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Other Urban vs Rural Balance

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

Section of State comparison ≈ 1,955 km apart · Other Urban profile · Rural Balance profile

Other Urban Rural Balance

Other Urban and Rural Balance are far apart and offer very different ways of living. Other Urban is more densely settled and somewhat walkable, with 57.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a school and 54.4% near groceries. Rural Balance is car-dependent, with only 3.0% of homes near groceries and 5.8% near a school. There are also sharp demographic contrasts: Rural Balance has a far higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (29.1% compared to 7.9% in Other Urban) and a much higher share of people using another language at home (23.1% versus 6.5%).

Everyday life shares some common ground in both places, such as similar unemployment rates of 5.7% and almost identical shares of people who have no religion. While they share these basics, other gaps are changing. The difference in typical weekly incomes has widened, with Rural Balance now well higher at $1,960 compared to $1,386 in Other Urban. Meanwhile, the gap in the number of people who have moved in the last five years has also grown, with 43.1% of residents in Other Urban moving recently compared to 28.4% in Rural Balance.

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Where they differ most

Population: 902,885 larger in Other Urban First Nations: 21.1 pts higher in Rural Balance Needs assistance: 4.3 pts higher in Other Urban Other language: 16.6 pts higher in Rural Balance People / bedroom: 0.30 higher in Rural Balance

Demographics & Identity

Population in Other Urban in Rural Balance +902,885 larger in Other Urban gap steady

937,057 86th pct 34,172 46th pct

Median age in Other Urban in Rural Balance +4 yrs older in Other Urban gap widening

40 yrs 43rd pct 36 yrs 12th pct

Age structure

24.3% Young adults (25–44) +3.9 pts ▸ 28.2%

24.9% Older adults (45–64) +3.2 pts ▸ 28.1%

20.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +9.4 pts 10.8%

19.3% Children (0–14) +0.3 pts ▸ 19.7%

11.3% Youth (15–24) +2.0 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

44.4% Married ◂ +0.6 pts 43.8%

35.1% Never married +6.6 pts ▸ 41.7%

10.4% Divorced ◂ +2.7 pts 7.7%

6.0% Widowed ◂ +2.8 pts 3.2%

4.1% Separated ◂ +0.5 pts 3.6%

Age & sex structure

Other Urban Rural Balance

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

78.7% Australia ◂ +1.1 pts 77.6%

3.0% England ◂ +0.8 pts 2.2%

2.8% New Zealand ◂ +1.3 pts 1.5%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

0.7% South Africa ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

0.6% India ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% China ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

39.9% English ◂ +13.3 pts 26.6%

38.1% Australian ◂ +8.4 pts 29.7%

10.6% Irish ◂ +3.3 pts 7.3%

10.2% Scottish ◂ +3.4 pts 6.8%

6.9% German ◂ +2.9 pts 4.0%

2.7% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 1.7%

1.5% Filipino ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

1.4% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

1.0% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.7% Indian ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.3% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Language

Language used at home

86.0% English only ◂ +23.3 pts 62.7%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.4% Mandarin ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

0.1% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Arabic even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.3% Christianity ◂ +8.9 pts 39.4%

40.2% No religion ◂ +0.3 pts 39.9%

9.2% Not stated +7.7 pts ▸ 16.9%

0.6% Other religions +1.6 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.7% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% Hinduism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.4% Islam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

44.6% Year 12 ◂ +9.1 pts 35.5%

27.0% Year 10 ◂ +4.4 pts 22.6%

11.7% Year 9 or below +2.3 pts ▸ 14.0%

7.6% Year 11 +4.3 pts ▸ 11.9%

Highest qualification level

39.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +4.0 pts 35.0%

16.2% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.3 pts 11.9%

13.6% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.0 pts 11.6%

3.1% Certificate I / II +0.7 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.5% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.7 pts 2.8%

