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Whitsunday vs Townsville

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

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 211 km apart · Whitsunday profile · Townsville profile

Whitsunday Townsville

Townsville and Whitsunday are two distinct Queensland regions located about 211 km apart. Townsville is a much larger hub with far better access to infrastructure; 74.2% of its homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport, compared to 0% in Whitsunday. It also has a well higher proportion of First Nations people (8.4% versus 3.4%) and a much stronger presence of former Defence Force members. In contrast, Whitsunday has a higher share of people born overseas (18.1% versus 14.0%) and residents are noticeably older, with a typical age of 39 compared to 36 in Townsville.

Since 2011, the two areas have tracked differently as the gap for people with no religion and the proportion of overseas-born residents has widened. However, they remain very similar in some daily realities: both have almost the same typical weekly personal income, around $840 to $860, and about 15% of their populations are aged 65 or over. They also share similar household patterns, with both averaging around 2.4 to 2.5 people per home.

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Where they differ most

Population: 169,438 larger in Townsville Under 15: 2.5 pts higher in Townsville Needs assistance: 1.7 pts higher in Townsville Unpaid child care: 4.2 pts higher in Townsville Unemployment: 1.1 pts higher in Townsville

Demographics & Identity

Population in Whitsunday in Townsville +169,438 larger in Townsville gap steady

23,382 16th pct 192,820 91st pct

Median age in Whitsunday in Townsville +3 yrs older in Whitsunday gap narrowing

39 yrs 43rd pct 36 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

29.4% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.9 pts 27.5%

27.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.8 pts 24.6%

16.7% Children (0–14) +2.5 pts ▸ 19.2%

15.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.8 pts 14.3%

11.4% Youth (15–24) +3.0 pts ▸ 14.5%

Marital status

41.7% Never married even 41.7%

40.7% Married +0.1 pts ▸ 40.7%

10.2% Divorced ◂ +0.7 pts 9.5%

3.6% Widowed +0.6 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.8% Separated even 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Whitsunday Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

70.7% Australia +8.0 pts ▸ 78.7%

4.1% England ◂ +1.6 pts 2.5%

3.5% New Zealand ◂ +1.3 pts 2.1%

0.8% Philippines +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.4% India +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.8% South Africa ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.3% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% Italy even 0.2%

0.2% Vietnam even 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

41.2% English ◂ +3.7 pts 37.6%

34.5% Australian +2.5 pts ▸ 37.1%

10.5% Irish +0.8 pts ▸ 11.3%

10.1% Scottish +0.4 pts ▸ 10.5%

5.5% German ◂ +0.1 pts 5.4%

3.6% Italian +1.2 pts ▸ 4.8%

1.7% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

1.0% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.0% Chinese +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% Indian +0.7 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.4% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

82.3% English only +1.6 pts ▸ 83.9%

0.5% Mandarin ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.3% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi even 0.2%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.2%

0.0% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

39.3% Christianity +8.2 pts ▸ 47.4%

45.8% No religion ◂ +5.5 pts 40.4%

12.9% Not stated ◂ +3.4 pts 9.5%

0.9% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

0.3% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.5% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Whitsunday in Townsville +57 more in Townsville

7 8th pct 64 93rd pct

Schools/1k kids in Whitsunday in Townsville +0.06 more in Whitsunday

1.79 38th pct 1.73 35th pct

Students in Whitsunday in Townsville +31,100 more in Townsville

3,619 13th pct 34,719 90th pct

Avg size in Whitsunday in Townsville +25 larger in Townsville

517 62nd pct 542 67th pct

ICSEA in Whitsunday in Townsville +16 higher in Whitsunday

990 36th pct 973 27th pct

Highest year of school

48.1% Year 12 +6.0 pts ▸ 54.1%

23.4% Year 10 ◂ +1.4 pts 22.0%

8.5% Year 11 ◂ +1.3 pts 7.2%

7.3% Year 9 or below +0.7 pts ▸ 8.0%

Highest qualification level

36.4% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.6 pts 34.7%

16.3% Bachelor degree +4.8 pts ▸ 21.0%

14.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.7 pts 13.7%

3.1% Postgraduate degree +2.7 pts ▸ 5.8%

1.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.4 pts ▸ 3.2%

2.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.3 pts 2.5%

Field of qualification

17.5% Engineering & related ◂ +1.5 pts 16.0%

14.1% Management & commerce +0.6 pts ▸ 14.7%

7.3% Health +5.0 pts ▸ 12.4%

8.1% Society & culture +4.2 pts ▸ 12.3%

8.8% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +3.2 pts 5.6%

6.5% Education +1.3 pts ▸ 7.8%

7.1% Architecture & building ◂ +1.8 pts 5.3%

1.6% Natural & physical sciences +1.3 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.5% Creative arts ◂ +0.5 pts 2.0%

