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Charters Towers vs Mackay

Name: Charters Towers vs Mackay — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 334 km apart · Charters Towers profile · Mackay profile

Charters Towers Mackay

Mackay and Charters Towers are two distinct Queensland regions with significant differences in wealth and infrastructure. Mackay has much higher access to money and resources and a far higher rate of adults working or looking for work, at 63.2% compared to 53.0% in Charters Towers. Infrastructure and walkability are also more common in Mackay, where 59.0% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport, while Charters Towers has no public transport stops. In contrast, Charters Towers has a far higher rate of schools per 1,000 children (5.20 compared to 2.37) and a higher rate of drug offences.

Everyday life in both areas shares many similarities, from the number of people per bedroom to the share of residents providing unpaid care. However, the two regions are drifting apart in some ways. Residents are now noticeably older in Charters Towers, and the gap in the working population has widened since 2011. Mackay remains more diverse, with a higher share of people born overseas and those using a language other than English at home.

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Where they differ most

Population: 109,897 larger in Mackay Rent: $120 higher in Mackay Participation: 10.2 pts higher in Mackay Unpaid child care: 5.6 pts higher in Mackay Personal income: $197 higher in Mackay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Charters Towers in Mackay +109,897 larger in Mackay gap steady

11,794 49th pct 121,691 86th pct

Median age in Charters Towers in Mackay +4 yrs older in Charters Towers gap widening

42 yrs 50th pct 38 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

26.0% Older adults (45–64) +0.6 pts ▸ 26.6%

21.0% Young adults (25–44) +5.2 pts ▸ 26.2%

21.4% Seniors (65+) ◂ +6.2 pts 15.2%

19.6% Children (0–14) +0.6 pts ▸ 20.1%

12.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.3 pts 11.8%

Marital status

43.8% Married +3.0 pts ▸ 46.7%

35.8% Never married ◂ +0.6 pts 35.1%

10.2% Divorced ◂ +0.6 pts 9.5%

6.1% Widowed ◂ +1.4 pts 4.8%

4.2% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Charters Towers Mackay

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

79.8% Australia ◂ +0.9 pts 78.9%

1.5% New Zealand +0.8 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.1% England +0.7 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.5% Philippines +1.1 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.3% South Africa +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.3% India +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

41.8% Australian ◂ +3.5 pts 38.3%

36.9% English +1.1 pts ▸ 38.0%

11.0% Irish ◂ +0.6 pts 10.4%

9.1% Scottish +1.2 pts ▸ 10.3%

4.8% German +1.4 pts ▸ 6.2%

2.4% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 3.2%

0.7% Filipino +1.3 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.5% Dutch +0.9 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.2% Chinese ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

0.5% Indian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

84.4% English only +0.5 pts ▸ 85.0%

0.2% Tagalog +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.0% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.4% Christianity +0.3 pts ▸ 50.7%

33.2% No religion +3.7 pts ▸ 36.9%

15.3% Not stated ◂ +4.8 pts 10.5%

0.4% Buddhism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Hinduism +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Islam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Charters Towers in Mackay +46 more in Mackay

12 57th pct 58 87th pct

Schools/1k kids in Charters Towers in Mackay +2.83 more in Charters Towers

5.20 64th pct 2.37 29th pct

Students in Charters Towers in Mackay +17,871 more in Mackay

4,411 63rd pct 22,282 86th pct

Avg size in Charters Towers in Mackay +17 larger in Mackay

368 69th pct 384 71st pct

ICSEA in Charters Towers in Mackay +40 higher in Mackay

933 28th pct 973 51st pct

Highest year of school

36.7% Year 12 +8.5 pts ▸ 45.2%

26.8% Year 10 ◂ +0.3 pts 26.5%

14.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +4.4 pts 9.7%

6.6% Year 11 +1.0 pts ▸ 7.6%

Highest qualification level

35.0% Certificate III / IV +7.0 pts ▸ 41.9%

13.1% Bachelor degree +2.4 pts ▸ 15.5%

9.6% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.8 pts ▸ 11.4%

3.3% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.7 pts 2.6%

2.8% Postgraduate degree +0.2 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.4% Graduate diploma / certificate even 2.4%

