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Palm Island vs Balgal Beach

Urban Centre comparison ≈ 40 km apart · Palm Island profile · Balgal Beach profile

Palm Island Balgal Beach

Palm Island and Balgal Beach (L) are two nearby Queensland areas with very different own-paced lives. Palm Island is a young community where 31.4% of residents are children and the typical age is just 26. It has a very strong Indigenous identity, with 91.4% of people identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and many speak a language other than English at home. In contrast, Balgal Beach (L) is much older, with a typical resident aged 58 and a high share of people aged 65 and over at 34.8%.

Both areas sit near the national figure for typical weekly household income, which is $977 in Palm Island and $936 in Balgal Beach (L). However, their housing patterns have drifted apart since 2011. Palm Island is now dominated by renters (92.5%), while 47.4% of homes in Balgal Beach (L) are owned outright. The two areas also differ in transport, as 49.5% of Palm Island homes have no motor vehicle, while almost every home in Balgal Beach (L) has at least one.

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Where they differ most

Median age: 32 yrs older in Balgal Beach First Nations: 87.6 pts higher in Palm Island Aged 65+: 29.7 pts higher in Balgal Beach Other language: 39.1 pts higher in Palm Island Rent: $148 higher in Balgal Beach

Demographics & Identity

Population in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +1,100 larger in Palm Island gap narrowing
2,098 73rd pct 998 56th pct
Median age in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +32 yrs older in Balgal Beach gap widening
26 yrs 0th pct 58 yrs 90th pct
First Nations in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +87.6 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
91.4% 100th pct 3.8% 44th pct
Aged 65+ in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +29.7 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
5.1% 4th pct 34.8% 87th pct
Under 15 in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +19.5 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
31.4% 100th pct 11.8% 13th pct
De facto in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +18.5 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
29.1% 100th pct 10.6% 23rd pct

Age structure

21.3% Older adults (45–64) +14.6 pts ▸ 35.9%
5.1% Seniors (65+) +29.7 pts ▸ 34.8%
31.4% Children (0–14) ◂ +19.5 pts 11.8%
25.8% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +13.2 pts 12.6%
15.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +9.8 pts 6.1%

Marital status

85.0% Never married ◂ +59.4 pts 25.5%
9.2% Married +40.8 pts ▸ 50.1%
1.5% Divorced +12.2 pts ▸ 13.6%
2.1% Widowed +4.9 pts ▸ 7.0%
2.1% Separated +1.8 pts ▸ 4.0%

Age & sex structure

Palm Island Balgal Beach

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +11.0 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap steady
1.7% 1st pct 12.6% 62nd pct

Country of birth

93.9% Australia ◂ +18.8 pts 75.1%
0.2% England +4.2 pts ▸ 4.4%
0.2% New Zealand +2.3 pts ▸ 2.5%
0.2% Philippines ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.0% India even 0.0%
0.0% China even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%
0.0% Nepal even 0.0%
0.0% Italy even 0.0%
0.0% South Africa even 0.0%

Ancestry

4.2% English +38.5 pts ▸ 42.7%
5.2% Australian +30.9 pts ▸ 36.2%
0.4% Irish +13.1 pts ▸ 13.5%
0.3% Scottish +11.2 pts ▸ 11.5%
0.3% German +4.8 pts ▸ 5.1%
0.2% Italian +1.5 pts ▸ 1.7%
0.0% Dutch +1.5 pts ▸ 1.5%
0.2% Chinese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.2% Indian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.2% Greek ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.0% Filipino even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +39.1 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
40.7% 91st pct 1.6% 14th pct
Limited English in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +2.7 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
2.7% 88th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Language used at home

53.1% English only +34.0 pts ▸ 87.1%
0.0% Mandarin even 0.0%
0.0% Arabic even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%
0.0% Cantonese even 0.0%
0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Italian even 0.0%
0.0% Hindi even 0.0%
0.0% Tagalog even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +20.4 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
16.5% 4th pct 37.0% 30th pct

Religious affiliation

76.2% Christianity ◂ +28.8 pts 47.4%
16.5% No religion +20.4 pts ▸ 37.0%
7.2% Not stated +6.2 pts ▸ 13.4%
0.0% Buddhism +0.9 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.2% Other religions +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%
0.2% Islam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.0%
0.0% Hinduism even 0.0%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +6.3 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
26.4% 12th pct 32.6% 30th pct
Bachelor+ in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +4.2 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
4.3% 8th pct 8.5% 29th pct

Highest year of school

26.4% Year 12 +6.3 pts ▸ 32.6%
27.1% Year 10 +3.1 pts ▸ 30.2%
22.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +7.1 pts 15.5%
15.4% Year 11 ◂ +6.7 pts 8.7%

Highest qualification level

32.8% Certificate III / IV +6.5 pts ▸ 39.2%
8.6% Advanced diploma / diploma +3.6 pts ▸ 12.2%
9.8% Bachelor degree +1.0 pts ▸ 10.8%
5.4% Certificate I / II ◂ +4.6 pts 0.8%
3.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.3 pts 2.8%
2.2% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.6 pts 1.6%

