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Mackay vs Townsville

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

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 274 km apart · Mackay profile · Townsville profile

Mackay Townsville

Townsville and Mackay are both major Queensland hubs, but Townsville is more urban and connected. It has far more public transport, with 593 weekly departures per 1,000 people compared to Mackay's 151.3, and more homes are within a 10-minute walk of a stop. Townsville also has a more qualified workforce, with 18.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher compared to 12.3% in Mackay. However, Townsville faces much higher crime rates, including far higher drug offences and a recorded offence rate of 22,155 per 100,000 people, which is far higher than Mackay's 12,856.

The two areas are almost identical in the typical personal weekly income of their residents, which is $864 in Townsville and $866 in Mackay. While they share similar age profiles and family structures, Mackay has a far higher score for access to money and resources. Townsville's higher levels of education and job skills are consistent with a larger share of people working in public administration and health. Since 2011, the gap in university qualifications has widened, with Townsville moving further ahead.

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Where they differ most

Population: 71,077 larger in Townsville Year 12: 8.8 pts higher in Townsville Renting: 8.1 pts higher in Townsville Unemployment: 1.1 pts higher in Townsville Bachelor+: 5.8 pts higher in Townsville

Demographics & Identity

Population in Mackay in Townsville +71,077 larger in Townsville gap widening

121,691 86th pct 192,768 87th pct

Median age in Mackay in Townsville +2 yrs older in Mackay gap narrowing

38 yrs 29th pct 36 yrs 19th pct

Age structure

26.2% Young adults (25–44) +1.4 pts ▸ 27.5%

26.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.1 pts 24.5%

20.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.0 pts 19.2%

15.2% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.0 pts 14.3%

11.8% Youth (15–24) +2.7 pts ▸ 14.5%

Marital status

46.7% Married ◂ +6.0 pts 40.7%

35.1% Never married +6.5 pts ▸ 41.7%

9.5% Divorced even 9.5%

4.8% Widowed ◂ +0.6 pts 4.2%

3.8% Separated even 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Mackay Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

78.9% Australia ◂ +0.2 pts 78.7%

1.8% England +0.7 pts ▸ 2.5%

2.3% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 2.1%

1.6% Philippines ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%

1.0% South Africa ◂ +0.5 pts 0.5%

0.6% India +0.3 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% China even 0.2%

0.1% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

38.3% Australian ◂ +1.3 pts 37.1%

38.0% English ◂ +0.5 pts 37.6%

10.4% Irish +0.9 pts ▸ 11.3%

10.3% Scottish +0.2 pts ▸ 10.5%

6.2% German ◂ +0.9 pts 5.4%

3.2% Italian +1.7 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.0% Filipino ◂ +0.5 pts 1.5%

1.4% Dutch even 1.3%

1.0% Chinese +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% Indian +0.4 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.2% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

85.0% English only ◂ +1.1 pts 83.9%

0.8% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.2% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Mandarin even 0.3%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi even 0.2%

0.0% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Hindi even 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.7% Christianity ◂ +3.2 pts 47.4%

36.9% No religion +3.4 pts ▸ 40.4%

10.5% Not stated ◂ +1.0 pts 9.5%

0.6% Buddhism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Islam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Mackay in Townsville +6 more in Townsville

58 87th pct 64 87th pct

Schools/1k kids in Mackay in Townsville +0.64 more in Mackay

2.37 29th pct 1.73 14th pct

Students in Mackay in Townsville +12,437 more in Townsville

22,282 86th pct 34,719 87th pct

Avg size in Mackay in Townsville +158 larger in Townsville

384 71st pct 542 86th pct

ICSEA in Mackay in Townsville even

973 51st pct 973 51st pct

Highest year of school

45.2% Year 12 +8.8 pts ▸ 54.1%

26.5% Year 10 ◂ +4.5 pts 22.0%

9.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.7 pts 8.0%

7.6% Year 11 ◂ +0.4 pts 7.2%

Highest qualification level

41.9% Certificate III / IV ◂ +7.2 pts 34.7%

15.5% Bachelor degree +5.5 pts ▸ 21.0%

11.4% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.3 pts ▸ 13.7%

3.0% Postgraduate degree +2.8 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.4% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.9 pts ▸ 3.2%

2.6% Certificate I / II even 2.5%

Field of qualification

23.9% Engineering & related ◂ +7.8 pts 16.1%

13.5% Management & commerce +1.3 pts ▸ 14.7%

9.3% Health +3.0 pts ▸ 12.4%

8.1% Society & culture +4.3 pts ▸ 12.3%

7.6% Education +0.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

5.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.3 pts ▸ 5.6%

5.4% Architecture & building ◂ +0.1 pts 5.3%

1.4% Natural & physical sciences +1.5 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.5% Creative arts +0.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.5% Agriculture & environment +0.1 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.0% Information technology +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Mackay in Townsville +$2 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$866 74th pct $864 74th pct

Household income in Mackay in Townsville +$152 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,853 79th pct $1,701 72nd pct

