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Townsville vs Whitsunday

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

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 163 km apart · Townsville profile · Whitsunday profile

Townsville Whitsunday

Townsville and Whitsunday are two distinct Queensland hubs with a notable gap in infrastructure and education. Townsville is more developed, with 54.1% of people completing Year 12 compared to 43.6% in Whitsunday. This is consistent with a more qualified workforce, as 18.1% of Townsville residents hold a bachelor degree or higher, while 11.8% do so in Whitsunday. Townsville also has far more public transport options, with 74.2% of homes within a 10 minute walk of a stop, whereas Whitsunday has none. Crime rates are also far higher in Townsville, including a theft rate of 3,598 compared to 2,137 in Whitsunday.

Everyday life shares many similarities in both places, from a typical weekly rent of around $300 to roughly the same number of people volunteering. Most homes in both areas have about 2.5 people per house, and about 43% of residents have moved in the last five years. While residents in Whitsunday are noticeably older, with a typical age of 40 compared to 36 in Townsville, this gap has narrowed slightly since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Population: 155,616 larger in Townsville Year 12: 10.5 pts higher in Townsville Unpaid child care: 4.5 pts higher in Townsville Recent arrivals: 7.9 pts higher in Whitsunday Bachelor+: 6.3 pts higher in Townsville

Demographics & Identity

Population in Townsville in Whitsunday +155,616 larger in Townsville gap steady

192,768 87th pct 37,152 71st pct

Median age in Townsville in Whitsunday +4 yrs older in Whitsunday gap narrowing

36 yrs 19th pct 40 yrs 38th pct

Age structure

27.5% Young adults (25–44) +0.1 pts ▸ 27.7%

24.5% Older adults (45–64) +3.0 pts ▸ 27.6%

19.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.0 pts 17.2%

14.3% Seniors (65+) +2.6 pts ▸ 16.9%

14.5% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.7 pts 10.8%

Marital status

40.7% Married +1.0 pts ▸ 41.7%

41.7% Never married ◂ +1.9 pts 39.7%

9.5% Divorced +0.8 pts ▸ 10.3%

4.2% Widowed +0.2 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.9% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Townsville Whitsunday

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

78.7% Australia ◂ +6.6 pts 72.1%

2.5% England +0.8 pts ▸ 3.3%

2.1% New Zealand +0.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.1% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.9% India ◂ +0.6 pts 0.3%

0.5% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Italy even 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

37.6% English +1.3 pts ▸ 38.8%

37.1% Australian ◂ +1.3 pts 35.8%

11.3% Irish ◂ +1.2 pts 10.1%

10.5% Scottish ◂ +0.4 pts 10.0%

5.4% German ◂ +0.1 pts 5.3%

4.8% Italian ◂ +1.6 pts 3.2%

1.5% Filipino ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

1.3% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.3% Chinese ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

1.2% Indian ◂ +0.8 pts 0.4%

0.7% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.3%

Language

Language used at home

83.9% English only ◂ +2.1 pts 81.8%

0.3% Mandarin +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.3%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.2% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.2% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

47.4% Christianity ◂ +5.0 pts 42.4%

40.4% No religion +2.2 pts ▸ 42.5%

9.5% Not stated +3.7 pts ▸ 13.2%

0.8% Buddhism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.7% Hinduism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.6% Other religions ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.5% Islam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Townsville in Whitsunday +47 more in Townsville