2.7% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.1 pts 2.6%

Field of qualification

17.8% Engineering & related +0.1 pts ▸ 18.0%

14.4% Management & commerce ◂ +3.0 pts 11.4%

10.6% Society & culture ◂ +2.8 pts 7.8%

10.0% Health ◂ +3.2 pts 6.9%

8.5% Education ◂ +2.3 pts 6.2%

6.2% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +2.3 pts 4.0%

5.8% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 5.6%

2.3% Agriculture & environment +3.2 pts ▸ 5.5%

1.9% Creative arts ◂ +0.6 pts 1.3%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences even 1.5%

1.3% Information technology ◂ +0.5 pts 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Other Urban in Rural Balance +$118 higher in Rural Balance gap widening

$699 40th pct $817 67th pct

Household income in Other Urban in Rural Balance +$574 higher in Rural Balance gap widening

$1,386 31st pct $1,960 76th pct

Family income in Other Urban in Rural Balance +$389 higher in Rural Balance gap widening

$1,732 34th pct $2,121 71st pct

Household income distribution

30.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +8.5 pts 21.5%

27.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.7 pts 25.6%

18.8% Under $650 ◂ +6.1 pts 12.6%

6.7% $4,000 or more +6.8 pts ▸ 13.5%

8.1% $3,000–$3,999 +3.9 pts ▸ 12.0%

Personal income distribution

42.7% Under $650 ◂ +6.9 pts 35.9%

30.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.4 pts 23.8%

14.7% $1,500–$2,999 +4.1 pts ▸ 18.8%

2.8% $3,000 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 3.4%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.9% Arthritis ◂ +5.8 pts 5.1%

10.4% Mental health ◂ +6.1 pts 4.3%

9.1% Asthma ◂ +3.8 pts 5.3%

8.6% Other condition ◂ +3.0 pts 5.6%

5.5% Diabetes ◂ +1.2 pts 4.3%

5.2% Heart disease ◂ +1.9 pts 3.3%

3.5% Cancer ◂ +1.7 pts 1.8%

2.8% Lung condition ◂ +1.4 pts 1.5%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.6 pts 0.6%

0.9% Dementia ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

Number of long-term health conditions

57.6% None +5.2 pts ▸ 62.9%

20.2% One condition ◂ +5.9 pts 14.3%

7.3% Two conditions ◂ +3.7 pts 3.6%

4.5% Three or more ◂ +2.8 pts 1.6%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Other Urban in Rural Balance +0.5 larger in Rural Balance gap steady

2.5 57th pct 3.0 95th pct

Family composition

51.0% Couples with children +7.9 pts ▸ 58.9%

30.2% Couples without children ◂ +5.3 pts 25.0%

17.6% One-parent families ◂ +2.8 pts 14.9%

1.1% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

36.6% 2 people ◂ +4.7 pts 31.9%

27.2% 1 person ◂ +6.7 pts 20.6%

12.8% 4 people +2.6 pts ▸ 15.4%

14.0% 3 people +0.4 pts ▸ 14.4%

3.4% 6 or more +5.8 pts ▸ 9.2%

5.9% 5 people +2.6 pts ▸ 8.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Other Urban in Rural Balance +$60 higher in Other Urban gap narrowing

$295 56th pct $235 25th pct

Mortgage in Other Urban in Rural Balance +$650 higher in Rural Balance gap widening

$1,517 42nd pct $2,167 92nd pct

People / bedroom in Other Urban in Rural Balance +0.30 higher in Rural Balance gap steady

0.80 29th pct 1.10 94th pct

How homes are owned or rented

31.5% Owned with a mortgage +5.1 pts ▸ 36.7%

32.7% Rented ◂ +8.2 pts 24.5%

32.0% Owned outright ◂ +5.7 pts 26.3%

1.8% Other tenure +7.7 pts ▸ 9.5%

2.0% Not stated +1.2 pts ▸ 3.1%

Types of homes

84.7% Separate house +6.1 pts ▸ 90.8%

8.9% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +8.0 pts 0.9%

1.3% Other dwelling +4.2 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +4.3 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

