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Major Cities of Australia vs Very Remote Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 2,631 km apart · Major Cities of Australia profile · Very Remote Australia profile

Major Cities of Australia Very Remote Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Very Remote Australia are far apart and differ sharply in their layouts and demographics. Major Cities of Australia is very walkable, with 94.1% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport, while Very Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent. Education and income are also higher in Major Cities of Australia, where 26.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher compared to 13.0% in Very Remote Australia. In contrast, Very Remote Australia has a much stronger First Nations presence, with 40.0% of people speaking a First Nations language compared to 8.3% in Major Cities of Australia.

Daily life shares some common ground, as typical weekly personal incomes are similar at $860 in Major Cities of Australia and $839 in Very Remote Australia. Full-time employment is also nearly identical, sitting around 60% in both areas. Some gaps are closing; for example, the difference in the share of people using another language at home has narrowed to 21.9 points. However, other differences have grown, such as the gap in typical household incomes, which is now $374 higher in Major Cities of Australia.

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Where they differ most

Population: 2,083,194 larger in Major Cities of Australia 3+ bedrooms: 18.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Other language: 21.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia Year 12: 19.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Living alone: 8.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2,083,194 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2,087,667 89th pct 4,473 31st pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +7 yrs older in Very Remote Australia gap widening
37 yrs 25th pct 44 yrs 72nd pct
First Nations in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
2.0% 16th pct 0.7% 5th pct
Aged 65+ in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
15.8% 47th pct 19.1% 67th pct
Under 15 in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
19.0% 75th pct 17.0% 43rd pct
De facto in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
11.5% 21st pct 13.8% 57th pct

Age structure

24.2% Older adults (45–64) +5.8 pts ▸ 30.0%
28.9% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +3.4 pts 25.5%
15.8% Seniors (65+) +3.3 pts ▸ 19.1%
19.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.0 pts 17.0%
12.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +4.0 pts 8.1%

Marital status

47.6% Married +1.9 pts ▸ 49.5%
36.1% Never married ◂ +4.9 pts 31.2%
8.7% Divorced +2.2 pts ▸ 10.9%
4.4% Widowed ◂ +0.1 pts 4.3%
3.2% Separated +0.8 pts ▸ 4.0%

Age & sex structure

Major Cities of Australia Very 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 Very Remote Australia +5.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
36.2% 100th pct 30.6% 91st pct

Country of birth

59.3% Australia ◂ +4.1 pts 55.2%
8.0% England ◂ +5.8 pts 2.2%
2.8% New Zealand +5.0 pts ▸ 7.8%
2.8% India ◂ +2.2 pts 0.5%
1.8% South Africa ◂ +1.5 pts 0.3%
1.5% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%
1.3% China ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%
0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%
0.8% Italy ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%
0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

37.0% English ◂ +17.6 pts 19.4%
27.9% Australian ◂ +4.3 pts 23.6%
5.4% Chinese +3.6 pts ▸ 8.9%
8.8% Irish ◂ +4.1 pts 4.8%
8.7% Scottish ◂ +3.0 pts 5.7%
5.5% Italian ◂ +4.8 pts 0.8%
3.5% Indian ◂ +2.9 pts 0.6%
2.8% German ◂ +1.0 pts 1.8%
2.0% Dutch ◂ +1.0 pts 1.0%
1.8% Filipino ◂ +0.3 pts 1.5%
1.1% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%
0.7% Greek ◂ +0.6 pts 0.1%

Language

Other language in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +21.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
21.1% 82nd pct 43.1% 99th pct
Limited English in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +5.3 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
2.7% 80th pct 8.0% 100th pct

Language used at home

73.9% English only ◂ +34.7 pts 39.1%
2.4% Mandarin +3.0 pts ▸ 5.4%
0.9% Cantonese +0.5 pts ▸ 1.4%
1.1% Italian ◂ +1.1 pts 0.0%
1.0% Vietnamese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%
1.0% Punjabi ◂ +0.9 pts 0.1%
0.7% Arabic ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%
0.7% Tagalog even 0.6%
0.5% Hindi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%
0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

No religion in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +15.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
42.2% 56th pct 27.2% 12th pct

Religious affiliation

42.2% No religion ◂ +15.0 pts 27.2%
41.9% Christianity ◂ +12.2 pts 29.7%
6.5% Not stated +13.0 pts ▸ 19.5%
3.0% Islam +14.2 pts ▸ 17.2%
2.5% Buddhism +3.5 pts ▸ 6.0%
2.4% Hinduism ◂ +2.1 pts 0.3%
1.3% Other religions ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%
0.3% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +19.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
62.1% 91st pct 42.8% 61st pct
Bachelor+ in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +13.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
26.7% 87th pct 13.0% 42nd pct

Highest year of school

62.1% Year 12 ◂ +19.2 pts 42.8%
17.5% Year 10 +1.8 pts ▸ 19.3%
6.3% Year 9 or below +3.3 pts ▸ 9.5%
8.1% Year 11 ◂ +1.8 pts 6.4%

