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Alice Springs vs Desert Springs

Name: Alice Springs vs Desert Springs — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Suburb / Locality comparison ≈ 1.8 km apart · Alice Springs profile · Desert Springs profile

Alice Springs Desert Springs

Desert Springs and Alice Springs are neighbouring areas with very different social and economic profiles. Desert Springs is a wealthier area where typical weekly household incomes are far higher at $3,025 compared to $1,463 in Alice Springs. It also has a much younger population, with 20.6% of residents under 15, while Alice Springs has only 9.1%. Residents in Desert Springs are more likely to have completed Year 12 (70.8% vs 49.1%) and live in larger, separate houses, whereas Alice Springs has a much higher share of flats and apartments.

Both areas are similar in their local schooling, with almost identical average school sizes and advantage scores. While they share this educational baseline, other daily realities differ. Alice Springs has a far higher proportion of people who speak a First Nations language (65.1%) and a much larger share of people living alone (54.2%). In contrast, Desert Springs has far more homes with three or more bedrooms and a higher proportion of people who identify as having no religion.

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Where they differ most

Population: 1,305 larger in Desert Springs Other language: 27.3 pts higher in Alice Springs Household income: $1,562 higher in Desert Springs Living alone: 35.6 pts higher in Alice Springs Renting: 29.6 pts higher in Alice Springs

Demographics & Identity

Population in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +1,305 larger in Desert Springs gap widening

231 57th pct 1,536 76th pct

Median age in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +1 yrs older in Alice Springs gap narrowing

37 yrs 20th pct 36 yrs 17th pct

Age structure

52.8% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +20.7 pts 32.2%

28.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.5 pts 26.1%

9.1% Children (0–14) +11.5 pts ▸ 20.6%

8.2% Seniors (65+) +2.0 pts ▸ 10.2%

6.1% Youth (15–24) +3.8 pts ▸ 9.9%

Marital status

34.0% Married +20.8 pts ▸ 54.7%

51.6% Never married ◂ +20.1 pts 31.5%

7.0% Divorced +1.7 pts ▸ 8.7%

6.0% Separated ◂ +4.1 pts 2.0%

1.9% Widowed +1.0 pts ▸ 2.9%

Age & sex structure

Alice Springs Desert Springs

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

43.7% Australia +16.8 pts ▸ 60.5%

8.7% India ◂ +4.7 pts 4.0%

5.6% New Zealand ◂ +2.6 pts 3.1%

3.9% Nepal ◂ +3.2 pts 0.7%

1.3% England +1.4 pts ▸ 2.7%

0.0% Philippines +2.3 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.7% Vietnam ◂ +1.5 pts 0.3%

0.0% South Africa +1.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.3% Italy ◂ +0.8 pts 0.5%

0.0% China +0.8 pts ▸ 0.8%

Ancestry

19.9% English +15.7 pts ▸ 35.6%

10.4% Australian +16.2 pts ▸ 26.6%

7.4% Irish +4.2 pts ▸ 11.5%

4.3% Scottish +5.2 pts ▸ 9.6%

4.3% German +4.0 pts ▸ 8.3%

5.6% Indian ◂ +1.2 pts 4.4%

2.2% Italian +1.5 pts ▸ 3.6%

1.7% Chinese +0.9 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.0% Filipino +2.6 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.0% Dutch +1.8 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.7% Vietnamese ◂ +1.5 pts 0.3%

0.0% Greek +0.8 pts ▸ 0.8%

Language

Language used at home

40.3% English only +37.9 pts ▸ 78.2%

3.0% Punjabi ◂ +1.6 pts 1.4%

2.6% Hindi ◂ +1.2 pts 1.4%

1.7% Vietnamese ◂ +1.5 pts 0.2%

0.0% Cantonese +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Mandarin +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Arabic +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Italian +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.0% Tagalog +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

Religious affiliation

24.2% No religion +21.6 pts ▸ 45.8%

39.4% Christianity +1.0 pts ▸ 40.4%

18.2% Not stated ◂ +12.9 pts 5.3%

5.2% Hinduism ◂ +1.2 pts 4.0%

5.2% Other religions ◂ +3.4 pts 1.8%

4.8% Islam ◂ +3.9 pts 0.8%

3.5% Buddhism ◂ +2.2 pts 1.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools ≤3 km in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +1 more in Alice Springs

14 84th pct 13 83rd pct

Avg size in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +11 larger in Desert Springs

280 46th pct 291 47th pct

ICSEA in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +6 higher in Desert Springs

