Compare

Brisbane - West vs Townsville

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 1,080 km apart · Brisbane - West profile · Townsville profile

Brisbane - West Townsville

Townsville and Brisbane - West are two very different Queensland regions. Brisbane - West is a very walkable area where 30.1% of people were born overseas and 44.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Townsville is somewhat walkable and has a much higher First Nations population at 9.0%. There are also large gaps in wealth and work; 35.7% of Brisbane - West households earn $3,000 or more a week, compared to 17.4% in Townsville. While 26.9% of people in Brisbane - West work from home, only 5.6% do so in Townsville.

Since 2011, the gaps between these two areas have generally widened, particularly regarding income, qualifications, and the share of people born overseas. Despite these growing divides, they share a similar age profile, with about 19% of residents being children under 15 and around 16% being retirees. They also have very similar unemployment rates, which sit at about 5% for both areas, close to the national figure.

Open map →

Where they differ most

Year 12: 28.4 pts higher in Brisbane - West Bachelor+: 27.7 pts higher in Brisbane - West Work from home: 21.4 pts higher in Brisbane - West One-parent: 6.6 pts higher in Townsville De facto: 4.8 pts higher in Townsville

Demographics & Identity

Population in Brisbane - West in Townsville +45,070 larger in Townsville gap steady

189,213 44th pct 234,283 54th pct

Median age in Brisbane - West in Townsville +1 yrs older in Brisbane - West gap steady

38 yrs 36th pct 37 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

25.5% Young adults (25–44) +0.8 pts ▸ 26.3%

24.6% Older adults (45–64) +0.4 pts ▸ 25.0%

19.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.3 pts 18.9%

15.8% Seniors (65+) +0.1 pts ▸ 15.9%

14.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.1 pts 13.9%

Marital status

51.1% Married ◂ +9.4 pts 41.7%

35.4% Never married +4.9 pts ▸ 40.4%

7.1% Divorced +2.3 pts ▸ 9.4%

4.0% Widowed +0.7 pts ▸ 4.7%

2.4% Separated +1.5 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Brisbane - West Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

67.3% Australia +11.9 pts ▸ 79.2%

4.8% England ◂ +2.5 pts 2.3%

2.6% New Zealand ◂ +0.6 pts 2.0%

2.4% China ◂ +2.2 pts 0.2%

2.2% South Africa ◂ +1.7 pts 0.5%

2.0% India ◂ +1.2 pts 0.8%

0.6% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.8% Vietnam ◂ +0.7 pts 0.2%

0.2% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Ancestry

37.8% English ◂ +0.9 pts 36.9%

31.0% Australian +5.9 pts ▸ 36.9%

13.7% Irish ◂ +2.6 pts 11.1%

12.2% Scottish ◂ +2.0 pts 10.2%

2.8% Italian +3.8 pts ▸ 6.6%

6.4% Chinese ◂ +5.1 pts 1.2%

6.0% German ◂ +0.8 pts 5.2%

3.0% Indian ◂ +2.0 pts 1.1%

1.8% Dutch ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

0.9% Filipino +0.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.3% Vietnamese ◂ +1.0 pts 0.2%

0.6% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.7%

Language

Language used at home

78.8% English only +5.1 pts ▸ 83.9%

3.4% Mandarin ◂ +3.2 pts 0.3%

1.1% Cantonese ◂ +0.9 pts 0.2%

1.0% Vietnamese ◂ +0.8 pts 0.2%

0.7% Hindi ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

0.4% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.4% Arabic ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

44.8% Christianity +5.3 pts ▸ 50.1%

43.7% No religion ◂ +6.0 pts 37.7%

4.7% Not stated +5.2 pts ▸ 9.8%

2.6% Hinduism ◂ +2.0 pts 0.6%

2.1% Buddhism ◂ +1.3 pts 0.7%

1.3% Islam ◂ +0.9 pts 0.5%

0.7% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.2% Judaism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Brisbane - West in Townsville +60 more in Townsville

52 11th pct 112 55th pct

Schools/1k kids in Brisbane - West in Townsville +1.09 more in Townsville

1.43 13th pct 2.53 59th pct

Students in Brisbane - West in Townsville +5,508 more in Townsville

38,248 47th pct 43,756 54th pct

Avg size in Brisbane - West in Townsville +345 larger in Brisbane - West

736 98th pct 391 42nd pct

ICSEA in Brisbane - West in Townsville +154 higher in Brisbane - West

1,117 90th pct 963 14th pct

Highest year of school

79.4% Year 12 ◂ +28.4 pts 51.0%

10.0% Year 10 +13.2 pts ▸ 23.2%

3.1% Year 9 or below +6.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

3.7% Year 11 +3.6 pts ▸ 7.3%

Highest qualification level

37.7% Bachelor degree ◂ +17.9 pts 19.8%

14.6% Certificate III / IV +21.1 pts ▸ 35.7%

18.1% Postgraduate degree ◂ +12.9 pts 5.2%

13.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.3 pts 13.2%

5.7% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +2.7 pts 3.0%

1.4% Certificate I / II +1.2 pts ▸ 2.6%

Field of qualification

21.5% Management & commerce ◂ +7.5 pts 14.0%

12.8% Engineering & related +4.1 pts ▸ 16.9%

14.0% Society & culture ◂ +2.3 pts 11.6%

12.1% Health ◂ +0.3 pts 11.7%

8.6% Education ◂ +0.6 pts 8.0%

5.9% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +3.2 pts 2.7%

3.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +2.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.2% Architecture & building +1.1 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.7% Creative arts ◂ +2.9 pts 1.9%

