South Townsville

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for South Townsville, its population is estimated at around 2,583 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 159 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,424 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,572 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 12 validated new addresses since the Census date. South Townsville's population equates to a density ratio of 522 persons per square kilometer. Since the Census, its growth rate of 6.6% positions it within 0.3 percentage points of the SA4 region (6.9%). Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Looking ahead, a population increase just below the median of national regional areas is expected, with South Townsville projected to grow by 313 persons to 2041 reflecting an increase of 10.8% over the 17 years.

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 from 2016 to 2020 with only three new dwellings approved annually, totaling seventeen 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 means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics.

South Townsville had less construction activity compared to Rest of Qld and was below national averages. All new constructions were detached dwellings, favoring family homes suited for rural living. However, developers built more traditional houses (52.0%) than the current mix suggests, indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 633 people.

By 2041, South Townsville's population is forecasted to gain 278 residents. If construction levels remain constant, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price growth.

South Townsville has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects expected to affect the region. Notable initiatives 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 detailed below.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates South Townsville faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

South Townsville has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 6.6% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of June 2025, 1,455 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.6 percentage points higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in South Townsville is broadly similar to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries of employment among residents include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food. The area shows strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 2.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.7% of South Townsville's workforce compared to 4.5% in Rest of Qld.

The ratio of 0.9 workers per resident indicates substantial local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period up to June 2025, labour force decreased by 2.2% and employment decreased by 4.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 2.0 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8%, labour force growth of 2.0%, and an unemployment increase of 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within South Townsville. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to South Townsville's employment mix indicates 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 account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 shows median income in South Townsville was $55,782 and average income was $75,913. This compares to Rest of Qld's median income of $50,780 and average income of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 13.99% from financial year ended June 2022 to September 2025, estimated current incomes would be approximately $63,586 (median) and $86,533 (average). According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data for 2021, personal income ranked at the 69th percentile ($914 weekly), while household income was at the 36th percentile. The earnings profile showed that 31.0% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999 per week (800 individuals). Housing affordability pressures were severe with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 37th percentile. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas income ranking placed 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, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 52.0% houses and 47.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Townsville stood at 22.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.8% and rented ones at 50.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, aligning with Non-Metro Qld's average. The median weekly rent figure was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $305. Nationally, South Townsville's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian 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 constitute 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 comprise the remaining 46.3%, with lone person households at 40.2% and group households making up 6.4%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld 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% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the SA4 region average of 20.1% and the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent 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: 9.4% in tertiary, 9.0% in primary, and 7.2% in secondary education. Townsville South State School serves South Townsville with an enrollment of 102 students. The area's ICSEA score is 914, indicating varied educational conditions. There are no schools offering exclusively secondary education within the area; nearby areas provide these options. Local school capacity is limited at 4.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.7, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

South Townsville has 12 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two routes that together facilitate 145 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest stop is 198 meters.

Buses run approximately 20 times a day across both routes, translating to about 12 weekly trips per individual 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 with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~1,479 people), compared to 53.3% across Rest of Qld.

Mental health issues impact 10.5% of residents, while arthritis affects 8.5%. Approximately 67.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.8% across Rest of Qld. The area has 15.6% of residents aged 65 and over (402 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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 showed lower cultural diversity, with 78.9% being citizens, 83.0% born in Australia, and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion at 51.1%. Judaism, at 0.1%, was slightly overrepresented compared to Rest of Qld's 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, top groups were English (28.1%), Australian (22.7%), and Irish (12.4%). Scottish (10.1%) and French (1.0%) were notably overrepresented, while New Zealand was slightly so at 0.9%.

South Townsville hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

South Townsville has a median age of 40, which is close to Rest of Qld's figure of 41 but exceeds the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group is well represented at 19.4%, higher than Rest of Qld's figure. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 6.0%. According to the 2021 Census, younger residents have shifted South Townsville's median age down by 1 year to 40. The 25-34 age group grew from 16.1% to 19.4%, while the 45-54 cohort declined from 15.4% to 13.6%. The 5-14 group also dropped, from 7.8% to 6.0%. By 2041, South Townsville is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 32%, adding 158 residents to reach 660. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.