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Mount Isa vs Northern Highlands

Name: Mount Isa vs Northern Highlands — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 314 km apart · Mount Isa profile · Northern Highlands profile

Mount Isa Northern Highlands

Mount Isa and Northern Highlands are two distinct Queensland regions with very different profiles. Mount Isa is a larger hub where 21.4% of the population is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, compared to 8.4% in Northern Highlands. It also has a higher proportion of people born overseas (16.5% versus 5.0%) and those with no religion (40.9% versus 27.7%). In terms of wealth, Mount Isa is far more likely to have households earning $3,000 or more a week (29.9% compared to 14.6%), which is consistent with its higher rent and mortgage payments.

Both areas sit at a similar level of overall advantage, with an advantage score of 956 in Mount Isa and 961 in Northern Highlands, both of which are just below the national average. While they share a similar climate and a low rate of English language challenges, the gap in housing has widened; Northern Highlands has a much higher share of homes owned outright (39.8% versus 16.2%). Meanwhile, the gap in remote work has also grown, with 23.7% of people in Northern Highlands working from home compared to just 2.0% in Mount Isa.

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Where they differ most

Owned outright: 23.5 pts higher in Northern Highlands Work from home: 21.7 pts higher in Northern Highlands Population: 15,222 larger in Mount Isa Renting: 18.0 pts higher in Mount Isa People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Mount Isa

Demographics & Identity

Population in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +15,222 larger in Mount Isa gap steady

18,317 87th pct 3,095 12th pct

Median age in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +7 yrs older in Northern Highlands gap narrowing

31 yrs 6th pct 38 yrs 43rd pct

Age structure

32.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +5.5 pts 26.7%

22.4% Older adults (45–64) +4.1 pts ▸ 26.5%

23.6% Children (0–14) ◂ +4.9 pts 18.7%

8.1% Seniors (65+) +9.0 pts ▸ 17.1%

13.6% Youth (15–24) ◂ +2.9 pts 10.7%

Marital status

48.6% Never married ◂ +13.4 pts 35.2%

37.1% Married +10.0 pts ▸ 47.1%

7.5% Divorced +1.1 pts ▸ 8.6%

3.4% Widowed +2.7 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.4% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Mount Isa Northern Highlands

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

74.1% Australia +5.4 pts ▸ 79.5%

4.3% New Zealand ◂ +3.2 pts 1.1%

2.7% Philippines ◂ +2.5 pts 0.2%

1.2% England ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

1.1% South Africa ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

0.8% India ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

0.2% China ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.2% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.1% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

33.4% Australian +7.1 pts ▸ 40.5%

28.5% English +8.1 pts ▸ 36.5%

8.9% Irish +3.0 pts ▸ 11.9%

7.2% Scottish +3.2 pts ▸ 10.4%

4.4% German +0.5 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.9% Filipino ◂ +3.5 pts 0.3%

2.6% Italian ◂ +0.5 pts 2.1%

1.4% Chinese ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

1.1% Dutch ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

0.9% Indian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

0.3% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Language

Language used at home

80.4% English only +2.5 pts ▸ 82.9%

1.0% Tagalog ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

0.3% Mandarin ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% Punjabi ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.2% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

45.7% Christianity +8.9 pts ▸ 54.6%

40.9% No religion ◂ +13.2 pts 27.7%

11.1% Not stated +5.5 pts ▸ 16.6%

0.6% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.6% Other religions ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.6% Buddhism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.4% Islam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +7 more in Mount Isa

13 92nd pct 6 71st pct

Schools/1k kids in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +7.36 more in Northern Highlands

3.00 69th pct 10.36 100th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +7 more in Mount Isa

13 34th pct 6 12th pct

Students in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +3,304 more in Mount Isa

3,623 86th pct 319 10th pct

Avg size in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +226 larger in Mount Isa

279 29th pct 53 1st pct

ICSEA in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +21 higher in Northern Highlands

890 8th pct 911 11th pct

Highest year of school

49.7% Year 12 ◂ +10.5 pts 39.2%

21.4% Year 10 +3.5 pts ▸ 24.9%

9.5% Year 9 or below +2.8 pts ▸ 12.3%

7.5% Year 11 ◂ +2.0 pts 5.6%

Highest qualification level

39.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +6.7 pts 32.4%

17.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.0 pts 13.5%

9.9% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.3 pts ▸ 10.3%

4.4% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.4 pts 2.0%

2.6% Certificate I / II even 2.6%

2.6% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.2 pts 1.4%

Field of qualification

24.7% Engineering & related ◂ +10.0 pts 14.7%

11.7% Management & commerce ◂ +2.1 pts 9.6%

9.8% Health ◂ +1.1 pts 8.8%

8.8% Society & culture ◂ +1.1 pts 7.7%

1.2% Agriculture & environment +6.8 pts ▸ 8.0%

7.8% Education ◂ +0.5 pts 7.3%

4.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.9 pts 2.7%

4.0% Architecture & building +0.1 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.6% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 0.8%