Field of qualification

15.9% Engineering & related +8.0 pts ▸ 23.9%

8.7% Management & commerce +4.7 pts ▸ 13.5%

10.6% Education ◂ +3.0 pts 7.6%

9.0% Health +0.4 pts ▸ 9.3%

7.1% Society & culture +0.9 pts ▸ 8.1%

4.2% Architecture & building +1.1 pts ▸ 5.4%

4.7% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.6 pts ▸ 5.3%

3.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.9 pts 1.5%

1.0% Creative arts +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences even 1.4%

0.7% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

Income

Personal income in Charters Towers in Mackay +$197 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$669 32nd pct $866 74th pct

Household income in Charters Towers in Mackay +$546 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,307 40th pct $1,853 79th pct

Family income in Charters Towers in Mackay +$481 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,734 45th pct $2,215 79th pct

Household income distribution

25.5% $1,500–$2,999 +3.4 pts ▸ 29.0%

28.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +6.3 pts 22.3%

20.1% Under $650 ◂ +5.8 pts 14.4%

7.5% $3,000–$3,999 +3.8 pts ▸ 11.3%

5.5% $4,000 or more +5.2 pts ▸ 10.7%

Personal income distribution

41.4% Under $650 ◂ +6.3 pts 35.1%

26.1% $650–$1,499 +3.1 pts ▸ 29.2%

14.6% $1,500–$2,999 +4.9 pts ▸ 19.6%

2.5% $3,000 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 4.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.0% Arthritis ◂ +0.9 pts 8.1%

8.4% Asthma ◂ +0.6 pts 7.8%

7.5% Mental health +0.5 pts ▸ 8.0%

6.0% Other condition +0.7 pts ▸ 6.7%

5.5% Heart disease ◂ +1.3 pts 4.2%

5.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.8 pts 4.7%

3.3% Cancer ◂ +0.6 pts 2.7%

2.3% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 1.9%

1.2% Dementia ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

0.9% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.0% None +5.2 pts ▸ 61.2%

17.9% One condition +0.2 pts ▸ 18.1%

6.4% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 5.6%

3.9% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 3.0%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Charters Towers in Mackay +6,364 larger in Mackay

1,143 66th pct 7,507 89th pct

Median age in Charters Towers in Mackay +3 yrs older in Mackay

19 yrs 0th pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Charters Towers in Mackay +$195 higher in Mackay

$495 33rd pct $690 78th pct

Household income in Charters Towers in Mackay +$428 higher in Mackay

$1,419 55th pct $1,847 83rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Charters Towers in Mackay +0.2 larger in Mackay gap steady

2.4 43rd pct 2.6 79th pct

Family composition

47.3% Couples with children +9.5 pts ▸ 56.8%

32.3% Couples without children ◂ +4.1 pts 28.2%

18.8% One-parent families ◂ +4.8 pts 14.0%

1.6% Other families ◂ +0.6 pts 1.0%

Household size

36.9% 2 people ◂ +1.3 pts 35.6%

30.3% 1 person ◂ +6.4 pts 23.9%

13.3% 3 people +2.1 pts ▸ 15.3%

10.9% 4 people +4.1 pts ▸ 14.9%

5.8% 5 people +1.2 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.1% 6 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Charters Towers in Mackay +$120 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$220 36th pct $340 74th pct

Mortgage in Charters Towers in Mackay +$433 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,300 43rd pct $1,733 71st pct

People / bedroom in Charters Towers in Mackay even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

