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Toowoomba vs Townsville

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 1,037 km apart · Toowoomba profile · Townsville profile

Toowoomba Townsville

Townsville and Toowoomba are two major Queensland hubs located over 1,000 km apart. Toowoomba is more walkable, with far higher shares of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries (57.3%), schools (64.1%), and a general 15-minute-city walkshed (58.5%). Townsville has a much stronger connection to First Nations people and the military, with 9.0% of its population being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and 8.1% having served in the Defence Force, both well higher than in Toowoomba.

The gap in recent overseas arrivals has widened since 2011, with 26.4% of Toowoomba's population arriving recently compared to 14.1% in Townsville. Despite this, the two areas are very similar in other ways. They share the same typical resident age of 37 and the same number of people per home. Typical weekly household incomes are also close, sitting at $1,621 in Townsville and $1,502 in Toowoomba.

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Where they differ most

De facto: 3.9 pts higher in Townsville Recent arrivals: 12.2 pts higher in Toowoomba Population: 72,224 larger in Townsville Limited English: 1.1 pts higher in Toowoomba People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Townsville

Demographics & Identity

Population in Toowoomba in Townsville +72,224 larger in Townsville gap steady

162,059 37th pct 234,283 54th pct

Median age in Toowoomba in Townsville even gap narrowing

37 yrs 29th pct 37 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

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

23.3% Older adults (45–64) +1.7 pts ▸ 25.0%

19.6% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.7 pts 18.9%

18.4% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.5 pts 15.9%

13.1% Youth (15–24) +0.7 pts ▸ 13.9%

Marital status

47.4% Married ◂ +5.7 pts 41.7%

34.6% Never married +5.8 pts ▸ 40.4%

8.9% Divorced +0.5 pts ▸ 9.4%

5.6% Widowed ◂ +0.9 pts 4.7%

3.5% Separated +0.3 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Toowoomba Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

79.8% Australia ◂ +0.5 pts 79.2%

1.9% England +0.4 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.5% New Zealand +0.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.4% India ◂ +0.6 pts 0.8%

0.9% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

0.5% China ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.1% Italy +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Ancestry

38.6% English ◂ +1.7 pts 36.9%

37.7% Australian ◂ +0.8 pts 36.9%

12.6% Irish ◂ +1.5 pts 11.1%

11.0% German ◂ +5.8 pts 5.2%

10.8% Scottish ◂ +0.6 pts 10.2%

1.7% Italian +4.9 pts ▸ 6.6%

1.6% Chinese ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

1.4% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

1.4% Indian ◂ +0.3 pts 1.1%

1.1% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.2% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

84.6% English only ◂ +0.8 pts 83.9%

1.0% Mandarin ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

0.6% Arabic ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.1% Italian +0.5 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Punjabi ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.3% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Cantonese even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

54.7% Christianity ◂ +4.6 pts 50.1%

32.9% No religion +4.7 pts ▸ 37.7%

6.6% Not stated +3.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

2.1% Other religions ◂ +1.5 pts 0.6%

1.5% Hinduism ◂ +0.9 pts 0.6%

1.2% Islam ◂ +0.7 pts 0.5%

1.0% Buddhism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Toowoomba in Townsville +42 more in Townsville

70 16th pct 112 55th pct

Schools/1k kids in Toowoomba in Townsville +0.33 more in Townsville

2.20 51st pct 2.53 59th pct

Students in Toowoomba in Townsville +13,220 more in Townsville

30,536 30th pct 43,756 54th pct

Avg size in Toowoomba in Townsville +46 larger in Toowoomba

436 49th pct 391 42nd pct

ICSEA in Toowoomba in Townsville +44 higher in Toowoomba

1,007 46th pct 963 14th pct

Highest year of school

53.3% Year 12 ◂ +2.3 pts 51.0%

23.8% Year 10 ◂ +0.6 pts 23.2%

10.8% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.6 pts 9.2%

5.9% Year 11 +1.4 pts ▸ 7.3%

Highest qualification level

33.3% Certificate III / IV +2.4 pts ▸ 35.7%

22.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +3.0 pts 19.8%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.5 pts 13.2%

7.0% Postgraduate degree ◂ +1.7 pts 5.2%

3.7% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.7 pts 3.0%

2.8% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.2 pts 2.6%

Field of qualification

14.4% Engineering & related +2.5 pts ▸ 16.9%

16.6% Management & commerce ◂ +2.6 pts 14.0%

13.0% Health ◂ +1.3 pts 11.7%

12.1% Society & culture ◂ +0.5 pts 11.6%

9.9% Education ◂ +1.9 pts 8.0%

5.8% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.3 pts 5.5%

5.3% Architecture & building even 5.3%

3.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.2 pts 1.9%

2.0% Natural & physical sciences +0.7 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.4% Creative arts ◂ +0.5 pts 1.9%

