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Hervey Bay vs Townsville

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 913 km apart · Hervey Bay profile · Townsville profile

Hervey Bay Townsville

Townsville and Hervey Bay are two very different Queensland hubs. Townsville is a younger and more active hub, where the typical resident is 35 and 64.1% of adults are working or looking for work. It is more walkable (somewhat walkable) and has far more people who finished Year 12 (54.9% compared to 40.7% in Hervey Bay). In contrast, Hervey Bay is a retirement destination where the typical resident is 51 and 31.9% of the population are seniors. This is reflected in the housing and health data, as residents there are far more likely to own their homes outright (43.3%) and have a long-term health condition (39.8%).

The gap in home ownership has widened significantly since 2011, with Hervey Bay moving further ahead in outright ownership. Despite this, both areas are very similar in other ways, such as having about the same percentage of people who speak little or no English and a similar share of homes with three or more bedrooms. They also both have about half of their homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries.

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Where they differ most

Population: 121,289 larger in Townsville Median age: 16 yrs older in Hervey Bay Personal income: $320 higher in Townsville Participation: 20.5 pts higher in Townsville Aged 65+: 18.2 pts higher in Hervey Bay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Hervey Bay in Townsville +121,289 larger in Townsville gap widening

57,722 65th pct 179,011 79th pct

Median age in Hervey Bay in Townsville +16 yrs older in Hervey Bay gap widening

51 yrs 91st pct 35 yrs 11th pct

Age structure

31.9% Seniors (65+) ◂ +18.2 pts 13.7%

18.0% Young adults (25–44) +10.0 pts ▸ 28.0%

25.7% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.7 pts 24.0%

15.4% Children (0–14) +4.0 pts ▸ 19.4%

8.9% Youth (15–24) +6.0 pts ▸ 14.9%

Marital status

47.8% Married ◂ +7.7 pts 40.1%

27.1% Never married +15.4 pts ▸ 42.5%

12.5% Divorced ◂ +3.2 pts 9.3%

8.2% Widowed ◂ +4.0 pts 4.2%

4.3% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Hervey Bay Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

75.5% Australia +3.3 pts ▸ 78.8%

5.7% England ◂ +3.4 pts 2.4%

3.5% New Zealand ◂ +1.4 pts 2.1%

0.8% Philippines +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.5% India +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.2% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

45.3% English ◂ +8.1 pts 37.2%

37.0% Australian ◂ +0.1 pts 36.9%

10.5% Irish +0.8 pts ▸ 11.3%

11.1% Scottish ◂ +0.6 pts 10.4%

7.1% German ◂ +1.7 pts 5.3%

2.0% Italian +3.0 pts ▸ 4.9%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 1.3%

1.1% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.9% Chinese +0.5 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.7% Indian +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.3% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

89.1% English only ◂ +5.5 pts 83.7%

0.2% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Mandarin even 0.3%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Arabic even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

48.4% Christianity ◂ +0.8 pts 47.6%

41.3% No religion ◂ +1.1 pts 40.2%

8.0% Not stated +1.4 pts ▸ 9.4%

0.9% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

0.5% Hinduism +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.4% Islam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

40.7% Year 12 +14.2 pts ▸ 54.9%

29.9% Year 10 ◂ +8.4 pts 21.5%

13.4% Year 9 or below ◂ +5.5 pts 7.9%

8.2% Year 11 ◂ +1.1 pts 7.1%

Highest qualification level

38.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +3.5 pts 34.5%

16.2% Bachelor degree +5.3 pts ▸ 21.5%

15.2% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.6 pts 13.7%

3.9% Postgraduate degree +2.0 pts ▸ 5.9%

2.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.5 pts ▸ 3.3%

2.7% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 2.6%

Field of qualification

15.0% Engineering & related +0.7 pts ▸ 15.8%

14.4% Management & commerce +0.6 pts ▸ 15.0%

12.5% Health +0.1 pts ▸ 12.6%

12.5% Society & culture +0.1 pts ▸ 12.6%

8.8% Education ◂ +0.9 pts 7.9%

6.8% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.2 pts 5.6%

6.1% Architecture & building ◂ +0.9 pts 5.2%

1.3% Natural & physical sciences +1.6 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.9% Creative arts +0.1 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

