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Cape York vs Northern Peninsula

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 386 km apart · Cape York profile · Northern Peninsula profile

Cape York Northern Peninsula

Cape York and Northern Peninsula are two remote Queensland areas with very different demographics. Northern Peninsula is much younger, with a typical resident aged 23 and 34.9% of the population being children under 15. In contrast, Cape York is older, with a typical resident aged 35. Northern Peninsula also has a much stronger First Nations presence, where 82.2% of people are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 85.2% speak a First Nations language. Cape York has a higher share of people who identify as having no religion (33.6%) and more recent arrivals from overseas (20.3%).

Both areas sit close to the national figure for the share of people providing unpaid care. They also share similar levels of typical weekly family income and both rank as the most disadvantaged areas overall. While Northern Peninsula is more walkable, with 93.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park, the gaps in home ownership and rental rates have widened since 2011. Now, 90.6% of homes in Northern Peninsula are rented, compared to 51.9% in Cape York.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 35.0 pts higher in Northern Peninsula Other language: 48.8 pts higher in Northern Peninsula Renting: 38.6 pts higher in Northern Peninsula Owned outright: 22.0 pts higher in Cape York Recent arrivals: 20.3 pts higher in Cape York

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +5,022 larger in Cape York gap steady
7,803 39th pct 2,781 11th pct
Median age in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +12 yrs older in Cape York gap widening
35 yrs 21st pct 23 yrs 0th pct
First Nations in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +35.0 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap steady
47.1% 100th pct 82.2% 100th pct
Aged 65+ in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +8.5 pts higher in Cape York gap widening
13.3% 27th pct 4.8% 3rd pct
Under 15 in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +12.9 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap steady
22.0% 85th pct 34.9% 100th pct
De facto in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +5.0 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
25.6% 100th pct 30.6% 100th pct

Age structure

22.0% Children (0–14) +12.9 pts ▸ 34.9%
26.7% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +0.9 pts 25.8%
26.0% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +8.2 pts 17.8%
12.0% Youth (15–24) +5.0 pts ▸ 17.0%
13.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +8.5 pts 4.8%

Marital status

59.3% Never married +12.8 pts ▸ 72.2%
24.8% Married ◂ +5.0 pts 19.8%
8.9% Divorced ◂ +6.0 pts 2.9%
3.9% Widowed ◂ +1.3 pts 2.6%
3.0% Separated ◂ +0.7 pts 2.3%

Age & sex structure

Cape York Northern Peninsula

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +6.7 pts higher in Cape York gap narrowing
9.1% 12th pct 2.4% 0th pct

Country of birth

75.8% Australia +11.4 pts ▸ 87.2%
1.6% England ◂ +1.3 pts 0.2%
1.5% New Zealand ◂ +0.7 pts 0.8%
0.4% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%
0.3% Philippines ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%
0.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.1% India ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.1% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.1% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

18.5% Australian ◂ +13.4 pts 5.1%
18.3% English ◂ +13.0 pts 5.2%
5.4% Irish ◂ +3.9 pts 1.4%
4.6% Scottish ◂ +3.6 pts 1.0%
3.1% German ◂ +2.6 pts 0.5%
1.1% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%
0.8% Dutch ◂ +0.6 pts 0.2%
0.8% Filipino ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%
0.5% Chinese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%
0.2% Indian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Language

Other language in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +48.8 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
24.0% 70th pct 72.8% 100th pct
Limited English in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +10.0 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap narrowing
1.4% 50th pct 11.3% 94th pct

Language used at home

60.7% English only ◂ +45.6 pts 15.1%
0.2% Mandarin ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.2% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.1% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Arabic even 0.0%
0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%
0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +14.9 pts higher in Cape York gap widening
33.6% 25th pct 18.8% 6th pct

Religious affiliation

46.7% Christianity +11.9 pts ▸ 58.6%
33.6% No religion ◂ +14.9 pts 18.8%
18.3% Not stated +3.7 pts ▸ 22.0%
0.5% Other religions ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%
0.4% Buddhism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%
0.1% Hinduism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.1% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +12.5 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap narrowing
33.4% 6th pct 45.9% 30th pct
Bachelor+ in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.8 pts higher in Cape York gap widening
9.0% 7th pct 7.2% 1st pct
Schools in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +9 more in Cape York
10 89th pct 1 0th pct
Schools/1k kids in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +4.80 more in Cape York
5.83 88th pct 1.03 16th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +12 more in Cape York
13 34th pct 1 2nd pct
Students in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +553 more in Cape York
1,116 41st pct 563 20th pct
Avg size in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +451 larger in Northern Peninsula
112 10th pct 563 68th pct
ICSEA in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +114 higher in Cape York
795 0th pct 681 0th pct

