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Tablelands vs Townsville

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

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 234 km apart · Tablelands profile · Townsville profile

Tablelands Townsville

Townsville and Tablelands are two distinct Queensland regions with a sharp contrast in age and lifestyle. Townsville is much younger, with a typical resident aged 36 compared to 49 in Tablelands. This age difference is reflected in the population, with people aged 65 and over being far higher in Tablelands at 26.4%, while Townsville sits at 14.3%. Townsville also has a more urban feel; it is far more walkable, with 54.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a city center and far more public transport options, whereas Tablelands has no public transport stops per 1,000 people.

Everyday life shares many common threads in both places, including similar levels of unemployment and nearly identical shares of First Nations people and those born overseas. Both regions have also grown at almost the same rate since 2021. While they share these traits, other gaps have shifted; for example, the share of renters is far higher in Townsville, and this gap has widened since 2016.

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Where they differ most

Population: 166,524 larger in Townsville Median age: 13 yrs older in Tablelands Owned outright: 20.0 pts higher in Tablelands Housework 15h+: 6.9 pts higher in Tablelands Aged 65+: 12.2 pts higher in Tablelands

Demographics & Identity

Population in Tablelands in Townsville +166,524 larger in Townsville gap steady

26,244 63rd pct 192,768 87th pct

Median age in Tablelands in Townsville +13 yrs older in Tablelands gap steady

49 yrs 82nd pct 36 yrs 19th pct

Age structure

28.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.0 pts 24.5%

18.7% Young adults (25–44) +8.8 pts ▸ 27.5%

26.4% Seniors (65+) ◂ +12.2 pts 14.3%

17.0% Children (0–14) +2.2 pts ▸ 19.2%

9.4% Youth (15–24) +5.1 pts ▸ 14.5%

Marital status

45.7% Married ◂ +5.0 pts 40.7%

32.2% Never married +9.5 pts ▸ 41.7%

11.7% Divorced ◂ +2.2 pts 9.5%

6.6% Widowed ◂ +2.4 pts 4.2%

3.6% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Tablelands Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

76.3% Australia +2.4 pts ▸ 78.7%

3.2% England ◂ +0.8 pts 2.5%

2.1% New Zealand even 2.1%

0.5% Philippines +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% India +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.3% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.5% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.1% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

38.3% English ◂ +0.7 pts 37.6%

37.1% Australian ◂ +0.1 pts 37.1%

12.5% Irish ◂ +1.2 pts 11.3%

10.7% Scottish ◂ +0.3 pts 10.5%

6.1% German ◂ +0.7 pts 5.4%

5.8% Italian ◂ +1.0 pts 4.8%

0.7% Filipino +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%

0.8% Chinese +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.3% Indian +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.3% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

85.1% English only ◂ +1.2 pts 83.9%

0.6% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.1% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

46.0% Christianity +1.4 pts ▸ 47.4%

40.1% No religion +0.2 pts ▸ 40.4%

12.2% Not stated ◂ +2.7 pts 9.5%

0.7% Buddhism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Hinduism +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.6% Other religions even 0.6%

0.1% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Tablelands in Townsville +47 more in Townsville

17 69th pct 64 87th pct

Schools/1k kids in Tablelands in Townsville +2.09 more in Tablelands

3.82 50th pct 1.73 14th pct

Students in Tablelands in Townsville +30,031 more in Townsville

4,688 64th pct 34,719 87th pct

Avg size in Tablelands in Townsville +267 larger in Townsville

276 57th pct 542 86th pct

ICSEA in Tablelands in Townsville +9 higher in Townsville

965 45th pct 973 51st pct

Highest year of school

42.2% Year 12 +11.9 pts ▸ 54.1%

27.6% Year 10 ◂ +5.6 pts 22.0%

11.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.1 pts 8.0%

7.3% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 7.2%

Highest qualification level

35.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +0.3 pts 34.7%

16.2% Bachelor degree +4.8 pts ▸ 21.0%

13.7% Advanced diploma / diploma even 13.7%

3.8% Postgraduate degree +2.0 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.3 pts ▸ 3.2%

2.4% Certificate I / II +0.1 pts ▸ 2.5%

Field of qualification

16.0% Engineering & related +0.1 pts ▸ 16.1%

11.2% Management & commerce +3.5 pts ▸ 14.7%

10.2% Health +2.1 pts ▸ 12.4%

9.2% Society & culture +3.1 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.7% Education ◂ +1.9 pts 7.8%

6.0% Architecture & building ◂ +0.7 pts 5.3%

4.9% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.7 pts ▸ 5.6%

4.0% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.4 pts 1.6%

2.4% Natural & physical sciences +0.5 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.9% Creative arts +0.1 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.8% Information technology +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Tablelands in Townsville +$239 higher in Townsville gap widening

$625 22nd pct $864 74th pct

Household income in Tablelands in Townsville +$534 higher in Townsville gap widening

$1,167 21st pct $1,701 72nd pct

Family income in Tablelands in Townsville +$604 higher in Townsville gap widening

