State Electorate · Area profile
Townsville
253 km²
A significant shift in population and age has shaped Townsville since 2011, with the typical resident now eight years older. The area has a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence, making up 10.6% of the community. It is a transient place where many people move frequently and a high number live alone. This creates a distinctive character where smaller households and a high rental population are common compared to the rest of the state.
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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is well above the national figure at 10.6%. While the typical age is 38, the area has seen a rise in seniors and a drop in children under 15 since 2011.
People born overseas make up 16.2% of the population, which is far below the national average. This is a sharp decrease from 2011, when 32.2% of residents were born abroad.
English is the main language for 82.1% of residents. The proportion of people using another language at home has fallen significantly since 2011 to 10.0%, which is far below the national figure.
About 40.5% of people report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 19 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 47.3%.
Qualifications have risen since 2011, with 23.1% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. The area has more schools per 1,000 children than most other similar places.
Personal incomes are a little above the state and national figures, with 12.2% of people earning $2,000 or more a week. However, typical household incomes are a little below the national average.
Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 9.9% of residents. Other health figures, such as those needing help with daily activities, are about the same as the national average.
Defence Force service is very high here, with 7.4% of people having served, well above the national figure of 2.8%. Unpaid care and housework are much less common than in most other areas.
Many people live alone—35.8% of households are single person—which is far above the national average. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most areas.
Rentals are far more common than the national average at 45.8%, and typical weekly rent of $280 is well below the national figure. Homes here are smaller, with fewer three-bedroom properties than usual.
Cars are the primary way to get to work, while only 6.0% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure. About 9.3% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The population is quite mobile, with 45.0% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 15.6% of the community, though this is lower than in 2011.
Full-time employment is well above the national average at 63.7%. The most common industries are health care and social assistance, followed by public administration and safety.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 80.7% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents live within a short walk of a park or grocery store.