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Balgal Beach vs Bluewater

Urban Centre comparison ≈ 22 km apart · Balgal Beach profile · Bluewater profile

Balgal Beach Bluewater

Balgal Beach and Bluewater are nearby Queensland areas with very different populations. Balgal Beach is a much older community, where the typical resident is 58 and 34.8% are seniors. In contrast, Bluewater is far younger, with a typical age of 41 and a much higher share of children under 15 (23.2% compared to 11.8% in Balgal Beach). This difference extends to income and housing; typical weekly family income is far higher in Bluewater ($1,984) than in Balgal Beach ($1,138), and Bluewater has far more large homes with three or more bedrooms.

These two areas have tracked further apart since 2011, with the gaps in age, income, and the number of children widening over time. Despite these shifting trends, they remain alike in some ways. Both have about the same share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (around 3.9%) and very similar rates of people who served in the Defence Force. They also share a lack of easy access to public transport, as almost no homes in either area are within a 10-minute walk of a stop.

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Where they differ most

Median age: 17 yrs older in Balgal Beach Household income: $909 higher in Bluewater Participation: 20.4 pts higher in Bluewater Unpaid child care: 19.9 pts higher in Bluewater 3+ bedrooms: 19.0 pts higher in Bluewater

Demographics & Identity

Population in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +283 larger in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
998 56th pct 715 45th pct
Median age in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +17 yrs older in Balgal Beach gap widening
58 yrs 90th pct 41 yrs 36th pct
First Nations in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.1 pts higher in Bluewater gap narrowing
3.8% 44th pct 3.9% 45th pct
Aged 65+ in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +18.7 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
34.8% 87th pct 16.1% 28th pct
Under 15 in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +11.4 pts higher in Bluewater gap widening
11.8% 13th pct 23.2% 86th pct
De facto in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +9.3 pts higher in Bluewater gap widening
10.6% 23rd pct 19.8% 89th pct

Age structure

35.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +10.0 pts 25.9%
34.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +18.7 pts 16.1%
12.6% Young adults (25–44) +13.5 pts ▸ 26.2%
11.8% Children (0–14) +11.4 pts ▸ 23.2%
6.1% Youth (15–24) +1.2 pts ▸ 7.3%

Marital status

50.1% Married ◂ +4.7 pts 45.4%
25.5% Never married +6.8 pts ▸ 32.4%
13.6% Divorced +0.3 pts ▸ 14.0%
7.0% Widowed ◂ +2.3 pts 4.8%
4.0% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Balgal Beach Bluewater

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +3.3 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
12.6% 62nd pct 9.4% 39th pct

Country of birth

75.1% Australia +8.2 pts ▸ 83.2%
4.4% England ◂ +1.1 pts 3.4%
2.5% New Zealand ◂ +0.8 pts 1.7%
0.0% Italy +0.6 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.0% India even 0.0%
0.0% China even 0.0%
0.0% Philippines even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%
0.0% Nepal even 0.0%
0.0% South Africa even 0.0%

Ancestry

42.7% English +1.7 pts ▸ 44.3%
36.2% Australian +6.9 pts ▸ 43.1%
13.5% Irish ◂ +3.5 pts 10.1%
11.5% Scottish +0.5 pts ▸ 12.0%
5.1% German +0.9 pts ▸ 6.0%
1.7% Italian +2.4 pts ▸ 4.1%
1.5% Dutch +1.0 pts ▸ 2.5%
0.0% Chinese +1.4 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.0% Indian +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.0% Greek even 0.0%
0.0% Filipino even 0.0%
0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Other language in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.6 pts higher in Bluewater gap narrowing
1.6% 14th pct 2.2% 25th pct
Limited English in Balgal Beachin Bluewater even gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Language used at home

87.1% English only +4.4 pts ▸ 91.5%
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 Balgal Beachin Bluewater +10.0 pts higher in Bluewater gap widening
37.0% 30th pct 47.0% 67th pct

