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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 ≈ 780 km apart · Rural Balance profile · Major Urban profile

Rural Balance Major Urban

Major Urban and Rural Balance are very different places. Major Urban is a younger, wealthier area where the typical resident is 35 and typical weekly personal income is $1,204. It is also more diverse, with 28.8% of people born overseas and 24.6% using a language other than English at home. In contrast, Rural Balance is much older, with a typical age of 46, and has a lower typical personal income of $690. Housing also differs sharply; 98.4% of homes in Rural Balance are separate houses, compared to 63.1% in Major Urban.

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of people who need help with daily activities. Beyond that, they have diverged further since 2011. Gaps have widened in typical incomes, the share of university graduates, and the number of people born overseas. Major Urban remains far more walkable, with 98.2% of homes within a 10 minute walk of public transport, while only 8.9% of homes in Rural Balance have that same access.

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Where they differ most

Population: 345,309 larger in Major Urban Year 12: 35.4 pts higher in Major Urban Bachelor+: 25.7 pts higher in Major Urban Separate houses: 35.2 pts higher in Rural Balance Other language: 21.5 pts higher in Major Urban

Demographics & Identity

Population in Rural Balance in Major Urban +345,309 larger in Major Urban gap widening

107,361 59th pct 452,670 77th pct

Median age in Rural Balance in Major Urban +11 yrs older in Rural Balance gap widening

46 yrs 79th pct 35 yrs 10th pct

Age structure

21.1% Young adults (25–44) +11.3 pts ▸ 32.4%

32.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +9.7 pts 22.3%

20.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +6.5 pts 13.7%

16.7% Children (0–14) +1.5 pts ▸ 18.3%

9.9% Youth (15–24) +3.5 pts ▸ 13.3%

Marital status

51.4% Married ◂ +4.7 pts 46.8%

31.6% Never married +7.6 pts ▸ 39.2%

9.9% Divorced ◂ +2.1 pts 7.7%

4.0% Widowed ◂ +0.3 pts 3.7%

3.1% Separated ◂ +0.5 pts 2.5%

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

81.1% Australia ◂ +13.6 pts 67.5%

4.3% England ◂ +1.4 pts 2.9%

0.2% India +3.6 pts ▸ 3.8%

0.2% China +2.5 pts ▸ 2.7%

1.4% New Zealand ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

0.1% Nepal +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Philippines +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.1% Vietnam +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Italy +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Ancestry

45.3% English ◂ +13.4 pts 32.0%

43.1% Australian ◂ +11.6 pts 31.5%

10.3% Irish +1.3 pts ▸ 11.6%

10.1% Scottish ◂ +0.1 pts 10.0%

0.6% Chinese +5.2 pts ▸ 5.7%

0.3% Indian +4.2 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.0% German +0.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

1.2% Italian +2.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.4% Dutch ◂ +0.7 pts 1.7%

0.4% Filipino +1.2 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.1% Vietnamese +1.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.3% Greek +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

Language

Language used at home

90.7% English only ◂ +19.5 pts 71.2%

0.2% Mandarin +3.0 pts ▸ 3.2%

0.1% Vietnamese +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.0% Punjabi +1.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.0% Hindi +1.0 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.0% Cantonese +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Arabic +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Italian +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

51.4% No religion ◂ +7.2 pts 44.2%

38.4% Christianity ◂ +0.3 pts 38.1%

8.7% Not stated ◂ +3.1 pts 5.6%

0.2% Hinduism +4.3 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.3% Islam +3.0 pts ▸ 3.2%

0.5% Buddhism +2.3 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.4% Other religions +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.1% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

41.7% Year 12 +35.4 pts ▸ 77.1%

32.6% Year 10 ◂ +22.0 pts 10.5%

9.5% Year 9 or below ◂ +5.3 pts 4.2%

8.8% Year 11 ◂ +5.3 pts 3.5%

Highest qualification level

36.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +21.1 pts 15.0%

19.5% Bachelor degree +14.5 pts ▸ 33.9%

5.9% Postgraduate degree +14.0 pts ▸ 19.9%

14.3% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.3 pts 13.0%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +3.2 pts ▸ 6.3%

