# Townsville - Mackay vs ACT — 2021 Census comparison

Indigenous Region comparison · about 1,722 km apart

Townsville - Mackay and ACT are very different environments, separated by over 1,700 kilometres. The ACT is very walkable, with 81.9% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed and a typical walkability score of 6.9 (very walkable). In contrast, Townsville - Mackay is mostly car-dependent, with a score of 3.9 and only 45% of homes in a similar walkshed. The ACT also has much higher outcomes for First Nations people, including a typical personal income of $1,004 compared to $591 in Townsville - Mackay.

Both areas have a similar average terrain slope, which sits close to the national figure. Townsville - Mackay has a far larger First Nations population at 31,062 people, and a higher share speak a First Nations language (11.0% compared to 7.5% in ACT). However, the unemployment rate for First Nations people is well higher in Townsville - Mackay at 12.8%, while it is among the lowest in the country in the ACT at 7.2%.

## First Nations

| Statistic | Townsville - Mackay | ACT | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Nations people | 31,062 | 8,908 | 22,154 larger in Townsville - Mackay |  |
| Median age | 22 yrs | 24 yrs | 2 yrs older in ACT |  |
| Year 12 | 42.6% | 58.8% | 16.2 pts higher in ACT |  |
| Unemployment | 12.8% | 7.2% | 5.6 pts higher in Townsville - Mackay |  |
| Median income | $591 | $1,004 | $413 higher in ACT |  |
| Household income | $1,555 | $2,289 | $734 higher in ACT |  |
| Indigenous language | 11.0% | 7.5% | 3.5 pts higher in Townsville - Mackay |  |

## Walkability

| Statistic | Townsville - Mackay | ACT | Gap | Trend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Walk score | 3.9 | 6.9 | 3.1 higher in ACT |  |
| Types ≤15 min | 3.9 | 6.5 | 2.6 more in ACT |  |
| 15-min city | 45.0% | 81.9% | 36.9 pts higher in ACT |  |
| Walk to shops | 46.3% | 80.0% | 33.7 pts higher in ACT |  |
| Walk to transit | 49.4% | 97.6% | 48.2 pts higher in ACT |  |
| Walk to school | 51.0% | 85.4% | 34.4 pts higher in ACT |  |
| Walk to a park | 76.5% | 99.4% | 22.9 pts higher in ACT |  |
| Walk to health | 36.1% | 64.3% | 28.2 pts higher in ACT |  |
| Intersections/km² | 0 | 44 | 44 higher in ACT |  |
| Mean slope | 4.6% | 5.5% | 0.9 pts higher in ACT |  |

Interactive comparison: https://censusatlas.au/compare/ireg/IREG310/townsville-mackay/vs/IREG801/act