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Mer (Murray) Island vs Yorke Island

Urban Centre comparison ≈ 73 km apart · Mer (Murray) Island profile · Yorke Island profile

Mer (Murray) Island Yorke Island

Mer (Murray) Island (L) and Yorke Island (L) are two sparsely populated areas in the Torres Strait. Yorke Island (L) has a far higher share of children under 15 (37.5%) and a much larger proportion of one-parent families (37.8%). Full-time employment is also far higher in Yorke Island (L) at 62.7%, compared to 47.3% in Mer (Murray) Island (L). In contrast, the typical weekly household income is well higher in Mer (Murray) Island (L) at $1,262, whereas it is $949 in Yorke Island (L).

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of people providing unpaid care for children. They are also very similar in their high rates of people using another language at home and their typical weekly rents of $150. While they share these commonalities, the gap in the number of people who volunteer has widened since 2011, and the difference in full-time employment has also grown.

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Where they differ most

PT commute: 9.9 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island Housework 15h+: 22.4 pts higher in Yorke Island One-parent: 21.3 pts higher in Yorke Island Volunteering: 17.3 pts higher in Yorke Island Full-time: 15.5 pts higher in Yorke Island

Demographics & Identity

Population in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +123 larger in Mer (Murray) Island gap narrowing
406 27th pct 283 15th pct
Median age in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +1 yrs older in Yorke Island gap widening
27 yrs 2nd pct 28 yrs 3rd pct
First Nations in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +1.9 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap narrowing
90.6% 100th pct 88.7% 99th pct
Aged 65+ in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +4.1 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap narrowing
10.1% 12th pct 6.0% 5th pct
Under 15 in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +11.1 pts higher in Yorke Island gap widening
26.4% 92nd pct 37.5% 100th pct
De facto in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +6.2 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap steady
36.8% 100th pct 30.5% 100th pct

Age structure

26.4% Children (0–14) +11.1 pts ▸ 37.5%
25.6% Young adults (25–44) +5.5 pts ▸ 31.1%
21.2% Youth (15–24) ◂ +12.3 pts 8.8%
20.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +0.7 pts 19.8%
10.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.1 pts 6.0%

Marital status

74.7% Never married +0.3 pts ▸ 75.0%
17.1% Married ◂ +2.4 pts 14.7%
4.9% Widowed ◂ +0.6 pts 4.3%
3.0% Separated +0.3 pts ▸ 3.3%
1.0% Divorced +0.6 pts ▸ 1.6%

Age & sex structure

Mer (Murray) Island Yorke Island

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +1.7 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
1.5% 1st pct 3.2% 6th pct

Country of birth

92.6% Australia ◂ +2.5 pts 90.1%
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

0.0% English +2.8 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.0% Filipino +2.5 pts ▸ 2.5%
0.7% Scottish +1.4 pts ▸ 2.1%
1.2% Australian ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%
0.0% Irish even 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 Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +0.3 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap steady
87.9% 100th pct 87.6% 100th pct
Limited English in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +1.8 pts higher in Yorke Island gap steady
21.2% 100th pct 23.0% 100th pct

Language used at home

6.4% English only ◂ +1.5 pts 4.9%
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 Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +7.6 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
10.1% 0th pct 17.7% 5th pct

Religious affiliation

84.7% Christianity ◂ +9.5 pts 75.3%
10.1% No religion +7.6 pts ▸ 17.7%
5.4% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 4.9%
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 Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +7.6 pts higher in Yorke Island gap widening
40.7% 57th pct 48.3% 76th pct
Bachelor+ in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +1.0 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
4.9% 10th pct 6.0% 13th pct

Highest year of school

40.7% Year 12 +7.6 pts ▸ 48.3%
20.7% Year 10 ◂ +2.9 pts 17.8%
14.9% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.3 pts 12.6%
14.6% Year 11 ◂ +3.1 pts 11.5%

Highest qualification level

43.9% Certificate III / IV ◂ +2.2 pts 41.7%
7.3% Certificate I / II +9.3 pts ▸ 16.7%
8.1% Bachelor degree ◂ +1.9 pts 6.3%
7.3% Advanced diploma / diploma even 7.3%
4.1% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.1 pts ▸ 5.2%
0.0% Postgraduate degree even 0.0%

