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Major Cities of Australia vs Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 321 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Remote Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Remote Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are very different in their layout and people. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable and has far more people born overseas (36.2%) and far more adults with a bachelor degree or higher (26.7%). In contrast, Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent, has a well higher share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (11.9%), and a far higher proportion of households that rent (43.7%).

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of adults working or looking for work. They also share similar home sizes, with an average of 2.6 people per home in Major Cities of Australia and 2.5 in Remote Australia. While they have much in common in this regard, other gaps are shifting; the difference in typical weekly incomes has widened since 2011, with Remote Australia now well higher at $1,113 compared to $860 in Major Cities of Australia.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,000,241 larger in Major Cities of Australia Born overseas: 20.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia De facto: 7.5 pts higher in Remote Australia Renting: 16.9 pts higher in Remote Australia Year 12: 16.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2,000,241 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2,087,667 89th pct 87,426 61st pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1 yrs older in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
37 yrs 25th pct 36 yrs 14th pct
First Nations in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +10.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
2.0% 16th pct 11.9% 72nd pct
Aged 65+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
15.8% 47th pct 11.2% 24th pct
Under 15 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
19.0% 75th pct 22.2% 97th pct
De facto in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
11.5% 21st pct 19.0% 95th pct

Age structure

28.9% Young adults (25–44) +2.1 pts ▸ 31.0%
24.2% Older adults (45–64) +1.4 pts ▸ 25.6%
19.0% Children (0–14) +3.3 pts ▸ 22.2%
15.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.6 pts 11.2%
12.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.1 pts 9.9%

Marital status

47.6% Married ◂ +2.6 pts 45.0%
36.1% Never married +4.2 pts ▸ 40.3%
8.7% Divorced ◂ +0.7 pts 8.0%
4.4% Widowed ◂ +1.1 pts 3.2%
3.2% Separated +0.3 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 +20.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
36.2% 100th pct 16.0% 60th pct

Country of birth

59.3% Australia +10.8 pts ▸ 70.1%
8.0% England ◂ +5.1 pts 2.9%
2.8% New Zealand +0.5 pts ▸ 3.3%
2.8% India ◂ +2.1 pts 0.7%
1.8% South Africa ◂ +0.9 pts 1.0%
1.5% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 1.7%
1.3% China ◂ +1.0 pts 0.3%
0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%
0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

37.0% English ◂ +2.7 pts 34.4%
27.9% Australian +7.4 pts ▸ 35.3%
8.8% Irish ◂ +0.9 pts 7.9%
8.7% Scottish ◂ +0.4 pts 8.3%
5.5% Italian ◂ +2.7 pts 2.8%
5.4% Chinese ◂ +4.3 pts 1.1%
3.5% Indian ◂ +2.6 pts 0.9%
2.8% German +0.6 pts ▸ 3.5%
1.8% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 2.0%
2.0% Dutch ◂ +0.5 pts 1.5%
1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%
0.7% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

Language

Other language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +11.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
21.1% 82nd pct 9.2% 50th pct
Limited English in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.7% 80th pct 0.6% 31st pct

Language used at home

73.9% English only +2.6 pts ▸ 76.5%
2.4% Mandarin ◂ +2.0 pts 0.4%
1.1% Italian ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%
1.0% Vietnamese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%
1.0% Punjabi ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%
0.9% Cantonese ◂ +0.8 pts 0.1%
0.7% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.7% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.5% Hindi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%
0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

No religion in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
42.2% 56th pct 45.7% 73rd pct

Religious affiliation

42.2% No religion +3.6 pts ▸ 45.7%
41.9% Christianity ◂ +6.8 pts 35.1%
6.5% Not stated +9.5 pts ▸ 16.0%
3.0% Islam ◂ +2.1 pts 1.0%
2.5% Buddhism ◂ +1.5 pts 1.0%
2.4% Hinduism ◂ +1.6 pts 0.7%
1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.8 pts 0.5%
0.3% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +16.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
62.1% 91st pct 45.9% 72nd pct
Bachelor+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +12.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.7% 87th pct 14.2% 60th pct

Highest year of school

62.1% Year 12 ◂ +16.2 pts 45.9%
17.5% Year 10 +3.8 pts ▸ 21.3%
8.1% Year 11 +2.6 pts ▸ 10.7%
6.3% Year 9 or below +0.4 pts ▸ 6.6%

Highest qualification level

26.2% Certificate III / IV +7.0 pts ▸ 33.1%
28.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +11.6 pts 16.7%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.5 pts 11.7%
9.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.9 pts 3.3%
3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.2 pts 2.7%
2.4% Certificate I / II +0.7 pts ▸ 3.1%

