CensusAtlas

Compare

Masig Island vs Mer Island

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 73 km apart · Masig Island profile · Mer Island profile

Masig Island Mer Island

Mer Island and Masig Island are two residential areas in the Torres Strait, though they differ significantly in their social and economic makeup. Masig Island has a much younger population, with 37.5% children under 15 compared to 26.4% on Mer Island. Household structures also vary; Masig Island has a far higher share of one-parent families (37.8% versus 16.5%) and people living alone (31.0% versus 16.1%). Employment and income patterns differ too, with Masig Island seeing a far higher rate of full-time employment (62.7% versus 47.3%), while Mer Island has a well higher typical weekly household income of $1,262 compared to $949 on Masig Island.

Both islands are very similar in other ways, such as having a typical weekly rent of $150. They share a strong cultural identity, with about 88% of residents in both areas using a language other than English at home. This shared experience is reflected in their similar family incomes, which sit around $900 to $950 a week. Across both locations, there is no access to public transport or walkable amenities within a 15-minute distance.

Open map →

Where they differ most

PT commute: 9.9 pts higher in Mer Island Housework 15h+: 22.4 pts higher in Masig Island One-parent: 21.3 pts higher in Masig Island Volunteering: 17.3 pts higher in Masig Island Separate houses: 8.0 pts higher in Masig Island

Demographics & Identity

Population in Masig Islandin Mer Island +123 larger in Mer Island gap steady
283 59th pct 406 62nd pct
Median age in Masig Islandin Mer Island +1 yrs older in Masig Island gap steady
28 yrs 2nd pct 27 yrs 0th pct
First Nations in Masig Islandin Mer Island +1.9 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
88.7% 100th pct 90.6% 100th pct
Aged 65+ in Masig Islandin Mer Island +4.1 pts higher in Mer Island gap widening
6.0% 9th pct 10.1% 16th pct
Under 15 in Masig Islandin Mer Island +11.1 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
37.5% 100th pct 26.4% 90th pct
De facto in Masig Islandin Mer Island +6.2 pts higher in Mer Island gap steady
30.5% 100th pct 36.8% 100th pct

Age structure

37.5% Children (0–14) ◂ +11.1 pts 26.4%
31.1% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +5.5 pts 25.6%
8.8% Youth (15–24) +12.3 pts ▸ 21.2%
19.8% Older adults (45–64) +0.7 pts ▸ 20.4%
6.0% Seniors (65+) +4.1 pts ▸ 10.1%

Marital status

75.0% Never married ◂ +0.3 pts 74.7%
14.7% Married +2.4 pts ▸ 17.1%
4.3% Widowed +0.6 pts ▸ 4.9%
3.3% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%
1.6% Divorced ◂ +0.6 pts 1.0%

Age & sex structure

Masig Island Mer Island

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Masig Islandin Mer Island +1.7 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
3.2% 15th pct 1.5% 7th pct

Country of birth

90.1% Australia +2.5 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

2.8% English ◂ +2.8 pts 0.0%
2.5% Filipino ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%
2.1% Scottish ◂ +1.4 pts 0.7%
1.1% Australian +0.2 pts ▸ 1.2%
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% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Masig Islandin Mer Island +0.3 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
87.6% 100th pct 87.9% 100th pct
Limited English in Masig Islandin Mer Island +1.8 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
23.0% 100th pct 21.2% 100th pct

Language used at home

4.9% English only +1.5 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 Masig Islandin Mer Island +7.6 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
17.7% 7th pct 10.1% 0th pct

Religious affiliation

75.3% Christianity +9.5 pts ▸ 84.7%
17.7% No religion ◂ +7.6 pts 10.1%
4.9% Not stated +0.5 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 Masig Islandin Mer Island +7.6 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
48.3% 58th pct 40.7% 38th pct
Bachelor+ in Masig Islandin Mer Island +1.0 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
6.0% 14th pct 4.9% 12th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Highest year of school

48.3% Year 12 ◂ +7.6 pts 40.7%
17.8% Year 10 +2.9 pts ▸ 20.7%
12.6% Year 9 or below +2.3 pts ▸ 14.9%
11.5% Year 11 +3.1 pts ▸ 14.6%

Highest qualification level

41.7% Certificate III / IV +2.2 pts ▸ 43.9%
16.7% Certificate I / II ◂ +9.3 pts 7.3%
6.3% Bachelor degree +1.9 pts ▸ 8.1%
7.3% Advanced diploma / diploma even 7.3%
5.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.1 pts 4.1%
0.0% Postgraduate degree even 0.0%

