Townsville City (Qld)

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Evaluations of ABS population updates for the surrounding region, alongside new address verifications by Districts since the Census, indicate that the suburb of Townsville City has a residency of approximately 3,143 individuals as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 198 people (6.7%) compared to the 2,945 residents documented in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is drawn from a resident count of 3,141, calculated by Districts using the ABS ERP release from June 2025 and 21 newly confirmed addresses since the Census date. Such population levels yield a density of 1,518 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical figure across national locations assessed by Districts. The suburb of Townsville City's 6.7% growth since census is within 0.4 percentage points of the SA4 region (7.1%), indicating competitive local growth. The primary contributor to these population gains was overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 86.0% of the overall growth during recent times.

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The suburb of Townsville City has a highly educated workforce with a strong presence in essential service industries, and an unemployment rate of 6.3% based on Districts statistical aggregations. As of March 2026, there are 1,867 employed residents. The local unemployment rate sits 2.4% above the Regional Qld level of 3.9%, while workforce participation is standard at 67.4% compared to Regional Qld's 64.3%. Census data indicates that a low 7.9% of residents worked from home, although this may have been influenced by COVID-19 lockdowns.

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According to the latest postcode-level ATO statistics released for the financial year 2023, taxpayers in the suburb of Townsville City have a median income of $72,139 and an average income of $98,172. This is exceptionally high on a national scale, comparing to Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $80,334 for the median and $109,324 for the average. Census data shows individual earnings reach the 90th percentile nationally ($1,182 weekly). Income distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket contains 36.7% of the community (1,153 individuals), which is comparable to the wider region where this group accounts for . Residents retain of their income for non-housing expenses, and the area is positioned in the th decile of the SEIFA income index.

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At the most recent Census, the dwelling profile of the suburb of Townsville City consisted of 11.6% houses and 88.4% other dwelling types (such as townhouses, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to Regional Qld's breakdown of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in the suburb of Townsville City stood at 23.6%, trailing Regional Qld, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (18.8%) or renting (57.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment was higher than the regional average at $1,663, and the median weekly rent was $390, compared to Regional Qld figures of $1,655 and $345, respectively. Nationally, mortgage payments in the suburb of Townsville City are notably below the Australian median of $1,863, while rental costs exceed the national average of $375.

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Families make up 50.0% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 10.7%, couples without children at 32.5%, and single parents at 5.3%. Non-family households account for the remaining 50.0%, with single-person households representing 43.2% and group households making up 6.6% of the total. The median household size of 1.8 people is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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Academic achievement in the suburb of Townsville City is considerably higher than regional averages, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 20.1% in the SA4 region and 20.6% across the Rest of Qld. This educational profile positions the community well for professional services and knowledge-sector roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (10.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational training is also common, with 30.5% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.8%) and vocational certificates (19.7%).

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Analysis of local public transport shows 20 active transit stops in the suburb of Townsville City, consisting of both ferry and bus options. These stops are served by 12 distinct routes, which combine to deliver 2,523 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 196 meters from the nearest stop. Because it is a residential area, the majority of residents travel outside the suburb for work, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 76%, and 16% of residents walking. Vehicle ownership is low, averaging 0.9 cars per household, which is below the regional average. A low 7.9% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

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Health indicators show favorable outcomes across the suburb of Townsville City, according to Districts' evaluation of mortality and chronic illness rates, with low rates of common health issues observed in both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, with approximately 66% of the population (2,077 people) having private cover. This is higher than the 52.5% recorded in Regional Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

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The suburb of Townsville City exhibits higher levels of cultural diversity than most comparable markets, with 12.8% of residents speaking a non-English language at home and 28.7% born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 49.5% of the population. However, the most distinct religious deviation is Hinduism, which represents 1.4% of residents compared to 0.8% across Regional Qld.

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The median age in the suburb of Townsville City is 38 years, slightly below the Regional Qld average of 41 and matching the national median of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 25.4% of the population, while children aged 5 - 14 are less common at 3.6%. The concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 is higher than the national average of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the local population has grown younger, with the median age falling 1.3 years from 39 to 38. The 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 4.1% to 6.0%, and the 25 to 34 cohort grew from to . Meanwhile, the to cohort fell from to , and the to group decreased from to . By demographic shifts are expected, with the to age bracket projected to grow by people () from to while the to and to age groups are expected to contract.

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Townsville City currently has an estimated 75 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 58 children aged 0-2 and 38 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 3% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 20% by 2041 (to approximately 90 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 170. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been low, with approximately 7.2 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.