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Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia

Remoteness Area comparison ≈ 831 km apart · Remote Australia profile · Major Cities of Australia profile

Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia

Major Cities of Australia and Remote Australia are far apart in both location and lifestyle. Major Cities of Australia is a much younger area with a typical resident aged 35, while Remote Australia is far older, with a typical age of 50. There are stark differences in income and education; the typical weekly household income in Major Cities of Australia is $2,372, which is far higher than the $994 seen in Remote Australia. Additionally, a much higher share of adults in Major Cities of Australia hold a bachelor degree or higher (43.0%) compared to those in Remote Australia (13.8%).

The gap in typical ages has widened since 2011, growing from 9 years to 15 years. Despite these diverging trends, the two areas share some similarities, such as the proportion of people who are volunteers (around 18%) and those with no religion (about 45%). While Major Cities of Australia is very walkable and Remote Australia is mostly car-dependent, both areas see a similar share of homes without a motor vehicle, at about 6%.

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Where they differ most

Population: 444,775 larger in Major Cities of Australia Median age: 15 yrs older in Remote Australia Year 12: 42.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Bachelor+: 29.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia Personal income: $606 higher in Major Cities of Australia

Demographics & Identity

Population in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +444,775 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
8,423 40th pct 453,198 77th pct
Median age in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +15 yrs older in Remote Australia gap widening
50 yrs 89th pct 35 yrs 7th pct
First Nations in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.5 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
6.5% 50th pct 2.0% 16th pct
Aged 65+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +11.6 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
25.3% 90th pct 13.7% 36th pct
Under 15 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
13.3% 24th pct 18.3% 61st pct
De facto in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
14.8% 69th pct 12.5% 37th pct

Age structure

22.9% Young adults (25–44) +9.5 pts ▸ 32.4%
31.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +8.7 pts 22.3%
25.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +11.6 pts 13.7%
13.3% Children (0–14) +4.9 pts ▸ 18.3%
7.5% Youth (15–24) +5.9 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

44.0% Married +2.8 pts ▸ 46.8%
33.3% Never married +5.9 pts ▸ 39.2%
12.4% Divorced ◂ +4.7 pts 7.7%
6.1% Widowed ◂ +2.4 pts 3.7%
4.1% Separated ◂ +1.5 pts 2.5%

Age & sex structure

Remote Australia Major Cities of Australia

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +14.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
14.4% 50th pct 28.8% 87th pct

Country of birth

74.6% Australia ◂ +7.0 pts 67.5%
0.5% India +3.3 pts ▸ 3.8%
3.4% England ◂ +0.5 pts 2.9%
0.4% China +2.3 pts ▸ 2.7%
1.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%
1.6% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%
0.5% Philippines +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.1% Vietnam +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.5% South Africa even 0.5%
0.2% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Ancestry

42.2% English ◂ +10.3 pts 32.0%
38.8% Australian ◂ +7.2 pts 31.5%
10.3% Irish +1.3 pts ▸ 11.6%
8.3% Scottish +1.7 pts ▸ 10.0%
0.7% Chinese +5.1 pts ▸ 5.7%
0.5% Indian +4.0 pts ▸ 4.5%
4.3% German ◂ +0.1 pts 4.2%
1.1% Italian +2.3 pts ▸ 3.4%
1.7% Dutch even 1.7%
0.5% Filipino +1.1 pts ▸ 1.6%
0.2% Vietnamese +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.1% Greek +1.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

Language

Other language in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +18.5 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6.1% 32nd pct 24.6% 86th pct
Limited English in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.3% 12th pct 2.5% 78th pct

Language used at home

83.8% English only ◂ +12.6 pts 71.2%
0.5% Mandarin +2.7 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.1% Vietnamese +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.2% Punjabi +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.2% Hindi +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.0% Cantonese +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.0% Arabic +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.0% Italian +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.0% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.1% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

No religion in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
45.2% 71st pct 44.2% 66th pct

Religious affiliation

45.2% No religion ◂ +1.0 pts 44.2%
38.7% Christianity ◂ +0.6 pts 38.1%
11.8% Not stated ◂ +6.1 pts 5.6%
1.8% Hinduism +2.8 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.7% Islam +2.6 pts ▸ 3.2%
0.9% Buddhism +1.9 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.9% Other religions +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.0% Judaism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +42.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
35.1% 32nd pct 77.1% 100th pct
Bachelor+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +29.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
13.8% 53rd pct 43.0% 100th pct

Highest year of school

35.1% Year 12 +42.0 pts ▸ 77.1%
31.4% Year 10 ◂ +20.9 pts 10.5%
12.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +8.5 pts 4.2%
9.2% Year 11 ◂ +5.7 pts 3.5%

Highest qualification level

34.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +19.1 pts 15.0%
15.7% Bachelor degree +18.3 pts ▸ 33.9%
6.0% Postgraduate degree +13.9 pts ▸ 19.9%
13.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.2 pts 13.0%
1.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +4.4 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.4 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

