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Erub Island vs Mer Island

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 48 km apart · Erub Island profile · Mer Island profile

Erub Island Mer Island

Mer Island and Erub Island are two nearby Torres Strait communities with distinct social profiles. Mer Island has a higher share of people in de facto relationships (36.8%) and a typical weekly household income that is well higher than Erub Island's ($1,262 compared to $974). In contrast, Erub Island has far more one-parent families (34.7% versus 16.5%) and a higher proportion of people who have completed Year 12 (50.7% compared to 40.7%).

A gap that is clearly widening is the difference in unpaid care, with 19.2% of people providing unpaid care in Erub Island compared to 10.9% in Mer Island. Both areas are very similar in other ways, with nearly identical rates of First Nations language speakers (around 95%) and the same typical weekly rent of $150. They also share a similar employment landscape, as both have exactly 47.3% of their population in full-time work.

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Where they differ most

PT commute: 9.9 pts higher in Mer Island One-parent: 18.2 pts higher in Erub Island 3+ bedrooms: 16.1 pts higher in Erub Island Unpaid child care: 14.6 pts higher in Erub Island Unpaid carers: 8.4 pts higher in Erub Island

Demographics & Identity

Population in Erub Islandin Mer Island +80 larger in Mer Island gap widening
326 60th pct 406 62nd pct
Median age in Erub Islandin Mer Island +3 yrs older in Erub Island gap widening
30 yrs 5th pct 27 yrs 0th pct
First Nations in Erub Islandin Mer Island +1.1 pts higher in Mer Island gap steady
89.6% 100th pct 90.6% 100th pct
Aged 65+ in Erub Islandin Mer Island +1.2 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
8.9% 13th pct 10.1% 16th pct
Under 15 in Erub Islandin Mer Island +1.6 pts higher in Erub Island gap narrowing
27.9% 92nd pct 26.4% 90th pct
De facto in Erub Islandin Mer Island +14.3 pts higher in Mer Island gap widening
22.5% 91st pct 36.8% 100th pct

Age structure

29.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +3.5 pts 25.6%
27.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.6 pts 26.4%
10.4% Youth (15–24) +10.8 pts ▸ 21.2%
21.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.7 pts 20.4%
8.9% Seniors (65+) +1.2 pts ▸ 10.1%

Marital status

62.8% Never married +11.9 pts ▸ 74.7%
28.0% Married ◂ +10.9 pts 17.1%
5.4% Divorced ◂ +4.5 pts 1.0%
3.8% Widowed +1.2 pts ▸ 4.9%
0.0% Separated +3.0 pts ▸ 3.0%

Age & sex structure

Erub Island Mer Island

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Erub Islandin Mer Island +1.0 pts higher in Erub Island gap steady
2.5% 11th pct 1.5% 7th pct

Country of birth

90.5% Australia +2.1 pts ▸ 92.6%
0.0% England even 0.0%
0.0% India even 0.0%
0.0% China even 0.0%
0.0% New Zealand even 0.0%
0.0% Philippines even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%
0.0% Nepal even 0.0%
0.0% Italy even 0.0%
0.0% South Africa even 0.0%

Ancestry

2.1% English ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%
1.2% Australian even 1.2%
0.0% Scottish +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.0% Irish even 0.0%
0.0% Chinese even 0.0%
0.0% Italian even 0.0%
0.0% German even 0.0%
0.0% Indian even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Dutch even 0.0%
0.0% Filipino even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Erub Islandin Mer Island +2.7 pts higher in Mer Island gap widening
85.3% 100th pct 87.9% 100th pct
Limited English in Erub Islandin Mer Island +4.0 pts higher in Mer Island gap widening
17.2% 100th pct 21.2% 100th pct

Language used at home

7.1% English only ◂ +0.7 pts 6.4%
0.0% Mandarin even 0.0%
0.0% Arabic even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%
0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%
0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Italian even 0.0%
0.0% Hindi even 0.0%
0.0% Tagalog even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.9 pts higher in Erub Island gap narrowing
11.0% 1st pct 10.1% 0th pct

