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Rockhampton vs Townsville

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

Urban Area comparison ≈ 588 km apart · Rockhampton profile · Townsville profile

Rockhampton Townsville

Townsville and Rockhampton are two major Queensland centres with distinct profiles. Townsville is more walkable, with 82.5% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport compared to 0.0% in Rockhampton. It also has a stronger military presence, as 9.2% of residents have served in the Defence Force, while only 3.1% have done so in Rockhampton. Townsville tends to have more renters (38.3%) and a higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (18.4%).

Both areas sit near the national figure for recent arrivals from overseas, with Townsville at 14.3% and Rockhampton at 18.1%. They also share very similar profiles in other areas, such as having the same number of people per home (2.5) and a nearly identical proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents. Since 2011, the gap in typical household income has shifted, and Townsville's lead in university qualifications and Year 12 completion has grown.

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Where they differ most

Population: 99,718 larger in Townsville Separate houses: 7.7 pts higher in Rockhampton Born overseas: 4.0 pts higher in Townsville De facto: 2.4 pts higher in Townsville Needs assistance: 1.4 pts higher in Rockhampton

Demographics & Identity

Population in Rockhampton in Townsville +99,718 larger in Townsville gap narrowing

79,293 72nd pct 179,011 79th pct

Median age in Rockhampton in Townsville +1 yrs older in Rockhampton gap narrowing

36 yrs 14th pct 35 yrs 11th pct

Age structure

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

23.5% Older adults (45–64) +0.5 pts ▸ 24.0%

20.5% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.1 pts 19.4%

15.7% Seniors (65+) ◂ +2.0 pts 13.7%

13.2% Youth (15–24) +1.8 pts ▸ 14.9%

Marital status

42.6% Married ◂ +2.5 pts 40.1%

38.8% Never married +3.7 pts ▸ 42.5%

9.3% Divorced even 9.3%

5.5% Widowed ◂ +1.3 pts 4.2%

3.8% Separated even 3.9%

Age & sex structure

Rockhampton Townsville

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

83.3% Australia ◂ +4.5 pts 78.8%

1.3% England +1.1 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.4% New Zealand +0.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.2% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

0.8% India +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.5% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% China ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.4% Vietnam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Nepal ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.0% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Ancestry

41.1% Australian ◂ +4.2 pts 36.9%

38.6% English ◂ +1.4 pts 37.2%

10.7% Irish +0.6 pts ▸ 11.3%

9.7% Scottish +0.8 pts ▸ 10.4%

6.5% German ◂ +1.1 pts 5.3%

1.4% Italian +3.6 pts ▸ 4.9%

1.6% Filipino even 1.6%

1.4% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 1.4%

1.1% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.0% Indian +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.3% Greek +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

85.6% English only ◂ +2.0 pts 83.7%

0.6% Mandarin ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.6% Tagalog even 0.5%

0.5% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.0% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.0% Greek +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Hindi even 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.5% Christianity ◂ +2.9 pts 47.6%

37.4% No religion +2.8 pts ▸ 40.2%

9.1% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 9.4%

1.1% Hinduism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.8%

0.8% Buddhism even 0.8%

0.6% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Islam even 0.6%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Highest year of school

48.0% Year 12 +6.9 pts ▸ 54.9%

25.6% Year 10 ◂ +4.1 pts 21.5%

11.1% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.2 pts 7.9%

6.5% Year 11 +0.6 pts ▸ 7.1%

Highest qualification level

38.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +3.6 pts 34.5%

18.7% Bachelor degree +2.8 pts ▸ 21.5%

12.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.5 pts ▸ 13.7%

4.4% Postgraduate degree +1.5 pts ▸ 5.9%

3.4% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.8 pts 2.6%

2.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.4 pts ▸ 3.3%

Field of qualification

17.9% Engineering & related ◂ +2.1 pts 15.8%

14.5% Management & commerce +0.5 pts ▸ 15.0%

11.7% Health +0.8 pts ▸ 12.6%

11.2% Society & culture +1.4 pts ▸ 12.6%

8.3% Education ◂ +0.4 pts 7.9%

5.7% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.1 pts 5.6%

4.8% Architecture & building +0.4 pts ▸ 5.2%

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

1.5% Creative arts +0.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.8% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

