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Palm Island vs Townsville

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

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 88 km apart · Palm Island profile · Townsville profile

Palm Island Townsville

Townsville and Palm Island are two very different Queensland areas located about 88km apart. Palm Island has a much higher Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population at 91.4%, compared with 8.4% in Townsville. It is also a much younger place, with a typical resident aged 26 and children under 15 making up 31.4% of the population. In contrast, Townsville has a far higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (18.1% vs 4.3%) and a typical weekly household income that is significantly higher at $1,701, compared to $977 on Palm Island.

Income gaps between the two areas have widened since 2011, with the typical weekly household income difference growing to $724. Despite this, the two areas share some similarities, such as a nearly identical share of people providing unpaid care (around 11%). They also experience the same average minimum temperature of 20.2 degrees.

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Where they differ most

Population: 190,670 larger in Townsville First Nations: 83.0 pts higher in Palm Island Other language: 32.8 pts higher in Palm Island Year 12: 27.7 pts higher in Townsville Personal income: $484 higher in Townsville

Demographics & Identity

Population in Palm Island in Townsville +190,670 larger in Townsville gap steady

2,098 21st pct 192,768 87th pct

Median age in Palm Island in Townsville +10 yrs older in Townsville gap widening

26 yrs 0th pct 36 yrs 19th pct

Age structure

31.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +12.2 pts 19.2%

25.8% Young adults (25–44) +1.8 pts ▸ 27.5%

21.3% Older adults (45–64) +3.2 pts ▸ 24.5%

15.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.5 pts 14.5%

5.1% Seniors (65+) +9.2 pts ▸ 14.3%

Marital status

85.0% Never married ◂ +43.3 pts 41.7%

9.2% Married +31.5 pts ▸ 40.7%

1.5% Divorced +8.1 pts ▸ 9.5%

2.1% Widowed +2.1 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.1% Separated +1.7 pts ▸ 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Palm Island Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

93.9% Australia ◂ +15.2 pts 78.7%

0.2% England +2.3 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.2% New Zealand +1.9 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.2% Philippines +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.0% India +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% South Africa +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

4.2% English +33.4 pts ▸ 37.6%

5.2% Australian +31.8 pts ▸ 37.1%

0.4% Irish +10.9 pts ▸ 11.3%

0.3% Scottish +10.2 pts ▸ 10.5%

0.3% German +5.1 pts ▸ 5.4%

0.2% Italian +4.6 pts ▸ 4.8%

0.0% Filipino +1.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.0% Dutch +1.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Chinese +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Indian +1.0 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.2% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

53.1% English only +30.8 pts ▸ 83.9%

0.0% Tagalog +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Mandarin +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Punjabi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Arabic +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

76.2% Christianity ◂ +28.8 pts 47.4%

16.5% No religion +23.8 pts ▸ 40.4%

7.2% Not stated +2.3 pts ▸ 9.5%

0.0% Buddhism +0.8 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.0% Hinduism +0.7 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.2% Other religions +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Palm Island in Townsville +62 more in Townsville

2 14th pct 64 87th pct

Schools/1k kids in Palm Island in Townsville +1.31 more in Palm Island

3.04 40th pct 1.73 14th pct

Students in Palm Island in Townsville +34,277 more in Townsville

442 26th pct 34,719 87th pct

Avg size in Palm Island in Townsville +321 larger in Townsville

221 49th pct 542 86th pct

ICSEA in Palm Island in Townsville +307 higher in Townsville

667 1st pct 973 51st pct

Highest year of school

26.4% Year 12 +27.7 pts ▸ 54.1%

27.1% Year 10 ◂ +5.1 pts 22.0%

22.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +14.6 pts 8.0%

15.4% Year 11 ◂ +8.2 pts 7.2%

Highest qualification level

32.8% Certificate III / IV +2.0 pts ▸ 34.7%

9.8% Bachelor degree +11.3 pts ▸ 21.0%

8.6% Advanced diploma / diploma +5.1 pts ▸ 13.7%

3.2% Postgraduate degree +2.6 pts ▸ 5.8%

5.4% Certificate I / II ◂ +2.8 pts 2.5%

2.2% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.0 pts ▸ 3.2%

Field of qualification

6.1% Engineering & related +9.9 pts ▸ 16.1%

7.6% Management & commerce +7.1 pts ▸ 14.7%

11.2% Health +1.1 pts ▸ 12.4%

11.5% Society & culture +0.9 pts ▸ 12.3%

11.2% Education ◂ +3.4 pts 7.8%

6.8% Architecture & building ◂ +1.6 pts 5.3%

3.2% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.4 pts ▸ 5.6%

0.0% Natural & physical sciences +2.9 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.0% Creative arts +2.0 pts ▸ 2.0%

2.0% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.3 pts 1.6%

0.0% Information technology +1.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Palm Island in Townsville +$484 higher in Townsville gap widening

$380 3rd pct $864 74th pct

Household income in Palm Island in Townsville +$724 higher in Townsville gap widening

$977 7th pct $1,701 72nd pct

Family income in Palm Island in Townsville +$1,184 higher in Townsville gap widening