64 87th pct 17 69th pct

Schools/1k kids in Townsville in Whitsunday +0.93 more in Whitsunday

1.73 14th pct 2.66 34th pct

Students in Townsville in Whitsunday +29,072 more in Townsville

34,719 87th pct 5,647 67th pct

Avg size in Townsville in Whitsunday +210 larger in Townsville

542 86th pct 332 65th pct

ICSEA in Townsville in Whitsunday +8 higher in Townsville

973 51st pct 965 46th pct

Highest year of school

54.1% Year 12 ◂ +10.5 pts 43.6%

22.0% Year 10 +3.3 pts ▸ 25.3%

8.0% Year 9 or below +1.5 pts ▸ 9.5%

7.2% Year 11 +0.9 pts ▸ 8.2%

Highest qualification level

34.7% Certificate III / IV +2.4 pts ▸ 37.2%

21.0% Bachelor degree ◂ +6.1 pts 14.9%

13.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.5 pts 13.1%

5.8% Postgraduate degree ◂ +3.0 pts 2.8%

3.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.5 pts 1.8%

2.5% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.8%

Field of qualification

16.1% Engineering & related +2.0 pts ▸ 18.1%

14.7% Management & commerce ◂ +1.7 pts 13.0%

12.4% Health ◂ +5.1 pts 7.3%

12.3% Society & culture ◂ +4.3 pts 8.0%

5.6% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.3 pts ▸ 7.9%

7.8% Education ◂ +1.1 pts 6.7%

5.3% Architecture & building +1.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

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

1.6% Agriculture & environment +0.8 pts ▸ 2.4%

2.0% Creative arts even 2.1%

1.5% Information technology ◂ +0.7 pts 0.9%

Income

Personal income in Townsville in Whitsunday +$69 higher in Townsville gap widening

$864 74th pct $795 62nd pct

Household income in Townsville in Whitsunday +$229 higher in Townsville gap widening

$1,701 72nd pct $1,472 57th pct

Family income in Townsville in Whitsunday +$226 higher in Townsville gap steady

$2,082 72nd pct $1,856 56th pct

Household income distribution

31.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.6 pts 28.3%

26.3% $650–$1,499 +1.6 pts ▸ 28.0%

14.2% Under $650 +3.0 pts ▸ 17.2%

10.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.7 pts 8.4%

8.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 6.8%

Personal income distribution

35.4% Under $650 ◂ +0.8 pts 34.6%

33.1% $650–$1,499 +1.0 pts ▸ 34.1%

18.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.8 pts 14.1%

3.0% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 3.3%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.3% Mental health ◂ +2.8 pts 7.5%

8.7% Arthritis ◂ +0.9 pts 7.9%

8.3% Other condition ◂ +2.0 pts 6.3%

8.1% Asthma ◂ +1.3 pts 6.8%

4.6% Diabetes ◂ +0.5 pts 4.1%

4.0% Heart disease ◂ +0.3 pts 3.8%

3.0% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 2.8%

2.0% Lung condition even 2.1%

0.9% Stroke even 0.9%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.5% None +0.5 pts ▸ 60.9%

19.1% One condition ◂ +2.1 pts 17.0%

6.2% Two conditions ◂ +1.1 pts 5.1%

3.4% Three or more ◂ +0.5 pts 2.9%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Townsville in Whitsunday +14,113 larger in Townsville

16,269 95th pct 2,156 80th pct

Median age in Townsville in Whitsunday +2 yrs older in Whitsunday

22 yrs 21st pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Townsville in Whitsunday +$67 higher in Whitsunday

$598 62nd pct $665 75th pct

Household income in Townsville in Whitsunday +$40 higher in Townsville

$1,554 65th pct $1,514 63rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Townsville in Whitsunday +0.1 larger in Townsville gap narrowing

2.5 71st pct 2.4 43rd pct

Family composition

53.5% Couples with children ◂ +1.9 pts 51.6%

27.7% Couples without children +5.7 pts ▸ 33.4%

17.4% One-parent families ◂ +3.5 pts 14.0%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

Household size

35.1% 2 people +2.5 pts ▸ 37.6%

26.1% 1 person +1.4 pts ▸ 27.5%

16.0% 3 people ◂ +2.4 pts 13.6%

13.8% 4 people ◂ +0.9 pts 12.9%

5.8% 5 people ◂ +0.1 pts 5.7%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 2.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Townsville in Whitsunday +$5 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$305 64th pct $300 63rd pct

