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Masig Island vs Poruma Island

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 50 km apart · Masig Island profile · Poruma Island profile

Masig Island Poruma Island

Masig Island and Poruma Island are both small, predominantly First Nations communities in the Torres Strait. Masig Island is younger, with the typical resident aged 28, and has a far higher share of children under 15 at 37.5%. It also has more people who speak little or no English (23.0%) and higher unemployment, which sits at 15.0%. Poruma Island has more people working or looking for work (54.8%) and a higher typical household income of $1,399 per week, compared to $949 on Masig Island.

Everyday life in both places is very similar, as all homes are separate houses and no one commutes by public transport. Both islands are effectively devoid of walkable amenities, such as shops or health services. They also share similar household sizes, with an average of 3.3 people per home, and similar rates of long-term health conditions. This shared experience of remote living persists even as the two areas differ in their local job markets and typical family incomes.

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Where they differ most

Housework 15h+: 28.2 pts higher in Poruma Island Participation: 22.2 pts higher in Poruma Island No religion: 17.7 pts higher in Masig Island Unpaid child care: 14.7 pts higher in Poruma Island Under 15: 13.7 pts higher in Masig Island

Demographics & Identity

Population in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +119 larger in Masig Island gap widening
283 59th pct 164 49th pct
Median age in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +3 yrs older in Poruma Island gap steady
28 yrs 2nd pct 31 yrs 7th pct
First Nations in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +5.2 pts higher in Poruma Island gap widening
88.7% 100th pct 93.9% 100th pct
Aged 65+ in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +1.7 pts higher in Masig Island gap steady
6.0% 9th pct 4.3% 6th pct
Under 15 in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +13.7 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
37.5% 100th pct 23.8% 86th pct
De facto in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +6.2 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
30.5% 100th pct 24.3% 93rd pct

Age structure

31.1% Young adults (25–44) +11.6 pts ▸ 42.7%
37.5% Children (0–14) ◂ +13.7 pts 23.8%
19.8% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +7.6 pts 12.2%
8.8% Youth (15–24) +1.5 pts ▸ 10.4%
6.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.7 pts 4.3%

Marital status

75.0% Never married +0.8 pts ▸ 75.8%
14.7% Married +4.7 pts ▸ 19.4%
4.3% Widowed ◂ +1.1 pts 3.2%
3.3% Separated ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%
1.6% Divorced +1.6 pts ▸ 3.2%

Age & sex structure

Masig Island Poruma Island

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +3.2 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
3.2% 15th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Country of birth

90.1% Australia +8.7 pts ▸ 98.8%
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% Scottish +4.6 pts ▸ 6.7%
2.8% English ◂ +1.0 pts 1.8%
2.5% Filipino ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%
0.0% Irish +2.4 pts ▸ 2.4%
1.1% Australian ◂ +1.1 pts 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 Poruma Island +5.7 pts higher in Poruma Island gap widening
87.6% 100th pct 93.3% 100th pct
Limited English in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +12.0 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
23.0% 100th pct 11.0% 100th pct

Language used at home

4.9% English only ◂ +1.9 pts 3.0%
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 Poruma Island +17.7 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
17.7% 7th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Religious affiliation

75.3% Christianity +22.9 pts ▸ 98.2%
17.7% No religion ◂ +17.7 pts 0.0%
4.9% Not stated ◂ +1.3 pts 3.7%
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 Poruma Island +9.6 pts higher in Poruma Island gap widening
48.3% 58th pct 57.9% 76th pct
Bachelor+ in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +1.1 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
6.0% 14th pct 4.8% 11th pct
Schools ≤3 km in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Highest year of school

48.3% Year 12 +9.6 pts ▸ 57.9%
17.8% Year 10 ◂ +2.9 pts 14.9%
12.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.9 pts 10.7%
11.5% Year 11 ◂ +1.6 pts 9.9%

Highest qualification level

41.7% Certificate III / IV +17.0 pts ▸ 58.6%
16.7% Certificate I / II ◂ +6.3 pts 10.3%
7.3% Advanced diploma / diploma +7.7 pts ▸ 14.9%
6.3% Bachelor degree ◂ +2.8 pts 3.4%
5.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.8 pts 3.4%
0.0% Postgraduate degree even 0.0%