Religious affiliation

80.7% Christianity +4.1 pts ▸ 84.7%
11.0% No religion ◂ +0.9 pts 10.1%
8.6% Not stated ◂ +3.2 pts 5.4%
0.0% Islam even 0.0%
0.0% Hinduism even 0.0%
0.0% Buddhism even 0.0%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%
0.0% Other religions even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Erub Islandin Mer Island +10.0 pts higher in Erub Island gap widening
50.7% 63rd pct 40.7% 38th pct
Bachelor+ in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.9 pts higher in Erub Island gap narrowing
5.9% 14th pct 4.9% 12th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Highest year of school

50.7% Year 12 ◂ +10.0 pts 40.7%
12.9% Year 10 +7.8 pts ▸ 20.7%
16.9% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.0 pts 14.9%
9.3% Year 11 +5.2 pts ▸ 14.6%

Highest qualification level

41.5% Certificate III / IV +2.4 pts ▸ 43.9%
21.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +13.8 pts 7.3%
7.5% Bachelor degree +0.6 pts ▸ 8.1%
5.4% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.9 pts ▸ 7.3%
2.0% Graduate diploma / certificate +2.0 pts ▸ 4.1%
0.0% Postgraduate degree even 0.0%

Field of qualification

15.6% Management & commerce ◂ +0.2 pts 15.4%
12.2% Education +0.8 pts ▸ 13.0%
11.6% Engineering & related ◂ +1.0 pts 10.6%
10.9% Health ◂ +4.4 pts 6.5%
8.2% Architecture & building even 8.1%
8.2% Society & culture ◂ +0.8 pts 7.3%
0.0% Food, hospitality & personal services +6.5 pts ▸ 6.5%
4.8% Creative arts +0.1 pts ▸ 4.9%
4.8% Agriculture & environment ◂ +4.8 pts 0.0%
0.0% Natural & physical sciences even 0.0%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Erub Islandin Mer Island +$50 higher in Erub Island gap widening
$401 4th pct $351 0th pct
Household income in Erub Islandin Mer Island +$288 higher in Mer Island gap widening
$974 12th pct $1,262 29th pct
Family income in Erub Islandin Mer Island +$92 higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
$814 1st pct $906 4th pct
High earners in Erub Islandin Mer Island +2.0 pts higher in Mer Island gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 2.0% 20th pct
High-income homes in Erub Islandin Mer Island even gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Household income distribution

37.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.5 pts 31.0%
22.5% $1,500–$2,999 +13.1 pts ▸ 35.6%
25.0% Under $650 ◂ +6.6 pts 18.4%
0.0% $3,000–$3,999 even 0.0%
0.0% $4,000 or more even 0.0%

Personal income distribution

70.7% Under $650 +4.6 pts ▸ 75.3%
16.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.8 pts 13.5%
2.5% $1,500–$2,999 +0.5 pts ▸ 3.0%
0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Erub Islandin Mer Island +3.3 pts higher in Mer Island
15.6% 8th pct 19.0% 12th pct
Mental health in Erub Islandin Mer Island +1.2 pts higher in Mer Island
0.0% 0th pct 1.2% 7th pct
Needs assistance in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.4 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
4.3% 46th pct 4.7% 51st pct

Long-term health conditions reported

4.9% Diabetes +7.2 pts ▸ 12.1%
4.3% Heart disease ◂ +1.8 pts 2.5%
4.0% Asthma even 3.9%
2.1% Arthritis +1.8 pts ▸ 3.9%
1.8% Other condition +1.1 pts ▸ 3.0%
1.5% Cancer ◂ +1.5 pts 0.0%
0.0% Mental health +1.2 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.0% Dementia even 0.0%
0.0% Lung condition even 0.0%
0.0% Stroke even 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

