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Far North vs Townsville

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

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 425 km apart · Far North profile · Townsville profile

Far North Townsville

Townsville and Far North are two distinct Queensland regions located over 400km apart. Far North has a much stronger First Nations presence, with 51.3% of the population being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and 60.3% speaking a First Nations language. It also has a far more diverse linguistic profile, as 34.9% of residents use a language other than English at home. Townsville is more urbanised, with a far higher share of people who have completed Year 12 (54.1% compared to 39.5%) and a higher proportion of adults working or looking for work (63.6% versus 50.5%).

These two areas share several commonalities, including a similar number of First Nations people and almost identical rates of full-time employment. They also have nearly the same share of residents living alone and the same typical monthly mortgage payments. Over time, some of the gaps between them have shifted; the difference in the proportion of people using another language at home and the gap in typical weekly rents have both narrowed since 2011.

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Where they differ most

Population: 160,613 larger in Townsville First Nations: 42.9 pts higher in Far North Other language: 27.0 pts higher in Far North Rent: $165 higher in Townsville Renting: 19.6 pts higher in Far North

Demographics & Identity

Population in Far North in Townsville +160,613 larger in Townsville gap steady

32,207 24th pct 192,820 91st pct

Median age in Far North in Townsville +3 yrs older in Townsville gap widening

33 yrs 7th pct 36 yrs 21st pct

Age structure

28.4% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +0.9 pts 27.5%

24.3% Older adults (45–64) +0.3 pts ▸ 24.6%

23.7% Children (0–14) ◂ +4.5 pts 19.2%

13.4% Youth (15–24) +1.0 pts ▸ 14.5%

10.2% Seniors (65+) +4.1 pts ▸ 14.3%

Marital status

57.8% Never married ◂ +16.1 pts 41.7%

29.2% Married +11.6 pts ▸ 40.7%

6.5% Divorced +3.1 pts ▸ 9.5%

3.6% Widowed +0.6 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.1% Separated +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Far North Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

81.3% Australia ◂ +2.6 pts 78.7%

1.2% England +1.3 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.4% New Zealand +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.4% Philippines +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.2% India +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.1% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

16.9% English +20.7 pts ▸ 37.6%

18.3% Australian +18.7 pts ▸ 37.1%

5.1% Irish +6.2 pts ▸ 11.3%

4.5% Scottish +6.0 pts ▸ 10.5%

2.5% German +2.8 pts ▸ 5.4%

2.5% Italian +2.4 pts ▸ 4.8%

0.7% Filipino +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.7% Dutch +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.7% Chinese +0.7 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.3% Indian +0.9 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.1% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

49.9% English only +34.0 pts ▸ 83.9%

0.1% Tagalog +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.5% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.1% Mandarin +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Punjabi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Arabic +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

53.1% Christianity ◂ +5.7 pts 47.4%

28.2% No religion +12.2 pts ▸ 40.4%

17.5% Not stated ◂ +8.0 pts 9.5%

0.4% Buddhism +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.2% Hinduism +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Islam +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Far North in Townsville +34 more in Townsville

30 56th pct 64 93rd pct

Schools/1k kids in Far North in Townsville +2.20 more in Far North

3.93 79th pct 1.73 35th pct

Students in Far North in Townsville +29,562 more in Townsville

5,157 20th pct 34,719 90th pct

Avg size in Far North in Townsville +371 larger in Townsville

172 13th pct 542 67th pct

ICSEA in Far North in Townsville +191 higher in Townsville

783 0th pct 973 27th pct

Highest year of school

39.5% Year 12 +14.6 pts ▸ 54.1%

25.0% Year 10 ◂ +3.0 pts 22.0%

12.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +4.0 pts 8.0%

9.4% Year 11 ◂ +2.2 pts 7.2%

Highest qualification level

36.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +1.3 pts 34.7%

11.8% Bachelor degree +9.3 pts ▸ 21.0%

10.5% Advanced diploma / diploma +3.2 pts ▸ 13.7%

2.2% Postgraduate degree +3.6 pts ▸ 5.8%

5.2% Certificate I / II ◂ +2.7 pts 2.5%

2.1% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.2 pts ▸ 3.2%

Field of qualification

14.5% Engineering & related +1.6 pts ▸ 16.0%

10.7% Management & commerce +4.0 pts ▸ 14.7%

8.2% Health +4.2 pts ▸ 12.4%

8.1% Society & culture +4.2 pts ▸ 12.3%

8.7% Education ◂ +0.9 pts 7.8%

6.5% Architecture & building ◂ +1.2 pts 5.3%

4.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.5 pts ▸ 5.6%

3.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.9 pts 1.6%

1.2% Natural & physical sciences +1.7 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.5% Creative arts +0.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.4% Information technology +1.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Far North in Townsville +$266 higher in Townsville gap widening