1.6% Information technology even 1.6%

Income

Personal income in Rockhampton in Townsville +$89 higher in Townsville gap widening

$783 70th pct $872 86th pct

Household income in Rockhampton in Townsville +$172 higher in Townsville gap widening

$1,545 62nd pct $1,717 77th pct

Family income in Rockhampton in Townsville +$137 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,958 64th pct $2,095 77th pct

Household income distribution

29.1% $1,500–$2,999 +3.2 pts ▸ 32.2%

27.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.2 pts 26.2%

16.7% Under $650 ◂ +2.7 pts 14.0%

9.2% $3,000–$3,999 +1.0 pts ▸ 10.2%

7.8% $4,000 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 8.6%

Personal income distribution

38.4% Under $650 ◂ +3.2 pts 35.1%

31.7% $650–$1,499 +1.6 pts ▸ 33.3%

16.7% $1,500–$2,999 +2.3 pts ▸ 19.1%

3.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 3.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.8% Mental health ◂ +0.4 pts 10.4%

9.9% Arthritis ◂ +1.3 pts 8.6%

9.7% Asthma ◂ +1.5 pts 8.2%

8.4% Other condition ◂ +0.1 pts 8.3%

5.3% Diabetes ◂ +0.7 pts 4.6%

4.9% Heart disease ◂ +1.0 pts 3.9%

3.0% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 2.9%

2.5% Lung condition ◂ +0.6 pts 2.0%

1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

0.9% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

58.0% None +2.7 pts ▸ 60.7%

20.1% One condition ◂ +1.0 pts 19.1%

7.0% Two conditions ◂ +0.9 pts 6.1%

4.3% Three or more ◂ +0.9 pts 3.3%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Rockhampton in Townsville even gap narrowing

2.5 71st pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

53.8% Couples with children even 53.8%

25.6% Couples without children +1.4 pts ▸ 27.0%

19.2% One-parent families ◂ +1.4 pts 17.9%

1.3% Other families even 1.3%

Household size

33.4% 2 people +1.2 pts ▸ 34.6%

27.0% 1 person ◂ +0.8 pts 26.2%

15.0% 3 people +1.2 pts ▸ 16.2%

14.9% 4 people ◂ +0.9 pts 13.9%

6.3% 5 people ◂ +0.5 pts 5.9%

3.4% 6 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Rockhampton in Townsville +$20 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$290 40th pct $310 57th pct

Mortgage in Rockhampton in Townsville +$98 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,419 37th pct $1,517 46th pct

People / bedroom in Rockhampton in Townsville even gap steady

0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct

How homes are owned or rented

32.5% Rented +5.8 pts ▸ 38.3%

36.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +0.8 pts 35.3%

28.5% Owned outright ◂ +5.0 pts 23.5%

1.5% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 1.4%

1.4% Other tenure +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

Types of homes

87.8% Separate house ◂ +7.7 pts 80.1%

6.9% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.7 pts ▸ 11.6%

4.7% Flat or apartment +2.8 pts ▸ 7.5%

0.4% Other dwelling +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

Bedrooms per home

42.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +3.2 pts 39.2%

30.4% 4 bedrooms +2.9 pts ▸ 33.3%

15.9% 2 bedrooms +0.3 pts ▸ 16.2%

6.5% 5 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 6.1%

2.9% 1 bedroom +0.5 pts ▸ 3.4%

0.3% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

53.3% $200–$349 ◂ +3.9 pts 49.4%

25.0% $350–$549 +8.2 pts ▸ 33.2%

16.0% Under $200 ◂ +4.1 pts 11.9%

1.3% $550–$749 +0.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.1% $750 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