Field of qualification

12.5% Education +10.5 pts ▸ 23.0%
15.6% Management & commerce +3.9 pts ▸ 19.5%
15.6% Engineering & related ◂ +4.1 pts 11.5%
15.6% Architecture & building ◂ +0.7 pts 14.9%
15.6% Society & culture ◂ +12.2 pts 3.4%
5.2% Health +2.8 pts ▸ 8.0%
4.2% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.7 pts 3.4%
3.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +3.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Natural & physical sciences even 0.0%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%
0.0% Creative arts even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +$136 higher in Poruma Island gap widening
$423 6th pct $559 19th pct
Household income in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +$450 higher in Poruma Island gap widening
$949 11th pct $1,399 40th pct
Family income in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +$337 higher in Poruma Island gap widening
$955 5th pct $1,292 14th pct
High earners in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +2.1 pts higher in Poruma Island gap widening
2.7% 23rd pct 4.8% 30th pct
High-income homes in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +4.2 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
4.2% 13th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Household income distribution

49.3% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.9 pts 44.4%
31.0% Under $650 ◂ +11.0 pts 20.0%
19.7% $1,500–$2,999 +9.2 pts ▸ 28.9%
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 ◂ +20.1 pts 53.2%
13.0% $650–$1,499 +16.8 pts ▸ 29.8%
0.0% $3,000 or more +4.8 pts ▸ 4.8%
2.7% $1,500–$2,999 +0.5 pts ▸ 3.2%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +0.8 pts higher in Poruma Island
16.3% 9th pct 17.1% 10th pct
Mental health in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +1.8 pts higher in Masig Island
1.8% 10th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Needs assistance in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +4.2 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
4.2% 45th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

8.1% Diabetes +2.2 pts ▸ 10.4%
4.6% Asthma ◂ +1.5 pts 3.0%
2.8% Heart disease +1.4 pts ▸ 4.3%
3.9% Other condition ◂ +3.9 pts 0.0%
2.5% Arthritis +1.2 pts ▸ 3.7%
1.8% Mental health ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%
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 +6.4 pts ▸ 81.7%
15.2% One condition ◂ +1.2 pts 14.0%
1.4% Two conditions +4.1 pts ▸ 5.5%
0.0% Three or more even 0.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +1.3 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
23.9% 73rd pct 22.6% 69th pct
Unpaid carers in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +1.8 pts higher in Masig Island gap steady
16.3% 80th pct 14.5% 69th pct
Unpaid child care in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +14.7 pts higher in Poruma Island gap widening
35.3% 88th pct 50.0% 100th pct
Defence service in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +1.9 pts higher in Masig Island
13.3% 100th pct 11.5% 99th pct
Housework 15h+ in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +28.2 pts higher in Poruma Island gap narrowing
25.0% 55th pct 53.2% 100th pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +97 larger in Masig Island
251 86th pct 154 86th pct
Median age in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +4 yrs older in Poruma Island
27 yrs 54th pct 31 yrs 66th pct
Year 12 in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +4.2 pts higher in Poruma Island
52.3% 75th pct 56.5% 82nd pct
Unemployment in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +12.2 pts higher in Masig Island
16.7% 76th pct 4.5% 26th pct
Median income in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +$134 higher in Poruma Island
$421 20th pct $555 40th pct
Household income in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +$447 higher in Poruma Island
$928 15th pct $1,375 35th pct
Indigenous language in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +1.5 pts higher in Masig Island
97.6% 100th pct 96.1% 100th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even gap narrowing
3.3 91st pct 3.3 91st pct
One-parent in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +2.9 pts higher in Poruma Island gap narrowing
37.8% 100th pct 40.7% 100th pct
Living alone in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +2.1 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
31.0% 74th pct 28.9% 68th pct

Family composition

51.6% Couples with children ◂ +8.8 pts 42.9%
37.8% One-parent families +2.9 pts ▸ 40.7%
12.0% Couples without children ◂ +2.0 pts 10.0%
0.0% Other families +2.1 pts ▸ 2.1%

