Belgian Gardens vs Garbutt

In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Belgian Gardens, most households own their home. In Garbutt, most households rent and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Belgian Gardens: a median of $910,000, against $565,000 in Garbutt, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Belgian Gardens tends to suit families with children, while Garbutt suits renters and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Belgian Gardens is already more of a family suburb (44% vs 36%)
  • Garbutt has more separate houses rather than flats (65% vs 53%)

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

First-home buyers

Garbutt

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($565,000 vs $910,000)
  • has cheaper units ($395,000 vs $471,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Garbutt

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (57% vs 43%)
  • has cheaper rent ($220/wk vs $283/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Belgian Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 32/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Belgian Gardens

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 32/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 35%)

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

Investors

Garbutt

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 3.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.1% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
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.

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Walkability 70 / 32
Belgian Gardens — Walkability: 70/100 Garbutt — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 8 / 2
Belgian Gardens — Safety: 8/100 Garbutt — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 100 / 48
Belgian Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100 Garbutt — Low fire risk: 48/100

Demographics

Belgian Gardens has higher household incomes ($85,176 vs $56,264); Belgian Gardens rents higher ($283/wk vs $220/wk).

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Population 2,073 2,309
+11% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.2% -3.6%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $85,176/yr
+34% vs other
 $56,264/yr
Median weekly rent $283/wk
+22% vs other
 $220/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
0-4 4.8% / 5.1%
Belgian Gardens — 0-4: 4.8% Garbutt — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 14.1% / 9.4%
Belgian Gardens — 5-14: 14.1% Garbutt — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 5.4% / 5.6%
Belgian Gardens — 15-19: 5.4% Garbutt — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 6.0% / 8.0%
Belgian Gardens — 20-24: 6.0% Garbutt — 20-24: 8.0%
25-34 12.1% / 14.3%
Belgian Gardens — 25-34: 12.1% Garbutt — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 12.9% / 10.9%
Belgian Gardens — 35-44: 12.9% Garbutt — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 15.0% / 13.1%
Belgian Gardens — 45-54: 15.0% Garbutt — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 14.5% / 14.1%
Belgian Gardens — 55-64: 14.5% Garbutt — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 9.7% / 11.4%
Belgian Gardens — 65-74: 9.7% Garbutt — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 4.8% / 6.0%
Belgian Gardens — 75-84: 4.8% Garbutt — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 1.2% / 1.6%
Belgian Gardens — 85+: 1.2% Garbutt — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Belgian Gardens 47.4% lone person
Belgian Gardens — Lone Person: 47.4% Belgian Gardens — Couple Families: 30.9% Belgian Gardens — One Parent Families: 13.2% Belgian Gardens — Group Household: 7.3% Belgian Gardens — Other Families: 1.2%
Garbutt 54.7% lone person
Garbutt — Lone Person: 54.7% Garbutt — Couple Families: 15.9% Garbutt — One Parent Families: 20.0% Garbutt — Group Household: 7.3% Garbutt — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Belgian Gardens 43.3% renting
Belgian Gardens — Owned Outright: 28.3% Belgian Gardens — Mortgage: 28.3% Belgian Gardens — Renting: 43.3%
Garbutt 57.1% renting
Garbutt — Owned Outright: 18.1% Garbutt — Mortgage: 24.8% Garbutt — Renting: 57.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Certificate III & IV 14.3% / 16.8%
Belgian Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 14.3% Garbutt — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 16.7% / 7.0%
Belgian Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 16.7% Garbutt — Bachelor Degree: 7.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 5.7%
Belgian Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Garbutt — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 1.7%
Belgian Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Garbutt — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 0.7%
Belgian Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Garbutt — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

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.