Highest year of school

33.4% Year 12 +12.5 pts ▸ 45.9%
23.6% Year 10 ◂ +8.3 pts 15.4%
10.5% Year 11 +6.5 pts ▸ 17.0%
13.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +6.1 pts 7.4%

Highest qualification level

32.1% Certificate III / IV +5.0 pts ▸ 37.1%
11.0% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.4 pts 7.6%
9.4% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.8 pts ▸ 10.2%
4.3% Certificate I / II +4.8 pts ▸ 9.1%
2.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.6 pts 1.6%
2.1% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.1 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

8.1% Management & commerce +5.5 pts ▸ 13.6%
12.6% Engineering & related ◂ +3.7 pts 8.9%
7.4% Society & culture +2.7 pts ▸ 10.1%
7.5% Education +2.4 pts ▸ 9.9%
6.1% Architecture & building +1.9 pts ▸ 8.0%
7.6% Health ◂ +0.8 pts 6.8%
4.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.0 pts 2.4%
4.1% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.9 pts 3.2%
1.8% Creative arts ◂ +0.4 pts 1.4%
1.5% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.0 pts 0.5%
0.5% Information technology ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Income

Personal income in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +$84 higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
$520 5th pct $604 13th pct
Household income in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +$268 higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
$1,063 6th pct $1,331 23rd pct
Family income in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +$34 higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
$1,253 4th pct $1,287 5th pct
High earners in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +0.5 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap steady
4.9% 13th pct 5.3% 16th pct
High-income homes in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +2.0 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap steady
8.8% 9th pct 10.8% 16th pct

Household income distribution

29.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.3 pts 29.6%
21.2% $1,500–$2,999 +5.2 pts ▸ 26.4%
25.6% Under $650 ◂ +7.2 pts 18.4%
5.1% $3,000–$3,999 +1.7 pts ▸ 6.8%
3.7% $4,000 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 4.0%

Personal income distribution

45.4% Under $650 ◂ +1.2 pts 44.2%
21.9% $650–$1,499 +5.9 pts ▸ 27.8%
9.3% $1,500–$2,999 +0.4 pts ▸ 9.8%
1.6% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 1.9%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +6.4 pts higher in Cape York
18.9% 9th pct 12.5% 0th pct
Mental health in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +2.5 pts higher in Cape York
3.9% 6th pct 1.4% 0th pct
Needs assistance in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.4 pts higher in Cape York gap steady
3.3% 13th pct 1.8% 3rd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

5.8% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 5.5%
4.6% Other condition ◂ +2.2 pts 2.4%
4.5% Arthritis ◂ +2.7 pts 1.8%
3.9% Mental health ◂ +2.5 pts 1.4%
3.8% Asthma ◂ +0.6 pts 3.2%
3.5% Heart disease ◂ +1.4 pts 2.1%
1.7% Cancer ◂ +1.3 pts 0.4%
1.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%
0.7% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%
0.3% Dementia even 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

62.0% None +9.2 pts ▸ 71.2%
13.7% One condition ◂ +3.7 pts 10.0%
3.4% Two conditions ◂ +1.7 pts 1.7%
1.7% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 0.9%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +2.2 pts higher in Cape York gap widening
12.4% 32nd pct 10.1% 19th pct
Unpaid carers in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.0 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap steady
7.7% 8th pct 8.7% 11th pct
Unpaid child care in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +11.6 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap steady
24.9% 40th pct 36.4% 94th pct
Defence service in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.2 pts higher in Northern Peninsula
3.6% 72nd pct 4.8% 87th pct
Housework 15h+ in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +4.7 pts higher in Cape York gap steady
17.5% 20th pct 12.8% 6th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1,393 larger in Cape York
3,678 93rd pct 2,285 90th pct
Median age in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +5 yrs older in Cape York
26 yrs 64th pct 21 yrs 21st pct
Year 12 in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +20.3 pts higher in Northern Peninsula
28.1% 13th pct 48.4% 61st pct
Unemployment in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +7.2 pts higher in Cape York
23.8% 94th pct 16.6% 83rd pct
Median income in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +$148 higher in Northern Peninsula
$383 3rd pct $531 27th pct
Household income in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +$305 higher in Northern Peninsula
$909 1st pct $1,214 16th pct
Indigenous language in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +43.3 pts higher in Northern Peninsula
41.9% 100th pct 85.2% 100th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +0.8 larger in Northern Peninsula gap steady
2.7 71st pct 3.5 100th pct
One-parent in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +6.2 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
26.1% 98th pct 32.3% 100th pct
Living alone in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +10.5 pts higher in Cape York gap widening
30.9% 75th pct 20.4% 30th pct