Field of qualification

6.1% Engineering & related +14.6 pts ▸ 20.7%
7.6% Management & commerce +4.4 pts ▸ 12.0%
11.5% Society & culture ◂ +5.0 pts 6.5%
11.2% Health ◂ +2.9 pts 8.3%
11.2% Education ◂ +6.2 pts 5.1%
6.8% Architecture & building +0.5 pts ▸ 7.3%
3.2% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.1 pts ▸ 4.3%
0.0% Natural & physical sciences +3.0 pts ▸ 3.0%
2.0% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.3 pts 0.6%
0.0% Creative arts +1.8 pts ▸ 1.8%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +$130 higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
$380 7th pct $510 18th pct
Household income in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +$41 higher in Palm Island gap narrowing
$977 21st pct $936 17th pct
Family income in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +$240 higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
$898 6th pct $1,138 14th pct
High earners in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +3.2 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
2.3% 11th pct 5.4% 42nd pct
High-income homes in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +0.4 pts higher in Palm Island gap narrowing
6.5% 25th pct 6.1% 23rd pct

Household income distribution

34.6% $650–$1,499 +3.2 pts ▸ 37.9%
26.1% Under $650 ◂ +1.5 pts 24.5%
23.8% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.0 pts 19.9%
3.7% $4,000 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 2.6%
2.9% $3,000–$3,999 +0.7 pts ▸ 3.5%

Personal income distribution

65.7% Under $650 ◂ +12.5 pts 53.2%
19.1% $650–$1,499 +3.8 pts ▸ 22.9%
4.5% $1,500–$2,999 +5.0 pts ▸ 9.5%
0.8% $3,000 or more +1.5 pts ▸ 2.3%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +28.3 pts higher in Balgal Beach
15.1% 2nd pct 43.4% 92nd pct
Mental health in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +10.7 pts higher in Balgal Beach
2.2% 3rd pct 12.9% 86th pct
Needs assistance in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +5.3 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
3.3% 13th pct 8.6% 75th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

1.9% Arthritis +15.7 pts ▸ 17.5%
2.2% Mental health +10.7 pts ▸ 12.9%
3.6% Other condition +6.3 pts ▸ 9.9%
4.3% Heart disease +5.2 pts ▸ 9.5%
2.9% Asthma +5.8 pts ▸ 8.6%
7.2% Diabetes +0.2 pts ▸ 7.4%
0.5% Cancer +5.1 pts ▸ 5.6%
0.5% Lung condition +4.1 pts ▸ 4.6%
0.4% Stroke +2.0 pts ▸ 2.4%
0.4% Dementia +0.4 pts ▸ 0.8%

Number of long-term health conditions

76.9% None ◂ +34.1 pts 42.8%
11.5% One condition +15.0 pts ▸ 26.6%
2.0% Two conditions +8.9 pts ▸ 10.9%
1.4% Three or more +4.4 pts ▸ 5.8%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +12.5 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
4.7% 1st pct 17.3% 51st pct
Unpaid carers in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +2.1 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
11.1% 25th pct 13.3% 52nd pct
Unpaid child care in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +18.4 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
33.0% 85th pct 14.6% 9th pct
Defence service in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +7.9 pts higher in Balgal Beach
1.4% 9th pct 9.3% 100th pct
Housework 15h+ in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +19.9 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
10.3% 4th pct 30.2% 90th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +1.7 larger in Palm Island gap widening
3.7 94th pct 2.0 14th pct
One-parent in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +24.3 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
38.7% 100th pct 14.5% 46th pct
Living alone in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +11.1 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
21.4% 26th pct 32.5% 62nd pct

Family composition

9.6% Couples without children +45.8 pts ▸ 55.4%
46.6% Couples with children ◂ +17.7 pts 28.9%
38.7% One-parent families ◂ +24.3 pts 14.5%
5.4% Other families ◂ +4.8 pts 0.6%

Household size

19.1% 2 people +30.9 pts ▸ 50.0%
21.4% 1 person +11.1 pts ▸ 32.5%
24.4% 6 or more ◂ +22.8 pts 1.6%
13.0% 3 people ◂ +4.6 pts 8.4%
12.6% 4 people ◂ +8.0 pts 4.7%
10.6% 5 people ◂ +7.1 pts 3.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +$148 higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
$125 8th pct $273 50th pct
Mortgage in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +$975 higher in Palm Island gap widening
$2,167 92nd pct $1,192 36th pct
People / bedroom in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +0.40 higher in Palm Island gap widening
1.20 94th pct 0.80 57th pct
Renting in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +76.1 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
92.5% 100th pct 16.4% 33rd pct
Owned outright in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +46.0 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
1.4% 1st pct 47.4% 75th pct
Separate houses in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +11.4 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
87.0% 24th pct 98.4% 78th pct
3+ bedrooms in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +3.8 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
68.0% 20th pct 64.3% 13th pct