1.3% Information technology +0.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Hervey Bay in Townsville +$320 higher in Townsville gap widening

$552 2nd pct $872 86th pct

Household income in Hervey Bay in Townsville +$634 higher in Townsville gap widening

$1,083 5th pct $1,717 77th pct

Family income in Hervey Bay in Townsville +$783 higher in Townsville gap widening

$1,312 2nd pct $2,095 77th pct

Household income distribution

37.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +11.2 pts 26.2%

22.4% $1,500–$2,999 +9.8 pts ▸ 32.2%

22.9% Under $650 ◂ +8.9 pts 14.0%

5.1% $3,000–$3,999 +5.1 pts ▸ 10.2%

4.0% $4,000 or more +4.5 pts ▸ 8.6%

Personal income distribution

52.5% Under $650 ◂ +17.4 pts 35.1%

27.6% $650–$1,499 +5.7 pts ▸ 33.3%

9.9% $1,500–$2,999 +9.2 pts ▸ 19.1%

1.7% $3,000 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

16.2% Arthritis ◂ +7.6 pts 8.6%

12.3% Mental health ◂ +1.9 pts 10.4%

10.7% Other condition ◂ +2.4 pts 8.3%

9.8% Asthma ◂ +1.6 pts 8.2%

7.5% Heart disease ◂ +3.6 pts 3.9%

6.8% Diabetes ◂ +2.2 pts 4.6%

5.1% Cancer ◂ +2.2 pts 2.9%

5.0% Lung condition ◂ +3.0 pts 2.0%

1.9% Stroke ◂ +1.1 pts 0.9%

1.3% Dementia ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

51.6% None +9.1 pts ▸ 60.7%

23.0% One condition ◂ +3.8 pts 19.1%

9.9% Two conditions ◂ +3.8 pts 6.1%

7.0% Three or more ◂ +3.6 pts 3.3%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Hervey Bay in Townsville +0.2 larger in Townsville gap narrowing

2.3 14th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

41.3% Couples with children +12.5 pts ▸ 53.8%

39.5% Couples without children ◂ +12.6 pts 27.0%

18.1% One-parent families ◂ +0.3 pts 17.9%

1.1% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.3%

Household size

42.9% 2 people ◂ +8.3 pts 34.6%

27.6% 1 person ◂ +1.4 pts 26.2%

12.6% 3 people +3.6 pts ▸ 16.2%

9.7% 4 people +4.2 pts ▸ 13.9%

4.5% 5 people +1.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

2.6% 6 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Hervey Bay in Townsville +$25 higher in Hervey Bay gap widening

$335 66th pct $310 57th pct

Mortgage in Hervey Bay in Townsville +$109 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,408 36th pct $1,517 46th pct

People / bedroom in Hervey Bay in Townsville +0.10 higher in Townsville gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

43.3% Owned outright ◂ +19.8 pts 23.5%

27.7% Rented +10.6 pts ▸ 38.3%

24.6% Owned with a mortgage +10.7 pts ▸ 35.3%

2.5% Other tenure ◂ +1.1 pts 1.5%

1.9% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

82.2% Separate house ◂ +2.1 pts 80.1%

12.5% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.8 pts 11.6%

3.0% Flat or apartment +4.5 pts ▸ 7.5%

1.8% Other dwelling ◂ +1.2 pts 0.6%

Bedrooms per home

39.0% 3 bedrooms +0.2 pts ▸ 39.2%

34.3% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.0 pts 33.3%

16.2% 2 bedrooms even 16.2%

5.1% 5 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 6.1%

3.1% 1 bedroom +0.2 pts ▸ 3.4%

0.6% Studio / none ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

43.1% $200–$349 +6.3 pts ▸ 49.4%

42.1% $350–$549 ◂ +8.9 pts 33.2%

9.7% Under $200 +2.1 pts ▸ 11.9%

1.7% $550–$749 +0.3 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.3% $750 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

