# Saibai Island vs St Pauls — 2021 Census comparison

Urban Centre comparison · about 96 km apart

Saibai Island (L) and St Pauls (L) are two sparsely populated areas in the Torres Strait. Saibai Island (L) is much younger, with a typical resident aged 25 compared to 34 in St Pauls (L). This younger profile is seen in the children under 15, who make up 37.9% of the Saibai Island (L) population, 12 percentage points higher than in St Pauls (L). Saibai Island (L) also has a far higher unemployment rate at 43.1%, while St Pauls (L) is at 0.0%.

Typical weekly household incomes are almost identical, sitting at $922 in Saibai Island (L) and $985 in St Pauls (L). Both areas are car-dependent and have very low typical weekly rents, which are $115 and $123 respectively. While they share these common costs, other gaps have shifted over time; for example, the age difference between the two areas has widened since 2011, and Saibai Island (L) now has a far higher share of people born overseas than St Pauls (L).

## Where they differ most

- Unemployment: 43.1 pts higher in Saibai Island
- Renting: 18.6 pts higher in Saibai Island
- Other language: 15.8 pts higher in Saibai Island
- Median age: 9 yrs older in St Pauls
- Unpaid carers: 6.4 pts higher in Saibai Island

## Demographics & Identity

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Population | 340 | 278 | 62 larger in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |
| Median age | 25 yrs | 34 yrs | 9 yrs older in St Pauls | gap widening |
| First Nations | 85.6% | 87.1% | 1.5 pts higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |
| Aged 65+ | 5.0% | 12.2% | 7.2 pts higher in St Pauls | gap widening |
| Under 15 | 37.9% | 26.3% | 11.7 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap widening |
| De facto | 15.8% | 20.0% | 4.2 pts higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |

### Age structure

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Children (0–14) | 37.9% | 26.3% | +11.7 |
| Young adults (25–44) | 27.4% | 27.7% | -0.3 |
| Older adults (45–64) | 15.9% | 22.7% | -6.8 |
| Youth (15–24) | 12.4% | 7.2% | +5.2 |
| Seniors (65+) | 5.0% | 12.2% | -7.2 |

### Marital status

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Never married | 66.0% | 56.4% | +9.6 |
| Married | 27.3% | 34.2% | -6.9 |
| Widowed | 2.4% | 5.9% | -3.5 |
| Divorced | 0.0% | 4.5% | -4.5 |
| Separated | 2.4% | 2.5% | -0.1 |

### Age profile

Share of each region's population by age band and sex.

| Age band | Saibai Island male | Saibai Island female | St Pauls male | St Pauls female |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0–4 | 6.8% | 3.0% | 6.3% | 6.0% |
| 5–9 | 10.4% | 8.3% | 4.9% | 5.3% |
| 10–14 | 6.8% | 3.0% | 1.4% | 4.6% |
| 15–19 | 3.9% | 3.0% | 4.2% | 1.1% |
| 20–24 | 1.8% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 1.4% |
| 25–29 | 2.7% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 4.9% |
| 30–34 | 3.6% | 3.9% | 2.5% | 6.0% |
| 35–39 | 3.6% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 2.5% |
| 40–44 | 0.9% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 1.1% |
| 45–49 | 4.7% | 0.9% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| 50–54 | 3.0% | 2.4% | 5.6% | 1.1% |
| 55–59 | 2.4% | 1.5% | 3.2% | 5.3% |
| 60–64 | 1.8% | 2.4% | 1.4% | 2.1% |
| 65–69 | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.4% | 2.5% |
| 70–74 | 1.5% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| 75–79 | 1.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.8% |
| 80–84 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| 85+ | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |

## Ancestry & Birthplace

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Born overseas | 10.9% | 0.0% | 10.9 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap widening |

### Country of birth

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Australia | 81.2% | 87.4% | -6.2 |
| England | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| India | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| China | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| New Zealand | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Philippines | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Vietnam | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Nepal | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Italy | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| South Africa | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Ancestry

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English | 2.1% | 5.4% | -3.3 |
| Australian | 0.0% | 4.3% | -4.3 |
| Scottish | 0.0% | 1.1% | -1.1 |
| Irish | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Chinese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Italian | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| German | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Indian | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Greek | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Dutch | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Filipino | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Vietnamese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Language

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Other language | 88.8% | 73.0% | 15.8 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |
| Limited English | 12.1% | 14.0% | 2.0 pts higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |

### Language used at home

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English only | 6.5% | 14.4% | -7.9 |
| Mandarin | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Arabic | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Vietnamese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Cantonese | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Punjabi | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Greek | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Italian | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Hindi | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Tagalog | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Religion

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No religion | 11.2% | 4.3% | 6.9 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap widening |

### Religious affiliation

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Christianity | 70.6% | 82.7% | -12.1 |
| Not stated | 16.5% | 12.2% | +4.2 |
| No religion | 11.2% | 4.3% | +6.9 |
| Islam | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Hinduism | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Buddhism | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Judaism | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Other religions | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Education & Qualifications