2.7% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.4 pts 1.3%

Field of qualification

10.9% Society & culture +9.2 pts ▸ 20.1%

13.0% Management & commerce +7.0 pts ▸ 20.1%

16.3% Engineering & related ◂ +7.9 pts 8.4%

10.3% Health ◂ +1.6 pts 8.7%

8.2% Education ◂ +1.3 pts 6.9%

1.4% Information technology +6.2 pts ▸ 7.6%

6.8% Architecture & building ◂ +2.9 pts 3.9%

6.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +4.4 pts 1.6%

3.0% Natural & physical sciences +2.7 pts ▸ 5.6%

5.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.6 pts 3.3%

3.1% Creative arts +1.1 pts ▸ 4.2%

Income

Personal income in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$514 higher in Major Urban gap widening

$690 37th pct $1,204 84th pct

Household income in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$946 higher in Major Urban gap widening

$1,426 35th pct $2,372 88th pct

Family income in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$1,135 higher in Major Urban gap widening

$1,736 35th pct $2,871 95th pct

Household income distribution

29.0% $1,500–$2,999 +3.6 pts ▸ 32.6%

31.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +13.5 pts 17.5%

6.4% $4,000 or more +15.5 pts ▸ 21.9%

17.0% Under $650 ◂ +8.5 pts 8.6%

8.0% $3,000–$3,999 +6.4 pts ▸ 14.5%

Personal income distribution

44.2% Under $650 ◂ +16.4 pts 27.9%

31.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.2 pts 29.7%

14.1% $1,500–$2,999 +15.7 pts ▸ 29.8%

2.5% $3,000 or more +5.3 pts ▸ 7.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.1% Arthritis ◂ +4.3 pts 7.7%

9.6% Mental health +0.4 pts ▸ 10.0%

8.1% Other condition +1.6 pts ▸ 9.7%

8.4% Asthma +0.6 pts ▸ 9.0%

4.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%

4.3% Heart disease ◂ +1.2 pts 3.1%

3.4% Cancer ◂ +0.8 pts 2.7%

2.3% Lung condition ◂ +0.9 pts 1.3%

1.0% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.3% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.9% None +6.1 pts ▸ 66.0%

21.1% One condition ◂ +1.2 pts 19.8%

7.0% Two conditions ◂ +1.2 pts 5.8%

3.4% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 2.4%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Rural Balance in Major Urban even gap narrowing

2.5 57th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

54.0% Couples with children +5.8 pts ▸ 59.8%

35.3% Couples without children ◂ +8.1 pts 27.2%

10.1% One-parent families +1.8 pts ▸ 11.9%

0.6% Other families +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

Household size

41.0% 2 people ◂ +8.3 pts 32.7%

22.4% 1 person +3.4 pts ▸ 25.8%

14.2% 3 people +2.4 pts ▸ 16.5%

13.3% 4 people +3.1 pts ▸ 16.4%

5.9% 5 people +0.1 pts ▸ 6.0%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 2.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$200 higher in Major Urban gap steady

$250 30th pct $450 100th pct

Mortgage in Rural Balance in Major Urban +$730 higher in Major Urban gap narrowing

$1,350 22nd pct $2,080 88th 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

46.2% Owned outright ◂ +19.6 pts 26.6%

37.9% Owned with a mortgage +2.3 pts ▸ 40.2%

11.1% Rented +19.6 pts ▸ 30.7%

3.2% Other tenure ◂ +1.7 pts 1.6%

1.5% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

Types of homes

98.4% Separate house ◂ +35.2 pts 63.1%

0.2% Flat or apartment +19.2 pts ▸ 19.4%

0.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +16.8 pts ▸ 17.2%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.7 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