Family income in Mackay in Townsville +$133 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$2,215 79th pct $2,082 72nd pct

Household income distribution

29.0% $1,500–$2,999 +2.9 pts ▸ 31.9%

22.3% $650–$1,499 +4.0 pts ▸ 26.3%

14.4% Under $650 ◂ +0.2 pts 14.2%

11.3% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.1 pts 10.1%

10.7% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.2 pts 8.4%

Personal income distribution

35.1% Under $650 +0.3 pts ▸ 35.4%

29.2% $650–$1,499 +3.9 pts ▸ 33.1%

19.6% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.7 pts 18.9%

4.9% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.0% Mental health +2.3 pts ▸ 10.3%

8.1% Arthritis +0.7 pts ▸ 8.7%

6.7% Other condition +1.6 pts ▸ 8.3%

7.8% Asthma +0.3 pts ▸ 8.1%

4.7% Diabetes even 4.6%

4.2% Heart disease ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%

2.7% Cancer +0.2 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.9% Lung condition +0.1 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.9% Stroke even 0.9%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

61.2% None ◂ +0.7 pts 60.5%

18.1% One condition +1.1 pts ▸ 19.1%

5.6% Two conditions +0.6 pts ▸ 6.2%

3.0% Three or more +0.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Mackay in Townsville +8,762 larger in Townsville

7,507 89th pct 16,269 95th pct

Median age in Mackay in Townsville even

22 yrs 21st pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Mackay in Townsville +$92 higher in Mackay

$690 78th pct $598 62nd pct

Household income in Mackay in Townsville +$293 higher in Mackay

$1,847 83rd pct $1,554 65th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Mackay in Townsville +0.1 larger in Mackay gap steady

2.6 79th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

56.8% Couples with children ◂ +3.2 pts 53.5%

28.2% Couples without children ◂ +0.5 pts 27.7%

14.0% One-parent families +3.4 pts ▸ 17.4%

1.0% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

35.6% 2 people ◂ +0.5 pts 35.1%

23.9% 1 person +2.2 pts ▸ 26.1%

15.3% 3 people +0.7 pts ▸ 16.0%

14.9% 4 people ◂ +1.2 pts 13.8%

6.9% 5 people ◂ +1.1 pts 5.8%

3.2% 6 or more even 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Mackay in Townsville +$35 higher in Mackay gap widening

$340 74th pct $305 64th pct

Mortgage in Mackay in Townsville +$216 higher in Mackay gap narrowing

$1,733 71st pct $1,517 57th pct

People / bedroom in Mackay in Townsville even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

38.2% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +2.4 pts 35.7%

28.6% Rented +8.1 pts ▸ 36.6%

29.1% Owned outright ◂ +4.4 pts 24.7%

2.1% Other tenure ◂ +0.7 pts 1.5%

2.0% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

84.7% Separate house ◂ +3.7 pts 81.1%

10.1% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.9 pts ▸ 11.0%

3.6% Flat or apartment +3.4 pts ▸ 7.0%

1.1% Other dwelling ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

41.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +2.2 pts 39.3%

32.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +0.1 pts 32.7%

13.8% 2 bedrooms +2.6 pts ▸ 16.4%

5.7% 5 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 6.1%

3.7% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.1 pts 3.6%

0.5% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

36.1% $200–$349 +13.4 pts ▸ 49.5%

42.3% $350–$549 ◂ +9.3 pts 33.0%

13.6% Under $200 ◂ +1.7 pts 11.9%

3.4% $550–$749 ◂ +1.5 pts 1.9%

0.4% $750 or more even 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

38.2% $1,000–$1,799 +5.8 pts ▸ 44.0%

32.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +6.9 pts 25.9%

13.6% Under $1,000 +3.9 pts ▸ 17.5%

9.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.9 pts 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Mackay in Townsville +359 more in Townsville

277 75th pct 636 86th pct

Stops/1k in Mackay in Townsville +1.02 more in Townsville

2.28 40th pct 3.30 50th pct

Departures/1k in Mackay in Townsville +441.7 more in Townsville

151.3 59th pct 593.0 74th pct

PT routes in Mackay in Townsville +5 more in Townsville

11 58th pct 16 65th pct

How people get to work

71.1% Car (driver) ◂ +0.6 pts 70.6%

5.1% Car (passenger) +0.2 pts ▸ 5.4%

5.2% Worked at home ◂ +0.1 pts 5.1%

2.0% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.3% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%

0.5% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

40.0% 2 vehicles even 40.0%

31.3% 1 vehicle +3.7 pts ▸ 35.0%

15.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +2.7 pts 13.2%

8.7% 4 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 6.5%

4.2% No vehicle +1.2 pts ▸ 5.4%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.3% Health care & social assistance +4.3 pts ▸ 17.5%