Household size

31.0% 1 person ◂ +2.1 pts 28.9%
4.2% 4 people +24.7 pts ▸ 28.9%
11.3% 3 people +13.2 pts ▸ 24.4%
23.9% 6 or more ◂ +3.9 pts 20.0%
21.1% 2 people ◂ +7.8 pts 13.3%
12.7% 5 people ◂ +1.6 pts 11.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +$20 higher in Masig Island gap widening
$150 14th pct $130 10th pct
People / bedroom in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +0.10 higher in Poruma Island gap steady
0.80 43rd pct 0.90 86th pct
Renting in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +8.0 pts higher in Poruma Island gap narrowing
83.1% 100th pct 91.1% 100th pct
Owned outright in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +5.5 pts higher in Poruma Island gap narrowing
5.6% 0th pct 11.1% 3rd pct
Separate houses in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even gap narrowing
100.0% 100th pct 100.0% 100th pct
3+ bedrooms in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +8.5 pts higher in Poruma Island gap narrowing
91.5% 82nd pct 100.0% 100th pct

How homes are owned or rented

83.1% Rented +8.0 pts ▸ 91.1%
5.6% Owned outright +5.5 pts ▸ 11.1%
7.0% Other tenure ◂ +7.0 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 ◂ +4.2 pts 100.0%
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

21.1% 3 bedrooms +25.5 pts ▸ 46.7%
43.7% 5 or more ◂ +17.0 pts 26.7%
26.8% 4 bedrooms ◂ +0.1 pts 26.7%
4.2% 2 bedrooms +4.7 pts ▸ 8.9%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%
0.0% 1 bedroom even 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

83.1% Under $200 +2.3 pts ▸ 85.4%
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 Poruma Island +3.3 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
54.4% 100th pct 51.1% 100th pct
Work from home in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT commute in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even gap steady
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT stops in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct
Stops/1k in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0.00 0th pct 0.00 0th pct
Departures/1k in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
PT routes in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0 0th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

62.7% Walked +20.6 pts ▸ 83.3%
29.4% Car (driver) ◂ +17.3 pts 12.1%
5.9% Car (passenger) ◂ +5.9 pts 0.0%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bus 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 ◂ +3.3 pts 51.1%
32.4% 1 vehicle +18.8 pts ▸ 51.1%
11.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +11.8 pts 0.0%
0.0% 3 vehicles even 0.0%
0.0% 4 or more even 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +7.0 pts higher in Masig Island gap widening
21.1% 18th pct 14.1% 9th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +10.6 pts higher in Masig Island gap narrowing
15.0% 97th pct 4.4% 62nd pct
Participation in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +22.2 pts higher in Poruma Island gap widening
32.6% 3rd pct 54.8% 32nd pct
Full-time in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +3.7 pts higher in Masig Island gap steady
62.7% 72nd pct 59.1% 55th pct

Industries people work in

39.2% Public administration & safety +4.7 pts ▸ 43.9%
21.6% Education & training ◂ +6.4 pts 15.2%
15.7% Health care & social assistance +4.0 pts ▸ 19.7%
9.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +9.8 pts 0.0%
7.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +7.8 pts 0.0%
0.0% Retail trade +7.6 pts ▸ 7.6%
0.0% Construction +4.5 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.0% Arts & recreation +4.5 pts ▸ 4.5%
0.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing even 0.0%
0.0% Mining even 0.0%
0.0% Manufacturing even 0.0%
0.0% Electricity, gas & water even 0.0%

Occupations people work in

33.3% Community & personal service ◂ +16.7 pts 16.7%
23.5% Professionals ◂ +9.9 pts 13.6%
5.9% Managers +12.3 pts ▸ 18.2%
5.9% Clerical & administrative +12.3 pts ▸ 18.2%
17.6% Labourers +0.5 pts ▸ 18.2%
5.9% Sales workers +4.7 pts ▸ 10.6%
0.0% Technicians & trades +6.1 pts ▸ 6.1%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers even 0.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +0.6 higher in Poruma Island
0.0 0th pct 0.6 54th pct
Types ≤15 min in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +1.0 more in Poruma Island
0.0 0th pct 1.0 59th pct
15-min city in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to a park in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to health in Masig Islandin Poruma Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +6.1 more in Poruma Island
0.0 0th pct 6.1 32nd pct
Intersections/km² in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +36 higher in Poruma Island
26 74th pct 62 80th pct
Mean slope in Masig Islandin Poruma Island +0.7 pts higher in Poruma Island
1.9% 0th pct 2.6% 6th pct

Compare Masig Island with nearby areas

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

Compare Poruma Island with nearby areas

Burrar Islet Warraber Islet Guijar Islet Iama Island Masig Island Ugar Island Saibai Island Moa Island

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Masig Island vs Poruma Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL31783/masig-island/vs/SAL32355/poruma-island