Overall score
Airlie Beach
46.4/100
Townsville City
51.0/100
Airlie Beach vs Townsville City, QLD Suburb Comparison
Airlie Beach for families and schools; Townsville City for retirees and beach lifestyle.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Airlie BeachTownsville City
Crime rate
Airlie Beach
127.4 / 1k
Townsville City
309.4 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Airlie Beach
248
Townsville City
415
Population
Airlie Beach
1,312
Townsville City
2,945
Metric leadAirlie Beach 4Townsville City 7across 11 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesTownsville City
- Best for familiesAirlie Beach
- Best for beach lifestyleTownsville City
- Best for investmentTownsville City
- Best for best valueTownsville City
- Best for best schoolsAirlie Beach
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Airlie Beach | Townsville City |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 46.4/100 | 51.0/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 49.9/100 | 54.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 127.4 / 1k | 309.4 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 9 |
| Weather (desirability) | 26.4/100 | 19.8/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 5 |
| Walkability | 88.0/100 | 76.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 248 | 415 |
| Planning activity | 1 | — |
| Green cover | 11.8% | 3.4% |
| Population | 1,312 | 2,945 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 6/10 | 9/10 |
Comparison summary
Airlie Beach reads as a beachside smaller community where the coast sets the tone; Townsville City is a coastal mid-sized suburb shaped by beach life and outdoor living.
Airlie Beach pulls ahead on a quieter safety profile and walkability, whereas Townsville City is the better pick for housing affordability, schools and education options, and parks and reserves.
On balance, retirees, families, people chasing a beach lifestyle, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Townsville City, while Airlie Beach remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.