4.0% Public administration & safety +8.6 pts ▸ 12.6%

12.1% Mining ◂ +9.2 pts 2.8%

7.3% Education & training +2.1 pts ▸ 9.4%

9.2% Retail trade even 9.2%

8.1% Construction +0.4 pts ▸ 8.5%

5.9% Accommodation & food +1.5 pts ▸ 7.4%

6.1% Manufacturing ◂ +1.6 pts 4.5%

5.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.6 pts 4.3%

5.0% Other services ◂ +1.1 pts 3.9%

4.2% Professional & technical +0.4 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.8% Wholesale trade ◂ +1.9 pts 1.9%

Occupations people work in

20.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +5.5 pts 14.6%

15.0% Professionals +4.7 pts ▸ 19.7%

10.3% Community & personal service +5.8 pts ▸ 16.1%

12.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +5.1 pts 7.5%

11.6% Clerical & administrative +0.8 pts ▸ 12.3%

10.2% Labourers ◂ +0.8 pts 9.3%

9.9% Managers +0.3 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.4% Sales workers +0.2 pts ▸ 8.6%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Mackay in Townsville +1 higher in Townsville

6 57th pct 7 64th pct

IRSD decile in Mackay in Townsville +1 higher in Mackay

7 64th pct 6 57th pct

IER decile in Mackay in Townsville +3 higher in Mackay

8 71st pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Mackay in Townsville +3 higher in Townsville

4 36th pct 7 64th pct

IRSAD score in Mackay in Townsville +5 higher in Townsville

961 57th pct 966 60th pct

ERP in Mackay in Townsville +77,007 higher in Townsville

129,253 86th pct 206,260 87th pct

Growth in Mackay in Townsville +0.6 pts higher in Townsville

5.0% 62nd pct 5.5% 67th pct

Businesses in Mackay in Townsville +1,938 higher in Townsville

11,184 86th pct 13,122 86th pct

Approvals in Mackay in Townsville +398 higher in Townsville

550 83rd pct 948 86th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Mackay in Townsville +331 higher in Mackay

1,524 91st pct 1,193 84th pct

Max temp in Mackay in Townsville +1.9 higher in Townsville

28.6 79th pct 30.4 87th pct

Min temp in Mackay in Townsville +2.4 higher in Townsville

17.7 89th pct 20.2 95th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Mackay in Townsville +9,298 higher in Townsville

12,856 75th pct 22,155 87th pct

Assault/100k in Mackay in Townsville +1,460 higher in Townsville

1,339 69th pct 2,800 86th pct

Sexual/100k in Mackay in Townsville +122 higher in Townsville

296 59th pct 418 83rd pct

Robbery/100k in Mackay in Townsville +38 higher in Townsville

33 64th pct 71 88th pct

Burglary/100k in Mackay in Townsville +939 higher in Townsville

763 74th pct 1,703 91st pct

Theft/100k in Mackay in Townsville +987 higher in Townsville

2,611 87th pct 3,598 94th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Mackay in Townsville +352 higher in Townsville

338 49th pct 689 81st pct

Property damage/100k in Mackay in Townsville +380 higher in Townsville

1,025 72nd pct 1,404 82nd pct

Drugs/100k in Mackay in Townsville +1,359 higher in Townsville

1,644 86th pct 3,002 92nd pct

5-yr change in Mackay in Townsville +35.7 pts higher in Townsville

10.0% 53rd pct 45.7% 88th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Mackay in Townsville +0.7 higher in Townsville

4.0 57th pct 4.7 70th pct

Types ≤15 min in Mackay in Townsville +0.7 more in Townsville

3.8 46th pct 4.6 65th pct

15-min city in Mackay in Townsville +12.4 pts higher in Townsville

41.9% 39th pct 54.3% 61st pct

Walk to shops in Mackay in Townsville +3.3 pts higher in Townsville

47.2% 49th pct 50.5% 55th pct

Walk to transit in Mackay in Townsville +15.2 pts higher in Townsville

59.0% 60th pct 74.2% 72nd pct

Walk to school in Mackay in Townsville +8.6 pts higher in Townsville

47.9% 38th pct 56.5% 53rd pct

Walk to a park in Mackay in Townsville +8.1 pts higher in Townsville

78.4% 62nd pct 86.5% 70th pct

Walk to health in Mackay in Townsville +8.8 pts higher in Townsville

32.7% 40th pct 41.5% 57th pct

Amenities/1k in Mackay in Townsville +4.7 more in Mackay

14.5 32nd pct 9.8 9th pct

Intersections/km² in Mackay in Townsville +4 higher in Townsville

2 58th pct 6 67th pct

Mean slope in Mackay in Townsville +0.7 pts higher in Mackay

4.7% 51st pct 4.0% 38th pct

Compare Mackay with nearby areas

Isaac Whitsunday Burdekin Livingstone Townsville Rockhampton Woorabinda Charters Towers

Compare Townsville with nearby areas

Burdekin Palm Island Hinchinbrook Charters Towers Whitsunday Cassowary Coast Tablelands Mackay

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Mackay vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA34770/mackay/vs/LGA37010/townsville