Urban Centre · Area profile

Townsville

266 km²

Townsville has a notably young population and far more renters than most areas.

It also has more residents than most areas and somewhat more graduates than the norm.

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📍 Townsville, Urban Centre

Demographics & Identity

Total population173,724▲ +10.1%since 2011 Median age35 yrs▲ +9.4%since 2011 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population8.9%People aged 65 and over13.7%Children under 1519.3%People in a de facto relationship15.1%▲ +10.1%since 2011

Age & sex structure

Age structure

In Townsville, the largest group is Young adults (25–44) at 28%, followed by Older adults (45–64) (24%) and Children (0–14) (19%).

Young adults (25–44)28.1%

Older adults (45–64)23.8%

Children (0–14)19.3%

Youth (15–24)15.0%

Seniors (65+)13.7%

Marital status

In Townsville, the largest group is Never married at 43%, followed by Married (40%) and Divorced (9%).

Never married43%
Married40%
Divorced9%
Widowed4%
Separated4%

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

In Townsville, the largest group is Australia at 91%, followed by England (3%) and New Zealand (2%).

Australia78.6%

England2.4%

New Zealand2.1%

Philippines1.1%

India1.0%

South Africa0.6%

China0.2%

Italy0.2%

Vietnam0.2%

Nepal0.1%

Ancestry

In Townsville, the largest group is English at 33%, followed by Australian (33%) and Irish (10%).

English37.1%

Australian36.7%

Irish11.3%

Scottish10.4%

German5.3%

Italian4.9%

Filipino1.6%

Chinese1.4%

Dutch1.3%

Indian1.3%

Language

People using another language at home8.4%

Language used at home

In Townsville, the largest group is English only at 97%, followed by Tagalog (1%) and Italian (0%).

English only83.4%

Tagalog0.5%

Italian0.3%

Mandarin0.3%

Punjabi0.2%

Vietnamese0.2%

Greek0.2%

Hindi0.2%

Cantonese0.2%

Arabic0.2%

Religion

People with no religion40.3%

Religious affiliation

In Townsville, the largest group is Christianity at 52%, followed by No religion (45%) and Buddhism (1%).

Christianity52%
No religion45%
Buddhism1%
Hinduism1%
Other religions1%
Islam1%
Judaism0%

Education & Qualifications

Completed Year 1255.0%Adults with a bachelor degree or higher18.5%

Highest year of school

In Townsville, the largest group is Year 12 at 60%, followed by Year 10 (23%) and Year 9 or below (9%).

Year 1255.0%

Year 1021.3%

Year 9 or below7.9%

Year 117.1%

Highest qualification level

In Townsville, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 42%, followed by Bachelor degree (27%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (17%).

Certificate III / IV34.2%

Bachelor degree21.6%

Advanced diploma / diploma13.6%

Postgraduate degree5.9%

Graduate diploma / certificate3.3%

Certificate I / II2.6%

Field of qualification

In Townsville, the largest group is Engineering & related at 19%, followed by Management & commerce (18%) and Society & culture (15%).

Engineering & related15.5%

Management & commerce15.0%

Society & culture12.7%

Health12.6%

Education7.8%

Food, hospitality & personal services5.7%

Architecture & building5.1%

Natural & physical sciences2.9%

Creative arts2.1%

Information technology1.6%

Income

Median personal income (weekly)$869▲ +27.4%since 2011 Median household income (weekly)$1,701▲ +22.4%since 2011 Median family income (weekly)$2,086▲ +27.3%since 2011 People earning $2,000+ a week10.2%Households earning $3,000+ a week18.5%

Household income distribution

In Townsville, the largest group is $1,500–$2,999 at 35%, followed by $650–$1,499 (29%) and Under $650 (16%).

$1,500–$2,99932.2%

$650–$1,49926.5%

Under $65014.2%

$3,000–$3,99910.1%

$4,000 or more8.4%

Personal income distribution

In Townsville, the largest group is Under $650 at 39%, followed by $650–$1,499 (37%) and $1,500–$2,999 (21%).

Under $65035.2%

$650–$1,49933.3%

$1,500–$2,99918.9%

$3,000 or more3.0%

Health & Disability

People with a long-term health condition28.6%People with a mental health condition10.5%People needing help with daily activities5.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

In Townsville, the largest group is None at 68%, followed by One condition (21%) and Two conditions (7%).

None60.5%

One condition19.1%

Two conditions6.1%

Three or more3.4%

Long-term health conditions reported

In Townsville, the largest group is Mental health at 21%, followed by Arthritis (17%) and Other condition (16%).