Religious affiliation

47.4% Christianity ◂ +5.6 pts 41.8%
37.0% No religion +10.0 pts ▸ 47.0%
13.4% Not stated ◂ +4.9 pts 8.5%
0.7% Other religions +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.9% Buddhism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%
0.0% Islam even 0.0%
0.0% Hinduism even 0.0%
0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +8.7 pts higher in Bluewater gap narrowing
32.6% 30th pct 41.3% 59th pct
Bachelor+ in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +2.3 pts higher in Bluewater gap narrowing
8.5% 29th pct 10.8% 46th pct

Highest year of school

32.6% Year 12 +8.7 pts ▸ 41.3%
30.2% Year 10 ◂ +1.3 pts 29.0%
15.5% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.9 pts 12.6%
8.7% Year 11 ◂ +0.3 pts 8.4%

Highest qualification level

39.2% Certificate III / IV +9.2 pts ▸ 48.5%
12.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.3 pts ▸ 14.5%
10.8% Bachelor degree +2.2 pts ▸ 13.0%
2.8% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.4 pts 2.5%
1.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.2 pts ▸ 2.8%
0.8% Certificate I / II +2.0 pts ▸ 2.8%

Field of qualification

20.7% Engineering & related +1.8 pts ▸ 22.5%
8.3% Health +7.4 pts ▸ 15.7%
12.0% Management & commerce +1.3 pts ▸ 13.3%
6.5% Society & culture +1.2 pts ▸ 7.7%
7.3% Architecture & building ◂ +0.8 pts 6.5%
5.1% Education +1.1 pts ▸ 6.2%
4.3% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.6 pts ▸ 5.9%
0.6% Agriculture & environment +2.5 pts ▸ 3.1%
3.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%
1.8% Creative arts even 1.9%
0.0% Information technology even 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +$300 higher in Bluewater gap widening
$510 18th pct $810 77th pct
Household income in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +$909 higher in Bluewater gap widening
$936 17th pct $1,845 82nd pct
Family income in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +$846 higher in Bluewater gap widening
$1,138 14th pct $1,984 75th pct
High earners in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +2.5 pts higher in Bluewater gap narrowing
5.4% 42nd pct 7.9% 63rd pct
High-income homes in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +8.6 pts higher in Bluewater gap widening
6.1% 23rd pct 14.7% 66th pct

Household income distribution

37.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +15.8 pts 22.0%
19.9% $1,500–$2,999 +13.6 pts ▸ 33.5%
24.5% Under $650 ◂ +10.7 pts 13.9%
3.5% $3,000–$3,999 +4.3 pts ▸ 7.8%
2.6% $4,000 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 6.9%

Personal income distribution

53.2% Under $650 ◂ +13.7 pts 39.5%
22.9% $650–$1,499 +13.3 pts ▸ 36.2%
9.5% $1,500–$2,999 +7.0 pts ▸ 16.5%
2.3% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 2.0%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +12.8 pts higher in Balgal Beach
43.4% 92nd pct 30.6% 37th pct
Mental health in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +1.7 pts higher in Balgal Beach
12.9% 86th pct 11.2% 68th pct
Needs assistance in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.5 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
8.6% 75th pct 8.1% 72nd pct

Long-term health conditions reported

17.5% Arthritis ◂ +5.6 pts 11.9%
12.9% Mental health ◂ +1.7 pts 11.2%
9.9% Other condition ◂ +0.7 pts 9.2%
9.5% Heart disease ◂ +4.1 pts 5.5%
8.6% Asthma ◂ +1.1 pts 7.6%
7.4% Diabetes ◂ +0.3 pts 7.1%
5.6% Cancer ◂ +2.8 pts 2.8%
4.6% Lung condition ◂ +2.2 pts 2.4%
2.4% Stroke ◂ +1.1 pts 1.3%
0.8% Dementia ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

