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Townsville vs Darwin

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

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 1,796 km apart · Townsville profile · Darwin profile

Townsville Darwin

Townsville and Darwin are both major northern hubs, but they differ sharply in their demographics and urban layout. Darwin is much more diverse, with 27.8% of people born overseas and 23.6% using another language at home, compared to 12.9% and 7.7% in Townsville. Darwin also has a more affluent profile, with a typical weekly household income of $2,209 and 28.6% of homes earning $3,000 or more per week, while Townsville's typical household income is $1,621 and 17.4% earn $3,000 or more. In contrast, Townsville has a higher rate of home ownership, with 27.8% of homes owned outright, and a much higher share of separate houses at 82.5%.

Everyday life in both places shares some common ground, as they have nearly identical terrain slopes and a similar proportion of homes without a motor vehicle. However, the gaps between them are often widening; since 2011, the difference in typical income and the share of overseas-born residents has grown. Darwin also offers significantly more walkable access to services, with 70.9% of homes within a 15-minute-city walkshed compared to 48.4% in Townsville.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 19.2 pts higher in Townsville Other language: 15.9 pts higher in Darwin Born overseas: 14.9 pts higher in Darwin People / bedroom: 0.10 higher in Darwin Mortgage: $583 higher in Darwin

Demographics & Identity

Population in Townsville in Darwin +94,381 larger in Townsville gap steady

234,283 54th pct 139,902 31st pct

Median age in Townsville in Darwin +3 yrs older in Townsville gap widening

37 yrs 29th pct 34 yrs 1st pct

Age structure

26.3% Young adults (25–44) +8.0 pts ▸ 34.3%

25.0% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.4 pts 23.6%

18.9% Children (0–14) +1.3 pts ▸ 20.2%

15.9% Seniors (65+) ◂ +6.0 pts 9.9%

13.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.9 pts 11.9%

Marital status

40.4% Never married +2.7 pts ▸ 43.1%

41.7% Married +0.6 pts ▸ 42.3%

9.4% Divorced ◂ +1.2 pts 8.2%

4.7% Widowed ◂ +1.7 pts 3.0%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 3.4%

Age & sex structure

Townsville Darwin

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

79.2% Australia ◂ +15.4 pts 63.8%

1.0% Philippines +2.8 pts ▸ 3.8%

0.8% India +1.9 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.3% England +0.4 pts ▸ 2.7%

2.0% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 1.7%

0.1% Nepal +1.7 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.2% China +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.2% Vietnam +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% South Africa even 0.5%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Ancestry

36.9% English ◂ +9.2 pts 27.7%

36.9% Australian ◂ +8.0 pts 28.9%

11.1% Irish ◂ +2.5 pts 8.5%

10.2% Scottish ◂ +2.7 pts 7.5%

6.6% Italian ◂ +4.3 pts 2.3%

5.2% German ◂ +1.1 pts 4.1%

1.4% Filipino +3.5 pts ▸ 4.9%

1.2% Chinese +3.0 pts ▸ 4.3%

0.7% Greek +2.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.1% Indian +1.8 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.2% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

Language

Language used at home

83.9% English only ◂ +17.2 pts 66.7%

0.2% Greek +2.1 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.4% Tagalog +1.4 pts ▸ 1.8%

0.3% Mandarin +1.2 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.2% Vietnamese +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.2% Punjabi +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.2% Hindi +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.2% Cantonese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.1% Christianity ◂ +13.1 pts 36.9%

37.7% No religion +4.5 pts ▸ 42.1%

9.8% Not stated +1.2 pts ▸ 11.0%

0.6% Hinduism +3.1 pts ▸ 3.7%

0.7% Buddhism +2.2 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.5% Islam +1.6 pts ▸ 2.1%

0.6% Other religions +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Townsville in Darwin +47 more in Townsville

112 55th pct 65 14th pct

Schools/1k kids in Townsville in Darwin +0.23 more in Townsville

2.53 59th pct 2.30 54th pct

Students in Townsville in Darwin +19,189 more in Townsville

43,756 54th pct 24,567 20th pct

Avg size in Townsville in Darwin +13 larger in Townsville

391 42nd pct 378 41st pct

ICSEA in Townsville in Darwin +22 higher in Darwin

963 14th pct 985 33rd pct

Highest year of school

51.0% Year 12 +6.9 pts ▸ 57.9%

23.2% Year 10 ◂ +8.1 pts 15.1%

7.3% Year 11 +3.1 pts ▸ 10.4%

9.2% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.5 pts 6.7%

Highest qualification level

35.7% Certificate III / IV ◂ +8.7 pts 27.0%

19.8% Bachelor degree +4.3 pts ▸ 24.2%

13.2% Advanced diploma / diploma even 13.2%

5.2% Postgraduate degree +5.1 pts ▸ 10.3%

3.0% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.1 pts ▸ 4.1%

2.6% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.3 pts 2.3%

Field of qualification

14.0% Management & commerce +4.7 pts ▸ 18.7%

16.9% Engineering & related ◂ +2.2 pts 14.6%

11.6% Society & culture +0.3 pts ▸ 11.9%

11.7% Health ◂ +1.0 pts 10.8%

8.0% Education ◂ +0.6 pts 7.4%

5.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.8 pts 4.7%

5.3% Architecture & building ◂ +1.1 pts 4.2%

1.4% Information technology +1.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.7% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.3 pts 2.4%