Mental health10.5%

Arthritis8.6%

Other condition8.3%

Asthma8.2%

Diabetes4.6%

Heart disease3.9%

Cancer2.9%

Lung condition2.0%

Stroke0.9%

Dementia0.8%

Community Participation

Volunteers13.2%People providing unpaid care11.1%People caring for children unpaid26.9%People who served in the Defence Force9.2%People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework18.3%

Family & Households

Average household size2.5▼ -3.8%since 2011 One-parent families18.2%People living alone26.6%▲ +19.7%since 2011

Family composition

In Townsville, the largest group is Couples with children at 53%, followed by Couples without children (27%) and One-parent families (18%).

Couples with children53%
Couples without children27%
One-parent families18%
Other families1%

Household size

In Townsville, the largest group is 2 people at 35%, followed by 1 person (27%) and 3 people (16%).

2 people34.6%

1 person26.6%

3 people16.2%

4 people13.7%

5 people5.8%

6 or more3.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Median rent (weekly)$310—since 2011 Median mortgage repayment (monthly)$1,517▼ -19.2%since 2011 Average people per bedroom0.80▼ -27.3%since 2011 Households renting39.1%Homes owned outright23.3%Separate (detached) houses79.6%Homes with three or more bedrooms78.3%▲ +2.1%since 2011

How homes are owned or rented

In Townsville, the largest group is Rented at 40%, followed by Owned with a mortgage (35%) and Owned outright (24%).

Rented40%
Owned with a mortgage35%
Owned outright24%
Other tenure2%

Types of homes

In Townsville, the largest group is Separate house at 80%, followed by Townhouse / semi-detached (12%) and Flat or apartment (8%).

Separate house80%
Townhouse / semi-detached12%
Flat or apartment8%
Other dwelling1%

Bedrooms per home

In Townsville, the largest group is 3 bedrooms at 40%, followed by 4 bedrooms (33%) and 2 bedrooms (17%).

3 bedrooms39.5%

4 bedrooms32.9%

2 bedrooms16.5%

5 or more5.9%

1 bedroom3.4%

Studio / none0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

In Townsville, the largest group is $200–$349 at 51%, followed by $350–$549 (34%) and Under $200 (12%).

$200–$34949.5%

$350–$54933.1%

Under $20011.9%

$550–$7491.9%

$750 or more0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

In Townsville, the largest group is $1,000–$1,799 at 48%, followed by $1,800–$2,999 (26%) and Under $1,000 (19%).

$1,000–$1,79945.1%

$1,800–$2,99924.8%

Under $1,00017.9%

$3,000 or more7.0%

Transport & Vehicles

Homes with no motor vehicle5.7%▼ -14.3%since 2011

Motor vehicles per home

In Townsville, the largest group is 2 vehicles at 40%, followed by 1 vehicle (36%) and 3 vehicles (13%).

2 vehicles39.8%

1 vehicle35.9%

3 vehicles12.7%

4 or more5.9%

No vehicle5.7%

How people get to work

In Townsville, the largest group is Car (driver) at 83%, followed by Car (passenger) (6%) and Worked at home (6%).

Car (driver)71.1%

Car (passenger)5.5%

Worked at home4.7%

Walked2.2%

Bicycle1.0%

Bus0.9%

Train0.0%

Migration & Movement

People who moved in the last 5 years44.0%Recent arrivals from overseas14.5%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment rate5.2%Labour-force participation63.9%Employed full-time63.2%

Industries people work in

In Townsville, the largest group is Health care & social assistance at 19%, followed by Public administration & safety (13%) and Education & training (10%).

Health care & social assistance17.9%

Public administration & safety13.0%

Education & training9.5%

Retail trade9.4%

Construction8.1%

Accommodation & food7.6%

Professional & technical4.6%

Manufacturing4.4%

Transport & warehousing4.2%

Other services3.9%

Occupations people work in

In Townsville, the largest group is Professionals at 21%, followed by Community & personal service (17%) and Technicians & trades (14%).

Professionals20.2%

Community & personal service16.6%

Technicians & trades14.2%

Clerical & administrative12.3%

Managers9.9%

Labourers9.3%

Sales workers8.7%

Machinery operators & drivers7.2%

Nearby areas

Rangewood Picnic Bay (L)Black River (L)Nelly Bay Alice River Arcadia Bay (L)Horseshoe Bay (L)Nome (L)

👥 Demographics & Identity