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Rural Balance vs Major Urban

Name: Rural Balance vs Major Urban — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Section of State comparison ≈ 449 km apart · Rural Balance profile · Major Urban profile

Rural Balance Major Urban

Major Urban and Rural Balance are two very different environments. Major Urban is very walkable, with 81.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and a high share of overseas-born residents (28.9%). In contrast, Rural Balance is car-dependent, where 98.1% of homes are separate houses and residents are far older, with a typical age of 47 compared to 39 in Major Urban. There are also notable gaps in education and housing, as Major Urban has a far higher share of people who finished Year 12 (59.6% versus 45.1%) and a much higher rate of renting (29.7% versus 9.8%).

Both areas sit close to the national figure for the typical weekly personal income, which is about $750. This shared economic baseline exists while other differences grow; the gaps in age, language diversity, and home ownership have all widened since 2011. Despite being far apart, they are similar in other ways, such as having almost the same share of children under 15 and people who have served in the Defence Force.

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Where they differ most

Population: 816,108 larger in Major Urban Separate houses: 25.0 pts higher in Rural Balance Renting: 19.9 pts higher in Major Urban Other language: 18.8 pts higher in Major Urban PT commute: 4.9 pts higher in Major Urban

Demographics & Identity

Population in Rural Balance in Major Urban +816,108 larger in Major Urban gap widening

428,903 76th pct 1,245,011 87th pct

Median age in Rural Balance in Major Urban +8 yrs older in Rural Balance gap widening

47 yrs 86th pct 39 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

31.5% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +7.1 pts 24.4%

19.7% Young adults (25–44) +8.1 pts ▸ 27.8%

21.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.6 pts 18.6%

16.9% Children (0–14) +0.1 pts ▸ 17.0%

10.6% Youth (15–24) +1.6 pts ▸ 12.3%

Marital status

53.7% Married ◂ +8.6 pts 45.1%

30.4% Never married +6.5 pts ▸ 36.9%

8.7% Divorced +0.7 pts ▸ 9.4%

4.2% Widowed +1.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

3.0% Separated +0.1 pts ▸ 3.1%

Age & sex structure

Rural Balance Major Urban

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

81.4% Australia ◂ +13.8 pts 67.5%

2.9% England +2.6 pts ▸ 5.4%

0.3% India +3.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

0.2% China +1.8 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.1% Vietnam +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% Italy +0.7 pts ▸ 1.2%

1.2% New Zealand ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%

0.3% Philippines +0.6 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.0% Nepal +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Ancestry

40.4% English ◂ +4.7 pts 35.7%

40.3% Australian ◂ +11.1 pts 29.2%

12.5% Irish ◂ +5.0 pts 7.5%

11.8% Scottish ◂ +3.9 pts 7.9%

4.2% Italian +3.0 pts ▸ 7.1%

4.7% German +1.7 pts ▸ 6.3%

0.7% Chinese +3.8 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.3% Indian +3.0 pts ▸ 3.3%

0.7% Greek +2.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.5% Dutch ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

0.1% Vietnamese +1.6 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.5% Filipino +0.9 pts ▸ 1.4%

Language

Language used at home

87.5% English only ◂ +14.4 pts 73.0%

0.3% Mandarin +2.2 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.6% Italian +1.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.1% Vietnamese +1.6 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.2% Greek +1.4 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.1% Punjabi +1.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.2% Arabic +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Cantonese +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.0% Hindi +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.8% No religion ◂ +0.6 pts 44.2%

43.3% Christianity ◂ +3.2 pts 40.0%

10.3% Not stated ◂ +4.8 pts 5.5%

0.4% Islam +2.6 pts ▸ 3.1%

0.1% Hinduism +2.8 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.6% Buddhism +1.8 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.4% Other religions +1.4 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

