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Torres Strait Islands vs Nhulunbuy

Name: Torres Strait Islands vs Nhulunbuy — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 639 km apart · Torres Strait Islands profile · Nhulunbuy profile

Torres Strait Islands Nhulunbuy

Torres Strait Islands and Nhulunbuy are two small, remote populations separated by over 600 km. They differ sharply in their makeup and wealth. Torres Strait Islands has a far higher First Nations population at 90.6%, and 86.2% of residents use another language at home. In contrast, Nhulunbuy is far more affluent; its typical household income is $2,799 a week, compared to just $976 in Torres Strait Islands. Nhulunbuy also has a far higher share of university-qualified adults at 20.6%, while only 3.9% of adults in Torres Strait Islands hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Both areas sit near the national figure for Year 12 completion, with about 48% of residents finishing school. They also share similar weather and a lack of public transport. However, their trends are moving in different directions. The gap in weekly household income has widened since 2011, and the difference in the number of one-parent families has also grown. Meanwhile, the gap in the share of people born overseas has narrowed over the last decade.

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Where they differ most

First Nations: 81.4 pts higher in Torres Strait Islands Other language: 75.1 pts higher in Torres Strait Islands No religion: 28.8 pts higher in Nhulunbuy Personal income: $1,095 higher in Nhulunbuy Household income: $1,823 higher in Nhulunbuy

Demographics & Identity

Population in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +857 larger in Torres Strait Islands gap widening

4,124 17th pct 3,267 12th pct

Median age in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +6 yrs older in Nhulunbuy gap narrowing

27 yrs 0th pct 33 yrs 11th pct

Age structure

28.2% Young adults (25–44) +8.0 pts ▸ 36.2%

32.3% Children (0–14) ◂ +5.4 pts 27.0%

18.9% Older adults (45–64) +4.4 pts ▸ 23.3%

13.6% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.7 pts 9.9%

7.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.1 pts 3.9%

Marital status

69.3% Never married ◂ +26.3 pts 43.0%

22.4% Married +21.7 pts ▸ 44.1%

2.1% Divorced +5.6 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.5% Widowed ◂ +3.2 pts 1.3%

1.6% Separated +2.0 pts ▸ 3.6%

Age & sex structure

Torres Strait Islands Nhulunbuy

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

90.8% Australia ◂ +27.1 pts 63.6%

0.2% New Zealand +3.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.2% England +1.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.0% Philippines +1.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.0% South Africa +0.8 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.0% India +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%

0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

0.0% Italy even 0.0%

Ancestry

2.3% Australian +29.3 pts ▸ 31.6%

1.8% English +26.5 pts ▸ 28.3%

0.8% Scottish +7.6 pts ▸ 8.4%

0.4% Irish +7.8 pts ▸ 8.3%

0.4% German +3.2 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.2% Filipino +1.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.0% Italian +1.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.0% Chinese +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.0% Indian +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.0% Greek +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% Dutch +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

6.4% English only +59.9 pts ▸ 66.2%

0.0% Tagalog +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Arabic +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.0% Punjabi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Italian even 0.0%

0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

77.3% Christianity ◂ +44.8 pts 32.5%

12.2% No religion +28.8 pts ▸ 41.0%

10.3% Not stated +13.3 pts ▸ 23.6%

0.0% Islam +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Buddhism +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Hinduism +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Other religions +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.0% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy

— 3 43rd pct

Schools/1k kids in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy

— 3.41 74th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +1 more in Nhulunbuy

2 4th pct 3 6th pct

Students in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy

— 766 29th pct

Avg size in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy

— 255 27th pct

ICSEA in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy

— 950 19th pct

Highest year of school

47.7% Year 12 +0.6 pts ▸ 48.3%

17.1% Year 10 ◂ +1.2 pts 15.9%

15.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +11.8 pts 3.3%

11.4% Year 11 ◂ +3.0 pts 8.4%

Highest qualification level

43.6% Certificate III / IV ◂ +14.8 pts 28.8%

4.9% Bachelor degree +12.4 pts ▸ 17.3%

12.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +11.5 pts 1.3%

9.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.3 pts 9.0%

0.5% Postgraduate degree +5.3 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.0% Graduate diploma / certificate +2.3 pts ▸ 4.3%

Field of qualification

11.0% Engineering & related +5.2 pts ▸ 16.2%

15.7% Management & commerce ◂ +4.3 pts 11.4%

7.8% Health +4.5 pts ▸ 12.3%

11.0% Education ◂ +4.0 pts 7.0%

10.4% Architecture & building ◂ +4.9 pts 5.5%

9.5% Society & culture ◂ +2.6 pts 6.9%

4.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.0 pts 3.0%

2.8% Creative arts ◂ +1.6 pts 1.2%

2.6% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.7 pts 1.8%

0.3% Natural & physical sciences +1.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.2% Information technology +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