Field of qualification

15.6% Engineering & related ◂ +5.1 pts 10.6%
15.6% Architecture & building ◂ +7.5 pts 8.1%
15.6% Management & commerce ◂ +0.2 pts 15.4%
15.6% Society & culture ◂ +8.3 pts 7.3%
12.5% Education +0.5 pts ▸ 13.0%
5.2% Health +1.3 pts ▸ 6.5%
4.2% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.3 pts ▸ 6.5%
0.0% Creative arts +4.9 pts ▸ 4.9%
3.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +3.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Natural & physical sciences even 0.0%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Masig Islandin Mer Island +$72 higher in Masig Island gap widening
$423 6th pct $351 0th pct
Household income in Masig Islandin Mer Island +$313 higher in Mer Island gap widening
$949 11th pct $1,262 29th pct
Family income in Masig Islandin Mer Island +$49 higher in Masig Island gap steady
$955 5th pct $906 4th pct
High earners in Masig Islandin Mer Island +0.7 pts higher in Masig Island gap steady
2.7% 23rd pct 2.0% 20th pct
High-income homes in Masig Islandin Mer Island +4.2 pts higher in Masig Island gap steady
4.2% 13th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Household income distribution

49.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +18.3 pts 31.0%
19.7% $1,500–$2,999 +15.9 pts ▸ 35.6%
31.0% Under $650 ◂ +12.6 pts 18.4%
4.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +4.2 pts 0.0%
0.0% $4,000 or more even 0.0%

Personal income distribution

73.4% Under $650 +2.0 pts ▸ 75.3%
13.0% $650–$1,499 +0.4 pts ▸ 13.5%
2.7% $1,500–$2,999 +0.2 pts ▸ 3.0%
0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Masig Islandin Mer Island +2.7 pts higher in Mer Island
16.3% 9th pct 19.0% 12th pct
Mental health in Masig Islandin Mer Island +0.5 pts higher in Masig Island
1.8% 10th pct 1.2% 7th pct
Needs assistance in Masig Islandin Mer Island +0.4 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
4.2% 45th pct 4.7% 51st pct

Long-term health conditions reported

8.1% Diabetes +3.9 pts ▸ 12.1%
4.6% Asthma ◂ +0.7 pts 3.9%
2.5% Arthritis +1.5 pts ▸ 3.9%
3.9% Other condition ◂ +0.9 pts 3.0%
2.8% Heart disease ◂ +0.4 pts 2.5%
1.8% Mental health ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%
0.0% Cancer even 0.0%
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

75.3% None ◂ +1.1 pts 74.1%
15.2% One condition +0.6 pts ▸ 15.8%
1.4% Two conditions +2.5 pts ▸ 3.9%
0.0% Three or more even 0.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Masig Islandin Mer Island +17.3 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
23.9% 73rd pct 6.6% 7th pct
Unpaid carers in Masig Islandin Mer Island +5.4 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
16.3% 80th pct 10.9% 31st pct
Unpaid child care in Masig Islandin Mer Island +9.3 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
35.3% 88th pct 26.0% 54th pct
Defence service in Masig Islandin Mer Island +5.8 pts higher in Masig Island
13.3% 100th pct 7.5% 90th pct
Housework 15h+ in Masig Islandin Mer Island +22.4 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
25.0% 55th pct 2.6% 0th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Masig Islandin Mer Island +117 larger in Mer Island
251 86th pct 368 86th pct
Median age in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
27 yrs 54th pct 27 yrs 54th pct
Year 12 in Masig Islandin Mer Island +10.2 pts higher in Masig Island
52.3% 75th pct 42.1% 55th pct
Unemployment in Masig Islandin Mer Island +7.8 pts higher in Masig Island
16.7% 76th pct 8.9% 43rd pct
Median income in Masig Islandin Mer Island +$74 higher in Masig Island
$421 20th pct $347 11th pct
Household income in Masig Islandin Mer Island +$334 higher in Mer Island
$928 15th pct $1,262 29th pct
Indigenous language in Masig Islandin Mer Island +2.8 pts higher in Masig Island
97.6% 100th pct 94.8% 100th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Masig Islandin Mer Island +0.6 larger in Mer Island gap widening
3.3 91st pct 3.9 100th pct
One-parent in Masig Islandin Mer Island +21.3 pts higher in Masig Island gap steady
37.8% 100th pct 16.5% 77th pct
Living alone in Masig Islandin Mer Island +14.9 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
31.0% 74th pct 16.1% 23rd pct

Family composition

51.6% Couples with children +12.3 pts ▸ 63.9%
37.8% One-parent families ◂ +21.3 pts 16.5%
12.0% Couples without children +3.0 pts ▸ 15.0%
0.0% Other families +2.4 pts ▸ 2.4%

