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Cairns - North vs Townsville

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

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 309 km apart · Cairns - North profile · Townsville profile

Cairns - North Townsville

Townsville and Cairns - North are two distinct Queensland hubs with very different demographics and layouts. Cairns - North is a more diverse and older area, where 24.6% of people were born overseas compared to 14.0% in Townsville. It also has a higher share of university graduates (23.7% vs 18.1%) and a much higher annual rainfall, reaching 2,368mm. Townsville is a larger center with a stronger Defence Force presence, where 9.1% of adults have served. It also has better access to basic services, with more homes within a 15-minute walk of both schools (56.5%) and health services (41.4%).

Both areas are almost identical when it comes to the size of their households, with 2.5 people per home. This similarity exists alongside a widening gap in how people live and work. Since 2011, Townsville has seen a rise in the share of renters compared to Cairns - North, and the typical resident in Cairns - North has become noticeably older than those in Townsville. The two areas also differ in their street layouts, with Cairns - North having far more intersections per square kilometer.

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Where they differ most

Population: 135,046 larger in Townsville Work from home: 8.7 pts higher in Cairns - North Born overseas: 10.6 pts higher in Cairns - North Median age: 5 yrs older in Cairns - North No religion: 7.4 pts higher in Cairns - North

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns - North in Townsville +135,046 larger in Townsville gap steady

57,774 47th pct 192,820 91st pct

Median age in Cairns - North in Townsville +5 yrs older in Cairns - North gap widening

41 yrs 62nd pct 36 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

29.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +4.6 pts 24.6%

25.1% Young adults (25–44) +2.4 pts ▸ 27.5%

19.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.2 pts 19.2%

15.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.0 pts 14.3%

11.0% Youth (15–24) +3.5 pts ▸ 14.5%

Marital status

45.1% Married ◂ +4.4 pts 40.7%

36.5% Never married +5.1 pts ▸ 41.7%

10.9% Divorced ◂ +1.4 pts 9.5%

3.8% Widowed +0.4 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.7% Separated +0.2 pts ▸ 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Cairns - North Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

70.0% Australia +8.7 pts ▸ 78.7%

6.0% England ◂ +3.5 pts 2.5%

3.2% New Zealand ◂ +1.1 pts 2.1%

0.7% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

1.0% India ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.9% South Africa ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

0.5% China ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

40.1% English ◂ +2.5 pts 37.6%

32.0% Australian +5.0 pts ▸ 37.1%

11.7% Irish ◂ +0.4 pts 11.3%

11.0% Scottish ◂ +0.6 pts 10.5%

6.0% German ◂ +0.7 pts 5.4%

4.5% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.1% Dutch ◂ +0.8 pts 1.3%

1.7% Chinese ◂ +0.4 pts 1.3%

1.2% Filipino +0.3 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.4% Indian ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

0.6% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

82.6% English only +1.3 pts ▸ 83.9%

0.6% Mandarin ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.5% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.2% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.4% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.3% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Arabic even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

47.8% No religion ◂ +7.4 pts 40.4%

41.0% Christianity +6.4 pts ▸ 47.4%

7.9% Not stated +1.6 pts ▸ 9.5%

1.4% Buddhism ◂ +0.6 pts 0.8%

0.7% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.6% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Cairns - North in Townsville +52 more in Townsville

12 14th pct 64 93rd pct

Schools/1k kids in Cairns - North in Townsville +0.66 more in Townsville

1.07 8th pct 1.73 35th pct

Students in Cairns - North in Townsville +25,585 more in Townsville

9,134 44th pct 34,719 90th pct

Avg size in Cairns - North in Townsville +219 larger in Cairns - North

761 88th pct 542 67th pct

ICSEA in Cairns - North in Townsville +53 higher in Cairns - North

1,026 56th pct 973 27th pct

Highest year of school

60.7% Year 12 ◂ +6.7 pts 54.1%

18.8% Year 10 +3.2 pts ▸ 22.0%

8.4% Year 11 ◂ +1.2 pts 7.2%

5.4% Year 9 or below +2.6 pts ▸ 8.0%

Highest qualification level

30.6% Certificate III / IV +4.2 pts ▸ 34.7%

23.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +2.9 pts 21.0%

16.9% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +3.2 pts 13.7%

7.3% Postgraduate degree ◂ +1.5 pts 5.8%

4.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.7 pts 3.2%

1.9% Certificate I / II +0.6 pts ▸ 2.5%

Field of qualification

16.5% Management & commerce ◂ +1.7 pts 14.7%

14.8% Engineering & related +1.3 pts ▸ 16.0%

13.4% Health ◂ +1.0 pts 12.4%

12.3% Society & culture +0.1 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.0% Education ◂ +1.1 pts 7.8%