45.1% Year 12 +14.5 pts ▸ 59.6%

18.7% Year 10 ◂ +6.2 pts 12.5%

16.1% Year 11 ◂ +1.6 pts 14.4%

11.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.4 pts 8.7%

Highest qualification level

33.9% Certificate III / IV ◂ +7.2 pts 26.7%

19.4% Bachelor degree +9.4 pts ▸ 28.8%

15.5% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.8 pts 14.7%

4.9% Postgraduate degree +5.6 pts ▸ 10.6%

4.0% Graduate diploma / certificate even 4.0%

1.9% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.1%

Field of qualification

12.0% Management & commerce +7.5 pts ▸ 19.5%

15.6% Engineering & related ◂ +1.7 pts 13.9%

9.7% Society & culture +4.0 pts ▸ 13.7%

10.8% Health +1.8 pts ▸ 12.6%

8.9% Education ◂ +1.0 pts 7.9%

7.3% Agriculture & environment ◂ +5.8 pts 1.5%

6.9% Architecture & building ◂ +2.2 pts 4.7%

4.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.7 pts ▸ 5.0%

2.6% Creative arts +1.0 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences +1.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

1.2% Information technology +2.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

Income

Personal income in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$5 higher in Major Urban gap narrowing

$752 55th pct $757 56th pct

Household income in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$132 higher in Rural Balance gap widening

$1,659 55th pct $1,527 44th pct

Family income in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$6 higher in Rural Balance gap narrowing

$1,978 57th pct $1,972 57th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $1,500–$2,999 +0.6 pts ▸ 29.7%

27.3% $650–$1,499 +1.5 pts ▸ 28.8%

14.9% Under $650 +2.6 pts ▸ 17.5%

10.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 8.9%

9.3% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.3 pts 9.1%

Personal income distribution

39.7% Under $650 +2.6 pts ▸ 42.2%

31.0% $650–$1,499 +2.1 pts ▸ 33.1%

14.8% $1,500–$2,999 +1.4 pts ▸ 16.3%

4.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 3.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.2% Arthritis ◂ +0.7 pts 9.4%

8.0% Mental health +1.8 pts ▸ 9.8%

7.3% Other condition +1.6 pts ▸ 8.9%

8.4% Asthma +0.2 pts ▸ 8.6%

4.3% Diabetes +1.2 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.4% Heart disease even 4.4%

3.4% Cancer ◂ +0.4 pts 3.1%

1.9% Lung condition ◂ +0.1 pts 1.8%

1.0% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.4% Dementia +0.6 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.0% None +3.8 pts ▸ 63.8%

19.9% One condition even 19.9%

6.2% Two conditions +0.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.0% Three or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.6%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Rural Balance in Major Urban +0.2 larger in Rural Balance gap narrowing

2.6 71st pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

57.7% Couples with children ◂ +1.2 pts 56.5%

33.0% Couples without children ◂ +6.2 pts 26.8%

8.6% One-parent families +6.8 pts ▸ 15.4%

0.6% Other families +0.7 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

39.8% 2 people ◂ +6.5 pts 33.3%

21.0% 1 person +7.4 pts ▸ 28.4%

13.8% 3 people +2.1 pts ▸ 15.9%

14.4% 4 people +0.4 pts ▸ 14.7%

7.5% 5 people ◂ +2.1 pts 5.3%

3.6% 6 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 2.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$70 higher in Major Urban gap narrowing

$250 30th pct $320 69th pct

Mortgage in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$51 higher in Rural Balance gap narrowing

$1,603 57th pct $1,552 48th pct

People / bedroom in Rural Balance in Major Urban even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

47.7% Owned outright ◂ +17.2 pts 30.5%

37.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.8 pts 36.2%

9.8% Rented +19.9 pts ▸ 29.7%

3.7% Other tenure ◂ +1.3 pts 2.4%

1.8% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

98.1% Separate house ◂ +25.0 pts 73.1%

0.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +17.1 pts ▸ 17.5%

0.1% Flat or apartment +8.8 pts ▸ 9.0%

1.1% Other dwelling ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%

Bedrooms per home

41.7% 3 bedrooms +10.3 pts ▸ 52.0%

33.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +13.8 pts 19.9%

10.3% 2 bedrooms +9.3 pts ▸ 19.6%

9.6% 5 or more ◂ +5.8 pts 3.8%

2.6% 1 bedroom +0.9 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.5% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

38.7% $200–$349 +2.6 pts ▸ 41.3%

17.8% $350–$549 +16.4 pts ▸ 34.2%

26.9% Under $200 ◂ +10.1 pts 16.8%

3.6% $550–$749 ◂ +0.1 pts 3.6%

1.9% $750 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 1.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