1.9% Information technology ◂ +0.5 pts 1.4%

Income

Personal income in Toowoomba in Townsville +$68 higher in Townsville gap steady

$758 43rd pct $826 61st pct

Household income in Toowoomba in Townsville +$119 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,502 35th pct $1,621 47th pct

Family income in Toowoomba in Townsville +$124 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,892 40th pct $2,016 53rd pct

Household income distribution

30.5% $1,500–$2,999 +0.4 pts ▸ 30.9%

29.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.7 pts 27.1%

16.5% Under $650 ◂ +1.1 pts 15.4%

8.5% $3,000–$3,999 +1.0 pts ▸ 9.6%

7.3% $4,000 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 7.8%

Personal income distribution

41.1% Under $650 ◂ +4.3 pts 36.8%

34.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.7 pts 32.4%

15.9% $1,500–$2,999 +2.0 pts ▸ 17.9%

2.7% $3,000 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 2.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.1% Mental health ◂ +1.3 pts 9.9%

10.4% Arthritis ◂ +1.3 pts 9.1%

9.7% Asthma ◂ +1.8 pts 8.0%

8.9% Other condition ◂ +0.8 pts 8.0%

5.1% Diabetes ◂ +0.2 pts 4.9%

4.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.3 pts 4.4%

3.3% Cancer ◂ +0.2 pts 3.0%

2.0% Lung condition +0.1 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

0.9% Dementia even 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.3% None ◂ +0.2 pts 60.0%

20.8% One condition ◂ +1.7 pts 19.1%

7.2% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 6.3%

4.0% Three or more ◂ +0.5 pts 3.5%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Toowoomba in Townsville +13,441 larger in Townsville

7,739 63rd pct 21,180 88th pct

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

20 yrs 0th pct 22 yrs 14th pct

Median income in Toowoomba in Townsville +$43 higher in Toowoomba

$595 52nd pct $552 33rd pct

Household income in Toowoomba in Townsville +$31 higher in Toowoomba

$1,492 45th pct $1,461 42nd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Toowoomba in Townsville even gap narrowing

2.5 57th pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

54.3% Couples with children ◂ +1.7 pts 52.6%

28.8% Couples without children +0.1 pts ▸ 28.8%

15.8% One-parent families +1.5 pts ▸ 17.3%

1.2% Other families +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

35.5% 2 people +0.3 pts ▸ 35.8%

27.1% 1 person ◂ +0.3 pts 26.8%

14.4% 3 people +0.9 pts ▸ 15.3%

13.1% 4 people +0.1 pts ▸ 13.2%

6.2% 5 people ◂ +0.4 pts 5.7%

3.8% 6 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Toowoomba in Townsville +$10 higher in Toowoomba gap narrowing

$310 35th pct $300 31st pct

Mortgage in Toowoomba in Townsville even gap narrowing

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

People / bedroom in Toowoomba in Townsville +0.10 higher in Townsville gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.9% Rented +2.1 pts ▸ 35.0%

33.0% Owned with a mortgage +0.8 pts ▸ 33.8%

31.1% Owned outright ◂ +3.4 pts 27.8%

1.7% Other tenure +0.1 pts ▸ 1.8%

1.3% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 1.7%

Types of homes

81.3% Separate house +1.2 pts ▸ 82.5%

14.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +3.8 pts 10.3%

4.1% Flat or apartment +1.9 pts ▸ 6.0%

0.3% Other dwelling +0.5 pts ▸ 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

40.0% 3 bedrooms +0.7 pts ▸ 40.7%

33.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +2.3 pts 30.7%

15.5% 2 bedrooms +1.3 pts ▸ 16.8%

7.4% 5 or more ◂ +1.6 pts 5.8%

2.5% 1 bedroom +1.2 pts ▸ 3.7%

0.2% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

55.7% $200–$349 ◂ +6.3 pts 49.4%

29.0% $350–$549 +0.2 pts ▸ 29.2%

10.6% Under $200 +5.4 pts ▸ 16.0%

1.5% $550–$749 +0.2 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.4% $750 or more even 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

44.4% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.9 pts 43.5%

26.1% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +1.5 pts 24.6%

17.6% Under $1,000 +2.0 pts ▸ 19.6%

7.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 6.8%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Toowoomba in Townsville +24 more in Townsville