4.3% Information technology ◂ +2.9 pts 1.4%

1.5% Agriculture & environment +0.3 pts ▸ 1.9%

Income

Personal income in Brisbane - West in Townsville +$143 higher in Brisbane - West gap widening

$969 77th pct $826 61st pct

Household income in Brisbane - West in Townsville +$695 higher in Brisbane - West gap widening

$2,316 89th pct $1,621 47th pct

Family income in Brisbane - West in Townsville +$774 higher in Brisbane - West gap widening

$2,790 87th pct $2,016 53rd pct

Household income distribution

28.2% $1,500–$2,999 +2.7 pts ▸ 30.9%

19.4% $650–$1,499 +7.6 pts ▸ 27.1%

22.4% $4,000 or more ◂ +14.6 pts 7.8%

10.8% Under $650 +4.7 pts ▸ 15.4%

13.2% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.7 pts 9.6%

Personal income distribution

36.7% Under $650 +0.1 pts ▸ 36.8%

26.6% $650–$1,499 +5.8 pts ▸ 32.4%

23.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +5.6 pts 17.9%

9.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +6.4 pts 2.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.1% Mental health +0.7 pts ▸ 9.9%

6.6% Arthritis +2.5 pts ▸ 9.1%

8.9% Other condition ◂ +0.9 pts 8.0%

7.9% Asthma +0.1 pts ▸ 8.0%

3.2% Diabetes +1.7 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.6% Heart disease +0.7 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.1% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 3.0%

1.2% Lung condition +0.9 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.7% Stroke +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.8% Dementia even 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

68.6% None ◂ +8.5 pts 60.0%

19.0% One condition +0.1 pts ▸ 19.1%

5.1% Two conditions +1.1 pts ▸ 6.3%

2.2% Three or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Brisbane - West in Townsville +18,898 larger in Townsville

2,282 24th pct 21,180 88th pct

Median age in Brisbane - West in Townsville +1 yrs older in Brisbane - West

23 yrs 29th pct 22 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Brisbane - West in Townsville +$169 higher in Brisbane - West

$721 80th pct $552 33rd pct

Household income in Brisbane - West in Townsville +$703 higher in Brisbane - West

$2,164 91st pct $1,461 42nd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Brisbane - West in Townsville +0.2 larger in Brisbane - West gap widening

2.7 86th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

64.2% Couples with children ◂ +11.7 pts 52.6%

24.0% Couples without children +4.9 pts ▸ 28.8%

10.7% One-parent families +6.6 pts ▸ 17.3%

1.1% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

33.0% 2 people +2.8 pts ▸ 35.8%

19.7% 1 person +7.1 pts ▸ 26.8%

20.0% 4 people ◂ +6.8 pts 13.2%

17.7% 3 people ◂ +2.3 pts 15.3%

7.2% 5 people ◂ +1.5 pts 5.7%

2.4% 6 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Brisbane - West in Townsville +$120 higher in Brisbane - West gap widening

$420 79th pct $300 31st pct

Mortgage in Brisbane - West in Townsville +$650 higher in Brisbane - West gap widening

$2,167 82nd pct $1,517 29th pct

People / bedroom in Brisbane - West in Townsville even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

38.2% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +4.4 pts 33.8%

27.2% Rented +7.8 pts ▸ 35.0%

32.3% Owned outright ◂ +4.5 pts 27.8%

1.6% Other tenure +0.2 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.8% Not stated +0.9 pts ▸ 1.7%

Types of homes

76.6% Separate house +5.9 pts ▸ 82.5%

16.6% Flat or apartment ◂ +10.6 pts 6.0%

6.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +3.6 pts ▸ 10.3%

0.0% Other dwelling +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

32.4% 3 bedrooms +8.4 pts ▸ 40.7%

35.5% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.8 pts 30.7%

14.8% 2 bedrooms +2.0 pts ▸ 16.8%

13.8% 5 or more ◂ +8.0 pts 5.8%

2.7% 1 bedroom +1.0 pts ▸ 3.7%

0.1% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

52.4% $350–$549 ◂ +23.2 pts 29.2%

17.5% $200–$349 +31.9 pts ▸ 49.4%

7.6% Under $200 +8.4 pts ▸ 16.0%

14.8% $550–$749 ◂ +13.1 pts 1.7%

5.1% $750 or more ◂ +4.7 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

21.1% $1,000–$1,799 +22.4 pts ▸ 43.5%

37.1% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +12.6 pts 24.6%

24.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +17.9 pts 6.8%

12.0% Under $1,000 +7.6 pts ▸ 19.6%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Brisbane - West in Townsville +207 more in Brisbane - West

