South Townsville

South Townsville has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

The population of South Townsville is estimated at around 2,596 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 2,424 people, representing a rise of 7.1%. The latest estimate comes from AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and ERP data releases up to June 2025, along with validation of nine new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 525 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, South Townsville has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%, outperforming its SA4 region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 62% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, based on 2022 data. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 are adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied where necessary. Looking ahead, population projections indicate a growth of 273 persons to reach approximately 2,869 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 10.3% over the 16-year period.

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

South Townsville had minimal construction activity between 2016 and 2020 with only three new dwellings approved annually, totaling 16 over the five-year period. This low development level reflects its rural nature where housing needs drive development rather than broad market demand. The small sample size can significantly influence annual growth statistics.

South Townsville had less construction activity compared to the rest of Queensland and was below national averages. All new constructions were detached dwellings, favoring family homes suited for rural lifestyle and space. However, developers built more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (52.0% at Census), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 1020 people, reflecting its quiet development environment.

AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate forecasts South Townsville to gain 268 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and price growth.

South Townsville has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects likely to affect the area. Notable projects include The Hive at 10-15 The Strand (Masterplan), Weststate Private Hospital, Defence Housing Australia's Townsville New Builds Volume Leasing Program (400+ Homes), and Marina Residences. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals South Townsville recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

South Townsville has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 5.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,435 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.7% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is similar to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Census responses indicate that only 6.7% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment among residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food. South Townsville shows strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level.

However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.7% of South Townsville's workforce compared to 4.5% in Regional Qld. The ratio of 0.9 workers per resident indicates substantial local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period prior to reporting, labour force decreased by 0.1% and employment decreased by 0.6%, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 0.5 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Qld recorded employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within South Townsville. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to South Townsville's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The latest postcode-level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows that South Townsville's median income is $55,782 and average income is $75,913. This contrasts with Regional Qld's figures of a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes are approximately $62,119 (median) and $84,537 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, South Townsville's personal income ranks at the 69th percentile ($914 weekly), with household income at the 36th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 31.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 37th percentile. South Townsville's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

South Townsville displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

South Townsville's dwelling structure in its latest Census report comprised 52.0% houses and 47.9% other dwellings. This compares to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Townsville was at 22.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.8% and rented ones at 50.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,517, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, South Townsville's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 53.7% of all households, including 15.1% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 46.3%, with lone person households at 40.2% and group households comprising 6.4%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in South Townsville fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 27.3%, higher than the SA4 region average of 20.1% and Rest of Qld's 20.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 18.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 38.9% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 28.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.7% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in tertiary, 9.0% in primary, and 7.2% in secondary education.

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

South Townsville has 15 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by two routes, offering a total of 145 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 195 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 86%, with walking accounting for 8%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, only 6.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 20 trips daily across all routes, equating to around nine weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in South Townsville is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

South Townsville faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be high across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover was found to be very high at approximately 57% of the total population, around 1,486 people, compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld. The most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues impacting 10.5% of residents and arthritis impacting 8.5%. Meanwhile, 67.1% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 16.2% of residents aged 65 and over, around 420 people, which is lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

South Townsville ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

South Townsville's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 78.9% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 51.1% of South Townsville's population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented compared to regional Queensland, making up 0.1% versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (28.1%), Australian (22.7%), and Irish (12.4%). There are also notable differences in the representation of Scottish (10.1% vs 7.8%), French (1.0% vs 0.5%), and New Zealand (0.9% vs 0.9%) ethnic groups.

South Townsville's median age exceeds the national pattern

South Townsville has a median age of 40, close to Regional Queensland's figure of 41 but exceeding the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 18.6%, compared to Regional Queensland, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 6.1%. As per the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has grown from 16.1% to 18.6% of the population, and the 0-4 cohort increased from 3.5% to 4.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 15.4% to 13.3%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 7.8% to 6.1%. Demographic modeling suggests South Townsville's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. Leading this shift, the 25-34 group is projected to grow by 28% (134 people), reaching 617 from 482. Meanwhile, population declines are anticipated for the 5-14 and 15-24 cohorts.