42.8% None +15.7 pts ▸ 58.5%
26.6% One condition ◂ +8.1 pts 18.5%
10.9% Two conditions ◂ +3.2 pts 7.7%
5.8% Three or more ◂ +1.2 pts 4.6%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +7.7 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
17.3% 51st pct 9.6% 11th pct
Unpaid carers in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +5.1 pts higher in Bluewater gap steady
13.3% 52nd pct 18.4% 95th pct
Unpaid child care in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +19.9 pts higher in Bluewater gap widening
14.6% 9th pct 34.6% 87th pct
Defence service in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.2 pts higher in Balgal Beach
9.3% 100th pct 9.2% 100th pct
Housework 15h+ in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +3.7 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
30.2% 90th pct 26.5% 71st pct

Family & Households

Household size in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.8 larger in Bluewater gap widening
2.0 14th pct 2.8 81st pct
One-parent in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +3.2 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
14.5% 46th pct 11.3% 27th pct
Living alone in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +12.5 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
32.5% 62nd pct 20.0% 23rd pct

Family composition

28.9% Couples with children +31.4 pts ▸ 60.3%
55.4% Couples without children ◂ +28.3 pts 27.1%
14.5% One-parent families ◂ +3.2 pts 11.3%
0.6% Other families +1.1 pts ▸ 1.7%

Household size

50.0% 2 people ◂ +10.8 pts 39.2%
32.5% 1 person ◂ +12.5 pts 20.0%
4.7% 4 people +11.2 pts ▸ 15.9%
8.4% 3 people ◂ +1.9 pts 6.5%
3.5% 5 people +4.7 pts ▸ 8.2%
1.6% 6 or more +5.3 pts ▸ 6.9%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +$47 higher in Bluewater gap narrowing
$273 50th pct $320 66th pct
Mortgage in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +$508 higher in Bluewater gap widening
$1,192 36th pct $1,700 75th pct
People / bedroom in Balgal Beachin Bluewater even gap steady
0.80 57th pct 0.80 57th pct
Renting in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +3.3 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
16.4% 33rd pct 13.1% 23rd pct
Owned outright in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +15.2 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
47.4% 75th pct 32.2% 29th pct
Separate houses in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +2.9 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
98.4% 78th pct 95.5% 61st pct
3+ bedrooms in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +19.0 pts higher in Bluewater gap widening
64.3% 13th pct 83.3% 70th pct

How homes are owned or rented

29.9% Owned with a mortgage +24.0 pts ▸ 53.9%
47.4% Owned outright ◂ +15.2 pts 32.2%
16.4% Rented ◂ +3.3 pts 13.1%
3.7% Not stated ◂ +3.7 pts 0.0%
2.8% Other tenure ◂ +2.8 pts 0.0%

Types of homes

98.4% Separate house ◂ +2.9 pts 95.5%
0.0% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.0 pts ▸ 2.0%
0.0% Other dwelling +1.2 pts ▸ 1.2%
0.0% Flat or apartment even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

41.8% 3 bedrooms +1.4 pts ▸ 43.3%
20.6% 4 bedrooms +7.6 pts ▸ 28.2%
25.5% 2 bedrooms ◂ +12.4 pts 13.1%
1.9% 5 or more +10.0 pts ▸ 11.8%
6.5% 1 bedroom ◂ +3.3 pts 3.3%
2.3% Studio / none ◂ +2.3 pts 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

87.1% $200–$349 ◂ +46.5 pts 40.6%
12.9% $350–$549 +27.8 pts ▸ 40.6%
7.1% Under $200 ◂ +7.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% $550–$749 even 0.0%
0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

43.0% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +5.1 pts 37.9%
15.6% $1,800–$2,999 +20.0 pts ▸ 35.6%
31.3% Under $1,000 ◂ +19.1 pts 12.1%
5.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +5.5 pts 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.1 pts higher in Bluewater gap narrowing
1.9% 29th pct 2.1% 31st pct
Work from home in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.8 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
5.6% 33rd pct 4.9% 27th pct
PT commute in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.7 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap steady
2.0% 87th pct 1.3% 80th pct