46.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +1.7 pts 44.4%

20.7% $1,800–$2,999 +4.8 pts ▸ 25.6%

22.0% Under $1,000 ◂ +4.4 pts 17.6%

5.0% $3,000 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

69.0% Car (driver) +2.1 pts ▸ 71.1%

6.9% Worked at home ◂ +2.1 pts 4.8%

5.8% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.4 pts 5.5%

2.2% Walked even 2.1%

0.9% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.3% Bus +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

43.3% 1 vehicle ◂ +7.9 pts 35.4%

34.5% 2 vehicles +5.4 pts ▸ 39.9%

10.7% 3 vehicles +2.3 pts ▸ 13.0%

6.3% No vehicle ◂ +0.7 pts 5.5%

5.3% 4 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 6.2%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

24.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +6.2 pts 17.8%

5.7% Public administration & safety +7.2 pts ▸ 12.9%

11.6% Retail trade ◂ +2.3 pts 9.3%

9.1% Education & training +0.3 pts ▸ 9.5%

9.4% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.9 pts 7.5%

9.1% Construction ◂ +0.8 pts 8.4%

3.5% Professional & technical +1.1 pts ▸ 4.5%

3.6% Manufacturing +0.8 pts ▸ 4.4%

4.3% Other services ◂ +0.4 pts 3.9%

3.1% Transport & warehousing +1.2 pts ▸ 4.2%

3.2% Administrative & support ◂ +0.6 pts 2.6%

1.5% Mining +1.2 pts ▸ 2.7%

Occupations people work in

19.0% Professionals +1.0 pts ▸ 20.0%

18.0% Community & personal service ◂ +1.6 pts 16.5%

13.7% Technicians & trades +0.7 pts ▸ 14.4%

10.8% Clerical & administrative +1.5 pts ▸ 12.3%

11.1% Labourers ◂ +1.8 pts 9.3%

10.7% Sales workers ◂ +2.0 pts 8.7%

9.3% Managers +0.6 pts ▸ 9.9%

5.4% Machinery operators & drivers +1.8 pts ▸ 7.3%

Walkability

Walk score in Hervey Bay in Townsville +2.1 higher in Townsville

3.0 10th pct 5.1 53rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Hervey Bay in Townsville +1.6 more in Townsville

3.3 11th pct 4.9 56th pct

15-min city in Hervey Bay in Townsville +26.4 pts higher in Townsville

32.4% 9th pct 58.8% 61st pct

Walk to shops in Hervey Bay in Townsville even

54.0% 49th pct 54.0% 49th pct

Walk to transit in Hervey Bay in Townsville +82.5 pts higher in Townsville

0.0% 0th pct 82.5% 48th pct

Walk to school in Hervey Bay in Townsville +10.6 pts higher in Townsville

50.9% 24th pct 61.4% 42nd pct

Walk to a park in Hervey Bay in Townsville +5.2 pts higher in Townsville

86.1% 39th pct 91.2% 58th pct

Walk to health in Hervey Bay in Townsville +26.4 pts higher in Townsville

18.3% 9th pct 44.7% 63rd pct

Amenities/1k in Hervey Bay in Townsville +4.8 more in Townsville

4.9 0th pct 9.7 10th pct

Intersections/km² in Hervey Bay in Townsville +28 higher in Hervey Bay

56 89th pct 29 67th pct

Mean slope in Hervey Bay in Townsville +0.4 pts higher in Hervey Bay

4.3% 33rd pct 3.9% 26th pct

Compare Hervey Bay with nearby areas

Maryborough Bundaberg Gympie Sunshine Coast Kingaroy Gladstone Brisbane Toowoomba Gold Coast - Tweed Heads Yeppoon Warwick Rockhampton

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). Hervey Bay vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3009/hervey-bay/vs/3017/townsville