 87th pct 7,426 57th pct

Median age in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +1 yrs older in Inner Regional Australia

23 yrs 14th pct 24 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$55 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$600 75th pct $545 57th pct

Household income in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$119 higher in Major Cities of Australia

$1,653 78th pct $1,534 71st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +0.1 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening

2.6 77th pct 2.5 67th pct

Family composition

60.0% Couples with children ◂ +5.8 pts 54.2%

25.5% Couples without children +5.9 pts ▸ 31.3%

13.4% One-parent families +0.3 pts ▸ 13.7%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

Household size

32.9% 2 people +4.7 pts ▸ 37.6%

25.0% 1 person ◂ +0.1 pts 24.9%

16.5% 4 people ◂ +2.3 pts 14.2%

16.4% 3 people ◂ +2.2 pts 14.2%

6.4% 5 people ◂ +0.1 pts 6.2%

2.8% 6 or more even 2.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$40 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$350 79th pct $310 70th pct

Mortgage in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +$195 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing

$1,907 86th pct $1,712 71st pct

People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australia in Inner 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

41.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.8 pts 40.0%

28.4% Owned outright +5.7 pts ▸ 34.1%

26.8% Rented ◂ +4.9 pts 21.9%

1.7% Other tenure +0.6 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.2% Not stated +0.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

Types of homes

77.5% Separate house +13.1 pts ▸ 90.6%

14.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +7.6 pts 6.8%

7.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +6.6 pts 1.1%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

Bedrooms per home

39.1% 4 bedrooms +2.7 pts ▸ 41.9%

36.8% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.2 pts 36.6%

12.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.3 pts 10.3%

6.4% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.9 pts 2.7%

0.2% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

43.3% $350–$549 ◂ +8.5 pts 34.8%

34.2% $200–$349 +8.5 pts ▸ 42.7%

10.4% Under $200 +4.6 pts ▸ 15.1%

6.4% $550–$749 ◂ +3.7 pts 2.6%

2.5% $750 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 0.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

30.5% $1,000–$1,799 +6.1 pts ▸ 36.5%

35.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +4.6 pts 30.9%

12.7% Under $1,000 +3.8 pts ▸ 16.4%

15.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.1 pts 10.7%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

62.1% Car (driver) +2.1 pts ▸ 64.2%

7.6% Worked at home ◂ +0.1 pts 7.5%

4.4% Car (passenger) +0.7 pts ▸ 5.1%

3.0% Bus ◂ +1.6 pts 1.5%

1.6% Walked +1.0 pts ▸ 2.5%

2.2% Train ◂ +2.1 pts 0.1%

0.7% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Motor vehicles per home

39.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.2 pts 39.7%

35.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.4 pts 30.8%

12.9% 3 vehicles +3.2 pts ▸ 16.1%

7.0% 4 or more +3.1 pts ▸ 10.1%

5.0% No vehicle ◂ +1.7 pts 3.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

14.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.1 pts 12.1%

8.8% Construction +1.7 pts ▸ 10.6%

8.9% Retail trade +0.3 pts ▸ 9.2%

8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.7 pts 8.1%

6.6% Mining +1.9 pts ▸ 8.5%

5.3% Manufacturing +2.7 pts ▸ 7.9%

7.8% Professional & technical ◂ +4.2 pts 3.6%

6.5% Accommodation & food +0.8 pts ▸ 7.2%

6.0% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.6 pts 5.3%

0.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +4.3 pts ▸ 4.9%

4.5% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.8 pts 3.7%

3.9% Other services even 3.9%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +9.0 pts 14.9%

14.6% Technicians & trades +4.0 pts ▸ 18.6%

8.7% Labourers +4.0 pts ▸ 12.7%

12.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.9 pts 10.6%

12.0% Community & personal service ◂ +0.5 pts 11.6%

11.8% Managers +0.1 pts ▸ 11.9%

6.9% Machinery operators & drivers +3.0 pts ▸ 9.9%

8.0% Sales workers +0.1 pts ▸ 8.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +2.8 higher in Major Cities of Australia

6.1 86th pct 3.3 40th pct

Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +2.6 more in Major Cities of Australia

5.8 87th pct 3.3 28th pct

15-min city in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +39.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

72.7% 87th pct 33.0% 25th pct

Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +34.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

69.0% 85th pct 34.6% 19th pct

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

94.1% 96th pct 48.1% 68th pct

Walk to school in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +36.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

80.0% 93rd pct 43.3% 40th pct

Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +29.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

96.1% 91st pct 66.9% 56th pct

Walk to health in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +31.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

54.8% 83rd pct 23.9% 20th pct

Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +1.3 more in Major Cities of Australia

15.4 27th pct 14.1 14th pct

Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +102 higher in Major Cities of Australia

104 91st pct 2 61st pct

Mean slope in Major Cities of Australia in Inner Regional Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

6.1% 73rd pct 5.4% 58th pct

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

Compare Inner Regional Australia with nearby areas

Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia Outer Regional Australia Inner Regional Australia Remote Australia Very Remote Australia Remote Australia

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Inner Regional Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA50/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA51/inner-regional-australia