1.1% Information technology ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

1.0% Creative arts even 1.0%

Income

Personal income in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +$244 higher in Mount Isa gap narrowing

$1,158 88th pct $914 69th pct

Household income in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +$734 higher in Mount Isa gap narrowing

$2,236 80th pct $1,502 35th pct

Family income in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +$723 higher in Mount Isa gap narrowing

$2,652 80th pct $1,929 40th pct

Household income distribution

31.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.1 pts 28.8%

17.2% $650–$1,499 +9.5 pts ▸ 26.7%

11.1% Under $650 +5.1 pts ▸ 16.3%

15.0% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +7.1 pts 7.9%

14.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +8.1 pts 6.7%

Personal income distribution

25.9% $650–$1,499 +9.1 pts ▸ 34.9%

29.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +14.5 pts 14.7%

28.2% Under $650 ◂ +0.6 pts 27.6%

5.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 3.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.0% Asthma +0.9 pts ▸ 8.0%

4.4% Arthritis +2.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

5.5% Mental health ◂ +0.7 pts 4.8%

5.3% Other condition ◂ +0.4 pts 4.9%

4.7% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 4.4%

3.0% Heart disease +1.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

1.5% Cancer +1.0 pts ▸ 2.6%

1.2% Lung condition +0.5 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.5% Stroke +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.4% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

66.5% None ◂ +9.5 pts 57.0%

14.8% One condition +1.9 pts ▸ 16.7%

4.0% Two conditions +0.9 pts ▸ 5.0%

1.8% Three or more +0.5 pts ▸ 2.3%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +3,659 larger in Mount Isa

3,919 94th pct 260 61st pct

Median age in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +5 yrs older in Northern Highlands

24 yrs 43rd pct 29 yrs 81st pct

Median income in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +$82 higher in Northern Highlands

$556 33rd pct $638 50th pct

Household income in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +$189 higher in Mount Isa

$1,549 41st pct $1,360 27th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +0.2 larger in Mount Isa gap narrowing

2.6 57th pct 2.4 36th pct

Family composition

57.5% Couples with children ◂ +2.8 pts 54.7%

22.2% Couples without children +11.0 pts ▸ 33.2%

18.9% One-parent families ◂ +7.3 pts 11.6%

1.4% Other families ◂ +0.8 pts 0.6%

Household size

30.8% 2 people +3.3 pts ▸ 34.1%

28.1% 1 person +4.3 pts ▸ 32.5%

14.7% 3 people ◂ +4.2 pts 10.5%

14.3% 4 people ◂ +2.1 pts 12.2%

7.2% 5 people ◂ +0.2 pts 7.0%

4.9% 6 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 3.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +$125 higher in Mount Isa gap narrowing

$275 21st pct $150 0th pct

Mortgage in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +$831 higher in Mount Isa gap narrowing

$1,546 30th pct $715 0th pct

People / bedroom in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +0.10 higher in Mount Isa gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

45.6% Rented ◂ +18.0 pts 27.6%

16.2% Owned outright +23.5 pts ▸ 39.8%

30.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +9.9 pts 20.1%

3.7% Other tenure +6.5 pts ▸ 10.2%

4.4% Not stated ◂ +1.4 pts 3.0%

Types of homes

75.1% Separate house +4.3 pts ▸ 79.3%

15.9% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +7.5 pts 8.4%

4.2% Flat or apartment ◂ +3.9 pts 0.3%

4.1% Other dwelling ◂ +3.2 pts 1.0%

Bedrooms per home

47.8% 3 bedrooms ◂ +6.4 pts 41.3%

19.4% 4 bedrooms +0.8 pts ▸ 20.2%

16.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.3 pts 16.5%

4.2% 5 or more +7.8 pts ▸ 12.0%

6.9% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.1 pts 6.7%

0.4% Studio / none +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

Weekly rent distribution

28.8% Under $200 +31.6 pts ▸ 60.4%

31.3% $200–$349 ◂ +11.5 pts 19.8%

29.4% $350–$549 ◂ +28.4 pts 1.1%

4.9% $550–$749 ◂ +4.9 pts 0.0%

0.5% $750 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

17.0% Under $1,000 +37.4 pts ▸ 54.4%

41.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +21.7 pts 19.4%

27.4% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +19.1 pts 8.3%

6.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 5.8%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