Mortgage in Townsville in Whitsunday +$95 higher in Whitsunday gap steady

$1,517 57th pct $1,612 63rd pct

People / bedroom in Townsville in Whitsunday even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.6% Rented ◂ +2.7 pts 33.9%

35.7% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.4 pts 30.3%

24.7% Owned outright +7.2 pts ▸ 31.9%

1.4% Not stated +0.6 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.5% Other tenure +0.4 pts ▸ 1.9%

Types of homes

81.1% Separate house ◂ +3.3 pts 77.7%

11.0% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +2.1 pts 8.9%

7.0% Flat or apartment +2.2 pts ▸ 9.3%

0.7% Other dwelling +2.0 pts ▸ 2.7%

Bedrooms per home

39.3% 3 bedrooms +0.9 pts ▸ 40.2%

32.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +6.6 pts 26.0%

16.4% 2 bedrooms +3.0 pts ▸ 19.3%

6.1% 5 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 4.9%

3.6% 1 bedroom +2.1 pts ▸ 5.7%

0.4% Studio / none +1.2 pts ▸ 1.6%

Weekly rent distribution

49.5% $200–$349 ◂ +8.4 pts 41.2%

33.0% $350–$549 ◂ +1.1 pts 31.9%

11.9% Under $200 +6.2 pts ▸ 18.1%

1.9% $550–$749 +2.4 pts ▸ 4.3%

0.4% $750 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

Monthly mortgage distribution

44.0% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +7.1 pts 36.9%

25.9% $1,800–$2,999 +2.7 pts ▸ 28.6%

17.5% Under $1,000 +1.3 pts ▸ 18.9%

7.2% $3,000 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 8.6%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Townsville in Whitsunday +636 more in Townsville

636 86th pct 0 0th pct

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

3.30 50th pct 0.00 0th pct

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

593.0 74th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Townsville in Whitsunday +16 more in Townsville

16 65th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

70.6% Car (driver) ◂ +13.2 pts 57.4%

2.2% Walked +6.0 pts ▸ 8.2%

5.1% Worked at home +1.9 pts ▸ 7.0%

5.4% Car (passenger) +0.6 pts ▸ 6.0%

0.9% Bus +1.5 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.0% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

40.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.9 pts 38.0%

35.0% 1 vehicle +1.0 pts ▸ 36.0%

13.2% 3 vehicles +0.1 pts ▸ 13.3%

6.5% 4 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 7.1%

5.4% No vehicle +0.3 pts ▸ 5.7%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

17.5% Health care & social assistance ◂ +9.5 pts 8.1%

7.4% Accommodation & food +9.8 pts ▸ 17.2%

12.6% Public administration & safety ◂ +9.0 pts 3.6%

9.4% Education & training ◂ +3.6 pts 5.8%

9.2% Retail trade ◂ +0.7 pts 8.5%

8.5% Construction +0.3 pts ▸ 8.9%

0.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +7.3 pts ▸ 8.0%

2.8% Mining +4.7 pts ▸ 7.5%

4.3% Transport & warehousing +2.5 pts ▸ 6.9%

2.7% Administrative & support +1.9 pts ▸ 4.6%

4.5% Professional & technical ◂ +1.5 pts 3.0%

4.5% Manufacturing ◂ +0.9 pts 3.6%

Occupations people work in

19.7% Professionals ◂ +8.4 pts 11.3%

14.6% Technicians & trades +2.2 pts ▸ 16.7%

16.1% Community & personal service ◂ +3.6 pts 12.5%

9.3% Labourers +6.1 pts ▸ 15.4%

10.1% Managers +2.6 pts ▸ 12.8%

12.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.5 pts 9.8%

7.5% Machinery operators & drivers +3.4 pts ▸ 10.9%

8.6% Sales workers even 8.6%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Townsville in Whitsunday +3 higher in Townsville