$1,478 22nd pct $2,082 72nd pct

Household income distribution

23.8% $1,500–$2,999 +8.1 pts ▸ 31.9%

31.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.5 pts 26.3%

22.8% Under $650 ◂ +8.5 pts 14.2%

6.0% $3,000–$3,999 +4.2 pts ▸ 10.1%

4.8% $4,000 or more +3.7 pts ▸ 8.4%

Personal income distribution

45.2% Under $650 ◂ +9.7 pts 35.4%

29.0% $650–$1,499 +4.1 pts ▸ 33.1%

11.2% $1,500–$2,999 +7.7 pts ▸ 18.9%

2.0% $3,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.0% Mental health +2.4 pts ▸ 10.3%

10.0% Arthritis ◂ +1.3 pts 8.7%

7.8% Other condition +0.5 pts ▸ 8.3%

7.0% Asthma +1.1 pts ▸ 8.1%

5.3% Heart disease ◂ +1.2 pts 4.0%

4.9% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 4.6%

3.7% Cancer ◂ +0.8 pts 3.0%

2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.4 pts 2.0%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

58.0% None +2.5 pts ▸ 60.5%

19.8% One condition ◂ +0.6 pts 19.1%

6.5% Two conditions ◂ +0.4 pts 6.2%

3.3% Three or more even 3.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Tablelands in Townsville +14,207 larger in Townsville

2,062 79th pct 16,269 95th pct

Median age in Tablelands in Townsville +1 yrs older in Tablelands

23 yrs 29th pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Tablelands in Townsville +$107 higher in Townsville

$491 32nd pct $598 62nd pct

Household income in Tablelands in Townsville +$368 higher in Townsville

$1,186 29th pct $1,554 65th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Tablelands in Townsville +0.2 larger in Townsville gap steady

2.3 29th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

45.6% Couples with children +8.0 pts ▸ 53.5%

37.0% Couples without children ◂ +9.3 pts 27.7%

16.3% One-parent families +1.1 pts ▸ 17.4%

1.1% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

40.2% 2 people ◂ +5.1 pts 35.1%

29.3% 1 person ◂ +3.2 pts 26.1%

12.4% 3 people +3.6 pts ▸ 16.0%

10.0% 4 people +3.8 pts ▸ 13.8%

5.0% 5 people +0.8 pts ▸ 5.8%

3.2% 6 or more even 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Tablelands in Townsville +$45 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$260 50th pct $305 64th pct

Mortgage in Tablelands in Townsville +$165 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,352 46th pct $1,517 57th pct

People / bedroom in Tablelands in Townsville even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

44.7% Owned outright ◂ +20.0 pts 24.7%

24.2% Rented +12.4 pts ▸ 36.6%

25.9% Owned with a mortgage +9.9 pts ▸ 35.7%

2.6% Not stated ◂ +1.2 pts 1.4%

2.5% Other tenure ◂ +1.0 pts 1.5%

Types of homes

90.9% Separate house ◂ +9.8 pts 81.1%

3.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +7.6 pts ▸ 11.0%

3.0% Flat or apartment +4.0 pts ▸ 7.0%

1.9% Other dwelling ◂ +1.3 pts 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

43.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +4.2 pts 39.3%

22.3% 4 bedrooms +10.3 pts ▸ 32.7%

18.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +2.3 pts 16.4%

6.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.8 pts 3.6%

5.3% 5 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 6.1%

1.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.9 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

55.3% $200–$349 ◂ +5.8 pts 49.5%

17.8% $350–$549 +15.2 pts ▸ 33.0%

21.3% Under $200 ◂ +9.4 pts 11.9%

0.6% $550–$749 +1.4 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.2% $750 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

40.8% $1,000–$1,799 +3.2 pts ▸ 44.0%

26.3% Under $1,000 ◂ +8.8 pts 17.5%

20.2% $1,800–$2,999 +5.7 pts ▸ 25.9%

6.3% $3,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Tablelands in Townsville +636 more in Townsville

0 0th pct 636 86th pct

Stops/1k in Tablelands in Townsville +3.30 more in Townsville

0.00 0th pct 3.30 50th pct

Departures/1k in Tablelands in Townsville +593.0 more in Townsville

0.0 0th pct 593.0 74th pct

PT routes in Tablelands in Townsville +16 more in Townsville

0 0th pct 16 65th pct

How people get to work

60.9% Car (driver) +9.7 pts ▸ 70.6%

11.1% Worked at home ◂ +6.0 pts 5.1%

5.7% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.3 pts 5.4%

4.8% Walked ◂ +2.6 pts 2.2%

1.4% Bus ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

0.3% Bicycle +0.7 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

38.5% 2 vehicles +1.5 pts ▸ 40.0%

35.2% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.3 pts 35.0%

14.3% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.2 pts 13.2%

7.8% 4 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 6.5%

4.2% No vehicle +1.2 pts ▸ 5.4%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.6% Health care & social assistance +3.9 pts ▸ 17.5%