Household size

31.0% 1 person ◂ +14.9 pts 16.1%
23.9% 6 or more +3.6 pts ▸ 27.6%
21.1% 2 people ◂ +3.9 pts 17.2%
12.7% 5 people ◂ +3.5 pts 9.2%
11.3% 3 people ◂ +0.9 pts 10.3%
4.2% 4 people +1.5 pts ▸ 5.7%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Masig Islandin Mer Island even gap narrowing
$150 14th pct $150 14th pct
Mortgage in Masig Islandin Mer Island
— $1,084 18th pct
People / bedroom in Masig Islandin Mer Island +0.30 higher in Mer Island gap widening
0.80 43rd pct 1.10 93rd pct
Renting in Masig Islandin Mer Island +8.9 pts higher in Mer Island gap steady
83.1% 100th pct 92.0% 100th pct
Owned outright in Masig Islandin Mer Island +5.6 pts higher in Masig Island gap steady
5.6% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Separate houses in Masig Islandin Mer Island +8.0 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
100.0% 100th pct 92.0% 37th pct
3+ bedrooms in Masig Islandin Mer Island +7.6 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
91.5% 82nd pct 83.9% 62nd pct

How homes are owned or rented

83.1% Rented +8.9 pts ▸ 92.0%
7.0% Other tenure ◂ +0.1 pts 6.9%
5.6% Owned outright ◂ +5.6 pts 0.0%
4.2% Not stated ◂ +4.2 pts 0.0%
0.0% Owned with a mortgage even 0.0%

Types of homes

104.2% Separate house ◂ +12.3 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

43.7% 5 or more ◂ +18.4 pts 25.3%
26.8% 4 bedrooms +11.2 pts ▸ 37.9%
21.1% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.4 pts 20.7%
4.2% 2 bedrooms +8.4 pts ▸ 12.6%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%
0.0% 1 bedroom even 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

83.1% Under $200 +9.4 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 Masig Islandin Mer Island +6.2 pts higher in Masig Island gap steady
54.4% 100th pct 48.2% 100th pct
Work from home in Masig Islandin Mer Island even gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT commute in Masig Islandin Mer Island +9.9 pts higher in Mer Island gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 9.9% 100th pct
PT stops in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

62.7% Walked ◂ +32.0 pts 30.8%
29.4% Car (driver) +2.5 pts ▸ 31.9%
5.9% Car (passenger) +17.2 pts ▸ 23.1%
0.0% Bus +9.9 pts ▸ 9.9%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%
0.0% Worked at home even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

54.4% No vehicle ◂ +6.2 pts 48.2%
32.4% 1 vehicle +8.6 pts ▸ 41.0%
11.8% 2 vehicles +2.7 pts ▸ 14.5%
0.0% 3 vehicles even 0.0%
0.0% 4 or more even 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Masig Islandin Mer Island +1.8 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
21.1% 18th pct 22.8% 23rd pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Masig Islandin Mer Island +7.1 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
15.0% 97th pct 7.9% 87th pct
Participation in Masig Islandin Mer Island +0.6 pts higher in Mer Island gap narrowing
32.6% 3rd pct 33.2% 4th pct
Full-time in Masig Islandin Mer Island +15.5 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
62.7% 72nd pct 47.3% 11th pct

Industries people work in

39.2% Public administration & safety +2.5 pts ▸ 41.8%
21.6% Education & training ◂ +5.1 pts 16.5%
15.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +9.1 pts 6.6%
0.0% Retail trade +14.3 pts ▸ 14.3%
9.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +9.8 pts 0.0%
7.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +7.8 pts 0.0%
0.0% Administrative & support +7.7 pts ▸ 7.7%
0.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +5.5 pts ▸ 5.5%
0.0% Construction +4.4 pts ▸ 4.4%
0.0% Electricity, gas & water +3.3 pts ▸ 3.3%
0.0% Mining even 0.0%
0.0% Manufacturing even 0.0%

Occupations people work in

33.3% Community & personal service ◂ +16.8 pts 16.5%
23.5% Professionals +0.6 pts ▸ 24.2%
17.6% Labourers ◂ +1.2 pts 16.5%
5.9% Clerical & administrative +10.6 pts ▸ 16.5%
0.0% Technicians & trades +11.0 pts ▸ 11.0%
5.9% Sales workers +2.9 pts ▸ 8.8%
5.9% Managers +1.8 pts ▸ 7.7%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers even 0.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
Types ≤15 min in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
15-min city in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to a park in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to health in Masig Islandin Mer Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Masig Islandin Mer Island +9.9 more in Mer Island
0.0 0th pct 9.9 41st pct
Intersections/km² in Masig Islandin Mer Island +19 higher in Masig Island
26 74th pct 7 72nd pct
Mean slope in Masig Islandin Mer Island +9.2 pts higher in Mer Island
1.9% 0th pct 11.1% 86th pct

Compare Masig Island with nearby areas

Ugar Island Erub Island Poruma Island Iama Island Dowar Islet Waua Islet Mer 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). Masig Island vs Mer Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL31783/masig-island/vs/SAL31806/mer-island