2.3% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.7 pts 1.6%

0.9% Information technology +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Whitsunday in Townsville +$22 higher in Townsville gap steady

$842 62nd pct $864 65th pct

Household income in Whitsunday in Townsville +$127 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,574 41st pct $1,701 51st pct

Family income in Whitsunday in Townsville +$176 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,906 40th pct $2,082 55th pct

Household income distribution

30.3% $1,500–$2,999 +1.6 pts ▸ 31.9%

27.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.5 pts 26.3%

14.6% Under $650 ◂ +0.4 pts 14.2%

8.6% $3,000–$3,999 +1.5 pts ▸ 10.1%

6.9% $4,000 or more +1.6 pts ▸ 8.4%

Personal income distribution

37.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.9 pts 33.1%

31.9% Under $650 +3.5 pts ▸ 35.4%

14.5% $1,500–$2,999 +4.4 pts ▸ 18.9%

3.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.2% Mental health +3.1 pts ▸ 10.3%

6.6% Arthritis +2.2 pts ▸ 8.8%

5.9% Other condition +2.4 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.2% Asthma +1.9 pts ▸ 8.1%

3.5% Diabetes +1.2 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.2% Heart disease +0.8 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.5% Cancer +0.4 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.8% Lung condition +0.2 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.7% Stroke +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.6% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.2% None ◂ +2.7 pts 60.5%

16.4% One condition +2.7 pts ▸ 19.1%

4.4% Two conditions +1.8 pts ▸ 6.2%

2.2% Three or more +1.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Whitsunday in Townsville +15,485 larger in Townsville

784 30th pct 16,269 100th pct

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

23 yrs 29th pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Whitsunday in Townsville +$132 higher in Whitsunday

$730 75th pct $598 46th pct

Household income in Whitsunday in Townsville +$160 higher in Whitsunday

$1,714 59th pct $1,554 46th pct

Family & Households

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

2.4 29th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

52.2% Couples with children +1.3 pts ▸ 53.5%

33.2% Couples without children ◂ +5.5 pts 27.7%

13.8% One-parent families +3.6 pts ▸ 17.4%

0.8% Other families +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

38.0% 2 people ◂ +2.8 pts 35.2%

26.0% 1 person +0.1 pts ▸ 26.1%

14.3% 3 people +1.7 pts ▸ 16.0%

14.0% 4 people ◂ +0.2 pts 13.8%

5.6% 5 people +0.2 pts ▸ 5.8%

2.2% 6 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Whitsunday in Townsville +$45 higher in Whitsunday gap widening

$350 47th pct $305 30th pct

Mortgage in Whitsunday in Townsville +$183 higher in Whitsunday gap widening

$1,700 41st pct $1,517 29th pct

People / bedroom in Whitsunday in Townsville even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.6% Rented +4.0 pts ▸ 36.6%

34.5% Owned with a mortgage +1.2 pts ▸ 35.7%

29.8% Owned outright ◂ +5.0 pts 24.7%

1.7% Not stated ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

1.4% Other tenure +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

Types of homes

73.3% Separate house +7.8 pts ▸ 81.1%

14.7% Flat or apartment ◂ +7.7 pts 7.0%

7.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +3.5 pts ▸ 10.9%

2.6% Other dwelling ◂ +2.0 pts 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

39.7% 3 bedrooms ◂ +0.4 pts 39.3%

26.3% 4 bedrooms +6.3 pts ▸ 32.7%

20.0% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.6 pts 16.4%

5.1% 5 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.8 pts 3.6%

1.5% Studio / none ◂ +1.1 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

35.5% $200–$349 +14.1 pts ▸ 49.5%

41.1% $350–$549 ◂ +8.1 pts 33.0%

12.3% Under $200 ◂ +0.4 pts 11.9%

6.7% $550–$749 ◂ +4.8 pts 1.9%

1.6% $750 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

36.1% $1,000–$1,799 +8.0 pts ▸ 44.1%

30.6% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +4.7 pts 25.8%

16.8% Under $1,000 +0.7 pts ▸ 17.5%

9.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Whitsunday in Townsville +636 more in Townsville