Family composition

49.1% Couples with children +6.9 pts ▸ 56.0%
26.1% One-parent families +6.2 pts ▸ 32.3%
21.5% Couples without children ◂ +12.4 pts 9.1%
3.2% Other families ◂ +1.2 pts 2.0%

Household size

30.9% 1 person ◂ +10.5 pts 20.4%
28.5% 2 people ◂ +8.1 pts 20.4%
8.2% 6 or more +12.0 pts ▸ 20.2%
14.1% 3 people +1.0 pts ▸ 15.0%
11.6% 4 people +3.3 pts ▸ 14.9%
7.3% 5 people +2.6 pts ▸ 9.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +$10 higher in Cape York gap narrowing
$130 0th pct $120 0th pct
Mortgage in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +$14 higher in Northern Peninsula gap narrowing
$1,286 14th pct $1,300 14th pct
People / bedroom in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +0.20 higher in Northern Peninsula gap steady
1.10 95th pct 1.30 100th pct
Renting in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +38.6 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
51.9% 90th pct 90.6% 100th pct
Owned outright in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +22.0 pts higher in Cape York gap widening
24.6% 27th pct 2.7% 0th pct
Separate houses in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +6.9 pts higher in Cape York gap narrowing
85.1% 51st pct 78.2% 38th pct
3+ bedrooms in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +10.2 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
53.7% 12th pct 63.9% 20th pct

How homes are owned or rented

51.9% Rented +38.6 pts ▸ 90.6%
24.6% Owned outright ◂ +22.0 pts 2.7%
12.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +12.1 pts 0.4%
5.8% Other tenure ◂ +3.4 pts 2.4%
5.4% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 4.9%

Types of homes

85.1% Separate house ◂ +6.9 pts 78.2%
5.2% Townhouse / semi-detached +6.3 pts ▸ 11.5%
6.1% Other dwelling ◂ +0.6 pts 5.5%
2.0% Flat or apartment +0.6 pts ▸ 2.7%

Bedrooms per home

34.5% 3 bedrooms +4.1 pts ▸ 38.6%
24.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.1 pts 22.9%
16.0% 4 bedrooms +4.0 pts ▸ 20.1%
12.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +5.4 pts 6.9%
3.1% 5 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 5.2%
4.2% Studio / none ◂ +2.9 pts 1.3%

Weekly rent distribution

69.9% Under $200 +21.3 pts ▸ 91.2%
13.9% $200–$349 ◂ +9.5 pts 4.4%
6.1% $350–$549 ◂ +5.0 pts 1.1%
0.6% $750 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%
0.4% $550–$749 ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

33.1% $1,000–$1,799 +66.9 pts ▸ 100.0%
31.4% Under $1,000 ◂ +31.4 pts 0.0%
18.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +18.8 pts 0.0%
3.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.1 pts 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +6.2 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap narrowing
17.4% 90th pct 23.6% 95th pct
Work from home in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +5.2 pts higher in Cape York gap steady
7.1% 18th pct 1.9% 0th pct
PT commute in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.1 pts higher in Cape York gap steady
3.0% 66th pct 1.9% 50th pct
PT stops in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

48.7% Car (driver) ◂ +1.8 pts 47.0%
16.1% Walked +1.9 pts ▸ 18.0%
9.1% Car (passenger) +6.1 pts ▸ 15.2%
7.1% Worked at home ◂ +5.2 pts 1.9%
2.8% Bus ◂ +0.9 pts 1.9%
0.5% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

