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Cairns vs Townsville

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 290 km apart · Cairns profile · Townsville profile

Cairns Townsville

Townsville and Cairns are both major Queensland hubs, but they have different layouts and populations. Cairns is more walkable, with 68.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and a much higher street connectivity score. It also has a more international feel, with 23.3% of people born overseas and 14.7% using another language at home. Townsville has a younger typical resident at 35, compared to 39 in Cairns. It also has a much stronger link to the military, with 9.2% of residents having served in the Defence Force, and more people living in separate houses (80.1%).

Everyday life shares many similarities across both cities, from the number of people per home to the proportion of children under 15. However, some gaps are shifting; the age difference has flipped since 2011, and the gap in people working from home has widened, with 11.8% in Cairns now compared to 4.8% in Townsville. While both areas have a similar share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, Townsville's workforce is slightly more focused on full-time employment at 63.2%.

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Where they differ most

Work from home: 7.0 pts higher in Cairns 3+ bedrooms: 8.1 pts higher in Townsville Born overseas: 9.1 pts higher in Cairns Separate houses: 9.1 pts higher in Townsville Median age: 4 yrs older in Cairns

Demographics & Identity

Population in Cairns in Townsville +25,586 larger in Townsville gap widening

153,425 77th pct 179,011 79th pct

Median age in Cairns in Townsville +4 yrs older in Cairns gap narrowing

39 yrs 43rd pct 35 yrs 11th pct

Age structure

27.1% Young adults (25–44) +0.9 pts ▸ 28.0%

26.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.9 pts 24.0%

19.0% Children (0–14) +0.4 pts ▸ 19.4%

15.3% Seniors (65+) ◂ +1.6 pts 13.7%

11.7% Youth (15–24) +3.2 pts ▸ 14.9%

Marital status

41.7% Never married +0.8 pts ▸ 42.5%

39.3% Married +0.8 pts ▸ 40.1%

10.8% Divorced ◂ +1.5 pts 9.3%

4.4% Widowed ◂ +0.2 pts 4.2%

3.8% Separated even 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Cairns Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

68.2% Australia +10.6 pts ▸ 78.8%

4.0% England ◂ +1.7 pts 2.4%

2.9% New Zealand ◂ +0.8 pts 2.1%

1.3% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

1.2% India ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

0.5% South Africa even 0.6%

0.6% China ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnam ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Ancestry

34.2% English +3.0 pts ▸ 37.2%

29.4% Australian +7.5 pts ▸ 36.9%

10.4% Irish +0.8 pts ▸ 11.3%

9.3% Scottish +1.1 pts ▸ 10.4%

5.2% German +0.1 pts ▸ 5.3%

4.7% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 4.9%

2.1% Chinese ◂ +0.7 pts 1.4%

2.0% Filipino ◂ +0.4 pts 1.6%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

1.3% Indian even 1.3%

0.6% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

76.1% English only +7.6 pts ▸ 83.7%

0.7% Mandarin ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.6% Punjabi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.6% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.5% Tagalog even 0.5%

0.4% Cantonese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Hindi even 0.2%

0.1% Arabic even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

42.5% Christianity +5.1 pts ▸ 47.6%

42.4% No religion ◂ +2.2 pts 40.2%

10.7% Not stated ◂ +1.3 pts 9.4%

1.7% Buddhism ◂ +1.0 pts 0.8%

1.1% Other religions ◂ +0.5 pts 0.6%

1.0% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.8%

0.5% Islam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Judaism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