$598 8th pct $864 65th pct

Household income in Far North in Townsville +$336 higher in Townsville gap steady

$1,365 22nd pct $1,701 51st pct

Family income in Far North in Townsville +$656 higher in Townsville gap widening

$1,426 6th pct $2,082 55th pct

Household income distribution

24.5% $1,500–$2,999 +7.4 pts ▸ 31.9%

27.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.9 pts 26.3%

19.5% Under $650 ◂ +5.3 pts 14.2%

7.6% $3,000–$3,999 +2.6 pts ▸ 10.1%

7.1% $4,000 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 8.4%

Personal income distribution

42.5% Under $650 ◂ +7.1 pts 35.4%

22.5% $650–$1,499 +10.6 pts ▸ 33.1%

12.9% $1,500–$2,999 +6.0 pts ▸ 18.9%

2.4% $3,000 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

3.3% Mental health +7.1 pts ▸ 10.3%

3.7% Arthritis +5.0 pts ▸ 8.8%

4.2% Other condition +4.1 pts ▸ 8.3%

3.9% Asthma +4.2 pts ▸ 8.1%

5.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.8 pts 4.6%

3.0% Heart disease +1.1 pts ▸ 4.0%

1.3% Cancer +1.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.0% Lung condition +1.0 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.5% Stroke +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.4% Dementia +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.9% None ◂ +4.4 pts 60.5%

12.6% One condition +6.5 pts ▸ 19.1%

3.0% Two conditions +3.2 pts ▸ 6.2%

1.4% Three or more +2.0 pts ▸ 3.4%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Far North in Townsville +265 larger in Far North

16,534 100th pct 16,269 100th pct

Median age in Far North in Townsville +4 yrs older in Far North

26 yrs 64th pct 22 yrs 21st pct

Median income in Far North in Townsville +$169 higher in Townsville

$429 8th pct $598 46th pct

Household income in Far North in Townsville +$401 higher in Townsville

$1,153 9th pct $1,554 46th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Far North in Townsville +0.4 larger in Far North gap steady

2.9 89th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

54.1% Couples with children ◂ +0.6 pts 53.5%

19.6% Couples without children +8.1 pts ▸ 27.7%

24.0% One-parent families ◂ +6.6 pts 17.4%

2.3% Other families ◂ +1.0 pts 1.3%

Household size

28.2% 2 people +7.0 pts ▸ 35.2%

25.8% 1 person +0.3 pts ▸ 26.1%

14.2% 3 people +1.8 pts ▸ 16.0%

13.1% 4 people +0.6 pts ▸ 13.8%

10.3% 6 or more ◂ +7.1 pts 3.2%

8.4% 5 people ◂ +2.6 pts 5.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Far North in Townsville +$165 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$140 0th pct $305 30th pct

Mortgage in Far North in Townsville even gap narrowing

$1,517 29th pct $1,517 29th pct

People / bedroom in Far North in Townsville +0.20 higher in Far North gap steady

1.00 93rd pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

56.3% Rented ◂ +19.6 pts 36.6%

12.7% Owned with a mortgage +23.0 pts ▸ 35.7%

20.6% Owned outright +4.1 pts ▸ 24.7%

6.3% Other tenure ◂ +4.8 pts 1.5%

4.1% Not stated ◂ +2.7 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

80.9% Separate house +0.2 pts ▸ 81.1%

10.6% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.4 pts ▸ 10.9%

2.5% Flat or apartment +4.5 pts ▸ 7.0%

4.2% Other dwelling ◂ +3.5 pts 0.7%

Bedrooms per home

36.7% 3 bedrooms +2.6 pts ▸ 39.3%

19.1% 4 bedrooms +13.5 pts ▸ 32.7%

22.7% 2 bedrooms ◂ +6.3 pts 16.4%

8.7% 1 bedroom ◂ +5.1 pts 3.6%

6.7% 5 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 6.1%

2.2% Studio / none ◂ +1.8 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

65.6% Under $200 ◂ +53.7 pts 11.9%

13.7% $200–$349 +35.8 pts ▸ 49.5%

5.8% $350–$549 +27.2 pts ▸ 33.0%

4.9% $550–$749 ◂ +2.9 pts 1.9%

2.0% $750 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

28.4% $1,000–$1,799 +15.7 pts ▸ 44.1%

26.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +1.0 pts 25.8%

25.5% Under $1,000 ◂ +8.0 pts 17.5%

10.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.1 pts 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Far North in Townsville +636 more in Townsville