76.4% None ◂ +2.2 pts 74.1%
14.1% One condition +1.7 pts ▸ 15.8%
1.2% Two conditions +2.7 pts ▸ 3.9%
0.0% Three or more even 0.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Erub Islandin Mer Island +12.7 pts higher in Erub Island gap widening
19.2% 56th pct 6.6% 7th pct
Unpaid carers in Erub Islandin Mer Island +8.4 pts higher in Erub Island gap narrowing
19.2% 89th pct 10.9% 31st pct
Unpaid child care in Erub Islandin Mer Island +14.6 pts higher in Erub Island gap widening
40.6% 94th pct 26.0% 54th pct
Defence service in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.4 pts higher in Erub Island
7.9% 91st pct 7.5% 90th pct
Housework 15h+ in Erub Islandin Mer Island +7.4 pts higher in Erub Island gap widening
10.0% 7th pct 2.6% 0th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Erub Islandin Mer Island +76 larger in Mer Island
292 86th pct 368 86th pct
Median age in Erub Islandin Mer Island +1 yrs older in Erub Island
28 yrs 57th pct 27 yrs 54th pct
Year 12 in Erub Islandin Mer Island +11.6 pts higher in Erub Island
53.7% 77th pct 42.1% 55th pct
Unemployment in Erub Islandin Mer Island +1.8 pts higher in Mer Island
7.1% 35th pct 8.9% 43rd pct
Median income in Erub Islandin Mer Island +$40 higher in Erub Island
$387 14th pct $347 11th pct
Household income in Erub Islandin Mer Island +$362 higher in Mer Island
$900 14th pct $1,262 29th pct
Indigenous language in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
94.9% 100th pct 94.8% 100th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.4 larger in Mer Island gap narrowing
3.5 95th pct 3.9 100th pct
One-parent in Erub Islandin Mer Island +18.2 pts higher in Erub Island gap widening
34.7% 100th pct 16.5% 77th pct
Living alone in Erub Islandin Mer Island +10.2 pts higher in Erub Island gap steady
26.3% 59th pct 16.1% 23rd pct

Family composition

48.9% Couples with children +15.0 pts ▸ 63.9%
34.7% One-parent families ◂ +18.2 pts 16.5%
10.8% Couples without children +4.2 pts ▸ 15.0%
3.4% Other families ◂ +0.9 pts 2.4%

Household size

30.0% 6 or more ◂ +2.4 pts 27.6%
26.3% 1 person ◂ +10.2 pts 16.1%
25.0% 2 people ◂ +7.8 pts 17.2%
11.3% 4 people ◂ +5.5 pts 5.7%
7.5% 3 people +2.8 pts ▸ 10.3%
7.5% 5 people +1.7 pts ▸ 9.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Erub Islandin Mer Island even gap narrowing
$150 14th pct $150 14th pct
Mortgage in Erub Islandin Mer Island
— $1,084 18th pct
People / bedroom in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.30 higher in Mer Island gap widening
0.80 43rd pct 1.10 93rd pct
Renting in Erub Islandin Mer Island +4.5 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
87.5% 100th pct 92.0% 100th pct
Owned outright in Erub Islandin Mer Island +7.5 pts higher in Erub Island gap narrowing
7.5% 1st pct 0.0% 0th pct
Separate houses in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.5 pts higher in Erub Island gap narrowing
92.5% 38th pct 92.0% 37th pct
3+ bedrooms in Erub Islandin Mer Island +16.1 pts higher in Erub Island gap widening
100.0% 100th pct 83.9% 62nd pct

How homes are owned or rented

87.5% Rented +4.5 pts ▸ 92.0%
7.5% Owned outright ◂ +7.5 pts 0.0%
3.8% Other tenure +3.1 pts ▸ 6.9%
0.0% Owned with a mortgage even 0.0%
0.0% Not stated even 0.0%

Types of homes

92.5% Separate house ◂ +0.5 pts 92.0%
0.0% Townhouse / semi-detached even 0.0%
0.0% Flat or apartment even 0.0%
0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

30.0% 4 bedrooms +7.9 pts ▸ 37.9%
37.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +16.8 pts 20.7%
33.8% 5 or more ◂ +8.5 pts 25.3%
7.5% 2 bedrooms +5.1 pts ▸ 12.6%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%
0.0% 1 bedroom even 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