Highest qualification level

28.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +14.8 pts 13.4%
26.2% Certificate III / IV +0.7 pts ▸ 26.9%
15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.5 pts 11.7%
9.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +5.4 pts 3.9%
3.9% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.4 pts 2.6%
2.4% Certificate I / II +1.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

Field of qualification

18.9% Management & commerce ◂ +7.5 pts 11.4%
16.8% Engineering & related ◂ +3.3 pts 13.5%
11.4% Society & culture ◂ +3.8 pts 7.6%
11.0% Health ◂ +4.9 pts 6.1%
7.9% Education ◂ +0.5 pts 7.4%
5.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.7 pts ▸ 5.9%
4.9% Architecture & building +0.8 pts ▸ 5.7%
3.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.6 pts 2.2%
3.5% Creative arts ◂ +1.4 pts 2.1%
2.8% Information technology ◂ +1.7 pts 1.2%
1.5% Agriculture & environment +0.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

Income

Personal income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$21 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$860 72nd pct $839 69th pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$374 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,865 74th pct $1,491 51st pct
Family income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$366 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$2,260 83rd pct $1,894 58th pct
High earners in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +6.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
15.2% 81st pct 9.0% 57th pct
High-income homes in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +8.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
24.3% 83rd pct 15.8% 49th pct

Household income distribution

29.1% $1,500–$2,999 +1.6 pts ▸ 30.7%
23.3% $650–$1,499 +5.6 pts ▸ 28.9%
14.3% Under $650 +4.0 pts ▸ 18.3%
13.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +6.5 pts 6.9%
10.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.9 pts 8.9%

Personal income distribution

38.4% Under $650 ◂ +7.1 pts 31.3%
29.1% $650–$1,499 +2.0 pts ▸ 31.1%
20.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.0 pts 16.1%
6.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.8 pts 2.3%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +7.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
26.0% 43rd pct 19.0% 15th pct
Mental health in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +4.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
8.4% 44th pct 3.7% 12th pct
Needs assistance in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
4.6% 40th pct 3.5% 22nd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

8.4% Mental health ◂ +4.7 pts 3.7%
7.6% Other condition ◂ +2.1 pts 5.5%
7.4% Arthritis ◂ +2.2 pts 5.2%
7.3% Asthma ◂ +1.8 pts 5.6%
4.3% Diabetes ◂ +0.8 pts 3.5%
3.5% Heart disease ◂ +0.3 pts 3.2%
2.7% Cancer ◂ +0.5 pts 2.2%
1.5% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%
0.8% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%
0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

66.5% None ◂ +5.1 pts 61.4%
18.2% One condition ◂ +4.2 pts 14.1%
5.3% Two conditions ◂ +1.9 pts 3.3%
2.5% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +7.2 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
15.1% 44th pct 22.4% 87th pct
Unpaid carers in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
10.9% 45th pct 9.2% 30th pct
Unpaid child care in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +7.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
29.2% 89th pct 22.2% 40th pct
Defence service in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +0.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.8% 36th pct 2.4% 24th pct
Housework 15h+ in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +0.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
19.7% 52nd pct 19.1% 43rd pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +40,776 larger in Major Cities of Australia
40,806 87th pct 30 16th pct
Median age in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +29 yrs older in Very Remote Australia
23 yrs 14th pct 52 yrs 99th pct
Year 12 in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +4.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
40.6% 85th pct 36.0% 71st pct
Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia
15.1% 55th pct —
Median income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$49 higher in Very Remote Australia
$600 75th pct $649 81st pct
Household income in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$221 higher in Very Remote Australia
$1,653 78th pct $1,874 87th pct
Indigenous language in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +31.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
8.3% 59th pct 40.0% 89th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +0.3 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2.6 77th pct 2.3 22nd pct
One-parent in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
13.4% 27th pct 9.7% 0th pct
Living alone in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +8.0 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
25.0% 23rd pct 33.0% 85th pct

Family composition

60.0% Couples with children ◂ +4.9 pts 55.1%
25.5% Couples without children +8.9 pts ▸ 34.4%
13.4% One-parent families ◂ +3.6 pts 9.7%
1.2% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 0.8%

Household size

32.9% 2 people +2.0 pts ▸ 34.8%
25.0% 1 person +8.0 pts ▸ 33.0%
16.5% 4 people ◂ +5.8 pts 10.7%
16.4% 3 people ◂ +4.3 pts 12.1%
6.4% 5 people +0.1 pts ▸ 6.4%
2.8% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$150 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$350 79th pct $200 30th pct
Mortgage in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +$607 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$1,907 86th pct $1,300 36th pct
People / bedroom in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +0.10 higher in Very Remote Australia gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.90 71st pct
Renting in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +10.7 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
26.8% 43rd pct 37.5% 75th pct
Owned outright in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +5.9 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap widening
28.4% 30th pct 34.3% 53rd pct
Separate houses in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3.8 pts higher in Very Remote Australia gap narrowing
77.5% 24th pct 81.3% 28th pct
3+ bedrooms in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +18.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
82.4% 95th pct 63.6% 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +22.7 pts 19.1%
26.8% Rented +10.7 pts ▸ 37.5%
28.4% Owned outright +5.9 pts ▸ 34.3%
1.7% Other tenure +4.2 pts ▸ 6.0%
1.2% Not stated +2.0 pts ▸ 3.2%