Income

Personal income in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +$1,095 higher in Nhulunbuy gap widening

$411 0th pct $1,506 99th pct

Household income in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +$1,823 higher in Nhulunbuy gap widening

$976 2nd pct $2,799 94th pct

Family income in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +$2,261 higher in Nhulunbuy gap widening

$923 0th pct $3,184 91st pct

Household income distribution

37.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +27.5 pts 10.4%

21.2% $1,500–$2,999 +13.3 pts ▸ 34.5%

27.4% Under $650 ◂ +25.1 pts 2.4%

1.8% $4,000 or more +18.3 pts ▸ 20.1%

3.2% $3,000–$3,999 +16.7 pts ▸ 19.9%

Personal income distribution

65.3% Under $650 ◂ +50.3 pts 15.0%

4.8% $1,500–$2,999 +26.2 pts ▸ 31.0%

20.1% $650–$1,499 +2.0 pts ▸ 22.1%

0.7% $3,000 or more +6.0 pts ▸ 6.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.9% Diabetes ◂ +7.2 pts 1.8%

3.6% Asthma +1.0 pts ▸ 4.6%

0.8% Mental health +3.4 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.0% Other condition +1.1 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.8% Heart disease ◂ +1.5 pts 1.3%

2.1% Arthritis ◂ +0.2 pts 1.9%

0.4% Cancer +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Lung condition +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

75.1% None ◂ +12.2 pts 62.8%

13.5% One condition ◂ +3.3 pts 10.3%

2.3% Two conditions ◂ +0.4 pts 1.9%

0.7% Three or more ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +3,436 larger in Torres Strait Islands

3,737 93rd pct 301 65th pct

Median age in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy even

26 yrs 64th pct 26 yrs 64th pct

Median income in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +$532 higher in Nhulunbuy

$406 6th pct $938 86th pct

Household income in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +$1,676 higher in Nhulunbuy

$963 4th pct $2,639 89th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +0.7 larger in Torres Strait Islands gap narrowing

3.5 100th pct 2.8 79th pct

Family composition

55.6% Couples with children +19.7 pts ▸ 75.3%

33.3% One-parent families ◂ +26.5 pts 6.8%

9.7% Couples without children +8.1 pts ▸ 17.7%

1.5% Other families ◂ +1.3 pts 0.2%

Household size

20.6% 2 people +6.2 pts ▸ 26.8%

14.0% 4 people +8.6 pts ▸ 22.6%

21.2% 1 person +0.1 pts ▸ 21.3%

19.1% 6 or more ◂ +16.1 pts 3.0%

14.4% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 15.4%

11.0% 5 people ◂ +1.7 pts 9.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +$20 higher in Torres Strait Islands gap narrowing

$130 0th pct $110 0th pct

Mortgage in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy

— $1,741 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy even gap narrowing

1.00 90th pct 1.00 90th pct

How homes are owned or rented

89.4% Rented ◂ +28.6 pts 60.8%

2.8% Other tenure +27.2 pts ▸ 30.0%

6.2% Owned outright ◂ +2.5 pts 3.7%

1.8% Not stated +1.8 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.3% Owned with a mortgage +2.3 pts ▸ 2.6%

Types of homes

94.3% Separate house ◂ +9.0 pts 85.2%

3.2% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.5 pts ▸ 7.6%

0.5% Flat or apartment +4.9 pts ▸ 5.4%

0.5% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

Bedrooms per home

30.7% 3 bedrooms +27.6 pts ▸ 58.3%

31.2% 4 bedrooms ◂ +13.5 pts 17.7%

22.6% 5 or more ◂ +21.7 pts 1.0%

12.1% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.4 pts 11.8%

1.9% 1 bedroom +4.3 pts ▸ 6.2%

0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

93.3% Under $200 ◂ +44.0 pts 49.3%

3.1% $200–$349 +8.7 pts ▸ 11.7%

0.0% $350–$549 +8.0 pts ▸ 8.0%

0.0% $550–$749 +4.7 pts ▸ 4.7%

0.0% $750 or more +2.0 pts ▸ 2.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