8.8% Society & culture +11.2 pts ▸ 20.1%
14.3% Management & commerce +5.8 pts ▸ 20.1%
17.2% Engineering & related ◂ +8.7 pts 8.4%
7.1% Health +1.6 pts ▸ 8.7%
7.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +4.3 pts 3.3%
1.5% Information technology +6.0 pts ▸ 7.6%
6.7% Education +0.2 pts ▸ 6.9%
5.7% Architecture & building ◂ +1.8 pts 3.9%
1.8% Natural & physical sciences +3.9 pts ▸ 5.6%
4.2% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.6 pts 1.6%
2.4% Creative arts +1.9 pts ▸ 4.2%

Income

Personal income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$606 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$598 24th pct $1,204 86th pct
Household income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,378 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$994 0th pct $2,372 89th pct
Family income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,489 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$1,383 8th pct $2,872 99th pct
High earners in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +15.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
6.4% 28th pct 22.1% 92nd pct
High-income homes in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +28.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
8.2% 0th pct 36.4% 97th pct

Household income distribution

22.1% $1,500–$2,999 +10.5 pts ▸ 32.6%
32.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +14.8 pts 17.5%
27.6% Under $650 ◂ +19.0 pts 8.6%
3.5% $4,000 or more +18.4 pts ▸ 21.9%
4.7% $3,000–$3,999 +9.8 pts ▸ 14.5%

Personal income distribution

47.1% Under $650 ◂ +19.2 pts 27.9%
11.1% $1,500–$2,999 +18.6 pts ▸ 29.7%
27.7% $650–$1,499 +2.0 pts ▸ 29.7%
2.3% $3,000 or more +5.6 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +6.5 pts higher in Remote Australia
34.6% 94th pct 28.1% 57th pct
Mental health in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.7 pts higher in Remote Australia
10.7% 76th pct 10.0% 67th pct
Needs assistance in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.1 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
7.7% 100th pct 4.6% 39th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

13.9% Arthritis ◂ +6.2 pts 7.7%
10.7% Mental health ◂ +0.7 pts 10.0%
8.5% Other condition +1.2 pts ▸ 9.7%
8.6% Asthma +0.4 pts ▸ 9.0%
6.2% Diabetes ◂ +2.4 pts 3.9%
5.7% Heart disease ◂ +2.5 pts 3.1%
3.9% Cancer ◂ +1.2 pts 2.7%
3.1% Lung condition ◂ +1.7 pts 1.3%
1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%
0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

53.7% None +12.2 pts ▸ 66.0%
21.5% One condition ◂ +1.7 pts 19.8%
8.1% Two conditions ◂ +2.3 pts 5.8%
5.0% Three or more ◂ +2.6 pts 2.5%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
18.7% 71st pct 18.4% 69th pct
Unpaid carers in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
11.8% 64th pct 12.0% 65th pct
Unpaid child care in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +9.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
19.0% 30th pct 28.3% 87th pct
Defence service in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
4.3% 86th pct 6.0% 94th pct
Housework 15h+ in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
24.1% 86th pct 19.3% 46th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +8,339 larger in Major Cities of Australia
548 33rd pct 8,887 60th pct
Median age in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7 yrs older in Remote Australia
31 yrs 71st pct 24 yrs 29th pct
Year 12 in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +31.4 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
27.5% 43rd pct 58.9% 100th pct
Unemployment in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.2% 4th pct 7.2% 0th pct
Median income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$511 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$492 40th pct $1,003 89th pct
Household income in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,057 higher in Major Cities of Australia
$1,232 35th pct $2,289 92nd pct
Indigenous language in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +5.0 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
2.6% 12th pct 7.5% 55th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.5 larger in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
2.0 9th pct 2.5 67th pct
One-parent in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.7 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
13.6% 31st pct 11.9% 14th pct
Living alone in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +12.8 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
38.6% 100th pct 25.8% 28th pct

Family composition

40.5% Couples with children +19.3 pts ▸ 59.8%
44.9% Couples without children ◂ +17.6 pts 27.2%
13.6% One-parent families ◂ +1.7 pts 11.9%
1.0% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

39.8% 2 people ◂ +7.1 pts 32.7%
38.6% 1 person ◂ +12.8 pts 25.8%
9.4% 3 people +7.1 pts ▸ 16.5%
7.8% 4 people +8.6 pts ▸ 16.4%
2.9% 5 people +3.1 pts ▸ 6.0%
1.5% 6 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$270 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
$180 25th pct $450 100th pct
Mortgage in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +$1,280 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
$800 2nd pct $2,080 92nd pct
People / bedroom in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.10 higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
0.70 0th pct 0.80 43rd pct
Renting in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
22.8% 18th pct 30.7% 57th pct
Owned outright in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +21.3 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
47.9% 94th pct 26.6% 26th pct
Separate houses in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +30.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap widening
94.1% 88th pct 63.2% 3rd pct
3+ bedrooms in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
69.3% 20th pct 73.0% 40th pct

How homes are owned or rented

47.9% Owned outright ◂ +21.3 pts 26.6%
22.2% Owned with a mortgage +18.0 pts ▸ 40.2%
22.8% Rented +7.9 pts ▸ 30.7%
4.9% Other tenure ◂ +3.3 pts 1.6%
2.0% Not stated ◂ +1.2 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

