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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Charters Towers City has an estimated 2,290 residents, up from 2,219 at the 2021 Census — a change of 71 people, or 3.2%. That puts 782 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch evaluations combining broader ABS population revisions with new addresses validated since the Census, the suburb of Charters Towers City has an estimated resident count of around 2,290 as of Aug 2026. This indicates an expansion of 71 people (3.2%) compared to the 2,219 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The updated figure builds upon an estimated resident population of 2,280 determined by AreaSearch from the ABS June 2025 ERP release, alongside 2 validated new addresses confirmed following the Census. Density stands at 781 persons per square kilometer, tracking closely with typical benchmarks recorded across AreaSearch locations.
The 3.2% post-census gain in the suburb of Charters Towers City sits within 0.3 percentage points of the wider SA3 area (3.5%), highlighting solid underlying growth. Inward migration from overseas served as the primary demographic catalyst, accounting for virtually all population additions over recent timeframes. Projections utilised by AreaSearch draw on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia datasets using 2022 as a baseline for each SA2. For SA2 territories excluded from that series and for periods extending past 2032, Queensland State Government 2023 SA2 projections based on 2021 numbers are incorporated. Because those state models omit age cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional distribution weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (2022 baseline) to project specific cohorts. Over the projection horizon, the suburb of Charters Towers City is anticipated to experience a net population contraction of 39 persons by 2041 under this framework. Nevertheless, positive momentum is expected within selected demographics, headed by the 25 to 34 age band which is slated to expand by 60 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
47 new dwellings have been approved in Charters Towers City over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That is 3.2 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 3, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Examining ABS building approval statistics across statistical areas, AreaSearch notes that the locality has maintained an average pace of approximately 9 residential approvals annually, yielding around 47 dwellings across the past 5 financial years. Within FY-25 to date, 3 approvals have been logged. With an average influx of only 0.2 new residents per year per newly approved residence across the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 through FY-25), residential construction is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, broadening purchaser opportunities and creating potential for demographic growth ahead of expectations. New dwellings carry an average build value of $415,000—below wider regional benchmarks—offering cost-effective residential options.
Additionally, $1.1 million in commercial building approvals was authorized in the current financial year, reinforcing the residential orientation of local development. On a per capita basis, residential dwelling authorizations are 58.0% higher than in Rest of Qld, presenting broad market options despite a recent cooling in building volumes. Overall construction intensity remains beneath the national benchmark, reflecting an established urban fabric and prospective regulatory constraints. Detached houses account for 75.0% of new residential activity compared to 25.0% for attached formats, sustaining the low-density landscape and providing spacious homes. An estimated ratio of 1141 people per dwelling approval underscores a tranquil, low-scale construction climate. With demographic forecasts indicating flat to declining numbers, reduced housing pressure could generate favorable buying conditions across the local property market.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Charters Towers City
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Charters Towers City. A further 32 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $10.3 billion. 17 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and environmental & disaster management. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Capital investments, public works, and planning developments play a pivotal role in driving local performance. AreaSearch has highlighted 4 key initiatives influencing the district, including Renew Charters Towers, the Queensland Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers), Grand Secret Estate, and Goldtower Central.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Grand Secret Estate
Charters Towers' newest masterplanned residential development, comprising approximately 133 lots. Lot sizes range from 1500sqm to over 1ha, offering space for custom-built homes. Construction commenced in mid-2021, and it is located just 1km from the town centre.
Renew Charters Towers
A Regional Place Activation Program initiative to revitalise the Charters Towers CBD by temporarily activating vacant shopfronts on Gill and Mosman Streets. The program allowed eligible creatives, startups, social enterprises and community groups to trial rent-free premises on a 30-day rolling licence, with insurance support via Renew Australia. The program aimed to increase foot traffic, support local business growth and help property owners secure long-term tenants. The program has now officially closed after receiving multiple expressions of interest.
Queensland Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers)
Early works package underway as part of the overarching Inland Freight Route investment strategy, covering the segment from Charters Towers to Mungindi. This is a significant road infrastructure upgrade spanning nearly 1,200km, aiming to upgrade roads for better efficiency and safety, including widening and bridge enhancements, as an alternative to the Bruce Highway.