30.8% $1,000–$1,799 +8.7 pts ▸ 39.5%

25.3% $1,800–$2,999 +0.8 pts ▸ 26.1%

22.5% Under $1,000 ◂ +3.0 pts 19.5%

14.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.3 pts 10.0%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

56.1% Car (driver) +6.9 pts ▸ 63.0%

21.5% Worked at home ◂ +12.0 pts 9.5%

3.5% Car (passenger) +0.9 pts ▸ 4.3%

0.2% Bus +3.8 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.9% Walked ◂ +2.0 pts 1.9%

0.2% Bicycle +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% Train +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

Motor vehicles per home

38.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.1 pts 36.6%

18.1% 1 vehicle +20.0 pts ▸ 38.2%

22.1% 3 vehicles ◂ +10.8 pts 11.3%

20.0% 4 or more ◂ +14.1 pts 5.8%

1.2% No vehicle +6.9 pts ▸ 8.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.8% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +17.0 pts 0.9%

11.8% Health care & social assistance +5.6 pts ▸ 17.4%

11.3% Construction ◂ +3.1 pts 8.2%

7.0% Retail trade +2.7 pts ▸ 9.7%

7.3% Education & training +1.6 pts ▸ 9.0%

4.6% Professional & technical +2.6 pts ▸ 7.2%

5.4% Public administration & safety +1.7 pts ▸ 7.1%

6.8% Manufacturing ◂ +0.1 pts 6.6%

4.6% Accommodation & food +2.0 pts ▸ 6.7%

3.9% Transport & warehousing +0.3 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.6% Other services +0.4 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.3% Administrative & support +1.6 pts ▸ 3.9%

Occupations people work in

15.6% Professionals +8.3 pts ▸ 23.9%

23.5% Managers ◂ +11.8 pts 11.8%

14.8% Technicians & trades ◂ +2.1 pts 12.7%

9.6% Community & personal service +3.7 pts ▸ 13.3%

10.3% Clerical & administrative +2.9 pts ▸ 13.2%

11.2% Labourers ◂ +1.8 pts 9.3%

6.6% Sales workers +2.0 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.8 pts 5.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Rural Balance in Major Urban +6.0 higher in Major Urban

1.0 21st pct 7.0 96th pct

Types ≤15 min in Rural Balance in Major Urban +5.7 more in Major Urban

1.0 24th pct 6.7 99th pct

15-min city in Rural Balance in Major Urban +81.3 pts higher in Major Urban

4.9% 29th pct 86.2% 100th pct

Walk to shops in Rural Balance in Major Urban +75.1 pts higher in Major Urban

6.7% 29th pct 81.8% 92nd pct

Walk to transit in Rural Balance in Major Urban +83.6 pts higher in Major Urban

13.7% 32nd pct 97.3% 98th pct

Walk to school in Rural Balance in Major Urban +75.1 pts higher in Major Urban

11.8% 29th pct 87.0% 96th pct

Walk to a park in Rural Balance in Major Urban +64.4 pts higher in Major Urban

34.8% 24th pct 99.2% 96th pct

Walk to health in Rural Balance in Major Urban +65.8 pts higher in Major Urban

1.9% 27th pct 67.7% 97th pct

Amenities/1k in Rural Balance in Major Urban +11.2 more in Rural Balance

25.7 70th pct 14.5 24th pct

Intersections/km² in Rural Balance in Major Urban +180 higher in Major Urban

1 15th pct 181 93rd pct

Mean slope in Rural Balance in Major Urban +1.3 pts higher in Rural Balance

5.8% 57th pct 4.5% 27th pct

Compare Rural Balance with nearby areas

Other Urban Major Urban Bounded Locality Other Urban Major Urban Rural Balance Rural Balance Bounded Locality Major Urban Rural Balance Other Urban Major Urban

Compare Major Urban with nearby areas

Other Urban Bounded Locality Rural Balance Rural Balance Other Urban Major Urban Rural Balance Bounded Locality Rural Balance Rural Balance Bounded Locality Major Urban

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Rural Balance vs Major Urban [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sos/SOS23/rural-balance/vs/SOS40/major-urban