Burdekin - Ayr vs Townsville - Surrounds

Burdekin - Ayr and Townsville - Surrounds are two regional Queensland areas with very different layouts. Burdekin - Ayr is much more walkable, with 50.6% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a school compared to just 11.7% in Townsville - Surrounds. This trend continues across other amenities, with Burdekin - Ayr seeing far more homes within a short walk of groceries and health services. There are also notable differences for First Nations people; they are far younger in Burdekin - Ayr, where the typical age is 23, while the typical age in Townsville - Surrounds is 32.

These two areas have tracked differently since 2011, particularly in their accessibility. Burdekin - Ayr is mostly car-dependent, while Townsville - Surrounds is described as car-dependent. Despite these gaps in walkability, both areas have seen their First Nations populations grow, though they remain distinct. For example, First Nations household income is well higher in Townsville - Surrounds at $1,847, while First Nations Year 12 completion is far higher in Burdekin - Ayr at 35.1%.