How homes are owned or rented

92.5% Rented ◂ +76.1 pts 16.4%
1.4% Owned outright +46.0 pts ▸ 47.4%
0.0% Owned with a mortgage +29.9 pts ▸ 29.9%
2.4% Not stated +1.3 pts ▸ 3.7%
3.3% Other tenure ◂ +0.5 pts 2.8%

Types of homes

87.0% Separate house +11.4 pts ▸ 98.4%
8.1% Flat or apartment ◂ +8.1 pts 0.0%
3.5% Other dwelling ◂ +3.5 pts 0.0%
0.6% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

40.7% 3 bedrooms +1.1 pts ▸ 41.8%
24.0% 2 bedrooms +1.4 pts ▸ 25.5%
22.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +1.8 pts 20.6%
4.3% 1 bedroom +2.3 pts ▸ 6.5%
4.9% 5 or more ◂ +3.0 pts 1.9%
0.0% Studio / none +2.3 pts ▸ 2.3%

Weekly rent distribution

92.1% Under $200 ◂ +84.9 pts 7.1%
4.4% $200–$349 +82.7 pts ▸ 87.1%
0.0% $350–$549 +12.9 pts ▸ 12.9%
0.0% $550–$749 even 0.0%
0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +47.5 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
49.5% 97th pct 1.9% 29th pct
Work from home in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +5.6 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 5.6% 33rd pct
PT commute in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +2.7 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
4.7% 94th pct 2.0% 87th pct

How people get to work

34.5% Car (driver) +36.1 pts ▸ 70.6%
32.7% Walked ◂ +30.4 pts 2.3%
12.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +3.8 pts 8.6%
0.0% Worked at home +5.6 pts ▸ 5.6%
4.7% Bus ◂ +2.7 pts 2.0%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

49.5% No vehicle ◂ +47.5 pts 1.9%
36.2% 1 vehicle +8.7 pts ▸ 44.9%
12.0% 2 vehicles +24.0 pts ▸ 36.0%
2.3% 3 vehicles +8.8 pts ▸ 11.1%
0.6% 4 or more +5.9 pts ▸ 6.5%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +17.2 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
14.1% 0th pct 31.3% 33rd pct
Recent arrivals in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +25.7 pts higher in Palm Island gap widening
25.7% 91st pct 0.0% 0th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +0.3 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
9.8% 86th pct 10.1% 87th pct
Participation in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +11.3 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
26.7% 0th pct 38.0% 13th pct
Full-time in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +8.9 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
52.8% 32nd pct 61.7% 77th pct

Industries people work in

33.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +17.9 pts 15.2%
23.0% Education & training ◂ +14.8 pts 8.3%
15.6% Public administration & safety ◂ +10.0 pts 5.6%
2.4% Construction +11.5 pts ▸ 13.9%
0.0% Mining +7.3 pts ▸ 7.3%
6.2% Retail trade +0.4 pts ▸ 6.6%
0.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +6.3 pts ▸ 6.3%
2.4% Accommodation & food +3.6 pts ▸ 5.9%
2.7% Transport & warehousing +3.0 pts ▸ 5.6%
4.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.5 pts 4.0%
0.0% Manufacturing +3.6 pts ▸ 3.6%
0.0% Wholesale trade +3.6 pts ▸ 3.6%

Occupations people work in

38.3% Community & personal service ◂ +25.5 pts 12.9%
18.0% Professionals ◂ +3.1 pts 14.9%
8.8% Labourers +6.0 pts ▸ 14.9%
7.4% Technicians & trades +6.2 pts ▸ 13.5%
4.1% Machinery operators & drivers +9.4 pts ▸ 13.5%
10.9% Clerical & administrative +1.6 pts ▸ 12.5%
4.4% Managers +3.5 pts ▸ 7.9%
3.8% Sales workers +3.8 pts ▸ 7.6%

Walkability

Walk score in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach
— 0.9 9th pct
Types ≤15 min in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +0.5 more in Palm Island
1.5 13th pct 1.0 9th pct
15-min city in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +47.9 pts higher in Palm Island
47.9% 35th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to a park in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +40.5 pts higher in Balgal Beach
7.0% 2nd pct 47.5% 15th pct
Walk to health in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +47.4 pts higher in Palm Island
47.4% 60th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +2.7 more in Balgal Beach
3.3 7th pct 6.0 13th pct
Intersections/km² in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +2 higher in Balgal Beach
2 0th pct 4 5th pct
Mean slope in Palm Islandin Balgal Beach +6.4 pts higher in Palm Island
9.5% 89th pct 3.0% 21st pct

Compare Palm Island with nearby areas

Taylors Beach Allingham Lucinda Halifax Balgal Beach Toomulla Toolakea Saunders Beach

Compare Balgal Beach with nearby areas

Toomulla Bluewater Park Bluewater Toolakea Yabulu Saunders Beach Black River Alice River

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Palm Island vs Balgal Beach [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL315077/palm-island/vs/UCL321008/balgal-beach