Field of qualification

16.8% Engineering & related +2.4 pts ▸ 19.2%
18.9% Management & commerce ◂ +6.3 pts 12.6%
11.4% Society & culture ◂ +4.3 pts 7.1%
11.0% Health ◂ +3.0 pts 8.0%
7.9% Education +0.2 pts ▸ 8.1%
5.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.6 pts 4.5%
4.9% Architecture & building ◂ +0.3 pts 4.6%
1.5% Agriculture & environment +2.4 pts ▸ 3.9%
3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.2 pts 1.6%
3.5% Creative arts ◂ +1.7 pts 1.8%
2.8% Information technology ◂ +2.0 pts 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$253 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$860 72nd pct $1,113 82nd pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$279 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$1,865 74th pct $2,144 86th pct
Family income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$311 higher in Remote Australia gap widening
$2,260 83rd pct $2,571 92nd pct
High earners in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
15.2% 81st pct 19.0% 89th pct
High-income homes in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
24.3% 83rd pct 29.0% 89th pct

Household income distribution

29.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.9 pts 28.2%
23.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.5 pts 18.8%
13.5% $4,000 or more +3.0 pts ▸ 16.4%
14.3% Under $650 ◂ +2.3 pts 12.0%
10.8% $3,000–$3,999 +1.7 pts ▸ 12.5%

Personal income distribution

38.4% Under $650 ◂ +10.9 pts 27.5%
29.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.7 pts 25.4%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 +3.2 pts ▸ 23.3%
6.2% $3,000 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 8.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
26.0% 43rd pct 20.7% 22nd pct
Mental health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
8.4% 44th pct 5.9% 28th pct
Needs assistance in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.6% 40th pct 2.9% 14th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

8.4% Mental health ◂ +2.4 pts 5.9%
7.6% Other condition ◂ +2.7 pts 4.9%
7.4% Arthritis ◂ +1.9 pts 5.5%
7.3% Asthma ◂ +0.8 pts 6.6%
4.3% Diabetes ◂ +0.6 pts 3.7%
3.5% Heart disease ◂ +1.0 pts 2.6%
2.7% Cancer ◂ +0.7 pts 2.0%
1.5% Lung condition ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%
0.8% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

66.5% None ◂ +3.9 pts 62.6%
18.2% One condition ◂ +3.2 pts 15.1%
5.3% Two conditions ◂ +1.4 pts 3.9%
2.5% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 1.8%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +5.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
15.1% 44th pct 21.0% 84th pct
Unpaid carers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
10.9% 45th pct 8.0% 18th pct
Unpaid child care in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
29.2% 89th pct 27.6% 86th pct
Defence service in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.8% 36th pct 2.5% 27th pct
Housework 15h+ in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
19.7% 52nd pct 18.7% 41st pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +30,395 larger in Major Cities of Australia
40,806 87th 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 +7.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
40.6% 85th pct 32.9% 60th pct
Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
15.1% 55th pct 13.5% 43rd pct
Median income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$33 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$600 75th pct $567 67th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$87 higher in Remote Australia
$1,653 78th pct $1,740 83rd pct
Indigenous language in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +8.3 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.3% 59th pct 16.7% 75th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.1 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2.6 77th pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
13.4% 27th pct 11.8% 13th pct
Living alone in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
25.0% 23rd pct 26.7% 36th pct

Family composition

60.0% Couples with children ◂ +0.1 pts 59.9%
25.5% Couples without children +1.9 pts ▸ 27.4%
13.4% One-parent families ◂ +1.6 pts 11.8%
1.2% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

Household size

32.9% 2 people +0.5 pts ▸ 33.3%
25.0% 1 person +1.7 pts ▸ 26.7%
16.5% 4 people ◂ +1.3 pts 15.2%
16.4% 3 people ◂ +2.5 pts 13.9%
6.4% 5 people +1.1 pts ▸ 7.4%
2.8% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$100 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$350 79th pct $250 45th pct
Mortgage in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +$247 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,907 86th 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 +16.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
26.8% 43rd pct 43.7% 85th pct
Owned outright in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
28.4% 30th pct 24.5% 23rd pct
Separate houses in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
77.5% 24th pct 82.3% 32nd pct
3+ bedrooms in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
82.4% 95th pct 78.0% 72nd pct

How homes are owned or rented

26.8% Rented +16.9 pts ▸ 43.7%
41.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +18.4 pts 23.5%
28.4% Owned outright ◂ +3.9 pts 24.5%
1.7% Other tenure +4.4 pts ▸ 6.1%
1.2% Not stated +1.0 pts ▸ 2.2%