46.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +1.7 pts 44.4%

21.6% $1,800–$2,999 +4.0 pts ▸ 25.6%

21.1% Under $1,000 ◂ +3.5 pts 17.6%

5.8% $3,000 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

How people get to work

70.1% Car (driver) +0.9 pts ▸ 71.1%

6.6% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.1 pts 5.5%

4.2% Worked at home +0.6 pts ▸ 4.8%

2.3% Walked ◂ +0.1 pts 2.1%

0.5% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

1.0% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 0.9%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.1% 2 vehicles +2.8 pts ▸ 39.9%

36.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.6 pts 35.4%

13.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.2 pts 13.0%

7.1% 4 or more ◂ +0.9 pts 6.2%

6.5% No vehicle ◂ +1.0 pts 5.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.1% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.3 pts 17.8%

6.6% Public administration & safety +6.3 pts ▸ 12.9%

10.2% Education & training ◂ +0.7 pts 9.5%

9.8% Retail trade ◂ +0.5 pts 9.3%

7.7% Construction +0.7 pts ▸ 8.4%

7.0% Accommodation & food +0.5 pts ▸ 7.5%

5.9% Manufacturing ◂ +1.5 pts 4.4%

5.3% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.0 pts 4.2%

4.9% Mining ◂ +2.1 pts 2.7%

3.5% Professional & technical +1.1 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.5% Other services ◂ +0.5 pts 3.9%

2.9% Electricity, gas & water ◂ +1.6 pts 1.4%

Occupations people work in

17.2% Professionals +2.8 pts ▸ 20.0%

14.3% Community & personal service +2.1 pts ▸ 16.5%

15.8% Technicians & trades ◂ +1.4 pts 14.4%

12.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.2 pts 12.3%

11.9% Labourers ◂ +2.7 pts 9.3%

8.4% Managers +1.6 pts ▸ 9.9%

9.1% Sales workers ◂ +0.4 pts 8.7%

8.9% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.6 pts 7.3%

Walkability

Walk score in Rockhampton in Townsville +1.0 higher in Townsville

4.0 25th pct 5.1 53rd pct

Types ≤15 min in Rockhampton in Townsville +0.3 more in Townsville

4.6 43rd pct 4.9 56th pct

15-min city in Rockhampton in Townsville +0.8 pts higher in Townsville

57.9% 60th pct 58.8% 61st pct

Walk to shops in Rockhampton in Townsville +7.5 pts higher in Rockhampton

61.4% 71st pct 54.0% 49th pct

Walk to transit in Rockhampton in Townsville +82.5 pts higher in Townsville

0.0% 0th pct 82.5% 48th pct

Walk to school in Rockhampton in Townsville +13.7 pts higher in Rockhampton

75.2% 79th pct 61.4% 42nd pct

Walk to a park in Rockhampton in Townsville +2.5 pts higher in Townsville

88.7% 47th pct 91.2% 58th pct

Walk to health in Rockhampton in Townsville +8.7 pts higher in Rockhampton

53.4% 85th pct 44.7% 63rd pct

Amenities/1k in Rockhampton in Townsville +0.8 more in Townsville

8.9 8th pct 9.7 10th pct

Intersections/km² in Rockhampton in Townsville +14 higher in Townsville

15 37th pct 29 67th pct

Mean slope in Rockhampton in Townsville +1.3 pts higher in Rockhampton

5.1% 51st pct 3.9% 26th pct

Compare Rockhampton with nearby areas

Yeppoon Gladstone Emerald Bundaberg Mackay Hervey Bay Maryborough Airlie Beach - Cannonvale Kingaroy Gympie Sunshine Coast Toowoomba

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). Rockhampton vs Townsville [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sua/3014/rockhampton/vs/3017/townsville