7 64th pct 4 36th pct

IRSD decile in Townsville in Whitsunday +1 higher in Townsville

6 57th pct 5 43rd pct

IER decile in Townsville in Whitsunday even

5 43rd pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Townsville in Whitsunday +5 higher in Townsville

7 64th pct 2 14th pct

IRSAD score in Townsville in Whitsunday +31 higher in Townsville

966 60th pct 935 36th pct

ERP in Townsville in Whitsunday +164,886 higher in Townsville

206,260 87th pct 41,374 70th pct

Growth in Townsville in Whitsunday +4.4 pts higher in Whitsunday

5.5% 67th pct 9.9% 87th pct

Businesses in Townsville in Whitsunday +8,838 higher in Townsville

13,122 86th pct 4,284 71st pct

Approvals in Townsville in Whitsunday +741 higher in Townsville

948 86th pct 207 71st pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Townsville in Whitsunday +600 higher in Townsville

1,193 84th pct 593 42nd pct

Max temp in Townsville in Whitsunday +1.3 higher in Whitsunday

30.4 87th pct 31.7 91st pct

Min temp in Townsville in Whitsunday +3.0 higher in Townsville

20.2 95th pct 17.2 88th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Townsville in Whitsunday +5,771 higher in Townsville

22,155 87th pct 16,384 86th pct

Assault/100k in Townsville in Whitsunday +1,018 higher in Townsville

2,800 86th pct 1,782 79th pct

Sexual/100k in Townsville in Whitsunday +19 higher in Townsville

418 83rd pct 398 80th pct

Robbery/100k in Townsville in Whitsunday +28 higher in Townsville

71 88th pct 43 75th pct

Burglary/100k in Townsville in Whitsunday +1,054 higher in Townsville

1,703 91st pct 649 66th pct

Theft/100k in Townsville in Whitsunday +1,461 higher in Townsville

3,598 94th pct 2,137 78th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Townsville in Whitsunday +393 higher in Townsville

689 81st pct 296 43rd pct

Property damage/100k in Townsville in Whitsunday +373 higher in Townsville

1,404 82nd pct 1,031 72nd pct

Drugs/100k in Townsville in Whitsunday +198 higher in Whitsunday

3,002 92nd pct 3,200 93rd pct

5-yr change in Townsville in Whitsunday +5.1 pts higher in Townsville

45.7% 88th pct 40.5% 86th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Townsville in Whitsunday +1.9 higher in Townsville

4.7 70th pct 2.8 25th pct

Types ≤15 min in Townsville in Whitsunday +1.5 more in Townsville

4.6 65th pct 3.1 26th pct

15-min city in Townsville in Whitsunday +18.0 pts higher in Townsville

54.3% 61st pct 36.4% 29th pct

Walk to shops in Townsville in Whitsunday +7.7 pts higher in Townsville

50.5% 55th pct 42.8% 41st pct

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

74.2% 72nd pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Townsville in Whitsunday +11.1 pts higher in Townsville

56.5% 53rd pct 45.5% 34th pct

Walk to a park in Townsville in Whitsunday +15.8 pts higher in Townsville

86.5% 70th pct 70.7% 52nd pct

Walk to health in Townsville in Whitsunday +10.2 pts higher in Townsville

41.5% 57th pct 31.2% 37th pct

Amenities/1k in Townsville in Whitsunday +13.0 more in Whitsunday

9.8 9th pct 22.9 60th pct

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

6 67th pct 0 22nd pct

Mean slope in Townsville in Whitsunday +4.7 pts higher in Whitsunday

4.0% 38th pct 8.7% 90th pct

Compare Townsville with nearby areas

Burdekin Palm Island Hinchinbrook Charters Towers Whitsunday Cassowary Coast Tablelands Mackay

Compare Whitsunday with nearby areas

Burdekin Mackay Isaac Townsville Charters Towers Palm Island Hinchinbrook Barcaldine

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Townsville vs Whitsunday [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA37010/townsville/vs/LGA37340/whitsunday