101.4% Under $200 ◂ +8.9 pts 92.5%
0.0% $200–$349 even 0.0%
0.0% $350–$549 even 0.0%
0.0% $550–$749 even 0.0%
0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Erub Islandin Mer Island +5.7 pts higher in Mer Island gap widening
42.5% 100th pct 48.2% 100th pct
Work from home in Erub Islandin Mer Island +6.6 pts higher in Erub Island gap widening
6.6% 14th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT commute in Erub Islandin Mer Island +9.9 pts higher in Mer Island gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 9.9% 100th pct
PT stops in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

33.0% Car (driver) ◂ +1.1 pts 31.9%
28.6% Walked +2.2 pts ▸ 30.8%
15.4% Car (passenger) +7.7 pts ▸ 23.1%
0.0% Bus +9.9 pts ▸ 9.9%
6.6% Worked at home ◂ +6.6 pts 0.0%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

42.5% No vehicle +5.7 pts ▸ 48.2%
35.0% 1 vehicle +6.0 pts ▸ 41.0%
13.8% 2 vehicles +0.7 pts ▸ 14.5%
0.0% 3 vehicles even 0.0%
0.0% 4 or more even 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Erub Islandin Mer Island +7.2 pts higher in Mer Island gap steady
15.7% 10th pct 22.8% 23rd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Erub Islandin Mer Island +1.7 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
6.2% 78th pct 7.9% 87th pct
Participation in Erub Islandin Mer Island +7.4 pts higher in Erub Island gap widening
40.6% 10th pct 33.2% 4th pct
Full-time in Erub Islandin Mer Island even gap narrowing
47.3% 11th pct 47.3% 11th pct

Industries people work in

31.9% Public administration & safety +9.9 pts ▸ 41.8%
16.5% Education & training even 16.5%
3.3% Retail trade +11.0 pts ▸ 14.3%
14.3% Arts & recreation ◂ +14.3 pts 0.0%
8.8% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.2 pts 6.6%
4.4% Administrative & support +3.3 pts ▸ 7.7%
6.6% Manufacturing ◂ +6.6 pts 0.0%
0.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +5.5 pts ▸ 5.5%
0.0% Construction +4.4 pts ▸ 4.4%
4.4% Accommodation & food ◂ +4.4 pts 0.0%
3.3% Electricity, gas & water even 3.3%
0.0% Mining even 0.0%

Occupations people work in

29.7% Professionals ◂ +5.5 pts 24.2%
19.8% Managers ◂ +12.1 pts 7.7%
15.4% Community & personal service +1.1 pts ▸ 16.5%
4.4% Clerical & administrative +12.1 pts ▸ 16.5%
13.2% Labourers +3.3 pts ▸ 16.5%
4.4% Technicians & trades +6.6 pts ▸ 11.0%
7.7% Sales workers +1.1 pts ▸ 8.8%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers even 0.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.5 higher in Erub Island
0.5 51st pct 0.0 0th pct
Types ≤15 min in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.7 more in Erub Island
0.7 56th pct 0.0 0th pct
15-min city in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Erub Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to a park in Erub Islandin Mer Island +0.5 pts higher in Erub Island
0.5% 31st pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to health in Erub Islandin Mer Island +36.4 pts higher in Erub Island
36.4% 81st pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Erub Islandin Mer Island +5.5 more in Erub Island
15.3 54th pct 9.9 41st pct
Intersections/km² in Erub Islandin Mer Island +3 higher in Mer Island
4 65th pct 7 72nd pct
Mean slope in Erub Islandin Mer Island +3.5 pts higher in Erub Island
14.6% 91st pct 11.1% 86th pct

Compare Erub Island with nearby areas

Ugar Island Masig Island Mer Island Dowar Islet Waua Islet Poruma Island Iama Island Burrar Islet

Compare Mer Island with nearby areas

Waua Islet Dowar Islet Erub Island Ugar Island Masig Island Poruma Island Burrar Islet Warraber Islet

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Erub Island vs Mer Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL30983/erub-island/vs/SAL31806/mer-island