55.5% Year 12 ◂ +0.6 pts 54.9%

19.1% Year 10 +2.4 pts ▸ 21.5%

7.4% Year 9 or below +0.5 pts ▸ 7.9%

7.8% Year 11 ◂ +0.6 pts 7.1%

Highest qualification level

31.0% Certificate III / IV +3.5 pts ▸ 34.5%

21.3% Bachelor degree +0.2 pts ▸ 21.5%

15.4% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.7 pts 13.7%

5.8% Postgraduate degree +0.1 pts ▸ 5.9%

3.4% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.1 pts 3.3%

2.4% Certificate I / II +0.2 pts ▸ 2.6%

Field of qualification

15.8% Management & commerce ◂ +0.9 pts 15.0%

14.0% Engineering & related +1.7 pts ▸ 15.8%

11.7% Health +0.9 pts ▸ 12.6%

12.1% Society & culture +0.5 pts ▸ 12.6%

7.8% Education +0.1 pts ▸ 7.9%

6.6% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.0 pts 5.6%

5.4% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 5.2%

2.3% Natural & physical sciences +0.6 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.5% Creative arts ◂ +0.4 pts 2.0%

1.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

1.4% Information technology +0.2 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Cairns in Townsville +$60 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$812 76th pct $872 86th pct

Household income in Cairns in Townsville +$142 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,575 65th pct $1,717 77th pct

Family income in Cairns in Townsville +$144 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,951 63rd pct $2,095 77th pct

Household income distribution

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 +1.3 pts ▸ 32.2%

28.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.2 pts 26.2%

15.6% Under $650 ◂ +1.6 pts 14.0%

9.1% $3,000–$3,999 +1.1 pts ▸ 10.2%

7.7% $4,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 8.6%

Personal income distribution

36.7% Under $650 ◂ +1.6 pts 35.1%

33.5% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.2 pts 33.3%

16.6% $1,500–$2,999 +2.4 pts ▸ 19.1%

2.9% $3,000 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

7.9% Mental health +2.5 pts ▸ 10.4%

7.1% Arthritis +1.4 pts ▸ 8.6%

7.7% Other condition +0.6 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.3% Asthma +1.8 pts ▸ 8.2%

4.0% Diabetes +0.6 pts ▸ 4.6%

3.5% Heart disease +0.5 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.8% Cancer +0.1 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.7% Lung condition +0.3 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.9% Stroke even 0.9%

0.7% Dementia even 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

64.1% None ◂ +3.4 pts 60.7%

17.1% One condition +2.0 pts ▸ 19.1%

5.1% Two conditions +1.0 pts ▸ 6.1%

2.4% Three or more +0.9 pts ▸ 3.3%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Cairns in Townsville even gap narrowing

2.5 71st pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

52.2% Couples with children +1.6 pts ▸ 53.8%

27.7% Couples without children ◂ +0.8 pts 27.0%

18.8% One-parent families ◂ +0.9 pts 17.9%

1.2% Other families +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

34.8% 2 people ◂ +0.2 pts 34.6%

27.5% 1 person ◂ +1.3 pts 26.2%

15.7% 3 people +0.5 pts ▸ 16.2%

13.6% 4 people +0.3 pts ▸ 13.9%

5.3% 5 people +0.6 pts ▸ 5.9%

3.2% 6 or more even 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Cairns in Townsville +$30 higher in Cairns gap widening

$340 68th pct $310 57th pct

Mortgage in Cairns in Townsville +$78 higher in Cairns gap narrowing

$1,595 59th pct $1,517 46th pct

People / bedroom in Cairns in Townsville even gap steady

0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

36.1% Rented +2.2 pts ▸ 38.3%

35.2% Owned with a mortgage +0.1 pts ▸ 35.3%

25.7% Owned outright ◂ +2.2 pts 23.5%

1.7% Not stated ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

1.2% Other tenure +0.2 pts ▸ 1.5%

Types of homes

71.0% Separate house +9.1 pts ▸ 80.1%

17.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +9.5 pts 7.5%

10.6% Townhouse / semi-detached +1.0 pts ▸ 11.6%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.2 pts 0.6%