28.3% Owned with a mortgage +9.9 pts ▸ 38.2%

37.3% Owned outright ◂ +8.1 pts 29.1%

27.2% Rented +1.4 pts ▸ 28.6%

4.4% Other tenure ◂ +2.2 pts 2.1%

3.1% Not stated ◂ +1.1 pts 2.0%

Types of homes

88.0% Separate house ◂ +3.2 pts 84.7%

8.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.4 pts ▸ 10.1%

0.3% Flat or apartment +3.3 pts ▸ 3.6%

2.2% Other dwelling ◂ +1.1 pts 1.1%

Bedrooms per home

42.0% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.5 pts 41.5%

23.7% 4 bedrooms +9.0 pts ▸ 32.7%

18.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +4.9 pts 13.8%

6.7% 5 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 5.7%

4.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.9 pts 3.7%

1.0% Studio / none ◂ +0.5 pts 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

48.3% $200–$349 ◂ +12.2 pts 36.1%

10.3% $350–$549 +32.0 pts ▸ 42.3%

34.7% Under $200 ◂ +21.1 pts 13.6%

0.4% $550–$749 +3.1 pts ▸ 3.4%

0.5% $750 or more even 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

40.0% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +1.8 pts 38.2%

16.8% $1,800–$2,999 +15.9 pts ▸ 32.8%

32.2% Under $1,000 ◂ +18.6 pts 13.6%

4.9% $3,000 or more +4.2 pts ▸ 9.2%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Charters Towers in Mackay +277 more in Mackay

0 0th pct 277 75th pct

Stops/1k in Charters Towers in Mackay +2.28 more in Mackay

0.00 0th pct 2.28 40th pct

Departures/1k in Charters Towers in Mackay +151.3 more in Mackay

0.0 0th pct 151.3 59th pct

PT routes in Charters Towers in Mackay +11 more in Mackay

0 0th pct 11 58th pct

How people get to work

58.5% Car (driver) +12.7 pts ▸ 71.1%

10.3% Worked at home ◂ +5.1 pts 5.2%

6.2% Walked ◂ +4.3 pts 2.0%

5.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.3 pts 5.1%

2.8% Bus ◂ +1.4 pts 1.3%

0.5% Bicycle even 0.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

35.7% 2 vehicles +4.3 pts ▸ 40.0%

36.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +4.6 pts 31.3%

14.0% 3 vehicles +1.8 pts ▸ 15.8%

8.8% 4 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 8.7%

5.6% No vehicle ◂ +1.5 pts 4.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.8% Education & training ◂ +6.5 pts 7.3%

12.4% Health care & social assistance +0.9 pts ▸ 13.3%

12.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +9.5 pts 2.8%

11.4% Mining +0.7 pts ▸ 12.1%

8.8% Retail trade +0.4 pts ▸ 9.2%

5.8% Construction +2.3 pts ▸ 8.1%

6.2% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.3 pts 5.9%

3.0% Manufacturing +3.0 pts ▸ 6.1%

3.7% Transport & warehousing +2.2 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.7 pts 4.0%

3.3% Other services +1.8 pts ▸ 5.0%

2.2% Professional & technical +2.0 pts ▸ 4.2%

Occupations people work in

14.4% Technicians & trades +5.7 pts ▸ 20.1%

14.2% Professionals +0.9 pts ▸ 15.0%

14.8% Managers ◂ +4.9 pts 9.9%

14.2% Labourers ◂ +4.0 pts 10.2%

11.6% Machinery operators & drivers +0.9 pts ▸ 12.5%

9.3% Clerical & administrative +2.3 pts ▸ 11.6%

11.3% Community & personal service ◂ +1.0 pts 10.3%

7.8% Sales workers +0.6 pts ▸ 8.4%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Charters Towers in Mackay +4 higher in Mackay

