Townsville City - North Ward
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Townsville City - North Ward reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Townsville City - North Ward's population is around 9,598 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 482 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,116 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,587 from the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 46 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,419 persons per square kilometer, above the national average according to AreaSearch's assessments. Townsville City - North Ward's growth rate of 5.3% since census positions it within 1.6 percentage points of the SA4 region (6.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 86.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort are applied where utilized. Based on demographic trends and the latest population numbers, a population increase just below Australia's regional areas median is expected. The area is projected to increase by 833 persons to 2041, recording an overall gain of 8.6% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Townsville City - North Ward according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Townsville City - North Ward has averaged approximately 14 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, there were 71 dwellings approved, with one more approved so far in FY-26. Each year, an average of three new residents have been associated with each dwelling approved during these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $1,213,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, there have been $87.3 million in commercial approvals, reflecting significant local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Townsville City - North Ward shows substantially reduced construction, at 64.0% below the regional average per person, which can reinforce demand and pricing for existing homes due to constrained new construction. This is also lower than nationally, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. All new construction in the area has been standalone homes, maintaining its traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

Interestingly, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests, indicating continued strong demand for family homes. The location has approximately 1323 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Population forecasts indicate Townsville City - North Ward will gain 822 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Townsville City - North Ward has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 21 projects likely impacting this region. Key initiatives include Defence Housing Australia's 420 new homes project, Mater Private Hospital Townsville's relocation plan, Marina Residences development, and the Townsville Breakwater Master-Planned Project. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Townsville City - North Ward shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Townsville City - North Ward has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 6.5%.

As of June 2025, there are 5,422 residents in work and the unemployment rate is 2.6% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is also higher at 65.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. Notably, the area has a high concentration in public administration & safety with employment levels at 2.1 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 5.7% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. There are 1.2 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.2%, alongside a 4.2% decline in employment, resulting in a rise of 1.9 percentage points in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment rose by 1.8%. As of Sep-25, Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs) and the state unemployment rate was at 4.2%, compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.5% and national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts suggest that nationally, employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Townsville City - North Ward's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1%% over five years and 14.7% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Townsville City - North Ward has a median taxpayer income of $68,050 and an average income of $92,608 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is significantly higher than the national median income of $50,780 and average income of $64,844 in Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $76,019 and an average income of $103,452 as of March 2025. The 2021 Census indicates that individual earnings in North Ward rank at the 87th percentile nationally ($1,115 weekly), while household income ranks lower at the 52nd percentile. Distribution data shows that 30.5% of residents (2,927 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 income bracket, which is consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 31.7% in the same category. After housing costs, 85.1% of income remains for other expenses, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Townsville City - North Ward features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Townsville City - North Ward, as assessed in the latest Census, houses constituted 24.9% of dwellings, with the remaining 75.1% being semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In contrast, Non-Metro Qld had 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Townsville City - North Ward stood at 25.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.1% and rented ones at 54.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. Weekly rent in the area was $320, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $305. Nationally, Townsville City - North Ward's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $320 compared to the national figure of $375.

Townsville City - North Ward features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 50.5% of all households, including 14.4% couples with children, 28.3% couples without children, and 6.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 49.5%, with lone person households at 43.0% and group households at 6.4%. The median household size is 1.9 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Townsville City - North Ward exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Townsville City - North Ward is notably high with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 20.1% in the SA4 region and 20.6% in the Rest of Qld. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 27.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 28.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (18.1%). Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.9% in secondary education, 8.6% in tertiary education, and 6.0% pursuing primary education.

The area has 5 schools with a combined enrollment of 2,486 students. Townsville City - North Ward demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1040) with balanced educational opportunities. Educational provision is split between 2 primary and 3 secondary institutions. The area functions as an education hub with 25.9 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 16.7, attracting students from surrounding communities.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Transport analysis indicates 38 active transport stops operating within Townsville City - North Ward. These comprise a mix of ferry and bus services. Twelve individual routes service these stops, collectively providing 2,523 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 257 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 360 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 66 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Townsville City - North Ward is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Townsville City - North Ward shows superior health outcomes for both young and elderly residents, with low prevalence rates for common health conditions. Private health cover is notably high at approximately 67% of its total population of 6,440 people, compared to 53.3% across the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (8.1%) and arthritis (6.7%), with 72.1% reporting no medical ailments, higher than the rest of Queensland's 67.8%.

The area has a larger proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.1%, or 1,644 people, compared to 14.9% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, outperforming general population metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Townsville City - North Ward was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Townsville City - North Ward had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 12.8% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 26.1% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Townsville City - North Ward, accounting for 50.8% of the population. However, Judaism showed an overrepresentation in North Ward compared to the rest of Queensland, with 0.2% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (28.0%), Australian (21.0%), and Irish (10.2%). There were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Spanish was overrepresented at 0.7% compared to 0.4% regionally, French at 0.7% versus 0.4%, and Scottish at 8.9% versus 7.7%.

Townsville City - North Ward's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Townsville City - North Ward is 39 years, lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 but close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are prominent at 19.7%, while those aged 5-14 comprise 7.0%. This is compared to Rest of Qld where the median age is 41, with 18% in the 25-34 group and 10% in the 5-14 group. Nationally, the 25-34 age group makes up 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the median age decreased by 1 year from 40 to 39, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. The 15 to 24 age group grew from 12.9% to 14.6%, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 18.1% to 19.7%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 14.5% to 12.0%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 15.2% to 13.4%. Population forecasts for Townsville City - North Ward by 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 26% (495 people), reaching 2,390 from 1,894. Conversely, the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.