47.2% 3 bedrooms ◂ +10.1 pts 37.1%

24.4% 4 bedrooms +4.3 pts ▸ 28.8%

14.7% 2 bedrooms +2.8 pts ▸ 17.5%

4.3% 1 bedroom +4.2 pts ▸ 8.4%

7.0% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 7.1%

0.9% Studio / none ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

19.4% $350–$549 +26.5 pts ▸ 45.8%

43.9% $200–$349 ◂ +31.5 pts 12.4%

26.3% Under $200 ◂ +13.9 pts 12.5%

1.8% $550–$749 +19.4 pts ▸ 21.2%

0.4% $750 or more +4.6 pts ▸ 5.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.7% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +13.1 pts 25.6%

21.6% $1,800–$2,999 +16.8 pts ▸ 38.5%

27.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +16.7 pts 11.0%

6.8% $3,000 or more +14.0 pts ▸ 20.9%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

64.5% Car (driver) ◂ +5.5 pts 59.0%

12.5% Worked at home ◂ +1.6 pts 10.9%

3.8% Car (passenger) +1.2 pts ▸ 5.0%

3.1% Walked +0.9 pts ▸ 4.0%

0.6% Bus +3.0 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.2% Bicycle +1.9 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

21.4% 1 vehicle +17.9 pts ▸ 39.3%

39.2% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.5 pts 38.7%

21.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +10.3 pts 10.9%

16.8% 4 or more ◂ +11.3 pts 5.5%

1.3% No vehicle +4.2 pts ▸ 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

5.7% Public administration & safety +24.0 pts ▸ 29.8%

14.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +14.1 pts 0.2%

12.9% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.4 pts 11.5%

4.5% Professional & technical +6.4 pts ▸ 10.9%

10.1% Construction ◂ +3.4 pts 6.6%

8.2% Education & training +1.2 pts ▸ 9.4%

7.2% Retail trade ◂ +0.7 pts 6.5%

7.2% Manufacturing ◂ +5.5 pts 1.7%

6.0% Accommodation & food +0.3 pts ▸ 6.3%

4.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.0 pts 2.1%

3.6% Other services ◂ +0.8 pts 2.9%

2.8% Administrative & support ◂ +0.1 pts 2.6%

Occupations people work in

16.2% Professionals +15.3 pts ▸ 31.5%

18.1% Managers ◂ +0.3 pts 17.8%

15.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +6.1 pts 9.6%

10.3% Clerical & administrative +4.2 pts ▸ 14.6%

12.5% Labourers ◂ +7.5 pts 5.0%

10.8% Community & personal service +0.1 pts ▸ 10.9%

7.6% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +5.2 pts 2.4%

6.7% Sales workers ◂ +0.6 pts 6.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Rural Balance in Major Urban +6.3 higher in Major Urban

0.7 15th pct 7.0 96th pct

Types ≤15 min in Rural Balance in Major Urban +5.8 more in Major Urban

0.7 15th pct 6.5 96th pct

15-min city in Rural Balance in Major Urban +79.1 pts higher in Major Urban

3.4% 18th pct 82.5% 96th pct

Walk to shops in Rural Balance in Major Urban +75.4 pts higher in Major Urban

5.2% 29th pct 80.6% 90th pct

Walk to transit in Rural Balance in Major Urban +89.3 pts higher in Major Urban

8.9% 29th pct 98.2% 100th pct

Walk to school in Rural Balance in Major Urban +82.2 pts higher in Major Urban

3.7% 10th pct 86.0% 94th pct

Walk to a park in Rural Balance in Major Urban +74.8 pts higher in Major Urban

24.8% 19th pct 99.7% 99th pct

Walk to health in Rural Balance in Major Urban +62.8 pts higher in Major Urban

1.9% 29th pct 64.8% 93rd pct

Amenities/1k in Rural Balance in Major Urban +9.2 more in Rural Balance

28.0 75th pct 18.8 46th pct

Intersections/km² in Rural Balance in Major Urban +245 higher in Major Urban

0 14th pct 246 100th pct

Mean slope in Rural Balance in Major Urban +5.3 pts higher in Rural Balance

10.8% 95th pct 5.5% 51st pct

Compare Rural Balance with nearby areas

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

Compare Major Urban with nearby areas

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

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/SOS63/rural-balance/vs/SOS80/major-urban