41.3% 3 bedrooms ◂ +5.5 pts 35.7%

31.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +10.6 pts 21.1%

15.4% 2 bedrooms +2.7 pts ▸ 18.1%

3.5% 1 bedroom +6.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

5.6% 5 or more +3.5 pts ▸ 9.1%

0.5% Studio / none +2.3 pts ▸ 2.8%

Weekly rent distribution

46.6% $200–$349 ◂ +25.3 pts 21.2%

19.0% Under $200 +20.6 pts ▸ 39.6%

28.0% $350–$549 ◂ +10.7 pts 17.2%

2.3% $550–$749 +4.9 pts ▸ 7.2%

0.5% $750 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 1.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.3% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +19.7 pts 21.6%

25.9% $1,800–$2,999 +11.6 pts ▸ 37.5%

6.1% $3,000 or more +17.4 pts ▸ 23.5%

20.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +10.1 pts 10.8%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

67.5% Car (driver) ◂ +7.6 pts 59.9%

3.1% Walked +6.5 pts ▸ 9.6%

6.3% Worked at home +1.7 pts ▸ 7.9%

6.0% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.0 pts 5.0%

1.0% Bus +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.6% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.2% 2 vehicles ◂ +4.7 pts 32.6%

37.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +10.8 pts 26.2%

12.9% 3 vehicles +4.0 pts ▸ 16.9%

6.8% 4 or more +8.0 pts ▸ 14.8%

6.0% No vehicle +3.5 pts ▸ 9.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +7.5 pts 7.5%

5.6% Public administration & safety +9.2 pts ▸ 14.8%

8.9% Construction +3.3 pts ▸ 12.2%

3.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +7.8 pts ▸ 11.1%

10.0% Retail trade ◂ +4.3 pts 5.7%

8.8% Education & training ◂ +0.4 pts 8.4%

7.6% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.7 pts 5.0%

6.5% Manufacturing ◂ +3.6 pts 2.9%

6.1% Mining ◂ +1.6 pts 4.5%

4.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.7 pts 4.0%

4.2% Other services even 4.2%

3.6% Professional & technical ◂ +0.2 pts 3.4%

Occupations people work in

16.6% Technicians & trades +1.2 pts ▸ 17.8%

9.6% Managers +6.4 pts ▸ 16.0%

15.4% Professionals ◂ +0.7 pts 14.7%

13.2% Labourers ◂ +0.8 pts 12.4%

13.1% Community & personal service ◂ +1.9 pts 11.2%

11.5% Clerical & administrative +1.3 pts ▸ 12.8%

9.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.0 pts 7.7%

9.0% Sales workers ◂ +3.9 pts 5.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Other Urban in Rural Balance +3.7 higher in Other Urban

4.0 49th pct 0.3 7th pct

Types ≤15 min in Other Urban in Rural Balance +3.9 more in Other Urban

4.3 51st pct 0.3 7th pct

15-min city in Other Urban in Rural Balance +48.6 pts higher in Other Urban

49.2% 47th pct 0.6% 3rd pct

Walk to shops in Other Urban in Rural Balance +51.3 pts higher in Other Urban

54.4% 51st pct 3.0% 12th pct

Walk to transit in Other Urban in Rural Balance +25.9 pts higher in Other Urban

29.8% 43rd pct 3.9% 19th pct

Walk to school in Other Urban in Rural Balance +52.1 pts higher in Other Urban

57.9% 56th pct 5.8% 16th pct

Walk to a park in Other Urban in Rural Balance +80.5 pts higher in Other Urban

86.9% 57th pct 6.4% 5th pct

Walk to health in Other Urban in Rural Balance +39.5 pts higher in Other Urban

42.8% 57th pct 3.3% 29th pct

Amenities/1k in Other Urban in Rural Balance +4.4 more in Rural Balance

12.6 3rd pct 17.1 40th pct

Intersections/km² in Other Urban in Rural Balance +37 higher in Other Urban

37 57th pct 0 0th pct

Mean slope in Other Urban in Rural Balance +1.8 pts higher in Other Urban

5.3% 44th pct 3.5% 10th pct

Compare Other Urban with nearby areas

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

Compare Rural Balance with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Other Urban vs Rural Balance [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sos/SOS31/other-urban/vs/SOS73/rural-balance