Field of qualification

10.6% Engineering & related +5.1 pts ▸ 15.6%
8.1% Architecture & building +7.5 pts ▸ 15.6%
15.4% Management & commerce +0.2 pts ▸ 15.6%
7.3% Society & culture +8.3 pts ▸ 15.6%
13.0% Education ◂ +0.5 pts 12.5%
6.5% Health ◂ +1.3 pts 5.2%
6.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +2.3 pts 4.2%
4.9% Creative arts ◂ +4.9 pts 0.0%
0.0% Agriculture & environment +3.1 pts ▸ 3.1%
0.0% Natural & physical sciences even 0.0%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +$72 higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
$351 5th pct $423 10th pct
Household income in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +$313 higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap widening
$1,262 50th pct $949 18th pct
Family income in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +$49 higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
$906 6th pct $955 8th pct
High earners in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +0.7 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
2.0% 10th pct 2.7% 13th pct
High-income homes in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +4.2 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 4.2% 13th pct

Household income distribution

31.0% $650–$1,499 +18.3 pts ▸ 49.3%
35.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +15.9 pts 19.7%
18.4% Under $650 +12.6 pts ▸ 31.0%
0.0% $3,000–$3,999 +4.2 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.0% $4,000 or more even 0.0%

Personal income distribution

75.3% Under $650 ◂ +2.0 pts 73.4%
13.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.4 pts 13.0%
3.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.2 pts 2.7%
0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +2.7 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island
19.0% 7th pct 16.3% 4th pct
Mental health in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +0.5 pts higher in Yorke Island
1.2% 0th pct 1.8% 2nd pct
Needs assistance in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +0.4 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap narrowing
4.7% 29th pct 4.2% 24th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

12.1% Diabetes ◂ +3.9 pts 8.1%
3.9% Asthma +0.7 pts ▸ 4.6%
3.9% Arthritis ◂ +1.5 pts 2.5%
3.0% Other condition +0.9 pts ▸ 3.9%
2.5% Heart disease +0.4 pts ▸ 2.8%
1.2% Mental health +0.5 pts ▸ 1.8%
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

74.1% None +1.1 pts ▸ 75.3%
15.8% One condition ◂ +0.6 pts 15.2%
3.9% Two conditions ◂ +2.5 pts 1.4%
0.0% Three or more even 0.0%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +17.3 pts higher in Yorke Island gap widening
6.6% 5th pct 23.9% 86th pct
Unpaid carers in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +5.4 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
10.9% 23rd pct 16.3% 87th pct
Unpaid child care in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +9.3 pts higher in Yorke Island gap widening
26.0% 59th pct 35.3% 87th pct
Defence service in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +5.8 pts higher in Yorke Island
7.5% 94th pct 13.3% 100th pct
Housework 15h+ in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +22.4 pts higher in Yorke Island gap widening
2.6% 0th pct 25.0% 59th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +0.6 larger in Mer (Murray) Island gap widening
3.9 96th pct 3.3 90th pct
One-parent in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +21.3 pts higher in Yorke Island gap widening
16.5% 59th pct 37.8% 100th pct
Living alone in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +14.9 pts higher in Yorke Island gap widening
16.1% 14th pct 31.0% 57th pct

Family composition

63.9% Couples with children ◂ +12.3 pts 51.6%
16.5% One-parent families +21.3 pts ▸ 37.8%
15.0% Couples without children ◂ +3.0 pts 12.0%
2.4% Other families ◂ +2.4 pts 0.0%

Household size

16.1% 1 person +14.9 pts ▸ 31.0%
27.6% 6 or more ◂ +3.6 pts 23.9%
17.2% 2 people +3.9 pts ▸ 21.1%
9.2% 5 people +3.5 pts ▸ 12.7%
10.3% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 11.3%
5.7% 4 people ◂ +1.5 pts 4.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even gap narrowing
$150 11th pct $150 11th pct
Mortgage in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island
$1,084 29th pct —
People / bedroom in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +0.30 higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap widening
1.10 92nd pct 0.80 57th pct
Renting in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +8.9 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap widening
92.0% 100th pct 83.1% 98th pct
Owned outright in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +5.6 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 5.6% 3rd pct
Separate houses in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +8.0 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
92.0% 42nd pct 100.0% 100th pct
3+ bedrooms in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +7.6 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
83.9% 72nd pct 91.5% 90th pct