2 14th pct 6 57th pct

IRSD decile in Charters Towers in Mackay +4 higher in Mackay

3 29th pct 7 64th pct

IER decile in Charters Towers in Mackay +5 higher in Mackay

3 29th pct 8 71st pct

IEO decile in Charters Towers in Mackay +2 higher in Mackay

2 14th pct 4 36th pct

IRSAD score in Charters Towers in Mackay +53 higher in Mackay

908 20th pct 961 57th pct

ERP in Charters Towers in Mackay +117,165 higher in Mackay

12,088 47th pct 129,253 86th pct

Growth in Charters Towers in Mackay +3.5 pts higher in Mackay

1.4% 27th pct 5.0% 62nd pct

Businesses in Charters Towers in Mackay +9,934 higher in Mackay

1,250 47th pct 11,184 86th pct

Approvals in Charters Towers in Mackay +525 higher in Mackay

25 39th pct 550 83rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Charters Towers in Mackay +860 higher in Mackay

664 52nd pct 1,524 91st pct

Max temp in Charters Towers in Mackay +3.3 higher in Charters Towers

31.8 91st pct 28.6 79th pct

Min temp in Charters Towers in Mackay +0.7 higher in Mackay

17.0 88th pct 17.7 89th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Charters Towers in Mackay +4,653 higher in Charters Towers

17,509 86th pct 12,856 75th pct

Assault/100k in Charters Towers in Mackay +823 higher in Charters Towers

2,162 86th pct 1,339 69th pct

Sexual/100k in Charters Towers in Mackay +58 higher in Mackay

237 46th pct 296 59th pct

Robbery/100k in Charters Towers in Mackay +35 higher in Charters Towers

68 87th pct 33 64th pct

Burglary/100k in Charters Towers in Mackay +60 higher in Mackay

704 72nd pct 763 74th pct

Theft/100k in Charters Towers in Mackay +779 higher in Mackay

1,831 70th pct 2,611 87th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Charters Towers in Mackay +66 higher in Mackay

271 38th pct 338 49th pct

Property damage/100k in Charters Towers in Mackay +154 higher in Charters Towers

1,179 76th pct 1,025 72nd pct

Drugs/100k in Charters Towers in Mackay +2,053 higher in Charters Towers

3,697 95th pct 1,644 86th pct

5-yr change in Charters Towers in Mackay +80.7 pts higher in Charters Towers

90.7% 100th pct 10.0% 53rd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Charters Towers in Mackay +1.8 higher in Mackay

2.2 14th pct 4.0 57th pct

Types ≤15 min in Charters Towers in Mackay +1.3 more in Mackay

2.5 16th pct 3.8 46th pct

15-min city in Charters Towers in Mackay +13.9 pts higher in Mackay

28.0% 16th pct 41.9% 39th pct

Walk to shops in Charters Towers in Mackay +11.7 pts higher in Mackay

35.6% 28th pct 47.2% 49th pct

Walk to transit in Charters Towers in Mackay +59.0 pts higher in Mackay

0.0% 0th pct 59.0% 60th pct

Walk to school in Charters Towers in Mackay +4.9 pts higher in Mackay

43.1% 30th pct 47.9% 38th pct

Walk to a park in Charters Towers in Mackay +30.3 pts higher in Mackay

48.1% 18th pct 78.4% 62nd pct

Walk to health in Charters Towers in Mackay +12.5 pts higher in Mackay

20.1% 19th pct 32.7% 40th pct

Amenities/1k in Charters Towers in Mackay +3.0 more in Mackay

11.4 14th pct 14.5 32nd pct

Intersections/km² in Charters Towers in Mackay +2 higher in Mackay

0 7th pct 2 58th pct

Mean slope in Charters Towers in Mackay +0.3 pts higher in Mackay

4.4% 46th pct 4.7% 51st pct

Compare Charters Towers with nearby areas

Townsville Hinchinbrook Burdekin Palm Island Flinders Whitsunday Tablelands Cassowary Coast

Compare Mackay with nearby areas

Isaac Whitsunday Burdekin Livingstone Townsville Rockhampton Woorabinda Charters Towers

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Charters Towers vs Mackay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA32310/charters-towers/vs/LGA34770/mackay