0 0th pct 636 85th pct

Stops/1k in Far North in Townsville +3.30 more in Townsville

0.00 0th pct 3.30 29th pct

Departures/1k in Far North in Townsville +592.8 more in Townsville

0.0 0th pct 592.8 44th pct

PT routes in Far North in Townsville +16 more in Townsville

0 0th pct 16 32nd pct

How people get to work

46.6% Car (driver) +24.0 pts ▸ 70.6%

17.6% Walked ◂ +15.4 pts 2.2%

7.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +2.5 pts 5.4%

7.6% Worked at home ◂ +2.5 pts 5.1%

1.4% Bus ◂ +0.5 pts 0.9%

1.1% Bicycle ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

27.8% 2 vehicles +12.2 pts ▸ 39.9%

34.5% 1 vehicle +0.5 pts ▸ 35.0%

20.3% No vehicle ◂ +15.0 pts 5.4%

10.7% 3 vehicles +2.5 pts ▸ 13.2%

6.9% 4 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 6.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

13.5% Health care & social assistance +4.0 pts ▸ 17.5%

14.7% Public administration & safety ◂ +2.1 pts 12.6%

11.3% Education & training ◂ +1.9 pts 9.4%

10.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +9.7 pts 0.7%

9.8% Mining ◂ +7.0 pts 2.8%

6.6% Retail trade +2.6 pts ▸ 9.2%

6.1% Construction +2.4 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.0% Accommodation & food +1.4 pts ▸ 7.4%

1.5% Professional & technical +3.1 pts ▸ 4.6%

2.5% Manufacturing +2.0 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.3% Transport & warehousing +1.0 pts ▸ 4.3%

2.4% Other services +1.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

Occupations people work in

16.3% Professionals +3.5 pts ▸ 19.7%

13.3% Community & personal service +2.8 pts ▸ 16.1%

15.0% Managers ◂ +4.9 pts 10.1%

13.4% Technicians & trades +1.1 pts ▸ 14.6%

12.9% Labourers ◂ +3.5 pts 9.3%

10.7% Clerical & administrative +1.6 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.7% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +2.2 pts 7.5%

5.3% Sales workers +3.3 pts ▸ 8.6%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Far North in Townsville +172,332 higher in Townsville

33,934 19th pct 206,266 90th pct

Growth in Far North in Townsville +2.9 pts higher in Townsville

2.7% 20th pct 5.5% 49th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Far North in Townsville +103 higher in Townsville

1,069 66th pct 1,173 74th pct

Max temp in Far North in Townsville +3.0 higher in Far North

33.6 99th pct 30.5 92nd pct

Min temp in Far North in Townsville +0.7 higher in Townsville

19.6 97th pct 20.2 99th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Far North in Townsville +2.9 higher in Townsville

1.8 5th pct 4.7 44th pct

Types ≤15 min in Far North in Townsville +2.3 more in Townsville

2.3 8th pct 4.6 44th pct

15-min city in Far North in Townsville +30.9 pts higher in Townsville

23.4% 8th pct 54.3% 46th pct

Walk to shops in Far North in Townsville +19.2 pts higher in Townsville

31.3% 12th pct 50.5% 40th pct

Walk to transit in Far North in Townsville +74.2 pts higher in Townsville

0.0% 0th pct 74.2% 44th pct

Walk to school in Far North in Townsville +16.9 pts higher in Townsville

39.6% 17th pct 56.5% 38th pct

Walk to a park in Far North in Townsville +45.7 pts higher in Townsville

40.7% 4th pct 86.5% 45th pct

Walk to health in Far North in Townsville +18.7 pts higher in Townsville

22.8% 14th pct 41.4% 48th pct

Amenities/1k in Far North in Townsville +7.6 more in Far North

17.4 63rd pct 9.8 8th pct

Intersections/km² in Far North in Townsville +6 higher in Townsville

0 0th pct 6 34th pct

Mean slope in Far North in Townsville +1.9 pts higher in Far North

5.9% 57th pct 4.0% 22nd pct

Compare Far North with nearby areas

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

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). Far North vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/31501/far-north/vs/31802/townsville