Alice River vs Black River

Alice River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Black River. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Alice River, most households are couple families. In Black River, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Alice River: a median of $885,000, against $755,000 in Black River, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Alice River tends to suit couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Alice River

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 60/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (86% vs 69%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Alice River has cheaper land ($405,000 vs $790,000)
  • Black River has cheaper houses ($755,000 vs $885,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Black River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $415/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Alice River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (1370.6 km vs 1379.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Alice River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Alice River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.7% vs 1.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Alice River and Black River drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Alice River Black River
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Alice River Black River
Walkability 0 / 0
Alice River — Walkability: 0/100 Black River — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 68 / 40
Alice River — Safety: 68/100 Black River — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 21 / 33
Alice River — Low fire risk: 21/100 Black River — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

Alice River has more residents (2,685 vs 1,493); Alice River has higher household incomes ($128,336 vs $97,916).

Alice River Black River
Population 2,685
+44% vs other
 1,493
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.7% +1.2%
Median age 38 41
Median household income $128,336/yr
+24% vs other
 $97,916/yr
Median weekly rent $415/wk
+23% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alice River Black River
0-4 6.2% / 6.0%
Alice River — 0-4: 6.2% Black River — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 16.5% / 14.3%
Alice River — 5-14: 16.5% Black River — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 6.9% / 5.4%
Alice River — 15-19: 6.9% Black River — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 5.0% / 3.8%
Alice River — 20-24: 5.0% Black River — 20-24: 3.8%
25-34 11.8% / 12.5%
Alice River — 25-34: 11.8% Black River — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 14.8% / 13.5%
Alice River — 35-44: 14.8% Black River — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 14.8% / 14.1%
Alice River — 45-54: 14.8% Black River — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 12.5% / 14.8%
Alice River — 55-64: 12.5% Black River — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 8.2% / 11.4%
Alice River — 65-74: 8.2% Black River — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 2.8% / 4.0%
Alice River — 75-84: 2.8% Black River — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 0.4% / 0.7%
Alice River — 85+: 0.4% Black River — 85+: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alice River 72.2% couple families
Alice River — Couple Families: 72.2% Alice River — Lone Person: 12.0% Alice River — One Parent Families: 13.7% Alice River — Group Household: 1.4% Alice River — Other Families: 0.7%
Black River 51.8% couple families
Black River — Couple Families: 51.8% Black River — Lone Person: 26.2% Black River — One Parent Families: 17.6% Black River — Group Household: 4.4% Black River — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Alice River 7.2% renting
Alice River — Owned Outright: 27.5% Alice River — Mortgage: 65.3% Alice River — Renting: 7.2%
Black River 10.0% renting
Black River — Owned Outright: 32.9% Black River — Mortgage: 57.1% Black River — Renting: 10.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Alice River Black River
Certificate III & IV 21.3% / 22.9%
Alice River — Certificate III & IV: 21.3% Black River — Certificate III & IV: 22.9%
Bachelor Degree 8.7% / 5.4%
Alice River — Bachelor Degree: 8.7% Black River — Bachelor Degree: 5.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.4%
Alice River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Black River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 1.1%
Alice River — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Black River — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 0.3%
Alice River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Black River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Alice River Black River
England 2.8% / 2.3%
Alice River — England: 2.8% Black River — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.3%
Alice River — New Zealand: 1.7% Black River — New Zealand: 2.3%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Alice River — South Africa: 0.6% Black River — South Africa: not among its largest
Zimbabwe 0.6% / —
Alice River — Zimbabwe: 0.6% Black River — Zimbabwe: not among its largest
Philippines 0.3% / 0.3%
Alice River — Philippines: 0.3% Black River — Philippines: 0.3%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Alice River — Scotland: 0.5% Black River — Scotland: not among its largest
Malaysia 0.2% / 0.3%
Alice River — Malaysia: 0.2% Black River — Malaysia: 0.3%
Italy — / 0.3%
Alice River — Italy: not among its largest Black River — Italy: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alice River 99.1% houses
Alice River — Houses: 99.1% Alice River — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Black River 97.5% houses
Black River — Houses: 97.5% Black River — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Alice River Black River
Median house price $885,000 $755,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $405,000 $790,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 17 sales
 28 days
from 6 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Alice River Black River
3 bed $825K / $690K
Alice River — 3 bed: $825K (16 sales) Black River — 3 bed: $690K (15 sales)

16 vs 15 sales

4 bed $885K / $779K
Alice River — 4 bed: $885K (58 sales) Black River — 4 bed: $779K (8 sales)

58 vs 8 sales

Development activity

Alice River Black River
New dwellings approved 1,096
across Townsville
same for both
Approvals change year on year -22%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Alice River Black River
Houses 4.5%
$925/wk on $1.08M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Alice River Black River
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 93% of QLD Higher than 72% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 34% of QLD Higher than 65% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 56% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 75% of QLD —

Liveability

Alice River scores higher overall (31 vs 21).

Alice River Black River
Grade D
same for both
Score 31/100 21/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Black River carries more crime risk (60 vs 32); Alice River carries more bushfire risk (79 vs 67).

Alice River Black River
Bushfire High
79/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Low
32/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Alice River Black River
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Alice River Black River
Parks & reserves 1 0
Childcare 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 4 3

Mobility

Black River sits further from the CBD (1379.6 km vs 1370.6 km).

Alice River Black River
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 1370.6 km 1379.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 939 min 940 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 4817
 0.6%
postcode 4818
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 76
postcode 4817
 87
postcode 4818

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Alice River Black River
Car (driver) 85.2% / 83.6%
Alice River — Car (driver): 85.2% Black River — Car (driver): 83.6%
Worked from Home 7.1% / 10.9%
Alice River — Worked from Home: 7.1% Black River — Worked from Home: 10.9%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 4.6%
Alice River — Car (passenger): 6.1% Black River — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bus 0.9% / 1.0%
Alice River — Bus: 0.9% Black River — Bus: 1.0%
Walked Only 0.7% / —
Alice River — Walked Only: 0.7% Black River — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.2%).

Setting

Alice River Black River
Elevation 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.3 km 10.7 km

NBN connectivity

Alice River Black River
Connectivity score 77/100 54/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 59%
1,050 premises
 31%
614 premises

Climate

Alice River Black River
Annual rainfall 1,304 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 15.0°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Alice River Black River
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.25 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Alice River Black River
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

Alice River Black River
Division Kennedy Herbert
Member Bob Katter Phillip Thompson
Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP) Liberal National Party of Queensland

First Home Owner Grant

Alice River Black River
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Alice River

Acreage Family

Black River

Acreage

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Black River

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Full data on Alice River Full data on Black River
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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