0.0% $1,800–$2,999 +22.7 pts ▸ 22.7%

0.0% Under $1,000 +13.6 pts ▸ 13.6%

0.0% $1,000–$1,799 +13.6 pts ▸ 13.6%

0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy even

0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy even

0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy even

0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy even

0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

25.0% Car (driver) +39.1 pts ▸ 64.1%

45.7% Walked ◂ +39.4 pts 6.3%

10.0% Car (passenger) ◂ +2.4 pts 7.7%

0.8% Bicycle +2.3 pts ▸ 3.1%

2.1% Worked at home +0.2 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.2% Bus +0.4 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

53.7% No vehicle ◂ +49.9 pts 3.8%

9.8% 2 vehicles +33.6 pts ▸ 43.5%

33.6% 1 vehicle +3.5 pts ▸ 37.0%

2.4% 3 vehicles +8.8 pts ▸ 11.2%

0.6% 4 or more +4.3 pts ▸ 4.9%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

34.1% Public administration & safety ◂ +23.6 pts 10.5%

20.6% Education & training ◂ +11.1 pts 9.5%

0.5% Mining +19.5 pts ▸ 20.0%

11.9% Health care & social assistance +8.1 pts ▸ 20.0%

8.9% Retail trade ◂ +2.6 pts 6.3%

4.9% Construction +1.0 pts ▸ 6.0%

2.7% Accommodation & food +2.7 pts ▸ 5.4%

1.7% Transport & warehousing +3.6 pts ▸ 5.2%

3.6% Arts & recreation ◂ +2.8 pts 0.8%

1.3% Manufacturing +2.3 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.0% Other services +2.8 pts ▸ 2.8%

2.1% Administrative & support even 2.0%

Occupations people work in

20.6% Professionals +3.4 pts ▸ 23.9%

18.0% Community & personal service ◂ +7.1 pts 10.9%

8.1% Technicians & trades +9.5 pts ▸ 17.6%

15.0% Labourers ◂ +8.1 pts 6.9%

11.7% Clerical & administrative +1.5 pts ▸ 13.3%

12.2% Managers ◂ +1.2 pts 11.0%

2.8% Machinery operators & drivers +6.5 pts ▸ 9.3%

8.1% Sales workers ◂ +3.2 pts 4.9%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +6 higher in Nhulunbuy

1 0th pct 7 64th pct

IRSD decile in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +8 higher in Nhulunbuy

1 0th pct 9 86th pct

IER decile in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +3 higher in Nhulunbuy

1 0th pct 4 36th pct

IEO decile in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +5 higher in Nhulunbuy

1 0th pct 6 57th pct

IRSAD score in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +265 higher in Nhulunbuy

777 0th pct 1,042 68th pct

ERP in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +492 higher in Torres Strait Islands

4,298 16th pct 3,806 14th pct

Growth in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +6.7 pts higher in Nhulunbuy

0.1% 12th pct 6.8% 67th pct

Businesses in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +117 higher in Nhulunbuy

68 3rd pct 185 8th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +53 higher in Torres Strait Islands

1,461 88th pct 1,409 87th pct

Max temp in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +0.6 higher in Nhulunbuy

31.2 95th pct 31.9 97th pct

Min temp in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +1.5 higher in Torres Strait Islands

25.3 100th pct 23.7 100th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +2.2 higher in Nhulunbuy

1.0 4th pct 3.2 22nd pct

Types ≤15 min in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +2.6 more in Nhulunbuy

1.2 5th pct 3.8 28th pct

15-min city in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +39.0 pts higher in Nhulunbuy

0.0% 0th pct 39.0% 28th pct

Walk to shops in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +23.3 pts higher in Nhulunbuy

15.5% 10th pct 38.9% 28th pct

Walk to transit in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy even

0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +51.5 pts higher in Nhulunbuy

0.0% 0th pct 51.5% 31st pct

Walk to a park in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +45.4 pts higher in Nhulunbuy

50.4% 14th pct 95.7% 46th pct

Walk to health in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +69.2 pts higher in Nhulunbuy

7.6% 15th pct 76.8% 74th pct

Amenities/1k in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +1.2 more in Torres Strait Islands

8.2 13th pct 7.0 8th pct

Intersections/km² in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +36 higher in Nhulunbuy

1 13th pct 38 36th pct

Mean slope in Torres Strait Islands in Nhulunbuy +1.3 pts higher in Torres Strait Islands

5.8% 58th pct 4.5% 35th pct

Compare Torres Strait Islands with nearby areas

Torres Northern Peninsula Weipa Aurukun Cape York Kowanyama - Pormpuraaw Nhulunbuy Daintree

Compare Nhulunbuy with nearby areas

East Arnhem Anindilyakwa West Arnhem Elsey Gulf Alligator Weipa Aurukun

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Torres Strait Islands vs Nhulunbuy [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/315011402/torres-strait-islands/vs/702041064/nhulunbuy