938 21st pct 944 24th pct

Highest year of school

49.1% Year 12 +21.7 pts ▸ 70.8%

12.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +8.5 pts 4.2%

7.5% Year 10 +3.6 pts ▸ 11.1%

8.5% Year 11 +1.0 pts ▸ 9.5%

Highest qualification level

16.4% Bachelor degree +14.0 pts ▸ 30.4%

21.2% Certificate III / IV +2.2 pts ▸ 23.5%

13.7% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.5 pts ▸ 16.2%

12.3% Postgraduate degree +1.8 pts ▸ 14.1%

2.7% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.8 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.0% Certificate I / II +1.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Field of qualification

19.2% Management & commerce +2.1 pts ▸ 21.3%

11.0% Society & culture +4.5 pts ▸ 15.5%

8.9% Health +5.4 pts ▸ 14.4%

8.9% Engineering & related +2.8 pts ▸ 11.7%

9.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +3.9 pts 5.7%

5.5% Education +1.6 pts ▸ 7.1%

0.0% Architecture & building +5.4 pts ▸ 5.4%

2.7% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.2 pts 2.5%

2.1% Creative arts +0.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

2.1% Information technology ◂ +0.1 pts 1.9%

0.0% Agriculture & environment +1.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +$502 higher in Desert Springs gap narrowing

$952 77th pct $1,454 97th pct

Household income in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +$1,562 higher in Desert Springs gap steady

$1,463 45th pct $3,025 97th pct

Family income in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +$1,162 higher in Desert Springs gap narrowing

$2,159 66th pct $3,321 95th pct

Household income distribution

38.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +27.7 pts 10.9%

3.6% $4,000 or more +27.2 pts ▸ 30.9%

26.5% $1,500–$2,999 +3.0 pts ▸ 29.5%

9.6% $3,000–$3,999 +5.0 pts ▸ 14.7%

0.0% Under $650 +2.1 pts ▸ 2.1%

Personal income distribution

38.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +7.3 pts 30.9%

15.3% $1,500–$2,999 +17.7 pts ▸ 33.1%

29.8% Under $650 ◂ +11.6 pts 18.2%

2.8% $3,000 or more +11.0 pts ▸ 13.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.4% Mental health ◂ +2.7 pts 4.7%

6.5% Other condition +0.3 pts ▸ 6.8%

1.7% Asthma +4.2 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.6% Diabetes ◂ +3.0 pts 2.7%

3.5% Arthritis +1.7 pts ▸ 5.2%

3.0% Cancer ◂ +0.9 pts 2.1%

2.2% Heart disease +0.5 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.3% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

0.0% Stroke +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Dementia even 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.9% None +12.1 pts ▸ 74.0%

14.3% One condition +0.6 pts ▸ 14.8%

6.1% Two conditions ◂ +3.1 pts 2.9%

1.3% Three or more +0.2 pts ▸ 1.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +19 larger in Desert Springs

43 75th pct 62 80th pct

Median age in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +10 yrs older in Alice Springs

40 yrs 78th pct 30 yrs 63rd pct

Median income in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +$1,001 higher in Desert Springs

$405 17th pct $1,406 89th pct

Household income in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +$2,313 higher in Desert Springs

$1,437 39th pct $3,750 93rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +1.0 larger in Desert Springs gap steady

1.8 9th pct 2.8 76th pct

Family composition

45.2% Couples with children +20.7 pts ▸ 66.0%

39.3% Couples without children ◂ +12.2 pts 27.1%

11.9% One-parent families ◂ +6.6 pts 5.3%

0.0% Other families +0.8 pts ▸ 0.8%

Household size

54.2% 1 person ◂ +35.6 pts 18.7%

19.3% 2 people +13.5 pts ▸ 32.8%

16.9% 3 people +2.9 pts ▸ 19.8%

8.4% 4 people +8.3 pts ▸ 16.8%

0.0% 5 people +7.0 pts ▸ 7.0%

0.0% 6 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 3.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +$187 higher in Desert Springs gap steady

$313 61st pct $500 92nd pct

Mortgage in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +$264 higher in Desert Springs gap narrowing

$2,000 72nd pct $2,264 84th pct

People / bedroom in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +0.10 higher in Alice Springs gap steady

1.00 89th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

63.9% Rented ◂ +29.6 pts 34.3%

13.3% Owned with a mortgage +24.7 pts ▸ 37.9%

9.6% Owned outright +11.7 pts ▸ 21.3%

15.7% Not stated ◂ +14.9 pts 0.8%

8.4% Other tenure ◂ +3.9 pts 4.6%

Types of homes

10.8% Separate house +56.0 pts ▸ 66.9%

56.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +55.9 pts 0.8%

4.8% Townhouse / semi-detached +26.6 pts ▸ 31.4%

0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

4.8% 4 bedrooms +30.0 pts ▸ 34.9%

31.3% 2 bedrooms ◂ +6.4 pts 25.0%

12.0% 3 bedrooms +17.5 pts ▸ 29.5%

26.5% 1 bedroom ◂ +25.6 pts 1.0%

4.8% 5 or more +3.9 pts ▸ 8.8%

3.6% Studio / none ◂ +3.6 pts 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

