Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Townsville Council
South Townsville, 4810
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,566
Growth (1 yr)
+1.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.5%
Median age
41
Median income
$1,516/wk
Employment rate
57.3%
Languages at home
8.5%non-English
Most common: French, Italian, Afrikaans
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Café precinct
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Well away from Brisbane, South Townsville is a coastal smaller community built around sand, sea and space. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
A genuine café and dining culture runs through the area, denser than many peers of a similar size. Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses and ferries covering longer trips across the wider area.
Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer safety and growth momentum compared with similar coastal suburbs, though schools and education remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
South Townsville snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$510/wk
Population (ERP)
2,566
+1.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
17.6%
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
#25
among Coastal & beach · Established
Safety
97th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
50th
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
57th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
- 41.7/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3463rd in Australia
- State rank
- 757th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #25 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #85 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $510
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Mar 2026 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
2,566(June 2025)
+1.1% annual · +4.5% over 5 years · 50th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.1%
- 5-year growth
- +4.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +29
- Change in 5 years
- +110
- Growth rank in QLD
- 50th 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 (~2,650), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,424
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $1,516
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 213 of 1,207
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,517
- Employment rate
- 57.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 513 / 246 / 210 (+ 17 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs 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
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
- 464
- Against the person
- 158
- Against property
- 155
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 180.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 15 residents
- State safety percentile
- 96.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +2.3%
Most common offence types
- Assault588
- Drug Offences796
- Good Order Offences751
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)530
- Unlawful Entry345
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,024
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 57th
School list
- Townsville South State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 909 · 13th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 95 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- St Joseph's Catholic School, The StrandPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 355 students · Top SEA quarter 42% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- St Patrick's College TownsvilleSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1024 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 663 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Amenities
165 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
6 restaurants · 1 cafes · 3 pubs · 1 bars · 2 fast food · 2 playgrounds · 9 swimming pools · 1 ev charging
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 8 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Strong local sport and recreation — 12 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 29/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.41
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 5.36
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.3
Food & drink(13)
- Bar
- Long Shot Coffee CoCafe
7 Tomlins Street, South Townsville
- Grill'dFast food
- Simply TopsFast food
- Australian HotelPub
- Empire HotelPub
31 McIlwraith Street, South Townsville
- Pub
- Cactus Jack'sRestaurant
- IMC SteakhouseRestaurant
- JamRestaurant
- Masala Indian CuisineRestaurant
- Restaurant
- Townsville Yacht ClubRestaurant
Shopping(1)
- Kwik ShopConvenience store
Community(2)
- Townsville Brass Band HallCommunity centre
60 Morehead Street
- Townsville South State SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(18)
- boundry st ParkPark
- Fourth AvenuePark
- Hurburt Street ParkPark
- Park (2)
- Victoria ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (9)
Entertainment(1)
- The Maritime Museum of TownsvilleMuseum
Transport(6)
2 bus stops · 4 ferry terminals
Other(30)
- Liquor Legends South TownsvilleAlcohol
9a Palmer Street, South Townsville
- Townsville SignAttraction
- Moksha RoomBeauty salon
Dibbs Street
- Bench (2)
- Bicycle Parking
- Conference Centre
- ChargeStarEV charging
- Garden (38)
- Seoul MartGeneral
- Adventurers BackpackersHostel
- Aligned Corporate Residences TownsvilleHotel
- Oaks MetropoleHotel
- Rydges HotelHotel
- The Palmer CollectiveHotel
12 Palmer Street
- Baskin-RobbinsIce Cream
Unit 3 8-10 Palmer Street
- GelatissimoIce Cream
- Townsville Recreational Boating ParkMarina
- Motorcycle Parking
- Bravus Mining & Resources Parking LotParking
- Dean Street CarparkParking
- Magentic Island Ferries ParkingParking
- Parking (45)
- Parking Space (2)
- Picnic Table (3)
- Police
- Townsville Water PolicePolice
- Public toilets
- Shelter (4)
- Slipway (7)
- Vehicle WeighbridgeVehicle Inspection
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- boundry st ParkPark
- Central ParkPark
- Fourth AvenuePark
- Hurburt Street ParkPark
- Townsville Recreational Boating ParkPark
- Victoria ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 8
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Townsville Private Clinic (2.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 65
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 25.3
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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 (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from QLD coordinated projects (lodged 2020–2026).
1 planning-related records
Other· 1 proposal
- Townsville Marine PrecinctReclamation and development of approximately 34 hectares of land for marine-dependent industries.Completed EIS project
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- QLD coordinated projects — Queensland Department of State Development · 2020–2026 · Updated · State projects (not council DAs)
Heritage
2 heritage places
- St John's Anglican Church PrecinctState heritage place
- Victoria BridgeState heritage place
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard 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 5.2 km away).
Coalition 53.8%Labor 46.2%
9.6 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.0 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Townsville SouthLabor 46.4% · Coalition 53.6% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- North WardLabor 42.8% · Coalition 57.2% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Railway EstateLabor 44.7% · Coalition 55.3% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Belgian GardensLabor 44.1% · Coalition 55.9% TPP (2025)4.0 km away
- CutheringaLabor 47.5% · Coalition 52.5% TPP (2025)4.0 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
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.