Types of homes

77.5% Separate house +3.8 pts ▸ 81.3%
14.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +7.0 pts 7.3%
7.7% Flat or apartment +2.1 pts ▸ 9.8%
0.3% Other dwelling ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

36.8% 3 bedrooms +5.6 pts ▸ 42.5%
39.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +22.7 pts 16.5%
12.7% 2 bedrooms +11.8 pts ▸ 24.4%
3.6% 1 bedroom +5.4 pts ▸ 9.0%
6.4% 5 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 4.6%
0.2% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

43.3% $350–$549 ◂ +31.7 pts 11.6%
10.4% Under $200 +31.6 pts ▸ 42.1%
34.2% $200–$349 +3.2 pts ▸ 37.5%
6.4% $550–$749 ◂ +5.3 pts 1.1%
2.5% $750 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

30.5% $1,000–$1,799 +13.0 pts ▸ 43.5%
35.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +14.5 pts 21.0%
12.7% Under $1,000 +15.2 pts ▸ 27.9%
15.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +10.5 pts 5.4%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.0% 43rd pct 4.0% 12th pct
Work from home in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
7.6% 28th pct 5.3% 14th pct
PT commute in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
5.2% 87th pct 3.5% 72nd pct

How people get to work

62.1% Car (driver) ◂ +1.7 pts 60.3%
7.6% Worked at home ◂ +2.3 pts 5.3%
1.6% Walked +4.2 pts ▸ 5.7%
4.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.4 pts 4.0%
3.0% Bus ◂ +0.6 pts 2.5%
2.2% Train ◂ +2.2 pts 0.0%
0.7% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 1.2%

Motor vehicles per home

39.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +4.7 pts 35.2%
35.2% 1 vehicle +3.3 pts ▸ 38.6%
12.9% 3 vehicles +1.4 pts ▸ 14.3%
7.0% 4 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 7.6%
5.0% No vehicle ◂ +1.0 pts 4.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +9.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
39.4% 62nd pct 30.2% 21st pct
Recent arrivals in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +5.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
10.6% 16th pct 5.4% 2nd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +3.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
5.3% 54th pct 2.1% 4th pct
Participation in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +6.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
65.3% 88th pct 59.1% 67th pct
Full-time in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +0.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
60.0% 57th pct 59.7% 55th pct

Industries people work in

6.0% Public administration & safety +11.6 pts ▸ 17.5%
14.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +7.5 pts 6.7%
6.5% Accommodation & food +4.9 pts ▸ 11.4%
8.8% Construction +0.6 pts ▸ 9.4%
8.9% Retail trade +0.1 pts ▸ 9.0%
8.8% Education & training ◂ +1.8 pts 7.1%
7.8% Professional & technical ◂ +5.2 pts 2.6%
3.1% Administrative & support +3.8 pts ▸ 7.0%
6.6% Mining ◂ +2.3 pts 4.3%
5.3% Manufacturing ◂ +3.9 pts 1.3%
4.5% Transport & warehousing +0.1 pts ▸ 4.6%
3.9% Other services ◂ +1.1 pts 2.8%

Occupations people work in

23.8% Professionals ◂ +10.9 pts 12.9%
14.6% Technicians & trades +3.0 pts ▸ 17.7%
11.8% Managers +3.5 pts ▸ 15.3%
12.0% Community & personal service +2.8 pts ▸ 14.8%
12.5% Clerical & administrative +0.1 pts ▸ 12.5%
8.7% Labourers +3.4 pts ▸ 12.1%
8.0% Sales workers ◂ +1.8 pts 6.1%
6.9% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.6 pts 6.3%

Walkability

Walk score in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.9 higher in Major Cities of Australia
6.1 86th pct 3.1 31st pct
Types ≤15 min in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +2.6 more in Major Cities of Australia
5.8 87th pct 3.2 27th pct
15-min city in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +43.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
72.7% 87th pct 29.1% 16th pct
Walk to shops in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +8.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
69.0% 85th pct 60.8% 79th pct
Walk to transit in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +94.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
94.1% 96th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +63.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
80.0% 93rd pct 16.2% 9th pct
Walk to a park in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +43.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
96.1% 91st pct 52.6% 19th pct
Walk to health in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +27.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
54.8% 83rd pct 27.0% 29th pct
Amenities/1k in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +25.3 more in Very Remote Australia
15.4 27th pct 40.7 75th pct
Intersections/km² in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +98 higher in Major Cities of Australia
104 91st pct 7 72nd pct
Mean slope in Major Cities of Australiain Very Remote Australia +6.4 pts higher in Very Remote Australia
6.1% 73rd pct 12.4% 100th 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 Very Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Major Cities of Australia vs Very 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/RA94/very-remote-australia