6.3% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.7 pts 5.6%

5.9% Architecture & building ◂ +0.7 pts 5.3%

3.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.1 pts 2.9%

2.7% Creative arts ◂ +0.6 pts 2.0%

1.9% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.3 pts 1.6%

1.4% Information technology +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Cairns - North in Townsville +$20 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$884 69th pct $864 65th pct

Household income in Cairns - North in Townsville +$118 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$1,819 60th pct $1,701 51st pct

Family income in Cairns - North in Townsville +$71 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$2,153 60th pct $2,082 55th pct

Household income distribution

32.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.8 pts 31.9%

25.5% $650–$1,499 +0.9 pts ▸ 26.3%

12.6% Under $650 +1.6 pts ▸ 14.2%

11.3% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.2 pts 10.1%

9.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 8.4%

Personal income distribution

35.3% Under $650 +0.2 pts ▸ 35.4%

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.4 pts 33.1%

20.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.5 pts 18.9%

3.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

8.0% Mental health +2.4 pts ▸ 10.3%

7.4% Arthritis +1.4 pts ▸ 8.8%

8.1% Other condition +0.2 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.3% Asthma +1.8 pts ▸ 8.1%

3.1% Diabetes +1.6 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.3% Heart disease +0.8 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.0% Cancer even 3.0%

1.6% Lung condition +0.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.8% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

67.0% None ◂ +6.5 pts 60.5%

17.6% One condition +1.5 pts ▸ 19.1%

4.9% Two conditions +1.2 pts ▸ 6.2%

2.1% Three or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Cairns - North in Townsville +13,500 larger in Townsville

2,769 72nd pct 16,269 100th pct

Median age in Cairns - North in Townsville +1 yrs older in Cairns - North

23 yrs 29th pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Cairns - North in Townsville +$85 higher in Cairns - North

$683 69th pct $598 46th pct

Household income in Cairns - North in Townsville +$355 higher in Cairns - North

$1,909 74th pct $1,554 46th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns - North in Townsville even gap narrowing

2.5 57th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

55.6% Couples with children ◂ +2.1 pts 53.5%

29.0% Couples without children ◂ +1.3 pts 27.7%

14.6% One-parent families +2.8 pts ▸ 17.4%

0.8% Other families +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

37.1% 2 people ◂ +1.9 pts 35.2%

22.4% 1 person +3.7 pts ▸ 26.1%

16.6% 3 people ◂ +0.6 pts 16.0%

16.0% 4 people ◂ +2.2 pts 13.8%

5.5% 5 people +0.3 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.5% 6 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns - North in Townsville +$85 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$390 66th pct $305 30th pct

Mortgage in Cairns - North in Townsville +$216 higher in Cairns - North gap widening

$1,733 43rd pct $1,517 29th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns - North in Townsville even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

41.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.4 pts 35.7%

28.5% Rented +8.1 pts ▸ 36.6%

28.5% Owned outright ◂ +3.7 pts 24.7%

0.9% Other tenure +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.1% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

Types of homes

80.1% Separate house +1.0 pts ▸ 81.1%

8.4% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.5 pts ▸ 10.9%

10.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +3.0 pts 7.0%

0.6% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

34.1% 3 bedrooms +5.1 pts ▸ 39.3%

37.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +5.1 pts 32.7%

16.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.5 pts 16.4%

7.2% 5 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 6.1%

2.5% 1 bedroom +1.1 pts ▸ 3.6%

0.3% Studio / none even 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

54.1% $350–$549 ◂ +21.1 pts 33.0%

26.8% $200–$349 +22.7 pts ▸ 49.5%

5.1% Under $200 +6.8 pts ▸ 11.9%

9.2% $550–$749 ◂ +7.2 pts 1.9%

1.4% $750 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

36.8% $1,000–$1,799 +7.3 pts ▸ 44.1%

32.9% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +7.1 pts 25.8%

15.1% Under $1,000 +2.5 pts ▸ 17.5%

9.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.6 pts 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Cairns - North in Townsville +453 more in Townsville