94.1% Separate house ◂ +30.9 pts 63.2%
1.3% Flat or apartment +18.1 pts ▸ 19.4%
2.3% Townhouse / semi-detached +14.9 pts ▸ 17.2%
1.1% Other dwelling ◂ +1.0 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

51.8% 3 bedrooms ◂ +14.7 pts 37.1%
14.3% 4 bedrooms +14.5 pts ▸ 28.8%
21.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +4.3 pts 17.5%
5.8% 1 bedroom +2.6 pts ▸ 8.4%
3.2% 5 or more +3.9 pts ▸ 7.1%
1.1% Studio / none ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

52.8% Under $200 ◂ +40.3 pts 12.5%
6.4% $350–$549 +39.4 pts ▸ 45.8%
33.7% $200–$349 ◂ +21.3 pts 12.4%
0.4% $550–$749 +20.8 pts ▸ 21.2%
0.4% $750 or more +4.6 pts ▸ 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

57.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +46.9 pts 11.0%
7.3% $1,800–$2,999 +31.2 pts ▸ 38.5%
26.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.9 pts 25.6%
3.1% $3,000 or more +17.8 pts ▸ 20.9%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +0.4 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
6.0% 58th pct 5.6% 51st pct
Work from home in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap narrowing
7.8% 30th pct 10.9% 58th pct
PT commute in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +4.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
0.3% 14th pct 4.6% 83rd pct

How people get to work

58.7% Car (driver) +0.3 pts ▸ 59.0%
7.8% Worked at home +3.1 pts ▸ 10.9%
10.5% Walked ◂ +6.5 pts 4.0%
5.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.1 pts 5.0%
0.3% Bus +3.4 pts ▸ 3.6%
0.6% Bicycle +1.5 pts ▸ 2.1%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.5% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.3 pts 39.2%
36.1% 2 vehicles +2.6 pts ▸ 38.7%
12.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.2 pts 10.9%
6.3% 4 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 5.5%
6.0% No vehicle ◂ +0.4 pts 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +7.6 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap steady
38.5% 56th pct 46.1% 83rd pct
Recent arrivals in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +1.0 pts higher in Remote Australia gap narrowing
17.8% 63rd pct 16.7% 58th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.9 pts higher in Remote Australia gap steady
6.8% 72nd pct 3.8% 16th pct
Participation in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +20.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
49.5% 28th pct 69.6% 99th pct
Full-time in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +11.9 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia gap widening
53.9% 20th pct 65.8% 76th pct

Industries people work in

3.7% Public administration & safety +26.1 pts ▸ 29.8%
20.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +13.7 pts 6.3%
12.8% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +12.6 pts 0.2%
6.9% Health care & social assistance +4.6 pts ▸ 11.5%
2.4% Professional & technical +8.5 pts ▸ 10.9%
10.8% Mining ◂ +10.7 pts 0.1%
6.4% Education & training +3.0 pts ▸ 9.4%
7.3% Retail trade ◂ +0.8 pts 6.5%
5.7% Construction +0.9 pts ▸ 6.6%
4.4% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.2 pts 2.1%
4.3% Administrative & support ◂ +1.7 pts 2.6%
3.5% Manufacturing ◂ +1.9 pts 1.7%

Occupations people work in

10.3% Professionals +21.2 pts ▸ 31.5%
20.4% Labourers ◂ +15.5 pts 5.0%
16.9% Managers +1.0 pts ▸ 17.9%
8.1% Clerical & administrative +6.4 pts ▸ 14.5%
13.4% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.8 pts 9.6%
12.6% Community & personal service ◂ +1.6 pts 10.9%
10.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +7.6 pts 2.4%
5.9% Sales workers +0.2 pts ▸ 6.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +3.4 higher in Major Cities of Australia
3.5 62nd pct 7.0 98th pct
Types ≤15 min in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.7 more in Major Cities of Australia
3.8 61st pct 6.5 98th pct
15-min city in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +38.3 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
43.8% 58th pct 82.1% 99th pct
Walk to shops in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +29.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
51.0% 71st pct 80.1% 99th pct
Walk to transit in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +57.7 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
40.0% 50th pct 97.7% 100th pct
Walk to school in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +46.1 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
39.4% 30th pct 85.5% 98th pct
Walk to a park in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +38.8 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
60.7% 43rd pct 99.5% 100th pct
Walk to health in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +23.2 pts higher in Major Cities of Australia
41.2% 67th pct 64.4% 95th pct
Amenities/1k in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +39.6 more in Remote Australia
58.6 87th pct 19.1 43rd pct
Intersections/km² in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +171 higher in Major Cities of Australia
0 29th pct 171 100th pct
Mean slope in Remote Australiain Major Cities of Australia +2.4 pts higher in Remote Australia
8.0% 90th pct 5.5% 61st pct

Compare Remote Australia with nearby areas

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

Compare Major Cities of Australia with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Remote Australia vs Major Cities of Australia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ra/RA63/remote-australia/vs/RA80/major-cities-of-australia