612 24th pct 636 26th pct

Stops/1k in Toowoomba in Townsville +1.06 more in Toowoomba

3.78 26th pct 2.71 14th pct

Departures/1k in Toowoomba in Townsville +141.7 more in Townsville

346.2 31st pct 487.9 38th pct

PT routes in Toowoomba in Townsville +7 more in Townsville

9 6th pct 16 10th pct

How people get to work

69.9% Car (driver) ◂ +0.3 pts 69.6%

7.3% Worked at home ◂ +1.8 pts 5.6%

6.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.7 pts 5.4%

2.3% Walked +0.4 pts ▸ 2.7%

0.4% Bus +0.6 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.5% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.8% 2 vehicles +1.6 pts ▸ 39.4%

35.8% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.1 pts 34.8%

13.1% 3 vehicles +0.3 pts ▸ 13.4%

7.5% 4 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 6.8%

5.6% No vehicle even 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +2.0 pts 16.7%

5.9% Public administration & safety +5.6 pts ▸ 11.4%

11.0% Education & training ◂ +1.5 pts 9.5%

9.4% Retail trade ◂ +0.3 pts 9.1%

8.4% Construction ◂ +0.3 pts 8.1%

6.2% Accommodation & food +1.0 pts ▸ 7.2%

6.7% Manufacturing ◂ +1.5 pts 5.3%

4.8% Professional & technical ◂ +0.5 pts 4.2%

4.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +1.4 pts 3.2%

4.2% Other services ◂ +0.3 pts 3.9%

3.9% Transport & warehousing +0.2 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.4% Mining +1.9 pts ▸ 3.2%

Occupations people work in

20.4% Professionals ◂ +1.9 pts 18.5%

13.5% Community & personal service +1.8 pts ▸ 15.4%

14.2% Technicians & trades +0.4 pts ▸ 14.7%

12.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.5 pts 12.0%

12.1% Labourers ◂ +1.9 pts 10.2%

10.7% Managers +0.2 pts ▸ 10.9%

8.7% Sales workers ◂ +0.3 pts 8.5%

6.2% Machinery operators & drivers +1.9 pts ▸ 8.1%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Toowoomba in Townsville +73,390 higher in Townsville

175,707 25th pct 249,097 44th pct

Growth in Toowoomba in Townsville +2.2 pts higher in Toowoomba

7.1% 63rd pct 4.9% 38th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Toowoomba in Townsville +38 higher in Toowoomba

707 38th pct 669 33rd pct

Max temp in Toowoomba in Townsville +3.4 higher in Townsville

28.1 87th pct 31.6 94th pct

Min temp in Toowoomba in Townsville +4.4 higher in Townsville

12.6 64th pct 17.0 92nd pct

Walkability

Walk score in Toowoomba in Townsville +0.7 higher in Toowoomba

4.8 46th pct 4.1 27th pct

Types ≤15 min in Toowoomba in Townsville +0.7 more in Toowoomba

4.7 47th pct 4.1 27th pct

15-min city in Toowoomba in Townsville +10.1 pts higher in Toowoomba

58.5% 50th pct 48.4% 29th pct

Walk to shops in Toowoomba in Townsville +10.7 pts higher in Toowoomba

57.3% 50th pct 46.6% 27th pct

Walk to transit in Toowoomba in Townsville +7.4 pts higher in Toowoomba

63.1% 36th pct 55.7% 26th pct

Walk to school in Toowoomba in Townsville +10.3 pts higher in Toowoomba

64.1% 50th pct 53.8% 29th pct

Walk to a park in Toowoomba in Townsville +7.2 pts higher in Toowoomba

84.7% 46th pct 77.5% 34th pct

Walk to health in Toowoomba in Townsville +2.2 pts higher in Toowoomba

40.9% 46th pct 38.6% 39th pct

Amenities/1k in Toowoomba in Townsville +3.3 more in Toowoomba

13.3 27th pct 10.0 1st pct

Intersections/km² in Toowoomba in Townsville +9 higher in Toowoomba

9 45th pct 0 12th pct

Mean slope in Toowoomba in Townsville +2.9 pts higher in Toowoomba

6.7% 75th pct 3.9% 14th pct

Compare Toowoomba with nearby areas

Ipswich Brisbane - West Moreton Bay - North Moreton Bay - South Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South Brisbane - North Logan - Beaudesert Brisbane - East Sunshine Coast Gold Coast 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). Toowoomba vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/317/toowoomba/vs/318/townsville