843 37th pct 636 26th pct

Stops/1k in Brisbane - West in Townsville +1.74 more in Brisbane - West

4.46 44th pct 2.71 14th pct

Departures/1k in Brisbane - West in Townsville +628.5 more in Brisbane - West

1,116.4 58th pct 487.9 38th pct

PT routes in Brisbane - West in Townsville +114 more in Brisbane - West

130 86th pct 16 10th pct

How people get to work

44.6% Car (driver) +25.0 pts ▸ 69.6%

26.9% Worked at home ◂ +21.4 pts 5.6%

2.9% Car (passenger) +2.5 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.0% Train ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%

2.0% Walked +0.8 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.5% Bus ◂ +1.5 pts 1.0%

1.2% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

Motor vehicles per home

41.5% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.1 pts 39.4%

35.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.3 pts 34.8%

12.2% 3 vehicles +1.2 pts ▸ 13.4%

5.9% 4 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 6.8%

5.4% No vehicle +0.2 pts ▸ 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

15.0% Health care & social assistance +1.7 pts ▸ 16.7%

13.4% Professional & technical ◂ +9.2 pts 4.2%

13.3% Education & training ◂ +3.8 pts 9.5%

8.5% Public administration & safety +2.9 pts ▸ 11.4%

7.6% Retail trade +1.5 pts ▸ 9.1%

5.9% Construction +2.2 pts ▸ 8.1%

5.9% Accommodation & food +1.3 pts ▸ 7.2%

3.8% Manufacturing +1.5 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.1% Finance & insurance ◂ +2.8 pts 1.3%

3.1% Transport & warehousing +1.1 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.1% Other services +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%

1.6% Mining +1.7 pts ▸ 3.2%

Occupations people work in

36.7% Professionals ◂ +18.2 pts 18.5%

15.6% Managers ◂ +4.7 pts 10.9%

10.4% Community & personal service +4.9 pts ▸ 15.4%

8.4% Technicians & trades +6.2 pts ▸ 14.7%

12.4% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.4 pts 12.0%

5.1% Labourers +5.1 pts ▸ 10.2%

7.4% Sales workers +1.1 pts ▸ 8.5%

2.7% Machinery operators & drivers +5.4 pts ▸ 8.1%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Brisbane - West in Townsville +44,654 higher in Townsville

204,443 32nd pct 249,097 44th pct

Growth in Brisbane - West in Townsville +1.6 pts higher in Brisbane - West

6.5% 57th pct 4.9% 38th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Brisbane - West in Townsville +457 higher in Brisbane - West

1,126 71st pct 669 33rd pct

Max temp in Brisbane - West in Townsville +4.3 higher in Townsville

27.3 82nd pct 31.6 94th pct

Min temp in Brisbane - West in Townsville +2.6 higher in Townsville

14.4 82nd pct 17.0 92nd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Brisbane - West in Townsville +2.5 higher in Brisbane - West

6.6 77th pct 4.1 27th pct

Types ≤15 min in Brisbane - West in Townsville +2.3 more in Brisbane - West

6.3 78th pct 4.1 27th pct

15-min city in Brisbane - West in Townsville +29.2 pts higher in Brisbane - West

77.7% 75th pct 48.4% 29th pct

Walk to shops in Brisbane - West in Townsville +27.8 pts higher in Brisbane - West

74.5% 75th pct 46.6% 27th pct

Walk to transit in Brisbane - West in Townsville +35.3 pts higher in Brisbane - West

91.0% 71st pct 55.7% 26th pct

Walk to school in Brisbane - West in Townsville +25.7 pts higher in Brisbane - West

79.5% 70th pct 53.8% 29th pct

Walk to a park in Brisbane - West in Townsville +19.4 pts higher in Brisbane - West

96.8% 77th pct 77.5% 34th pct

Walk to health in Brisbane - West in Townsville +29.7 pts higher in Brisbane - West

68.3% 82nd pct 38.6% 39th pct

Amenities/1k in Brisbane - West in Townsville +5.6 more in Brisbane - West

15.6 44th pct 10.0 1st pct

Intersections/km² in Brisbane - West in Townsville +72 higher in Brisbane - West

72 74th pct 0 12th pct

Mean slope in Brisbane - West in Townsville +3.7 pts higher in Brisbane - West

7.5% 85th pct 3.9% 14th pct

Compare Brisbane - West with nearby areas

Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South Moreton Bay - South Brisbane - North Ipswich Brisbane - East Logan - Beaudesert Gold Coast Toowoomba Sunshine Coast Moreton Bay - North Richmond - Tweed

Compare Townsville with nearby areas

Cairns Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday Queensland - Outback Central Queensland Wide Bay Darling Downs - Maranoa Moreton Bay - North Sunshine Coast Toowoomba Moreton Bay - South Ipswich Brisbane - West

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Brisbane - West vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/304/brisbane-west/vs/318/townsville