Palm Island vs Townsville - Southern Rangelands

Palm Island and Townsville - Southern Rangelands are two distinct Queensland areas located about 93km apart. Palm Island has a much larger First Nations population, with 1,918 people, and a far higher share of residents who speak a First Nations language (44.4%). Income is much lower here, with a typical First Nations household earning $950, compared to $1,931 in Townsville - Southern Rangelands. While Palm Island has far more homes within a 15-minute walk of schools (47.9%) and health services (47.4%), Townsville - Southern Rangelands is far more likely to have homes within walking distance of parks (47.6%) and groceries (25.4%).

Both areas sit near the national figure for First Nations unemployment, though it is well higher in Palm Island at 12.0% compared to 8.3% in Townsville - Southern Rangelands. Both locations are car-dependent, though the walkability score is a little higher in Townsville - Southern Rangelands. First Nations residents in Palm Island are also younger, with a typical age of 25, while those in Townsville - Southern Rangelands are noticeably older at 32.