$898 3rd pct $2,082 72nd pct

Household income distribution

34.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +8.3 pts 26.3%

23.8% $1,500–$2,999 +8.1 pts ▸ 31.9%

26.1% Under $650 ◂ +11.9 pts 14.2%

2.9% $3,000–$3,999 +7.3 pts ▸ 10.1%

3.7% $4,000 or more +4.8 pts ▸ 8.4%

Personal income distribution

65.7% Under $650 ◂ +30.3 pts 35.4%

19.1% $650–$1,499 +14.0 pts ▸ 33.1%

4.5% $1,500–$2,999 +14.4 pts ▸ 18.9%

0.8% $3,000 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

2.2% Mental health +8.1 pts ▸ 10.3%

1.9% Arthritis +6.9 pts ▸ 8.7%

3.6% Other condition +4.7 pts ▸ 8.3%

2.9% Asthma +5.3 pts ▸ 8.1%

7.2% Diabetes ◂ +2.6 pts 4.6%

4.3% Heart disease ◂ +0.3 pts 4.0%

0.5% Cancer +2.5 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.5% Lung condition +1.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.4% Stroke +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

76.9% None ◂ +16.5 pts 60.5%

11.5% One condition +7.6 pts ▸ 19.1%

2.0% Two conditions +4.1 pts ▸ 6.2%

1.4% Three or more +2.0 pts ▸ 3.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Palm Island in Townsville +14,351 larger in Townsville

1,918 77th pct 16,269 95th pct

Median age in Palm Island in Townsville +3 yrs older in Palm Island

25 yrs 50th pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Palm Island in Townsville +$233 higher in Townsville

$365 8th pct $598 62nd pct

Household income in Palm Island in Townsville +$604 higher in Townsville

$950 12th pct $1,554 65th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Palm Island in Townsville +1.2 larger in Palm Island gap narrowing

3.7 100th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

46.6% Couples with children +6.9 pts ▸ 53.5%

38.7% One-parent families ◂ +21.3 pts 17.4%

9.6% Couples without children +18.1 pts ▸ 27.7%

5.4% Other families ◂ +4.1 pts 1.3%

Household size

19.1% 2 people +16.0 pts ▸ 35.1%

21.4% 1 person +4.7 pts ▸ 26.1%

24.4% 6 or more ◂ +21.3 pts 3.2%

13.0% 3 people +3.0 pts ▸ 16.0%

12.6% 4 people +1.1 pts ▸ 13.8%

10.6% 5 people ◂ +4.8 pts 5.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Palm Island in Townsville +$180 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$125 9th pct $305 64th pct

Mortgage in Palm Island in Townsville +$650 higher in Palm Island

$2,167 87th pct $1,517 57th pct

People / bedroom in Palm Island in Townsville +0.40 higher in Palm Island gap narrowing

1.20 96th pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

92.5% Rented ◂ +55.9 pts 36.6%

0.0% Owned with a mortgage +35.7 pts ▸ 35.7%

1.4% Owned outright +23.3 pts ▸ 24.7%

3.3% Other tenure ◂ +1.8 pts 1.5%

2.4% Not stated ◂ +1.0 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

87.0% Separate house ◂ +5.9 pts 81.1%

0.6% Townhouse / semi-detached +10.3 pts ▸ 11.0%

8.1% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.1 pts 7.0%

3.5% Other dwelling ◂ +2.8 pts 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

40.7% 3 bedrooms ◂ +1.4 pts 39.3%

22.4% 4 bedrooms +10.3 pts ▸ 32.7%

24.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +7.6 pts 16.4%

4.9% 5 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.3% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.7 pts 3.6%

0.0% Studio / none +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

92.1% Under $200 ◂ +80.2 pts 11.9%

4.4% $200–$349 +45.1 pts ▸ 49.5%

0.0% $350–$549 +33.0 pts ▸ 33.0%

0.0% $550–$749 +1.9 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.0% $750 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Palm Island in Townsville +636 more in Townsville

0 0th pct 636 86th pct

Stops/1k in Palm Island in Townsville +3.30 more in Townsville

0.00 0th pct 3.30 50th pct

Departures/1k in Palm Island in Townsville +593.0 more in Townsville

0.0 0th pct 593.0 74th pct

PT routes in Palm Island in Townsville +16 more in Townsville

0 0th pct 16 65th pct

How people get to work

34.5% Car (driver) +36.1 pts ▸ 70.6%

32.7% Walked ◂ +30.5 pts 2.2%

12.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +7.0 pts 5.4%

0.0% Worked at home +5.1 pts ▸ 5.1%

4.7% Bus ◂ +3.8 pts 0.9%

0.0% Bicycle +1.0 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

49.5% No vehicle ◂ +44.1 pts 5.4%

12.0% 2 vehicles +28.0 pts ▸ 40.0%

36.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.2 pts 35.0%

2.3% 3 vehicles +10.9 pts ▸ 13.2%

0.6% 4 or more +5.9 pts ▸ 6.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