0 0th pct 636 85th pct

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

0.00 0th pct 3.30 29th pct

Departures/1k in Whitsunday in Townsville +592.8 more in Townsville

0.0 0th pct 592.8 44th pct

PT routes in Whitsunday in Townsville +16 more in Townsville

0 0th pct 16 32nd pct

How people get to work

54.1% Car (driver) +16.5 pts ▸ 70.6%

10.0% Walked ◂ +7.8 pts 2.2%

7.6% Worked at home ◂ +2.5 pts 5.1%

4.8% Car (passenger) +0.5 pts ▸ 5.4%

2.2% Bus ◂ +1.3 pts 0.9%

0.8% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 2 vehicles +2.0 pts ▸ 39.9%

36.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.1 pts 35.0%

13.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.1 pts 13.2%

7.2% 4 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 6.5%

5.7% No vehicle ◂ +0.4 pts 5.4%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

22.1% Accommodation & food ◂ +14.7 pts 7.4%

7.4% Health care & social assistance +10.1 pts ▸ 17.5%

3.4% Public administration & safety +9.2 pts ▸ 12.6%

9.4% Construction ◂ +0.9 pts 8.5%

5.4% Education & training +4.0 pts ▸ 9.4%

9.1% Retail trade +0.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

6.5% Mining ◂ +3.6 pts 2.8%

6.4% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.0 pts 4.3%

4.9% Administrative & support ◂ +2.2 pts 2.7%

3.4% Professional & technical +1.2 pts ▸ 4.6%

4.0% Manufacturing +0.5 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.2% Other services ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

Occupations people work in

12.1% Professionals +7.6 pts ▸ 19.7%

17.9% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.4 pts 14.6%

13.6% Community & personal service +2.5 pts ▸ 16.1%

13.2% Managers ◂ +3.0 pts 10.1%

12.9% Labourers ◂ +3.6 pts 9.3%

9.9% Clerical & administrative +2.5 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.3% Sales workers ◂ +0.7 pts 8.6%

9.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.8 pts 7.5%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Whitsunday in Townsville +180,166 higher in Townsville

26,100 13th pct 206,266 90th pct

Growth in Whitsunday in Townsville +4.6 pts higher in Whitsunday

10.1% 81st pct 5.5% 49th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Whitsunday in Townsville +216 higher in Whitsunday

1,389 86th pct 1,173 74th pct

Max temp in Whitsunday in Townsville +1.3 higher in Townsville

29.3 90th pct 30.5 92nd pct

Min temp in Whitsunday in Townsville +1.6 higher in Townsville

18.7 94th pct 20.2 99th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Whitsunday in Townsville +1.9 higher in Townsville

2.8 13th pct 4.7 44th pct

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

3.0 13th pct 4.6 44th pct

15-min city in Whitsunday in Townsville +15.6 pts higher in Townsville

38.7% 22nd pct 54.3% 46th pct

Walk to shops in Whitsunday in Townsville +3.2 pts higher in Townsville

47.3% 35th pct 50.5% 40th pct

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

0.0% 0th pct 74.2% 44th pct

Walk to school in Whitsunday in Townsville +14.3 pts higher in Townsville

42.3% 20th pct 56.5% 38th pct

Walk to a park in Whitsunday in Townsville +13.3 pts higher in Townsville

73.1% 31st pct 86.5% 45th pct

Walk to health in Whitsunday in Townsville +9.6 pts higher in Townsville

31.8% 28th pct 41.4% 48th pct

Amenities/1k in Whitsunday in Townsville +12.1 more in Whitsunday

21.9 80th pct 9.8 8th pct

Intersections/km² in Whitsunday in Townsville +5 higher in Townsville

1 19th pct 6 34th pct

Mean slope in Whitsunday in Townsville +7.5 pts higher in Whitsunday

11.5% 100th pct 4.0% 22nd pct

Compare Whitsunday with nearby areas

Mackay Bowen Basin - North Townsville Charters Towers - Ayr - Ingham Rockhampton Innisfail - Cassowary Coast Central Highlands Tablelands (East) - Kuranda

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). Whitsunday vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/31203/whitsunday/vs/31802/townsville