How homes are owned or rented

92.0% Rented ◂ +8.9 pts 83.1%
6.9% Other tenure +0.1 pts ▸ 7.0%
0.0% Owned outright +5.6 pts ▸ 5.6%
0.0% Not stated +4.2 pts ▸ 4.2%
0.0% Owned with a mortgage even 0.0%

Types of homes

92.0% Separate house +12.3 pts ▸ 104.2%
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

25.3% 5 or more +18.4 pts ▸ 43.7%
37.9% 4 bedrooms ◂ +11.2 pts 26.8%
20.7% 3 bedrooms +0.4 pts ▸ 21.1%
12.6% 2 bedrooms ◂ +8.4 pts 4.2%
0.0% Studio / none even 0.0%
0.0% 1 bedroom even 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

92.5% Under $200 ◂ +9.4 pts 83.1%
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 Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +6.2 pts higher in Yorke Island gap steady
48.2% 97th pct 54.4% 99th pct
Work from home in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
PT commute in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +9.9 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap widening
9.9% 100th pct 0.0% 0th pct

How people get to work

30.8% Walked +32.0 pts ▸ 62.7%
31.9% Car (driver) ◂ +2.5 pts 29.4%
23.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +17.2 pts 5.9%
9.9% Bus ◂ +9.9 pts 0.0%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%
0.0% Worked at home even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

48.2% No vehicle +6.2 pts ▸ 54.4%
41.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +8.6 pts 32.4%
14.5% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.7 pts 11.8%
0.0% 3 vehicles even 0.0%
0.0% 4 or more even 0.0%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +1.8 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap narrowing
22.8% 10th pct 21.1% 8th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +7.1 pts higher in Yorke Island gap narrowing
7.9% 80th pct 15.0% 91st pct
Participation in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +0.6 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island gap steady
33.2% 7th pct 32.6% 6th pct
Full-time in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +15.5 pts higher in Yorke Island gap widening
47.3% 12th pct 62.7% 81st pct

Industries people work in

41.8% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.5 pts 39.2%
16.5% Education & training +5.1 pts ▸ 21.6%
6.6% Health care & social assistance +9.1 pts ▸ 15.7%
14.3% Retail trade ◂ +14.3 pts 0.0%
0.0% Accommodation & food +9.8 pts ▸ 9.8%
0.0% Transport & warehousing +7.8 pts ▸ 7.8%
7.7% Administrative & support ◂ +7.7 pts 0.0%
5.5% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +5.5 pts 0.0%
4.4% Construction ◂ +4.4 pts 0.0%
3.3% Electricity, gas & water ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%
0.0% Mining even 0.0%
0.0% Manufacturing even 0.0%

Occupations people work in

16.5% Community & personal service +16.8 pts ▸ 33.3%
24.2% Professionals ◂ +0.6 pts 23.5%
16.5% Labourers +1.2 pts ▸ 17.6%
16.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +10.6 pts 5.9%
11.0% Technicians & trades ◂ +11.0 pts 0.0%
8.8% Sales workers ◂ +2.9 pts 5.9%
7.7% Managers ◂ +1.8 pts 5.9%
0.0% Machinery operators & drivers even 0.0%

Walkability

Walk score in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
Types ≤15 min in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even
0.0 0th pct 0.0 0th pct
15-min city in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to a park in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to health in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +17.2 more in Mer (Murray) Island
17.2 46th pct 0.0 0th pct
Intersections/km² in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +20 higher in Yorke Island
6 8th pct 26 41st pct
Mean slope in Mer (Murray) Islandin Yorke Island +9.2 pts higher in Mer (Murray) Island
11.1% 93rd pct 1.9% 0th pct

Compare Mer (Murray) Island with nearby areas

Erub (Darnley) Island Yorke Island Warraber Island Iama (Yam) Island Saibai Island Dauan Island St Pauls Mabuiag Island

Compare Yorke Island with nearby areas

Erub (Darnley) Island Iama (Yam) Island Mer (Murray) Island Warraber Island Saibai Island Dauan Island St Pauls Mabuiag Island

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Mer (Murray) Island vs Yorke Island [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL322077/mer-island/vs/UCL322139/yorke-island