Bedrooms per home

35.2% 3 bedrooms +4.0 pts ▸ 39.2%

29.1% 4 bedrooms +4.2 pts ▸ 33.3%

21.5% 2 bedrooms ◂ +5.3 pts 16.2%

6.2% 5 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 6.1%

5.6% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.2 pts 3.4%

0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

37.9% $200–$349 +11.6 pts ▸ 49.4%

41.8% $350–$549 ◂ +8.6 pts 33.2%

11.3% Under $200 +0.6 pts ▸ 11.9%

5.0% $550–$749 ◂ +3.0 pts 2.0%

0.9% $750 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.2% $1,000–$1,799 +3.2 pts ▸ 44.4%

27.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +2.0 pts 25.6%

17.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.3 pts 17.6%

7.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

57.9% Car (driver) +13.2 pts ▸ 71.1%

11.8% Worked at home ◂ +7.0 pts 4.8%

5.1% Car (passenger) +0.4 pts ▸ 5.5%

2.4% Walked ◂ +0.2 pts 2.1%

1.2% Bicycle ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

1.0% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.9% 2 vehicles +2.0 pts ▸ 39.9%

38.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.1 pts 35.4%

11.6% 3 vehicles +1.4 pts ▸ 13.0%

6.7% No vehicle ◂ +1.1 pts 5.5%

5.5% 4 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 6.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.4% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.6 pts 17.8%

7.4% Public administration & safety +5.5 pts ▸ 12.9%

10.3% Accommodation & food ◂ +2.8 pts 7.5%

9.8% Retail trade ◂ +0.5 pts 9.3%

8.8% Education & training +0.6 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.4% Construction ◂ +0.1 pts 8.4%

5.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.5 pts 4.2%

4.8% Professional & technical ◂ +0.2 pts 4.5%

4.5% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%

3.4% Manufacturing +1.0 pts ▸ 4.4%

3.7% Administrative & support ◂ +1.1 pts 2.6%

1.7% Mining +1.1 pts ▸ 2.7%

Occupations people work in

20.9% Professionals ◂ +0.9 pts 20.0%

15.1% Community & personal service +1.3 pts ▸ 16.5%

14.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.3 pts 14.4%

11.9% Clerical & administrative +0.4 pts ▸ 12.3%

10.9% Managers ◂ +1.0 pts 9.9%

9.8% Labourers ◂ +0.5 pts 9.3%

9.6% Sales workers ◂ +0.9 pts 8.7%

5.4% Machinery operators & drivers +1.9 pts ▸ 7.3%

Walkability

Walk score in Cairns in Townsville +0.6 higher in Cairns

5.7 77th pct 5.1 53rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Cairns in Townsville +0.4 more in Cairns

5.4 74th pct 4.9 56th pct

15-min city in Cairns in Townsville +7.8 pts higher in Cairns

66.5% 76th pct 58.8% 61st pct

Walk to shops in Cairns in Townsville +14.3 pts higher in Cairns

68.3% 81st pct 54.0% 49th pct

Walk to transit in Cairns in Townsville +3.0 pts higher in Cairns

85.5% 60th pct 82.5% 48th pct

Walk to school in Cairns in Townsville +2.5 pts higher in Cairns

64.0% 50th pct 61.4% 42nd pct

Walk to a park in Cairns in Townsville +5.0 pts higher in Cairns

96.3% 90th pct 91.2% 58th pct

Walk to health in Cairns in Townsville +0.5 pts higher in Townsville

44.2% 62nd pct 44.7% 63rd pct

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

13.0 30th pct 9.7 10th pct

Intersections/km² in Cairns in Townsville +37 higher in Cairns

66 93rd pct 29 67th pct

Mean slope in Cairns in Townsville +1.7 pts higher in Cairns

5.6% 59th pct 3.9% 26th pct

Compare Cairns with nearby areas

Townsville Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Mackay Emerald Not in any Significant Urban Area Mount Isa Rockhampton Yeppoon Gladstone Bundaberg Hervey Bay Maryborough

Compare Townsville with nearby areas

Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Cairns Mackay Emerald Not in any Significant Urban Area Rockhampton Yeppoon Gladstone Mount Isa Bundaberg Hervey Bay Maryborough

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Cairns vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3004/cairns/vs/3017/townsville