Types of homes

77.5% Separate house +4.8 pts ▸ 82.3%
14.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +3.2 pts 11.1%
7.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +4.1 pts 3.6%
0.3% Other dwelling +1.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

Bedrooms per home

36.8% 3 bedrooms +4.6 pts ▸ 41.4%
39.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +7.8 pts 31.3%
12.7% 2 bedrooms +0.9 pts ▸ 13.6%
6.4% 5 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 5.3%
3.6% 1 bedroom +2.0 pts ▸ 5.6%
0.2% Studio / none +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

43.3% $350–$549 ◂ +26.5 pts 16.9%
34.2% $200–$349 ◂ +7.8 pts 26.4%
10.4% Under $200 +22.8 pts ▸ 33.2%
6.4% $550–$749 +1.7 pts ▸ 8.0%
2.5% $750 or more +3.9 pts ▸ 6.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

35.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +8.2 pts 27.3%
30.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.9 pts 29.6%
12.7% Under $1,000 +10.1 pts ▸ 22.8%
15.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 14.5%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.0% 43rd pct 4.6% 22nd pct
Work from home in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
7.6% 28th pct 7.2% 25th pct
PT commute in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
5.2% 87th pct 1.6% 48th pct

How people get to work

62.1% Car (driver) +1.7 pts ▸ 63.8%
7.6% Worked at home ◂ +0.4 pts 7.2%
1.6% Walked +3.8 pts ▸ 5.3%
4.4% Car (passenger) +0.9 pts ▸ 5.3%
3.0% Bus ◂ +1.5 pts 1.5%
2.2% Train ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%
0.7% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 1.2%

Motor vehicles per home

39.9% 2 vehicles +0.1 pts ▸ 40.0%
35.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +6.3 pts 29.0%
12.9% 3 vehicles +3.2 pts ▸ 16.1%
7.0% 4 or more +3.4 pts ▸ 10.4%
5.0% No vehicle ◂ +0.4 pts 4.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +3.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
39.4% 62nd pct 43.1% 76th pct
Recent arrivals in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +4.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
10.6% 16th pct 14.7% 42nd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.3% 54th pct 3.2% 11th pct
Participation in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +0.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
65.3% 88th pct 65.0% 88th pct
Full-time in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +7.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
60.0% 57th pct 67.7% 83rd pct

Industries people work in

14.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.4 pts 9.7%
6.6% Mining +6.6 pts ▸ 13.2%
0.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +11.9 pts ▸ 12.5%
8.9% Retail trade ◂ +2.4 pts 6.5%
8.8% Construction ◂ +1.5 pts 7.4%
8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.2 pts 8.7%
7.8% Professional & technical ◂ +5.8 pts 2.1%
4.5% Transport & warehousing +2.2 pts ▸ 6.7%
6.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.4 pts 6.1%
6.0% Public administration & safety +0.4 pts ▸ 6.3%
5.3% Manufacturing ◂ +2.6 pts 2.7%
3.9% Other services ◂ +0.3 pts 3.6%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +9.8 pts 14.0%
14.6% Technicians & trades +3.5 pts ▸ 18.2%
11.8% Managers +6.3 pts ▸ 18.1%
12.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.6 pts 10.8%
12.0% Community & personal service ◂ +2.6 pts 9.4%
8.7% Labourers +2.3 pts ▸ 11.0%
6.9% Machinery operators & drivers +3.6 pts ▸ 10.5%
8.0% Sales workers ◂ +2.1 pts 5.9%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.7 higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.1 86th pct 3.4 50th pct
Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.2 more in Major Cities of Australia
5.8 87th pct 3.6 51st pct
15-min city in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +32.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
72.7% 87th pct 40.6% 42nd pct
Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +28.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
69.0% 85th pct 40.8% 34th pct
Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +53.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
94.1% 96th pct 41.0% 52nd pct
Walk to school in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +24.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
80.0% 93rd pct 55.3% 70th pct
Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +24.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
96.1% 91st pct 71.7% 68th pct
Walk to health in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +31.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
54.8% 83rd pct 23.8% 19th pct
Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +13.5 more in Remote Australia
15.4 27th pct 28.9 64th pct
Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +104 higher in Major Cities of Australia
104 91st pct 0 27th pct
Mean slope in Major Cities of Australiain Remote Australia +2.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.1% 73rd pct 3.5% 20th 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 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/RA50/major-cities-of-australia/vs/RA53/remote-australia