1.9% Agriculture & environment +0.3 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.9% Creative arts +0.3 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Townsville in Darwin +$294 higher in Darwin gap widening

$826 61st pct $1,120 85th pct

Household income in Townsville in Darwin +$588 higher in Darwin gap widening

$1,621 47th pct $2,209 86th pct

Family income in Townsville in Darwin +$469 higher in Darwin gap narrowing

$2,016 53rd pct $2,485 78th pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 +1.9 pts ▸ 32.8%

27.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +8.7 pts 18.4%

15.4% Under $650 ◂ +5.9 pts 9.5%

7.8% $4,000 or more +7.3 pts ▸ 15.1%

9.6% $3,000–$3,999 +3.9 pts ▸ 13.4%

Personal income distribution

36.8% Under $650 ◂ +9.8 pts 27.0%

32.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.5 pts 31.9%

17.9% $1,500–$2,999 +7.8 pts ▸ 25.7%

2.8% $3,000 or more +2.1 pts ▸ 4.9%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.9% Mental health ◂ +4.0 pts 5.9%

9.1% Arthritis ◂ +3.8 pts 5.3%

8.0% Other condition ◂ +1.5 pts 6.5%

8.0% Asthma ◂ +1.9 pts 6.1%

4.9% Diabetes ◂ +1.2 pts 3.7%

4.4% Heart disease ◂ +1.9 pts 2.4%

3.0% Cancer ◂ +1.2 pts 1.9%

2.1% Lung condition ◂ +0.9 pts 1.2%

0.9% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.0% None +8.2 pts ▸ 68.3%

19.1% One condition ◂ +4.2 pts 14.8%

6.3% Two conditions ◂ +2.5 pts 3.7%

3.5% Three or more ◂ +1.9 pts 1.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Townsville in Darwin +6,641 larger in Townsville

21,180 88th pct 14,539 83rd pct

Median age in Townsville in Darwin +3 yrs older in Darwin

22 yrs 14th pct 25 yrs 64th pct

Median income in Townsville in Darwin +$147 higher in Darwin

$552 33rd pct $699 76th pct

Household income in Townsville in Darwin +$407 higher in Darwin

$1,461 42nd pct $1,868 80th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Townsville in Darwin +0.1 larger in Darwin gap steady

2.5 57th pct 2.6 71st pct

Family composition

52.6% Couples with children +6.6 pts ▸ 59.2%

28.8% Couples without children ◂ +3.9 pts 25.0%

17.3% One-parent families ◂ +2.6 pts 14.6%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Household size

35.8% 2 people ◂ +3.9 pts 31.9%

26.8% 1 person ◂ +3.4 pts 23.4%

15.3% 3 people +2.8 pts ▸ 18.1%

13.2% 4 people +2.7 pts ▸ 15.9%

5.7% 5 people +1.1 pts ▸ 6.8%

3.2% 6 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 3.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Townsville in Darwin +$85 higher in Darwin gap narrowing

$300 31st pct $385 66th pct

Mortgage in Townsville in Darwin +$583 higher in Darwin gap widening

$1,517 29th pct $2,100 78th pct

People / bedroom in Townsville in Darwin +0.10 higher in Darwin gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

35.0% Rented +8.9 pts ▸ 43.8%

33.8% Owned with a mortgage +1.9 pts ▸ 35.7%

27.8% Owned outright ◂ +10.5 pts 17.3%

1.8% Other tenure ◂ +0.4 pts 1.4%

1.7% Not stated even 1.7%

Types of homes

82.5% Separate house ◂ +19.2 pts 63.3%

6.0% Flat or apartment +19.0 pts ▸ 25.0%

10.3% Townhouse / semi-detached +0.2 pts ▸ 10.5%

0.9% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

40.7% 3 bedrooms +0.2 pts ▸ 40.9%

30.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +8.9 pts 21.8%

16.8% 2 bedrooms +6.0 pts ▸ 22.8%

3.7% 1 bedroom +2.4 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.8% 5 or more even 5.7%