How people get to work

70.6% Car (driver) ◂ +1.4 pts 69.3%
8.6% Car (passenger) ◂ +3.7 pts 4.9%
5.6% Worked at home ◂ +0.8 pts 4.9%
2.3% Walked ◂ +1.3 pts 1.0%
2.0% Bus ◂ +0.7 pts 1.3%
0.0% Train even 0.0%
0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

44.9% 1 vehicle ◂ +21.7 pts 23.2%
36.0% 2 vehicles +8.0 pts ▸ 44.0%
11.1% 3 vehicles +5.5 pts ▸ 16.6%
6.5% 4 or more +5.9 pts ▸ 12.4%
1.9% No vehicle +0.1 pts ▸ 2.1%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +4.6 pts higher in Bluewater gap narrowing
31.3% 33rd pct 35.9% 55th pct
Recent arrivals in Balgal Beachin Bluewater even gap narrowing
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +6.1 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap widening
10.1% 87th pct 4.1% 40th pct
Participation in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +20.4 pts higher in Bluewater gap widening
38.0% 13th pct 58.5% 66th pct
Full-time in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +3.8 pts higher in Balgal Beach gap narrowing
61.7% 77th pct 57.9% 60th pct

Industries people work in

13.9% Construction +2.3 pts ▸ 16.2%
15.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.3 pts 14.9%
8.3% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 8.4%
3.6% Manufacturing +4.5 pts ▸ 8.1%
7.3% Mining ◂ +1.4 pts 5.8%
5.6% Transport & warehousing +1.2 pts ▸ 6.8%
6.6% Retail trade ◂ +1.1 pts 5.5%
6.3% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +4.7 pts 1.6%
5.9% Accommodation & food ◂ +3.4 pts 2.6%
5.6% Public administration & safety +0.2 pts ▸ 5.8%
4.0% Administrative & support ◂ +1.4 pts 2.6%
1.0% Other services +2.9 pts ▸ 3.9%

Occupations people work in

13.5% Technicians & trades +8.8 pts ▸ 22.3%
14.9% Professionals ◂ +4.8 pts 10.0%
14.9% Labourers ◂ +2.6 pts 12.3%
12.5% Clerical & administrative +2.0 pts ▸ 14.6%
7.9% Managers +6.0 pts ▸ 13.9%
13.5% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.9 pts 11.7%
12.9% Community & personal service ◂ +0.9 pts 12.0%
7.6% Sales workers ◂ +2.1 pts 5.5%

Walkability

Walk score in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.3 higher in Balgal Beach
0.9 9th pct 0.6 6th pct
Types ≤15 min in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.2 more in Balgal Beach
1.0 9th pct 0.8 7th pct
15-min city in Balgal Beachin Bluewater even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to shops in Balgal Beachin Bluewater even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to transit in Balgal Beachin Bluewater even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Walk to school in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +21.6 pts higher in Bluewater
0.0% 0th pct 21.6% 23rd pct
Walk to a park in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +22.8 pts higher in Balgal Beach
47.5% 15th pct 24.7% 8th pct
Walk to health in Balgal Beachin Bluewater even
0.0% 0th pct 0.0% 0th pct
Amenities/1k in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +1.0 more in Bluewater
6.0 13th pct 7.0 15th pct
Intersections/km² in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +7 higher in Bluewater
4 5th pct 11 16th pct
Mean slope in Balgal Beachin Bluewater +0.2 pts higher in Balgal Beach
3.0% 21st pct 2.8% 16th pct

Compare Balgal Beach with nearby areas

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

Compare Bluewater with nearby areas

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

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Balgal Beach vs Bluewater [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL321008/balgal-beach/vs/UCL321018/bluewater