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
New Zealand 3.2% / 3.4%
Belgian Gardens — New Zealand: 3.2% Garbutt — New Zealand: 3.4%
England 3.8% / 1.8%
Belgian Gardens — England: 3.8% Garbutt — England: 1.8%
Philippines 0.4% / 2.0%
Belgian Gardens — Philippines: 0.4% Garbutt — Philippines: 2.0%
South Africa 0.9% / 0.3%
Belgian Gardens — South Africa: 0.9% Garbutt — South Africa: 0.3%
Germany 0.8% / 0.3%
Belgian Gardens — Germany: 0.8% Garbutt — Germany: 0.3%
Scotland — / 0.6%
Belgian Gardens — Scotland: not among its largest Garbutt — Scotland: 0.6%
Canada 0.4% / —
Belgian Gardens — Canada: 0.4% Garbutt — Canada: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 0.4%
Belgian Gardens — Malaysia: not among its largest Garbutt — Malaysia: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Belgian Gardens 52.7% houses
Belgian Gardens — Houses: 52.7% Belgian Gardens — Townhouses: 13.6% Belgian Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 33.8%
Garbutt 65.3% houses
Garbutt — Houses: 65.3% Garbutt — Townhouses: 31.6% Garbutt — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Median house price $910,000 $565,000
Median unit price $471,000 $395,000
Median land price — $1,100,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 18 sales
 27 days
from 23 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.

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
2 bed $760K / $465K
Belgian Gardens — 2 bed: $760K (5 sales) Garbutt — 2 bed: $465K (11 sales)

5 vs 11 sales

3 bed $837K / $562K
Belgian Gardens — 3 bed: $837K (11 sales) Garbutt — 3 bed: $562K (52 sales)

11 vs 52 sales

4 bed $1M / $650K
Belgian Gardens — 4 bed: $1M (16 sales) Garbutt — 4 bed: $650K (9 sales)

16 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
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.

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Houses 3.6%
$635/wk on $920K
 4.8%
$550/wk on $599K
Units 4.8%
$575/wk on $619K
 6.1%
$530/wk on $449K

Ranking within QLD

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 58% of QLD Higher than 19% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 73% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 29% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 67% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD

Liveability

Belgian Gardens scores higher overall (48 vs 15); Belgian Gardens is more walkable (70 vs 32).

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Grade C D
Score 48/100 15/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Garbutt carries more bushfire risk (52 vs 0).

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
52/100
Crime High
92/100
 High
98/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
62/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
100/100
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 2.9 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 5.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 1.1%

Schools in Belgian Gardens

  • Belgian Gardens State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Garbutt

  • Garbutt State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 3 9
Parks & reserves 3 4
Childcare 4 2
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 0 12

Mobility

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Walkability score 70/100 32/100
Distance to Brisbane 1354.9 km 1355.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 928 min 930 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 63.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4810
 0.7%
postcode 4814
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 4810
 63
postcode 4814

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.

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Car (driver) 81.1% / 80.6%
Belgian Gardens — Car (driver): 81.1% Garbutt — Car (driver): 80.6%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 9.4%
Belgian Gardens — Car (passenger): 5.5% Garbutt — Car (passenger): 9.4%
Worked from Home 7.1% / 3.6%
Belgian Gardens — Worked from Home: 7.1% Garbutt — Worked from Home: 3.6%
Walked Only 2.4% / 3.5%
Belgian Gardens — Walked Only: 2.4% Garbutt — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bicycle 2.1% / 1.8%
Belgian Gardens — Bicycle: 2.1% Garbutt — Bicycle: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.1%).

Setting

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 572 m
1.8 km to a named beach
 3.3 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Connectivity score 94/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 83%
1,144 premises
 91%
3,077 premises

Climate

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
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)

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
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

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Belgian Gardens Garbutt
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Belgian Gardens

Apartments Coastal Parks Professionals

Garbutt

Affordable Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belgian Gardens

Belgian Gardens vs North Ward Belgian Gardens vs West End Belgian Gardens vs Castle Hill Belgian Gardens vs Rowes Bay Belgian Gardens vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Garbutt

Garbutt vs Mount Louisa Garbutt vs Heatley Garbutt vs West End Garbutt vs Currajong Garbutt vs Vincent Garbutt vs Rowes Bay
Full data on Belgian Gardens Full data on Garbutt
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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