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 47.7% | 38.9% | 8.8 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |
| Bachelor+ | 5.7% | 3.0% | 2.8 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap steady |

### Highest year of school

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year 12 | 47.7% | 38.9% | +8.8 |
| Year 9 or below | 18.3% | 14.3% | +4.0 |
| Year 10 | 15.7% | 14.8% | +1.0 |
| Year 11 | 9.6% | 10.3% | -0.7 |

### Highest qualification level

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Certificate III / IV | 29.7% | 36.7% | -7.0 |
| Advanced diploma / diploma | 14.4% | 11.9% | +2.5 |
| Bachelor degree | 10.2% | 5.5% | +4.7 |
| Certificate I / II | 8.5% | 6.4% | +2.1 |
| Postgraduate degree | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Graduate diploma / certificate | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Field of qualification

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Management & commerce | 10.2% | 14.7% | -4.5 |
| Architecture & building | 7.6% | 13.8% | -6.1 |
| Education | 11.0% | 11.9% | -0.9 |
| Health | 7.6% | 9.2% | -1.5 |
| Society & culture | 8.5% | 6.4% | +2.1 |
| Engineering & related | 4.2% | 3.7% | +0.6 |
| Agriculture & environment | 0.0% | 2.8% | -2.8 |
| Food, hospitality & personal services | 2.5% | 2.8% | -0.2 |
| Natural & physical sciences | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Information technology | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Creative arts | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Income

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Personal income | $405 | $546 | $141 higher in St Pauls | gap widening |
| Household income | $922 | $985 | $63 higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |
| Family income | $812 | $1,097 | $285 higher in St Pauls | gap widening |
| High earners | 1.9% | 5.9% | 4.0 pts higher in St Pauls | gap widening |
| High-income homes | 0.0% | 3.5% | 3.5 pts higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |

### Household income distribution

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $650–$1,499 | 45.5% | 33.7% | +11.7 |
| Under $650 | 24.7% | 16.3% | +8.4 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 10.4% | 14.0% | -3.6 |
| $3,000–$3,999 | 0.0% | 3.5% | -3.5 |
| $4,000 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Personal income distribution

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $650 | 67.9% | 47.5% | +20.4 |
| $650–$1,499 | 19.1% | 22.8% | -3.6 |
| $1,500–$2,999 | 1.9% | 7.9% | -6.0 |
| $3,000 or more | 0.0% | 3.0% | -3.0 |

## Health & Disability

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Health condition | 13.8% | 22.3% | 8.5 pts higher in St Pauls |  |
| Mental health | 0.9% | 1.8% | 0.9 pts higher in St Pauls |  |
| Needs assistance | 6.2% | 3.6% | 2.6 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap widening |

### Long-term health conditions reported

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Diabetes | 9.7% | 15.8% | -6.1 |
| Asthma | 4.1% | 1.1% | +3.0 |
| Arthritis | 0.0% | 3.6% | -3.6 |
| Other condition | 2.6% | 2.9% | -0.2 |
| Heart disease | 0.0% | 1.8% | -1.8 |
| Mental health | 0.9% | 1.8% | -0.9 |
| Stroke | 0.0% | 1.8% | -1.8 |
| Cancer | 1.8% | 0.0% | +1.8 |
| Dementia | 0.0% | 1.4% | -1.4 |
| Lung condition | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Number of long-term health conditions

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| None | 69.1% | 64.0% | +5.1 |
| One condition | 12.6% | 16.5% | -3.9 |
| Two conditions | 0.9% | 2.5% | -1.6 |
| Three or more | 1.8% | 1.4% | +0.3 |

## Community Participation

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteering | 24.4% | 23.8% | 0.6 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |
| Unpaid carers | 14.4% | 7.9% | 6.4 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap widening |
| Unpaid child care | 42.6% | 30.7% | 11.9 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap widening |
| Defence service | 6.4% | 9.3% | 2.8 pts higher in St Pauls |  |
| Housework 15h+ | 14.8% | 8.4% | 6.4 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |

## Family & Households

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Household size | 3.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 larger in Saibai Island | gap widening |
| One-parent | 42.8% | 33.0% | 9.8 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |
| Living alone | 23.4% | 27.9% | 4.5 pts higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |

### Family composition

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Couples with children | 51.9% | 53.6% | -1.7 |
| One-parent families | 42.8% | 33.0% | +9.8 |
| Couples without children | 3.9% | 11.5% | -7.6 |
| Other families | 0.0% | 1.9% | -1.9 |

### Household size

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 people | 10.4% | 30.2% | -19.8 |
| 1 person | 23.4% | 27.9% | -4.5 |
| 6 or more | 26.0% | 3.5% | +22.5 |
| 3 people | 22.1% | 14.0% | +8.1 |
| 4 people | 15.6% | 5.8% | +9.8 |
| 5 people | 10.4% | 15.1% | -4.7 |