13.9% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +13.2 pts 0.7%

6.2% Public administration & safety +6.3 pts ▸ 12.6%

9.8% Retail trade ◂ +0.6 pts 9.2%

9.5% Education & training ◂ +0.1 pts 9.4%

8.3% Construction +0.2 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.4% Accommodation & food +1.0 pts ▸ 7.4%

3.7% Professional & technical +0.8 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.1% Manufacturing +0.3 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.2% Transport & warehousing +1.2 pts ▸ 4.3%

3.9% Other services even 3.9%

3.3% Mining ◂ +0.4 pts 2.8%

Occupations people work in

15.4% Professionals +4.3 pts ▸ 19.7%

13.0% Community & personal service +3.1 pts ▸ 16.1%

15.3% Managers ◂ +5.1 pts 10.1%

13.7% Technicians & trades +0.9 pts ▸ 14.6%

14.4% Labourers ◂ +5.0 pts 9.3%

10.4% Clerical & administrative +1.9 pts ▸ 12.3%

8.3% Sales workers +0.3 pts ▸ 8.6%

7.2% Machinery operators & drivers +0.3 pts ▸ 7.5%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Tablelands in Townsville +4 higher in Townsville

3 29th pct 7 64th pct

IRSD decile in Tablelands in Townsville +2 higher in Townsville

4 36th pct 6 57th pct

IER decile in Tablelands in Townsville +1 higher in Townsville

4 36th pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Tablelands in Townsville +3 higher in Townsville

4 36th pct 7 64th pct

IRSAD score in Tablelands in Townsville +40 higher in Townsville

926 29th pct 966 60th pct

ERP in Tablelands in Townsville +178,358 higher in Townsville

27,902 62nd pct 206,260 87th pct

Growth in Tablelands in Townsville +0.2 pts higher in Townsville

5.3% 65th pct 5.5% 67th pct

Businesses in Tablelands in Townsville +10,192 higher in Townsville

2,930 63rd pct 13,122 86th pct

Approvals in Tablelands in Townsville +814 higher in Townsville

134 63rd pct 948 86th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Tablelands in Townsville +308 higher in Townsville

885 72nd pct 1,193 84th pct

Max temp in Tablelands in Townsville +2.0 higher in Townsville

28.5 79th pct 30.4 87th pct

Min temp in Tablelands in Townsville +3.2 higher in Townsville

17.0 87th pct 20.2 95th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Tablelands in Townsville +9,295 higher in Townsville

12,860 75th pct 22,155 87th pct

Assault/100k in Tablelands in Townsville +1,565 higher in Townsville

1,235 64th pct 2,800 86th pct

Sexual/100k in Tablelands in Townsville +189 higher in Townsville

229 44th pct 418 83rd pct

Robbery/100k in Tablelands in Townsville +10 higher in Townsville

61 86th pct 71 88th pct

Burglary/100k in Tablelands in Townsville +323 higher in Townsville

1,379 88th pct 1,703 91st pct

Theft/100k in Tablelands in Townsville +1,617 higher in Townsville

1,981 74th pct 3,598 94th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Tablelands in Townsville +247 higher in Townsville

442 61st pct 689 81st pct

Property damage/100k in Tablelands in Townsville +364 higher in Townsville

1,040 72nd pct 1,404 82nd pct

Drugs/100k in Tablelands in Townsville +1,558 higher in Townsville

1,444 82nd pct 3,002 92nd pct

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

81.4% 97th pct 45.7% 88th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Tablelands in Townsville +2.8 higher in Townsville

2.0 12th pct 4.7 70th pct

Types ≤15 min in Tablelands in Townsville +2.3 more in Townsville

2.3 13th pct 4.6 65th pct

15-min city in Tablelands in Townsville +28.0 pts higher in Townsville

26.3% 14th pct 54.3% 61st pct

Walk to shops in Tablelands in Townsville +25.4 pts higher in Townsville

25.1% 14th pct 50.5% 55th pct

Walk to transit in Tablelands in Townsville +74.2 pts higher in Townsville

0.0% 0th pct 74.2% 72nd pct

Walk to school in Tablelands in Townsville +19.7 pts higher in Townsville

36.9% 22nd pct 56.5% 53rd pct

Walk to a park in Tablelands in Townsville +40.6 pts higher in Townsville

45.9% 16th pct 86.5% 70th pct

Walk to health in Tablelands in Townsville +20.5 pts higher in Townsville

21.0% 20th pct 41.5% 57th pct

Amenities/1k in Tablelands in Townsville +2.1 more in Tablelands

12.0 16th pct 9.8 9th pct

Intersections/km² in Tablelands in Townsville +6 higher in Townsville

0 30th pct 6 67th pct

Mean slope in Tablelands in Townsville +3.8 pts higher in Tablelands

7.8% 86th pct 4.0% 38th pct

Compare Tablelands with nearby areas

Cassowary Coast Cairns Hinchinbrook Yarrabah Palm Island Etheridge Douglas Mareeba

Compare Townsville with nearby areas

Burdekin Palm Island Hinchinbrook Charters Towers Whitsunday Cassowary Coast Tablelands Mackay

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Tablelands vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA36820/tablelands/vs/LGA37010/townsville