Belgian Gardens vs Rowes Bay

Belgian Gardens is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 69 in Rowes Bay. In both, most households own their home. In Belgian Gardens, about half of households are people living alone. In Rowes Bay, the large majority of households are people living alone. On these figures, Belgian Gardens tends to suit families with children, while Rowes Bay suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Belgian Gardens

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (44% vs 20%)
  • But Rowes Bay has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Belgian Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 51%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Belgian Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

Belgian Gardens

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 25/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (928 min vs 945 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1354.9 km vs 1358 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Rowes Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (57% vs 16%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 47%)
  • But Belgian Gardens is more walkable (70/100 vs 25/100)

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

Investors

Belgian Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (0.2% vs -5.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Belgian Gardens and Rowes Bay 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 Rowes Bay
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 Rowes Bay
Walkability 70 / 25
Belgian Gardens — Walkability: 70/100 Rowes Bay — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 8 / 2
Belgian Gardens — Safety: 8/100 Rowes Bay — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 100 / 57
Belgian Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rowes Bay — Low fire risk: 57/100

Demographics

Belgian Gardens has more residents (2,073 vs 541); Belgian Gardens has higher household incomes ($85,176 vs $44,356).

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Population 2,073
+74% vs other
 541
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.2% -5.6%
Median age 40 69
Median household income $85,176/yr
+48% vs other
 $44,356/yr
Median weekly rent $283/wk
+6% vs other
 $265/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
0-4 4.8% / 0.9%
Belgian Gardens — 0-4: 4.8% Rowes Bay — 0-4: 0.9%
5-14 14.1% / 7.4%
Belgian Gardens — 5-14: 14.1% Rowes Bay — 5-14: 7.4%
15-19 5.4% / 5.5%
Belgian Gardens — 15-19: 5.4% Rowes Bay — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.0% / 1.7%
Belgian Gardens — 20-24: 6.0% Rowes Bay — 20-24: 1.7%
25-34 12.1% / 4.4%
Belgian Gardens — 25-34: 12.1% Rowes Bay — 25-34: 4.4%
35-44 12.9% / 7.9%
Belgian Gardens — 35-44: 12.9% Rowes Bay — 35-44: 7.9%
45-54 15.0% / 7.2%
Belgian Gardens — 45-54: 15.0% Rowes Bay — 45-54: 7.2%
55-64 14.5% / 7.0%
Belgian Gardens — 55-64: 14.5% Rowes Bay — 55-64: 7.0%
65-74 9.7% / 17.4%
Belgian Gardens — 65-74: 9.7% Rowes Bay — 65-74: 17.4%
75-84 4.8% / 19.6%
Belgian Gardens — 75-84: 4.8% Rowes Bay — 75-84: 19.6%
85+ 1.2% / 19.6%
Belgian Gardens — 85+: 1.2% Rowes Bay — 85+: 19.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

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%
Rowes Bay 76.8% lone person
Rowes Bay — Lone Person: 76.8% Rowes Bay — Couple Families: 15.8% Rowes Bay — One Parent Families: 4.5% Rowes Bay — Group Household: 2.8% Rowes Bay — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Rowes Bay 34.8% renting
Rowes Bay — Owned Outright: 39.8% Rowes Bay — Mortgage: 25.5% Rowes Bay — Renting: 34.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Bachelor Degree 16.7% / 11.3%
Belgian Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 16.7% Rowes Bay — Bachelor Degree: 11.3%
Certificate III & IV 14.3% / 10.0%
Belgian Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 14.3% Rowes Bay — Certificate III & IV: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 5.5%
Belgian Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Rowes Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 3.5%
Belgian Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Rowes Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / —
Belgian Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Rowes Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

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 Rowes Bay
England 3.8% / 5.7%
Belgian Gardens — England: 3.8% Rowes Bay — England: 5.7%
New Zealand 3.2% / 1.7%
Belgian Gardens — New Zealand: 3.2% Rowes Bay — New Zealand: 1.7%
Germany 0.8% / 1.5%
Belgian Gardens — Germany: 0.8% Rowes Bay — Germany: 1.5%
South Africa 0.9% / 0.7%
Belgian Gardens — South Africa: 0.9% Rowes Bay — South Africa: 0.7%
India — / 0.7%
Belgian Gardens — India: not among its largest Rowes Bay — India: 0.7%
Canada 0.4% / —
Belgian Gardens — Canada: 0.4% Rowes Bay — Canada: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

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%
Rowes Bay 36.1% houses
Rowes Bay — Houses: 36.1% Rowes Bay — Townhouses: 59.6% Rowes Bay — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Median house price $910,000 $965,000
Median unit price $471,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 18 sales
 94 days
from 3 sales

Development activity

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
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 Rowes Bay
Houses 3.6%
$635/wk on $920K
 —
Units 4.8%
$575/wk on $619K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 58% of QLD Higher than 7% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 81% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 29% of QLD —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 67% of QLD —

Liveability

Belgian Gardens is more walkable (70 vs 25); Belgian Gardens scores higher overall (48 vs 36).

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Grade C
same for both
Score 48/100 36/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

Rowes Bay carries more bushfire risk (43 vs 0).

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
43/100
Crime High
92/100
 High
98/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
62/100
 High
73/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
100/100
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 2.9 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 0.7%

Schools in Belgian Gardens

  • Belgian Gardens State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Rowes Bay

  • Cleveland Education and Training Centre Government · Combined · Special school above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 3 0
Childcare 4 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Rowes Bay sits further from the CBD (1358 km vs 1354.9 km).

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Walkability score 70/100 25/100
Distance to Brisbane 1354.9 km 1358 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 928 min 945 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 23/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 29.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4810
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 4810
same for both

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 Rowes Bay
Car (driver) 81.1% / 85.7%
Belgian Gardens — Car (driver): 81.1% Rowes Bay — Car (driver): 85.7%
Worked from Home 7.1% / 10.1%
Belgian Gardens — Worked from Home: 7.1% Rowes Bay — Worked from Home: 10.1%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 4.2%
Belgian Gardens — Car (passenger): 5.5% Rowes Bay — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 2.4% / —
Belgian Gardens — Walked Only: 2.4% Rowes Bay — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 2.1% / —
Belgian Gardens — Bicycle: 2.1% Rowes Bay — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.7%).

Setting

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 572 m
1.8 km to a named beach
 832 m
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
Connectivity score 94/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 83%
1,144 premises
 57%
444 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay
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 Rowes Bay
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

Rowes Bay

Coastal Professionals Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belgian Gardens

Belgian Gardens vs North Ward Belgian Gardens vs West End Belgian Gardens vs Garbutt Belgian Gardens vs Castle Hill Belgian Gardens vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Rowes Bay

Rowes Bay vs Garbutt Rowes Bay vs Coral Sea
Full data on Belgian Gardens Full data on Rowes Bay
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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