## Housing & Dwellings

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rent | $115 | $123 | $8 higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |
| People / bedroom | 1.00 | 0.90 | 0.10 higher in Saibai Island | gap steady |
| Renting | 100.0% | 81.4% | 18.6 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |
| Owned outright | 0.0% | 12.8% | 12.8 pts higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |
| Separate houses | 90.9% | 94.2% | 3.3 pts higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |
| 3+ bedrooms | 83.1% | 79.1% | 4.0 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |

### How homes are owned or rented

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rented | 102.6% | 81.4% | +21.2 |
| Owned outright | 0.0% | 12.8% | -12.8 |
| Owned with a mortgage | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Other tenure | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Not stated | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Types of homes

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Separate house | 90.9% | 94.2% | -3.3 |
| Townhouse / semi-detached | 7.8% | 0.0% | +7.8 |
| Flat or apartment | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Other dwelling | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Bedrooms per home

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 4 bedrooms | 48.1% | 33.7% | +14.3 |
| 3 bedrooms | 26.0% | 30.2% | -4.3 |
| 2 bedrooms | 3.9% | 18.6% | -14.7 |
| 5 or more | 9.1% | 15.1% | -6.0 |
| Studio / none | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| 1 bedroom | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Weekly rent distribution

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Under $200 | 100.0% | 91.4% | +8.6 |
| $200–$349 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| $350–$549 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| $550–$749 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| $750 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Transport & Vehicles

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No car | 53.3% | 45.6% | 7.8 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 6.3% | 6.3 pts higher in St Pauls | gap widening |
| PT commute | 0.0% | 0.0% |  | gap narrowing |

### How people get to work

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walked | 37.2% | 40.5% | -3.3 |
| Car (driver) | 34.9% | 35.4% | -0.6 |
| Car (passenger) | 16.3% | 5.1% | +11.2 |
| Worked at home | 0.0% | 6.3% | -6.3 |
| Train | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Bus | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Bicycle | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Motor vehicles per home

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No vehicle | 53.3% | 45.6% | +7.8 |
| 1 vehicle | 29.3% | 36.7% | -7.4 |
| 2 vehicles | 5.3% | 11.4% | -6.1 |
| 3 vehicles | 4.0% | 5.1% | -1.1 |
| 4 or more | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

## Migration & Movement

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Recent movers | 10.0% | 23.2% | 13.2 pts higher in St Pauls | gap narrowing |
| Recent arrivals | 0.0% | — |  |  |

## Jobs & Industry

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment | 43.1% | 0.0% | 43.1 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap widening |
| Participation | 27.8% | 40.6% | 12.8 pts higher in St Pauls | gap widening |
| Full-time | 60.5% | 51.9% | 8.6 pts higher in Saibai Island | gap narrowing |

### Industries people work in

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Public administration & safety | 20.9% | 31.6% | -10.7 |
| Education & training | 23.3% | 27.8% | -4.6 |
| Construction | 0.0% | 19.0% | -19.0 |
| Retail trade | 18.6% | 7.6% | +11.0 |
| Health care & social assistance | 9.3% | 13.9% | -4.6 |
| Accommodation & food | 0.0% | 3.8% | -3.8 |
| Transport & warehousing | 0.0% | 3.8% | -3.8 |
| Agriculture, forestry & fishing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Mining | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Manufacturing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Electricity, gas & water | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Wholesale trade | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0 |

### Occupations people work in

| Category | Saibai Island % | St Pauls % | Gap (pts) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professionals | 25.6% | 12.7% | +12.9 |
| Community & personal service | 18.6% | 21.5% | -2.9 |
| Labourers | 0.0% | 16.5% | -16.5 |
| Managers | 11.6% | 8.9% | +2.8 |
| Sales workers | 11.6% | 11.4% | +0.2 |
| Clerical & administrative | 0.0% | 6.3% | -6.3 |
| Technicians & trades | 0.0% | 5.1% | -5.1 |
| Machinery operators & drivers | 0.0% | 5.1% | -5.1 |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Saibai Island | St Pauls | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 higher in Saibai Island |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 more in Saibai Island |  |
| 15-min city | 0.0% | 0.0% |  |  |
| Walk to shops | 0.0% | 0.0% |  |  |
| Walk to transit | 0.0% | 0.0% |  |  |
| Walk to school | 0.0% | 0.0% |  |  |
| Walk to a park | 80.4% | 89.3% | 8.9 pts higher in St Pauls |  |
| Walk to health | 66.0% | 0.0% | 66.0 pts higher in Saibai Island |  |
| Amenities/1k | 11.8 | 0.0 | 11.8 more in Saibai Island |  |
| Intersections/km² | 0 | 5 | 5 higher in St Pauls |  |
| Mean slope | 2.4% | 3.9% | 1.5 pts higher in St Pauls |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL322102/saibai-island/vs/UCL322113/st-pauls