Pinnacle Views Estate
Pinnacle Views is a residential land development offering 52 large blocks from 2,000 to 9,899 sqm in an open space living neighbourhood. Features wide roads, quiet avenues, lush native bushland backdrop, NBN ready with fiber to premises, sewered blocks, town water, and includes $10,000 contribution towards fencing and driveways with every block sold.
River Parks Estate
River Parks is a master-planned residential community spanning 72 hectares in Kelso, approximately 20 kilometres south-west of Townsville CBD. The development provides 888 residential allotments for families and young professionals, featuring seven hectares of dedicated parkland, 2.3 kilometres of walking and cycling pathways, and a planned 6,800 square metre retail and commercial hub including a village with shops, a cafe, and a childcare centre. The estate is bound by Dunlop Street to the north and Riverway Drive to the east, with the Ross River Dam within walking distance.
Riverway Plaza Stage 2 Extension
Stage 2 expansion of Riverway Plaza in the Upper Ross growth corridor of Townsville. The project delivers a new 3,585 sqm full-line Coles supermarket, approximately 30-35 specialty stores, and a 650 sqm Snap Fitness gym. Infrastructure improvements include a 140-space basement car park, additional shaded surface parking, and upgraded public amenities, completing the transition into a comprehensive district retail hub.
Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant Pipeline Renewal
Renewal and duplication of a 9.5km pipeline connecting Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant, enhancing resilience and water security for Townsville, which supplies approximately 85% of the city's water.
Rasmussen Village and Community Hub
A new community vision for approximately 2,500 people along the Bohle River in Townsville's Upper Ross. The project aims to create a vibrant, integrated residential community by linking and expanding existing neighbourhoods and infrastructure. It envisions diverse housing choices, including collaboration with Defence Housing Authority, and redefines the Bohle River as a regional open space destination.
885 residents of Charters Towers City are employed, from a labour force of 997. Unemployment sits at 11.2%, with participation at 52.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,864, about 81% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labor market displays an even distribution between professional and vocational roles, underpinned by strong essential service operations alongside an 11.2% unemployment rate, per AreaSearch aggregated regional figures. By March 2026885 local residents were employed, while unemployment sat 7.3% above the 3.9% recorded for Regional Qld, pointing to spare workforce capacity; furthermore, labor participation registers lower at 52.3% versus 64.2% across Regional Qld. Census records indicate that 5.8% of workers operated from home, though prior Covid-19 restrictions provide relevant context. Workforce participation is heavily anchored in health care & social assistance, education & training, as well as retail trade.
The education & training sector demonstrates notable prominence, maintaining an employment share 1.8 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, building trades represent only 5.1% of local positions, trailing the 10.1% mark seen in Regional Qld. Comparing Census workplace counts against resident numbers suggests localized job opportunities remain relatively constrained within this residential district. Compiling SALM and ABS datasets over a 12-month span, AreaSearch identifies a 2.3% contraction in the labor pool alongside a 3.7% reduction in employment, pushing the jobless rate up by 1.3 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Qld saw employment rise 0.1%, the labor pool expand 0.3%, and unemployment increase 0.1 percentage points. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide broader perspective on future hiring trajectories. Mapped against the local industry composition across five- and ten-year horizons, these benchmarks—forecasting nation-wide job growth of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years—point to local employment increases of 6.1% over five years and 13.2% over ten years via industry weighting extrapolation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Charters Towers City is $1,078 a week (about $56,000 a year), with median personal income at $601 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $49,524 a year against an average of $59,556. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place earnings below national norms, registering a median of $49,524 and an average of $59,556, compared to $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average) across Regional Qld. Adjusted for an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated March 2026 values stand near $55,150 for the median and $66,322 for the average. Across personal, family, and household categories, local incomes sit between the 6th and 11th percentiles across Australia. The $400 - 799 weekly income bracket forms the largest cohort, comprising 29.1% of residents (666 people), whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 tier leads regionally at 31.7%.