40.7% 1 vehicle +0.6 pts ▸ 41.3%
27.5% 2 vehicles ◂ +3.3 pts 24.2%
17.4% No vehicle +6.2 pts ▸ 23.6%
9.3% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.2 pts 6.1%
5.0% 4 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 4.7%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +7.0 pts higher in Cape York gap narrowing
27.3% 9th pct 20.3% 0th pct
Recent arrivals in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +20.3 pts higher in Cape York gap widening
20.3% 83rd pct 0.0% 0th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +2.2 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap narrowing
11.8% 100th pct 14.0% 100th pct
Participation in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +7.2 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap widening
46.4% 9th pct 53.7% 21st pct
Full-time in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.7 pts higher in Northern Peninsula gap narrowing
62.5% 76th pct 64.2% 84th pct

Industries people work in

13.4% Health care & social assistance +10.7 pts ▸ 24.1%
17.8% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.0 pts 16.8%
9.5% Education & training +7.0 pts ▸ 16.5%
10.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +10.2 pts 0.4%
9.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +3.9 pts 5.4%
6.6% Retail trade +2.5 pts ▸ 9.1%
7.9% Construction ◂ +0.8 pts 7.0%
3.9% Mining ◂ +1.5 pts 2.4%
3.1% Administrative & support +0.2 pts ▸ 3.3%
3.1% Other services ◂ +1.1 pts 2.0%
2.7% Arts & recreation ◂ +0.7 pts 2.0%
1.8% Transport & warehousing +0.6 pts ▸ 2.4%

Occupations people work in

13.8% Community & personal service +6.1 pts ▸ 20.0%
17.7% Professionals ◂ +0.1 pts 17.6%
14.9% Managers ◂ +5.5 pts 9.4%
14.3% Labourers ◂ +3.0 pts 11.2%
10.5% Clerical & administrative +2.7 pts ▸ 13.1%
10.6% Technicians & trades +0.7 pts ▸ 11.4%
8.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.0 pts 6.2%
5.2% Sales workers +0.9 pts ▸ 6.1%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
1 0th pct 1 0th pct
IRSD decile in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
1 0th pct 1 0th pct
IER decile in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
1 0th pct 1 0th pct
IEO decile in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
1 0th pct 1 0th pct
IRSAD score in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +42 higher in Cape York
834 1st pct 792 0th pct
ERP in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +5,571 higher in Cape York
8,515 40th pct 2,944 11th pct
Growth in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +4.4 pts higher in Cape York
6.5% 65th pct 2.0% 28th pct
Businesses in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +402 higher in Cape York
470 23rd pct 68 3rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +506 higher in Northern Peninsula
1,454 88th pct 1,960 100th pct
Max temp in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.5 higher in Cape York
32.7 99th pct 31.2 95th pct
Min temp in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +3.6 higher in Northern Peninsula
20.8 97th pct 24.3 100th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.7 higher in Northern Peninsula
1.5 8th pct 3.2 22nd pct
Types ≤15 min in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +2.4 more in Northern Peninsula
1.9 10th pct 4.2 34th pct
15-min city in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +33.6 pts higher in Northern Peninsula
16.2% 10th pct 49.9% 37th pct
Walk to shops in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +24.5 pts higher in Northern Peninsula
30.8% 21st pct 55.2% 43rd pct
Walk to transit in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +5.7 pts higher in Northern Peninsula
32.0% 18th pct 37.8% 22nd pct
Walk to a park in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +63.0 pts higher in Northern Peninsula
30.8% 7th pct 93.8% 42nd pct
Walk to health in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +20.0 pts higher in Northern Peninsula
19.4% 24th pct 39.4% 44th pct
Amenities/1k in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +15.9 more in Cape York
26.7 84th pct 10.8 29th pct
Intersections/km² in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula even
0 0th pct 0 3rd pct
Mean slope in Cape Yorkin Northern Peninsula +1.8 pts higher in Cape York
7.3% 75th pct 5.5% 53rd pct

Compare Cape York with nearby areas

Kowanyama - Pormpuraaw Aurukun Weipa Tablelands Daintree Port Douglas Northern Peninsula Torres

Compare Northern Peninsula with nearby areas

Torres Torres Strait Islands Weipa Aurukun Cape York Kowanyama - Pormpuraaw Nhulunbuy Daintree

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cape York vs Northern Peninsula [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/315011396/cape-york/vs/315011399/northern-peninsula