183 34th pct 636 85th pct

Stops/1k in Cairns - North in Townsville +0.13 more in Townsville

3.17 27th pct 3.30 29th pct

Departures/1k in Cairns - North in Townsville even

591.7 44th pct 592.8 44th pct

PT routes in Cairns - North in Townsville +6 more in Townsville

10 20th pct 16 32nd pct

Stop walk in Cairns - North in Townsville

24 80th pct —

How people get to work

58.3% Car (driver) +12.3 pts ▸ 70.6%

13.8% Worked at home ◂ +8.7 pts 5.1%

4.2% Car (passenger) +1.2 pts ▸ 5.4%

1.5% Walked +0.7 pts ▸ 2.2%

0.7% Bicycle +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.8% Bus +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

42.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.9 pts 39.9%

35.0% 1 vehicle even 35.0%

13.2% 3 vehicles even 13.2%

6.1% 4 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 6.5%

2.9% No vehicle +2.4 pts ▸ 5.4%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.6% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.1 pts 17.5%

7.8% Public administration & safety +4.8 pts ▸ 12.6%

9.9% Education & training ◂ +0.5 pts 9.4%

9.5% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.1 pts 7.4%

9.2% Retail trade even 9.2%

8.9% Construction ◂ +0.4 pts 8.5%

5.7% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.3 pts 4.3%

5.3% Professional & technical ◂ +0.7 pts 4.6%

3.1% Manufacturing +1.4 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.0% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.9%

3.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.7 pts 2.7%

1.9% Mining +0.9 pts ▸ 2.8%

Occupations people work in

23.6% Professionals ◂ +3.9 pts 19.7%

14.3% Community & personal service +1.8 pts ▸ 16.1%

14.4% Technicians & trades +0.2 pts ▸ 14.6%

12.3% Managers ◂ +2.2 pts 10.1%

11.8% Clerical & administrative +0.5 pts ▸ 12.3%

8.2% Labourers +1.1 pts ▸ 9.3%

9.3% Sales workers ◂ +0.7 pts 8.6%

4.5% Machinery operators & drivers +3.0 pts ▸ 7.5%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Cairns - North in Townsville +142,890 higher in Townsville

63,376 47th pct 206,266 90th pct

Growth in Cairns - North in Townsville +2.7 pts higher in Cairns - North

8.2% 72nd pct 5.5% 49th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Cairns - North in Townsville +1,195 higher in Cairns - North

2,368 100th pct 1,173 74th pct

Max temp in Cairns - North in Townsville +0.7 higher in Townsville

29.9 91st pct 30.5 92nd pct

Min temp in Cairns - North in Townsville +0.8 higher in Cairns - North

21.1 100th pct 20.2 99th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns - North in Townsville +0.1 higher in Cairns - North

4.8 47th pct 4.7 44th pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns - North in Townsville +0.1 more in Townsville

4.5 43rd pct 4.6 44th pct

15-min city in Cairns - North in Townsville +1.4 pts higher in Cairns - North

55.7% 48th pct 54.3% 46th pct

Walk to shops in Cairns - North in Townsville +5.5 pts higher in Cairns - North

55.9% 47th pct 50.5% 40th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns - North in Townsville +3.6 pts higher in Cairns - North

77.7% 47th pct 74.2% 44th pct

Walk to school in Cairns - North in Townsville +15.3 pts higher in Townsville

41.2% 19th pct 56.5% 38th pct

Walk to a park in Cairns - North in Townsville +6.7 pts higher in Cairns - North

93.2% 55th pct 86.5% 45th pct

Walk to health in Cairns - North in Townsville +11.4 pts higher in Townsville

30.0% 25th pct 41.4% 48th pct

Amenities/1k in Cairns - North in Townsville +2.8 more in Cairns - North

12.7 29th pct 9.8 8th pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns - North in Townsville +34 higher in Cairns - North

40 52nd pct 6 34th pct

Mean slope in Cairns - North in Townsville +2.6 pts higher in Cairns - North

6.6% 70th pct 4.0% 22nd pct

Compare Cairns - North with nearby areas

Cairns - South Port Douglas - Daintree Innisfail - Cassowary Coast Tablelands (East) - Kuranda Far North Townsville Charters Towers - Ayr - Ingham Whitsunday

Compare Townsville with nearby areas

Charters Towers - Ayr - Ingham Innisfail - Cassowary Coast Whitsunday Tablelands (East) - Kuranda Bowen Basin - North Mackay Cairns - South Cairns - North

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns - North vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/30601/cairns-north/vs/31802/townsville