After covering accommodation costs, households retain 86.3% of earnings, placing the district in the 9th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Charters Towers City had 859 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 86% detached houses and 1% apartments. 23% are owned with a mortgage, 43% rented and 34% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $220 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,009 a month. Rent absorbs 20.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census assessments show that detached houses represent 86.0% of the local dwelling stock, with 14.0% comprising apartments, townhouses, and alternative formats, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other configurations across Regional Qld. Outright ownership sits at 34.1%, mirroring regional norms, while mortgaged residences represent 22.9% and tenanted properties account for 42.9%. Monthly mortgage payments reflect a median of $1,009, significantly below the Regional Qld figure of $1,655 and the national benchmark of $1,863. Median weekly rents of $220 similarly sit far beneath regional ($345) and Australian ($375) averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Charters Towers City counted 859 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 15% are couples with children, fewer than in 94% of areas nationally, against 26% couples without children. 39% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 57.3% of local households, encompassing couples without children (26.4%), couples with children (15.4%), and single parent arrangements (13.7%). Non-family setups make up the remaining 42.7%, led by single-person dwellings at 38.6% and shared group households at 4.0%. The median household size of 2.1 people tracks below the 2.5 average seen across Regional Qld.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.6% of adults in Charters Towers City hold a university qualification, including 10.6% with a bachelor degree and 2.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 94% of areas nationally. A further 28.1% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 476 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 874 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment levels present clear developmental scope, with university degree holders making up 14.6% of residents against a national average of 30.4%. Within this group, bachelor degrees account for 10.6%, postgraduate credentials represent 2.4%, and graduate diplomas stand at 1.6%. Vocational qualifications are well represented, as 35.5% of individuals aged 15+ hold technical credentials, including 28.1% with certificates and 7.4% holding advanced diplomas. Formal study engagement is substantial, with 34.5% of the population enrolled in education programs. This cohort includes 15.9% attending high school, 11.8% in primary education, and 2.0% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Charters Towers City means driving: households keep an average of 1.0 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.1% of residents in Charters Towers City report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 90% of areas nationally. 6.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic health trends and mortality rates indicate meaningful public health considerations, with health conditions apparent across older and younger age groups alike. In addition, private health insurance coverage extends to approximately 51% of the community (~1,163 people). Asthma and arthritis represent the primary chronic conditions, recorded among 9.3 and 9.2% of residents respectively, while 62.1% report no ongoing medical conditions compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic ailments are elevated among the working-age population. Furthermore, seniors aged 65 and over comprise 20.9% of residents (478 people), exhibiting health challenges that rank higher on a national scale than the broader community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Charters Towers City is largely Australian-born, at 91.0% of residents, with 5.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (32.9%) and English (27.2%). 8.3% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Measures of cultural diversity sit below national benchmarks, with Australian citizens making up 83.6% of the population, 91.0% born domestically, and 94.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity forms the dominant religious faith, adhered to by 54.0% of residents compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Looking at parental birthplaces, the leading ancestries comprise Australian at 32.9% (exceeding the regional mark of 26.5%), English at 27.2%, and Irish at 9.3%. Notable proportions also appear across other cultural heritages, including Australian Aboriginal representation at 8.3% (against 3.9% regionally), Scottish at 7.7% (compared to 7.8%), and Maori at 0.4% (versus 0.8%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Charters Towers City is 41. 26.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The suburb of Charters Towers City exhibits a younger demographic profile relative to Regional Qld. Updated estimates to August 2026 show children and young adults (0 - 24) representing 33.8% of the population (compared to 29.6% regionally), while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) account for 22.4% against a regional share of 25.5%. The median age remains at 41 as at August 2026, holding steady from the 2021 Census and matching the regional figure from that period. The 0 - 24 cohort expanded from 32.3% at the Census to 33.8% currently.
Looking ahead to 2041, demographic expansion will be driven by young to middle aged adults, adding 59 residents (12%) to reach 572, while youth and retiree age brackets are forecast to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Charters Towers City
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 2 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,219 at the 2021 Census → 2,290 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL30585). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.