suburb.guide

QLD · Townsville Council

Pallarenda, 4810

Est. population · Jun 2025

755

Growth (1 yr)

-0.4%

Growth (5 yr)

-1.7%

Median age

45

Median income

$2,290/wk

Employment rate

65.8%

University qualified

39.8%

Work from home

9.7%

Languages at home

7.7%non-English

Most common: Italian, Spanish, Polish

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

34.1/100
Below average

1176th in QLD

Verified 80% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Beach
What Pallarenda is known for: Beach

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Pallarenda, QLD suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Pallarenda, QLD Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/qld/pallarenda

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Suburb profile

Pallarenda is a coastal town in Queensland, in Townsville Council. It is close to Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station (former).

Open-space access is better than in most comparable places, with park access 78% above the peer median. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns, and university qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, with university qualifications 86% above the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. Trade-offs centre on weaker population growth and thinner dining and café options, with dining and cafés 100% below the peer median.

Pallarenda is a better fit for people who value socio-economic advantage and university qualifications more than population growth.

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.

Strengths and weaknesses

Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in Queensland (89)

Strengths

  • Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
  • University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
  • Open-space access is better than in most comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Population growth is a relative weakness
  • Dining and café options are thinner than in comparable places

What stands out

  • Pallarenda Beach
  • Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station (former)
  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • StudentsInsufficient data
  • Budget buyersInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Pallarenda compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$320/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

755

-0.4% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

11.7%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#57

among Coastal & beach · Mature

Crime rate

97th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

1st

percentile in QLD

Rented dwellings

22%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

10/10

national SEIFA decile

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
34.1/100 — Below average
National rank
5787th in Australia
State rank
1176th in QLD
Peer rank
#57 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#109 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
80%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

755(June 2025)

-0.4% annual · -1.7% over 5 years · 1th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.4%
5-year growth
-1.7%
Change in 1 year
-3
Change in 5 years
-13
Growth rank in QLD
1th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~750), extrapolated at -0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
778
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$2,290
Dwelling vacancy
11.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
39 of 334
Median monthly mortgage
$1,733
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$320
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
40.3% / 37.9% / 21.8%
Employment rate
65.8%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
9.7% / 0% / 72.9%
Walked or cycled to work
0.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
271 / 22 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

39.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 21.9% across Queensland. 17.5% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified39.8% · 21.9% QLD
  • Diploma qualified11.8% · 9.4% QLD
  • Trade / vocational17.5% · 18.9% QLD
  • Year 12 or below30.9% · 49.8% QLD

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Health20%
  • Engineering and related technologies16.2%
  • Management and commerce13.8%
  • Society and culture13.4%
  • Education11.8%
  • Natural and physical sciences7.9%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$66,184

84th percentile in QLD · +13% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$69,807

82nd percentile in QLD · +7% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
14.0%

83rd percentile in QLD · +1% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$81,224

72nd percentile in QLD · +28% vs Australia

Residents with business income
9.0%

38th percentile in QLD · -13% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 4810 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
15,190
Taxpayers reporting net rent
2,114
Median net rent
-$972
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,307
Taxable income vs state median
+19%
Salary / wages vs state median
+14%
Rental investment vs state median
+27%
Super vs state median
+17%
Business income vs state median
-10%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in QLD, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

7.7% speak a language other than English at home; 20.1% born overseas

Language at home
672 English only · 56 other
Non-English at home
7.7%
Born overseas
146 (20.1%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
31 (4%)
Australian citizens
687
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
4

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Italian4 · 28.6%
  • Spanish4 · 28.6%
  • Polish3 · 21.4%
  • Sinhalese3 · 21.4%

Religion

46.7%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 46.7%, while 44.2% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion44.2%40.7%
Christianity46.7%45.7%
Other / not stated9.1%13.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic19.5%18.6%
Anglican15.3%11.3%
Uniting Church5.4%3.6%
Presbyterian and Reformed2.1%2.1%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 4810, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences are running higher than the same point last year.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2026 to Sep 2026)
175
Against the person
58
Against property
60
Rate per 1,000 residents (annualised)
309.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 13 residents
State crime-rate percentile
96.8th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate, partial year)
+4%

Most common offence types

  • Assault24
  • Drug Offences34
  • Good Order Offences32
  • Unlawful Entry15
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)23

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Sep 2026; Jan 2026 to Sep 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

School list
School catchments
  • Belgian Gardens SSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Townsville SHSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

53 mapped amenities

3 playgrounds · 3 beaches

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
  • Great for outdoor family life — 3 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.86
Sport & outdoors(16)
  • Cleveland BayBeach
  • PallarendaBeach
  • Pallarenda BeachBeach
  • Boat ramp
  • Under the Radar TrailCycling route
  • Drinking water
  • Fitness station
  • Cape Pallarenda Conservation ParkNature reserve
  • Freemason's Pallarenda ParkPark
  • Pallaranda ParkPark
  • Walter Nisbet ParkPark
  • Playground (3)
  • Public toilets
  • Sports field
Entertainment(4)
  • Graves SiteViewpoint
  • Old Jetty (Remains)Viewpoint
  • Viewpoint (2)
Other(7)
  • Cape Pallarenda Conservation ParkAttraction
  • Bench (2)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Information
  • Parking (18)
  • Picnic Table (6)
  • Shelter (4)

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Freemason's Pallarenda ParkPark
  • Pallaranda ParkPark
  • Walter Nisbet ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
4.4%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
3
Parks (OSM)
3
Typical summer maximum
30°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Townsville Private Clinic (8.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
29
Participants per 1,000 residents
38.4

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
30° / 24°
Rainfall
680 mm · ~85 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
28° / 21°
Rainfall
277 mm · ~35 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
23° / 16°
Rainfall
56 mm · ~7 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
27° / 20°
Rainfall
125 mm · ~16 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • Cape Pallarenda Quarantine Station (former)State heritage place

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Heritage listings as established streetscape

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping. Flood cover uses floodplain overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Herbert
Member of Parliament
Phillip THOMPSON (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
121,280
Turnout (2025)
85.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.6 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 63.4%Labor 36.6%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.2 km away).

Coalition 57.8%Labor 42.2%

5.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: -0.9 pp toward Coalition

Nearest polling places

  • Belgian GardensLabor 44.1% · Coalition 55.9% TPP (2025)6.4 km away
  • GarbuttLabor 40.6% · Coalition 59.4% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
  • North WardLabor 42.8% · Coalition 57.2% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
  • CutheringaLabor 47.5% · Coalition 52.5% TPP (2025)7.5 km away
  • Mount LouisaLabor 36.1% · Coalition 63.9% TPP (2025)8.6 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
9/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Townsville Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.