0.5% Studio / none +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

Weekly rent distribution

49.4% $200–$349 ◂ +22.2 pts 27.2%

29.2% $350–$549 +11.5 pts ▸ 40.7%

16.0% Under $200 ◂ +5.7 pts 10.3%

1.7% $550–$749 +12.3 pts ▸ 14.0%

0.4% $750 or more +2.8 pts ▸ 3.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

43.5% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +17.8 pts 25.7%

24.6% $1,800–$2,999 +15.4 pts ▸ 39.9%

19.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +9.1 pts 10.4%

6.8% $3,000 or more +12.0 pts ▸ 18.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Townsville in Darwin +33 more in Darwin

636 26th pct 669 28th pct

Stops/1k in Townsville in Darwin +2.07 more in Darwin

2.71 14th pct 4.78 57th pct

Departures/1k in Townsville in Darwin +313.2 more in Darwin

487.9 38th pct 801.1 49th pct

PT routes in Townsville in Darwin +59 more in Darwin

16 10th pct 75 48th pct

How people get to work

69.6% Car (driver) ◂ +1.8 pts 67.8%

5.4% Car (passenger) +0.5 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.6% Worked at home ◂ +1.2 pts 4.3%

2.7% Walked +1.0 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.0% Bus +1.3 pts ▸ 2.3%

0.9% Bicycle +0.8 pts ▸ 1.7%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.4% 2 vehicles even 39.5%

34.8% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.8 pts 34.0%

13.4% 3 vehicles +0.2 pts ▸ 13.6%

6.8% 4 or more +0.6 pts ▸ 7.4%

5.6% No vehicle even 5.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

11.4% Public administration & safety +7.2 pts ▸ 18.7%

16.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.0 pts 13.6%

9.5% Education & training ◂ +1.1 pts 8.3%

9.1% Retail trade ◂ +1.8 pts 7.3%

8.1% Construction +0.7 pts ▸ 8.8%

7.2% Accommodation & food +0.5 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.2% Professional & technical +1.3 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.3% Manufacturing ◂ +2.7 pts 2.6%

4.1% Transport & warehousing +0.3 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.9% Other services even 3.9%

3.2% Mining ◂ +1.0 pts 2.2%

3.2% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +2.1 pts 1.2%

Occupations people work in

18.5% Professionals +3.2 pts ▸ 21.7%

15.4% Community & personal service ◂ +0.7 pts 14.7%

14.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.2 pts 14.5%

12.0% Clerical & administrative +2.2 pts ▸ 14.2%

10.9% Managers +2.0 pts ▸ 13.0%

10.2% Labourers ◂ +2.4 pts 7.8%

8.5% Sales workers ◂ +1.5 pts 7.0%

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

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Townsville in Darwin +89,813 higher in Townsville

249,097 44th pct 159,284 21st pct

Growth in Townsville in Darwin +2.7 pts higher in Darwin

4.9% 38th pct 7.6% 68th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Townsville in Darwin +983 higher in Darwin

669 33rd pct 1,652 98th pct

Max temp in Townsville in Darwin +2.8 higher in Darwin

31.6 94th pct 34.4 100th pct

Min temp in Townsville in Darwin +5.1 higher in Darwin

17.0 92nd pct 22.1 100th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Townsville in Darwin +1.8 higher in Darwin

4.1 27th pct 5.9 66th pct

Types ≤15 min in Townsville in Darwin +1.4 more in Darwin

4.1 27th pct 5.5 63rd pct

15-min city in Townsville in Darwin +22.5 pts higher in Darwin

48.4% 29th pct 70.9% 67th pct

Walk to shops in Townsville in Darwin +23.3 pts higher in Darwin

46.6% 27th pct 70.0% 71st pct

Walk to transit in Townsville in Darwin +29.6 pts higher in Darwin

55.7% 26th pct 85.3% 57th pct

Walk to school in Townsville in Darwin +18.7 pts higher in Darwin

53.8% 29th pct 72.5% 61st pct

Walk to a park in Townsville in Darwin +7.8 pts higher in Darwin

77.5% 34th pct 85.2% 47th pct

Walk to health in Townsville in Darwin +15.3 pts higher in Darwin

38.6% 39th pct 53.9% 71st pct

Amenities/1k in Townsville in Darwin +12.0 more in Darwin

10.0 1st pct 22.0 86th pct

Intersections/km² in Townsville in Darwin +7 higher in Darwin

0 12th pct 8 44th pct

Mean slope in Townsville in Darwin even

3.9% 14th pct 3.9% 14th pct

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

Compare Darwin with nearby areas

Northern Territory - Outback Western Australia - Outback (North) Queensland - Outback Cairns Townsville Western Australia - Outback (South) South Australia - Outback Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday Central Queensland Barossa - Yorke - Mid North Far West and Orana Western Australia - Wheat Belt

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Townsville vs Darwin [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/318/townsville/vs/701/darwin