Black River vs Bluewater

Comparing Black River and Bluewater, QLD: Black River has more residents (1,493 vs 1,085); Bluewater carries more crime risk (74 vs 60); and Bluewater sits further from the CBD (1385 km vs 1379.6 km).

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

Black River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 74/100)

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

First-home buyers

Bluewater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($590,000 vs $790,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Black River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (1379.6 km vs 1385 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Black River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Black River Bluewater
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.

Black River Bluewater
Walkability 0 / 0
Black River — Walkability: 0/100 Bluewater — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 40 / 26
Black River — Safety: 40/100 Bluewater — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 33 / 35
Black River — Low fire risk: 33/100 Bluewater — Low fire risk: 35/100

Demographics

Black River has more residents (1,493 vs 1,085).

Black River Bluewater
Population 1,493
+27% vs other
 1,085
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.2% +4.3%
Median age 41
same for both
Median household income $97,916/yr $98,332/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Black River Bluewater
0-4 6.0% / 7.1%
Black River — 0-4: 6.0% Bluewater — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 14.3% / 16.0%
Black River — 5-14: 14.3% Bluewater — 5-14: 16.0%
15-19 5.4% / 5.1%
Black River — 15-19: 5.4% Bluewater — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 3.8% / 2.5%
Black River — 20-24: 3.8% Bluewater — 20-24: 2.5%
25-34 12.5% / 12.9%
Black River — 25-34: 12.5% Bluewater — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 13.5% / 13.4%
Black River — 35-44: 13.5% Bluewater — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 14.1% / 13.5%
Black River — 45-54: 14.1% Bluewater — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 14.8% / 12.6%
Black River — 55-64: 14.8% Bluewater — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 11.4% / 11.4%
Black River — 65-74: 11.4% Bluewater — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 4.0% / 4.4%
Black River — 75-84: 4.0% Bluewater — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 0.7% / 1.2%
Black River — 85+: 0.7% Bluewater — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Bluewater 51.9% couple families
Bluewater — Couple Families: 51.9% Bluewater — Lone Person: 24.6% Bluewater — One Parent Families: 15.4% Bluewater — Group Household: 4.6% Bluewater — Other Families: 3.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Black River 10.0% renting
Black River — Owned Outright: 32.9% Black River — Mortgage: 57.1% Black River — Renting: 10.0%
Bluewater 12.6% renting
Bluewater — Owned Outright: 32.5% Bluewater — Mortgage: 54.9% Bluewater — Renting: 12.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Black River Bluewater
Certificate III & IV 22.9% / 22.2%
Black River — Certificate III & IV: 22.9% Bluewater — Certificate III & IV: 22.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 6.4%
Black River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Bluewater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Bachelor Degree 5.4% / 5.3%
Black River — Bachelor Degree: 5.4% Bluewater — Bachelor Degree: 5.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 0.8%
Black River — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Bluewater — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.3% / 0.9%
Black River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3% Bluewater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

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.

Black River Bluewater
England 2.3% / 3.8%
Black River — England: 2.3% Bluewater — England: 3.8%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.8%
Black River — New Zealand: 2.3% Bluewater — New Zealand: 1.8%
Scotland — / 1.0%
Black River — Scotland: not among its largest Bluewater — Scotland: 1.0%
Italy 0.3% / 0.3%
Black River — Italy: 0.3% Bluewater — Italy: 0.3%
Singapore — / 0.5%
Black River — Singapore: not among its largest Bluewater — Singapore: 0.5%
Fiji — / 0.5%
Black River — Fiji: not among its largest Bluewater — Fiji: 0.5%
Philippines 0.3% / —
Black River — Philippines: 0.3% Bluewater — Philippines: not among its largest
Malaysia 0.3% / —
Black River — Malaysia: 0.3% Bluewater — Malaysia: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Black River 97.5% houses
Black River — Houses: 97.5% Black River — Flats / Apartments: 2.5% Black River — Townhouses: 0.0%
Bluewater 98.6% houses
Bluewater — Houses: 98.6% Bluewater — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Bluewater — Townhouses: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Black River Bluewater
Median house price $755,000 $702,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $790,000 $590,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 6 sales
 48 days
from 8 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.

Black River Bluewater
3 bed $690K / $682K
Black River — 3 bed: $690K (15 sales) Bluewater — 3 bed: $682K (10 sales)

15 vs 10 sales

4 bed $779K / $810K
Black River — 4 bed: $779K (8 sales) Bluewater — 4 bed: $810K (9 sales)

8 vs 9 sales

Development activity

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

Ranking within QLD

Black River Bluewater
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 72% of QLD Higher than 73% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 65% of QLD Higher than 50% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 70% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD

Liveability

Black River Bluewater
Grade D
same for both
Score 21/100 18/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bluewater carries more crime risk (74 vs 60).

Black River Bluewater
Bushfire Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
65/100
Crime Moderate
60/100
 High
74/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
91/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Black River Bluewater
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Black River

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Bluewater

  • Bluewater State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Black River Bluewater
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 1
Childcare 0 2
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 3 8

Mobility

Bluewater sits further from the CBD (1385 km vs 1379.6 km).

Black River Bluewater
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 1379.6 km 1385 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 940 min 942 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 4818
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 87
postcode 4818
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.

Black River Bluewater
Car (driver) 83.6% / 84.5%
Black River — Car (driver): 83.6% Bluewater — Car (driver): 84.5%
Worked from Home 10.9% / 7.6%
Black River — Worked from Home: 10.9% Bluewater — Worked from Home: 7.6%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 4.7%
Black River — Car (passenger): 4.6% Bluewater — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Bus 1.0% / 1.1%
Black River — Bus: 1.0% Bluewater — Bus: 1.1%
Walked Only — / 2.1%
Black River — Walked Only: not among its largest Bluewater — Walked Only: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.5%).

Setting

Black River Bluewater
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.7 km 3.5 km

NBN connectivity

Black River Bluewater
Connectivity score 54/100 30/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
614 premises
 0%
451 premises

Climate

Black River Bluewater
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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Black River Bluewater
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Black River

Acreage

Bluewater

Family River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Black River

Black River vs Alice River Black River vs Jensen Black River vs Rangewood Black River vs Yabulu Black River vs Hervey Range

Other comparisons with Bluewater

Bluewater vs Bluewater Park Bluewater vs Yabulu Bluewater vs Saunders Beach Bluewater vs Toolakea Bluewater vs Coral Sea
Full data on Black River Full data on Bluewater
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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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