Black River vs Yabulu

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Black River, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Black River: a median of $755,000, against $570,000 in Yabulu, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Black River tends to suit couples, while Yabulu suits people living alone 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

Black River

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 52%)
  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 76/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 83%)

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

First-home buyers

Yabulu

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($570,000 vs $755,000)
  • has cheaper land ($665,000 vs $790,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Yabulu

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Black River

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (940 min vs 991 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1379.6 km vs 1385.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Black River carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 76/100)
  • Yabulu has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 2%)

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 Yabulu 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 Yabulu
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 Yabulu
Walkability 0 / 0
Black River — Walkability: 0/100 Yabulu — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 40 / 24
Black River — Safety: 40/100 Yabulu — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 33 / 100
Black River — Low fire risk: 33/100 Yabulu — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Black River has more residents (1,493 vs 719); Black River has higher household incomes ($97,916 vs $70,408).

Black River Yabulu
Population 1,493
+52% vs other
 719
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.2% +3.2%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $97,916/yr
+28% vs other
 $70,408/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+12% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Black River Yabulu
0-4 6.0% / 5.0%
Black River — 0-4: 6.0% Yabulu — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 14.3% / 13.4%
Black River — 5-14: 14.3% Yabulu — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 5.4% / 5.4%
Black River — 15-19: 5.4% Yabulu — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 3.8% / 4.9%
Black River — 20-24: 3.8% Yabulu — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 12.5% / 9.7%
Black River — 25-34: 12.5% Yabulu — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 13.5% / 14.5%
Black River — 35-44: 13.5% Yabulu — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 14.1% / 14.2%
Black River — 45-54: 14.1% Yabulu — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 14.8% / 18.8%
Black River — 55-64: 14.8% Yabulu — 55-64: 18.8%
65-74 11.4% / 11.0%
Black River — 65-74: 11.4% Yabulu — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 4.0% / 3.2%
Black River — 75-84: 4.0% Yabulu — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 0.7% / 0.6%
Black River — 85+: 0.7% Yabulu — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

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%
Yabulu 36.2% couple families
Yabulu — Couple Families: 36.2% Yabulu — Lone Person: 37.9% Yabulu — One Parent Families: 15.8% Yabulu — Group Household: 10.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

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%
Yabulu 18.6% renting
Yabulu — Owned Outright: 36.0% Yabulu — Mortgage: 45.5% Yabulu — Renting: 18.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Black River Yabulu
Certificate III & IV 22.9% / 20.6%
Black River — Certificate III & IV: 22.9% Yabulu — Certificate III & IV: 20.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 4.5%
Black River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Yabulu — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5%
Bachelor Degree 5.4% / 2.8%
Black River — Bachelor Degree: 5.4% Yabulu — Bachelor Degree: 2.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 0.6%
Black River — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Yabulu — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.3% / 0.4%
Black River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3% Yabulu — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

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 Yabulu
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.9%
Black River — New Zealand: 2.3% Yabulu — New Zealand: 2.9%
England 2.3% / 1.8%
Black River — England: 2.3% Yabulu — England: 1.8%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.7%
Black River — Philippines: 0.3% Yabulu — Philippines: 0.7%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Black River — South Africa: not among its largest Yabulu — South Africa: 0.7%
Germany 0.3% / 0.4%
Black River — Germany: 0.3% Yabulu — Germany: 0.4%
Malaysia 0.3% / —
Black River — Malaysia: 0.3% Yabulu — Malaysia: not among its largest
Italy 0.3% / —
Black River — Italy: 0.3% Yabulu — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.9%).

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%
Yabulu 83.1% houses
Yabulu — Houses: 83.1% Yabulu — Flats / Apartments: 16.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Black River Yabulu
Median house price $755,000 $570,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $790,000 $665,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 6 sales
 69 days
from 3 sales

Development activity

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

Ranking within QLD

Black River Yabulu
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 72% of QLD Higher than 38% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 65% of QLD Higher than 61% 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 68% of QLD

Liveability

Black River Yabulu
Grade D
same for both
Score 21/100 23/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Black River carries more bushfire risk (67 vs 0); Yabulu carries more crime risk (76 vs 60).

Black River Yabulu
Bushfire Moderate
67/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
60/100
 High
76/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
85/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Black River Yabulu
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

Black River Yabulu
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Yabulu sits further from the CBD (1385.6 km vs 1379.6 km).

Black River Yabulu
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 1379.6 km 1385.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 940 min 991 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 Yabulu
Car (driver) 83.6% / 80.5%
Black River — Car (driver): 83.6% Yabulu — Car (driver): 80.5%
Worked from Home 10.9% / 8.2%
Black River — Worked from Home: 10.9% Yabulu — Worked from Home: 8.2%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 5.9%
Black River — Car (passenger): 4.6% Yabulu — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Walked Only — / 3.9%
Black River — Walked Only: not among its largest Yabulu — Walked Only: 3.9%
Bus 1.0% / 1.6%
Black River — Bus: 1.0% Yabulu — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.6%).

Setting

Black River Yabulu
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.7 km 3.6 km

NBN connectivity

Black River Yabulu
Connectivity score 54/100 43/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
614 premises
 0%
277 premises

Climate

Black River Yabulu
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)

Black River Yabulu
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

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

Federal electorate

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

Tags

Black River

Acreage

Yabulu

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Black River

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

Other comparisons with Yabulu

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

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or