70.5% Car (driver) ◂ +24.2 pts 46.3%

2.0% Worked at home +21.7 pts ▸ 23.7%

4.2% Walked +8.3 pts ▸ 12.5%

7.7% Car (passenger) ◂ +4.8 pts 2.9%

0.8% Bicycle ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

0.2% Bus +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.1% 2 vehicles ◂ +6.8 pts 32.3%

34.1% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.7 pts 32.4%

6.5% 4 or more +9.3 pts ▸ 15.8%

12.6% 3 vehicles +1.6 pts ▸ 14.2%

7.6% No vehicle ◂ +2.5 pts 5.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

0.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +37.0 pts ▸ 37.2%

30.5% Mining ◂ +28.3 pts 2.3%

6.8% Public administration & safety +7.2 pts ▸ 14.0%

12.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +7.9 pts 4.8%

8.4% Education & training ◂ +2.4 pts 6.1%

7.5% Retail trade ◂ +1.5 pts 6.0%

4.2% Construction +2.7 pts ▸ 6.8%

6.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.6 pts 4.4%

3.3% Transport & warehousing +1.5 pts ▸ 4.8%

4.0% Other services ◂ +2.0 pts 2.1%

2.9% Manufacturing ◂ +1.6 pts 1.3%

2.7% Administrative & support ◂ +1.8 pts 0.9%

Occupations people work in

7.6% Managers +20.3 pts ▸ 27.9%

21.0% Technicians & trades ◂ +10.1 pts 10.8%

8.9% Labourers +10.5 pts ▸ 19.4%

17.3% Professionals ◂ +8.6 pts 8.7%

15.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +5.9 pts 9.4%

11.0% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.4 pts 8.6%

10.2% Community & personal service ◂ +3.3 pts 6.9%

6.5% Sales workers ◂ +1.8 pts 4.7%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

4 36th pct 4 36th pct

IRSD decile in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

4 36th pct 4 36th pct

IER decile in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +3 higher in Northern Highlands

2 14th pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

3 29th pct 3 29th pct

IRSAD score in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +5 higher in Northern Highlands

956 32nd pct 961 35th pct

ERP in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +14,979 higher in Mount Isa

18,162 82nd pct 3,183 11th pct

Growth in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +5.1 pts higher in Northern Highlands

-3.4% 0th pct 1.8% 26th pct

Businesses in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +96 higher in Mount Isa

978 54th pct 882 48th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +49 higher in Northern Highlands

459 9th pct 508 11th pct

Max temp in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +1.4 higher in Northern Highlands

33.5 100th pct 34.8 100th pct

Min temp in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +1.4 higher in Mount Isa

18.6 92nd pct 17.3 89th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +0.1 higher in Mount Isa

2.7 17th pct 2.6 17th pct

Types ≤15 min in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

3.0 20th pct 3.0 20th pct

15-min city in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +14.1 pts higher in Northern Highlands

23.7% 16th pct 37.8% 27th pct

Walk to shops in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +14.2 pts higher in Northern Highlands

26.5% 18th pct 40.7% 30th pct

Walk to transit in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands even

0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +41.4 pts higher in Mount Isa

82.4% 58th pct 41.0% 24th pct

Walk to a park in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +43.3 pts higher in Mount Isa

92.9% 41st pct 49.6% 14th pct

Walk to health in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +18.1 pts higher in Northern Highlands

22.4% 27th pct 40.5% 45th pct

Amenities/1k in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +37.4 more in Northern Highlands

5.6 1st pct 43.0 86th pct

Intersections/km² in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +27 higher in Mount Isa

27 32nd pct 0 0th pct

Mean slope in Mount Isa in Northern Highlands +1.1 pts higher in Mount Isa

3.8% 23rd pct 2.7% 5th pct

Compare Mount Isa with nearby areas

Mount Isa Surrounds Carpentaria Northern Highlands Far Central West Barkly Croydon - Etheridge Sandover - Plenty Longreach

Compare Northern Highlands with nearby areas

Croydon - Etheridge Mount Isa Dalrymple Longreach Mount Isa Surrounds Charters Towers Herberton Far Central West

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Mount Isa vs Northern Highlands [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/315021405/mount-isa/vs/315021407/northern-highlands