Urban Centre · Area profile
Saunders Beach
0 km²
A typical resident of Saunders Beach is far older than the national figure, with a median age of 49. This small community of 385 people is distinct for its high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents and a notable number of people who have served in the Defence Force. It is a place of detached houses where the population has aged and slightly shrunk since 2011, reflecting a quiet, residential character in the Townsville region.
Explore Saunders Beach by topic
Indigenous residents make up 9.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure. The community is older than most, with the typical resident aged 49, though de facto relationships are much more common here than in similar areas.
People born overseas make up 18.7% of the community, a figure that has risen by 9 points since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while the proportion of overseas-born residents remains well below the national average.
English is the primary language for 87.8% of the community. Very few people use another language at home, and the proportion who speak little or no English is a little below the national figure.
The community is increasingly secular, with those reporting no religion rising 28 points since 2011 to reach 44.9%. This is well above the figures for both Queensland and Australia.
Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 15.7% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas. However, this is far below the national figure, though more people have completed Year 12 than in 2011.
Typical weekly personal income is $815, which is much higher than in most similar areas and about the same as the national figure. Incomes have risen significantly since 2011, with the typical family now earning $2,019 a week.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 36.1% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also more frequent than the national average, and more people need help with daily activities.
A high number of residents have served in the Defence Force compared to the rest of the state. Conversely, volunteering is much lower than in most similar areas and has fallen since 2011.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 20.7% of households. There is also a higher rate of people living alone, with 34.3% of homes occupied by one person.
The area consists almost entirely of detached houses, with 94.6% of homes being separate dwellings. Renting is less common than in the rest of the state, and typical weekly rents are a little below the national figure.
The community is almost entirely dependent on cars, as no one uses public transport to get to work. Very few people work from home, and 42.5% of households have two vehicles.
The population is quite mobile, with 41.6% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 16.7% of the community, which is a little above the national average.
More people are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, with a full-time employment rate of 60.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is lower than the state and national figures.
The area is almost entirely car-dependent, with no schools, shops, or health services within a 15-minute walk. Almost every home is near a park, but otherwise, the walkability score is very low.