52.8% $200–$349 ◂ +49.5 pts 3.3%

32.1% $350–$549 +9.0 pts ▸ 41.1%

0.0% $750 or more +25.0 pts ▸ 25.0%

0.0% $550–$749 +17.2 pts ▸ 17.2%

15.1% Under $200 ◂ +10.6 pts 4.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

27.3% $1,800–$2,999 +10.4 pts ▸ 37.7%

0.0% $3,000 or more +24.1 pts ▸ 24.1%

0.0% $1,000–$1,799 +22.6 pts ▸ 22.6%

0.0% Under $1,000 +9.0 pts ▸ 9.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +3 more in Alice Springs

6 76th pct 3 72nd pct

Stops/1k in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +24.02 more in Alice Springs

25.97 95th pct 1.95 65th pct

Departures/1k in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +5,357.8 more in Alice Springs

5,424.2 100th pct 66.4 65th pct

PT routes in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +7 more in Alice Springs

8 86th pct 1 71st pct

Stop walk in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +18 longer in Desert Springs

2 14th pct 20 59th pct

How people get to work

43.3% Car (driver) +24.1 pts ▸ 67.4%

30.8% Walked ◂ +28.2 pts 2.6%

2.5% Car (passenger) +5.0 pts ▸ 7.5%

5.8% Worked at home ◂ +2.2 pts 3.7%

4.2% Bicycle +0.9 pts ▸ 5.0%

0.0% Bus +1.7 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

59.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +29.2 pts 30.0%

15.5% 2 vehicles +28.9 pts ▸ 44.4%

25.4% No vehicle ◂ +24.0 pts 1.3%

8.5% 3 vehicles +7.7 pts ▸ 16.2%

0.0% 4 or more +7.7 pts ▸ 7.7%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

22.5% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.9 pts 19.6%

5.0% Public administration & safety +15.5 pts ▸ 20.5%

18.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +12.7 pts 5.7%

4.2% Education & training +5.8 pts ▸ 10.0%

9.2% Retail trade ◂ +2.2 pts 6.9%

9.2% Other services ◂ +5.3 pts 3.9%

0.0% Construction +7.3 pts ▸ 7.3%

3.3% Professional & technical +3.7 pts ▸ 7.0%

4.2% Wholesale trade ◂ +2.7 pts 1.5%

0.0% Transport & warehousing +3.4 pts ▸ 3.4%

3.3% Finance & insurance ◂ +1.9 pts 1.5%

0.0% Manufacturing +2.6 pts ▸ 2.6%

Occupations people work in

17.5% Professionals +10.4 pts ▸ 27.9%

20.8% Managers ◂ +3.0 pts 17.8%

15.8% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.7 pts 14.2%

12.5% Community & personal service +3.0 pts ▸ 15.5%

5.8% Technicians & trades +5.2 pts ▸ 11.0%

10.8% Sales workers ◂ +5.7 pts 5.1%

2.5% Labourers +1.8 pts ▸ 4.3%

2.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.5 pts 2.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +5.4 higher in Alice Springs

8.8 100th pct 3.5 75th pct

Types ≤15 min in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +4.6 more in Alice Springs

7.9 100th pct 3.3 74th pct

15-min city in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +68.6 pts higher in Alice Springs

100.0% 100th pct 31.4% 75th pct

Walk to shops in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +65.7 pts higher in Alice Springs

100.0% 100th pct 34.3% 75th pct

Walk to transit in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +58.0 pts higher in Alice Springs

100.0% 100th pct 42.0% 71st pct

Walk to school in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +60.1 pts higher in Alice Springs

92.1% 94th pct 32.0% 69th pct

Walk to a park in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +0.4 pts higher in Alice Springs

100.0% 100th pct 99.6% 87th pct

Walk to health in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +68.6 pts higher in Alice Springs

99.7% 100th pct 31.1% 79th pct

Amenities/1k in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +199.9 more in Alice Springs

220.8 92nd pct 20.8 63rd pct

Intersections/km² in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +156 higher in Alice Springs

213 91st pct 57 79th pct

Mean slope in Alice Springs in Desert Springs +0.6 pts higher in Desert Springs

2.9% 12th pct 3.6% 22nd pct

Compare Alice Springs with nearby areas

Ciccone Desert Springs The Gap East Side Sadadeen Gillen Stuart Araluen

Compare Desert Springs with nearby areas

The Gap Alice Springs Gillen Sadadeen Ciccone East Side Mount Johns Ross

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Alice Springs vs Desert Springs [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sal/SAL70005/alice-springs/vs/SAL70078/desert-springs