33.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +15.5 pts 17.5%

23.0% Education & training ◂ +13.6 pts 9.4%

15.6% Public administration & safety ◂ +3.1 pts 12.6%

6.2% Retail trade +3.0 pts ▸ 9.2%

2.4% Construction +6.2 pts ▸ 8.5%

2.4% Accommodation & food +5.1 pts ▸ 7.4%

2.7% Professional & technical +1.9 pts ▸ 4.5%

0.0% Manufacturing +4.5 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.4% Administrative & support ◂ +1.7 pts 2.7%

2.7% Transport & warehousing +1.7 pts ▸ 4.3%

1.5% Other services +2.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

0.0% Mining +2.8 pts ▸ 2.8%

Occupations people work in

38.3% Community & personal service ◂ +22.2 pts 16.1%

18.0% Professionals +1.7 pts ▸ 19.7%

7.4% Technicians & trades +7.2 pts ▸ 14.6%

10.9% Clerical & administrative +1.4 pts ▸ 12.3%

4.4% Managers +5.7 pts ▸ 10.1%

8.8% Labourers +0.5 pts ▸ 9.3%

3.8% Sales workers +4.7 pts ▸ 8.6%

4.1% Machinery operators & drivers +3.3 pts ▸ 7.5%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Palm Island in Townsville +6 higher in Townsville

1 0th pct 7 64th pct

IRSD decile in Palm Island in Townsville +5 higher in Townsville

1 0th pct 6 57th pct

IER decile in Palm Island in Townsville +4 higher in Townsville

1 0th pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Palm Island in Townsville +6 higher in Townsville

1 0th pct 7 64th pct

IRSAD score in Palm Island in Townsville +259 higher in Townsville

707 1st pct 966 60th pct

ERP in Palm Island in Townsville +203,925 higher in Townsville

2,335 20th pct 206,260 87th pct

Growth in Palm Island in Townsville +1.6 pts higher in Palm Island

7.1% 77th pct 5.5% 67th pct

Businesses in Palm Island in Townsville +13,110 higher in Townsville

12 1st pct 13,122 86th pct

Approvals in Palm Island in Townsville +896 higher in Townsville

52 49th pct 948 86th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Palm Island in Townsville +881 higher in Palm Island

2,074 100th pct 1,193 84th pct

Max temp in Palm Island in Townsville +2.8 higher in Townsville

27.7 76th pct 30.4 87th pct

Min temp in Palm Island in Townsville even

20.2 95th pct 20.2 95th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Palm Island in Townsville +54,871 higher in Palm Island

77,026 100th pct 22,155 87th pct

Assault/100k in Palm Island in Townsville +18,983 higher in Palm Island

21,783 100th pct 2,800 86th pct

Sexual/100k in Palm Island in Townsville +393 higher in Palm Island

810 97th pct 418 83rd pct

Robbery/100k in Palm Island in Townsville

— 71 88th pct

Burglary/100k in Palm Island in Townsville +61 higher in Palm Island

1,764 92nd pct 1,703 91st pct

Theft/100k in Palm Island in Townsville +2,311 higher in Townsville

1,287 51st pct 3,598 94th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Palm Island in Townsville +356 higher in Townsville

334 48th pct 689 81st pct

Property damage/100k in Palm Island in Townsville +4,077 higher in Palm Island

5,481 99th pct 1,404 82nd pct

Drugs/100k in Palm Island in Townsville +2,384 higher in Palm Island

5,386 100th pct 3,002 92nd pct

5-yr change in Palm Island in Townsville +47.1 pts higher in Townsville

-1.5% 33rd pct 45.7% 88th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Palm Island in Townsville

— 4.7 70th pct

Types ≤15 min in Palm Island in Townsville +3.1 more in Townsville

1.5 6th pct 4.6 65th pct

15-min city in Palm Island in Townsville +54.3 pts higher in Townsville

0.0% 0th pct 54.3% 61st pct

Walk to shops in Palm Island in Townsville +50.5 pts higher in Townsville

0.0% 0th pct 50.5% 55th pct

Walk to transit in Palm Island in Townsville +74.2 pts higher in Townsville

0.0% 0th pct 74.2% 72nd pct

Walk to school in Palm Island in Townsville +8.6 pts higher in Townsville

47.9% 38th pct 56.5% 53rd pct

Walk to a park in Palm Island in Townsville +79.5 pts higher in Townsville

7.0% 2nd pct 86.5% 70th pct

Walk to health in Palm Island in Townsville +5.9 pts higher in Palm Island

47.4% 66th pct 41.5% 57th pct

Amenities/1k in Palm Island in Townsville +5.1 more in Townsville

4.8 0th pct 9.8 9th pct

Intersections/km² in Palm Island in Townsville +5 higher in Townsville

1 57th pct 6 67th pct

Mean slope in Palm Island in Townsville +5.5 pts higher in Palm Island

9.5% 94th pct 4.0% 38th pct

Compare Palm Island with nearby areas

Hinchinbrook Townsville Cassowary Coast Burdekin Charters Towers Tablelands Cairns Yarrabah

Compare Townsville with nearby areas

Burdekin Palm Island Hinchinbrook Charters Towers Whitsunday Cassowary Coast Tablelands Mackay

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Palm Island vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA35790/palm-island/vs/LGA37010/townsville