Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Aitkenvale
3 km²
A massive 45.1% of households in Aitkenvale are rented, a figure far above the national and state averages. This is a young community where the typical resident is just 36, and many are recent arrivals from overseas. It is a highly walkable area with a diverse population, including a significant First Nations community. The neighbourhood is marked by a high number of one-parent families and people living alone, creating a distinct social character within Townsville.
A family-heavy area that's short on schools per child.
27 schools within reach make Aitkenvale convenient for families.
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The area is notably young, with the typical resident aged 36 and 19.4% of the population being children under 15. It also has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at 8.1% compared to the national figure of 3.2%.
Overseas birthplaces are common here, with 19.5% of people born outside Australia, though this is well below the national average. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, followed by Irish and Scottish.
Language diversity is high, with 15.0% of residents using a language other than English at home. This is higher than most similar areas and is reflected in the 3.2% of people who speak little or no English.
About 48.2% of residents identify as Christian, while 36.0% of the population report having no religion, which is a little below the national figure.
Aitkenvale has a higher proportion of adults with bachelor degrees or higher (19.1%) than most similar areas, although this remains well below the national average. Year 12 completion sits at 51.7%, which is well below the state and national figures.
Typical household income is $1,378 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. The typical personal weekly income is $740, placing the area around the middle for its level.
The community has a higher rate of mental health conditions (9.9%) and people needing help with daily activities (6.6%) compared to most other areas.
A striking 5.5% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is much higher than most areas. However, volunteering rates are lower than most similar places at 14.1%.
The First Nations community is large here, with 11.8% speaking a First Nations language, which is much higher than most areas. Typical personal income for this group is $524, and the unemployment rate is a little above the national figure at 13.5%.
One-parent families are very common at 23.3%, a rate well above the national average. Additionally, 31.4% of people live alone, which is much higher than in most other areas.
Renting is the dominant tenure at 45.1%, far above the national figure. While 74.5% of homes are separate houses, the typical weekly rent is $270, which is well below both state and national averages.
Aitkenvale is well-serviced with 12 public transport stops, and 11.0% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is among the highest for its level. However, only 5.0% of people work from home, a figure far below the national average.
The area is a major hub for migration, with recent overseas arrivals making up 28.1% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 14.5%.
The unemployment rate is 6.8%, which is a little above the national average. Many residents work in health care and social assistance or education and training.
Aitkenvale is very walkable, with 94.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of local amenities. Almost every home is within a short walk of a park (100%) or a school (99.5%).