Bluewater vs Yabulu

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bluewater, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Bluewater: a median of $702,000, against $570,000 in Yabulu, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Bluewater tends to suit families with children and 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

Bluewater

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 52%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 83%)

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

First-home buyers

Yabulu

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($570,000 vs $702,000)

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

Bluewater

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (942 min vs 991 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Yabulu

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 1%)

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

Bluewater 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.

Bluewater 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.

Bluewater Yabulu
Walkability 0 / 0
Bluewater — Walkability: 0/100 Yabulu — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 26 / 24
Bluewater — Safety: 26/100 Yabulu — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 35 / 100
Bluewater — Low fire risk: 35/100 Yabulu — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bluewater has more residents (1,085 vs 719); Bluewater has higher household incomes ($98,332 vs $70,408).

Bluewater Yabulu
Population 1,085
+34% vs other
 719
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.3% +3.2%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $98,332/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.

Bluewater Yabulu
0-4 7.1% / 5.0%
Bluewater — 0-4: 7.1% Yabulu — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 16.0% / 13.4%
Bluewater — 5-14: 16.0% Yabulu — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 5.1% / 5.4%
Bluewater — 15-19: 5.1% Yabulu — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 2.5% / 4.9%
Bluewater — 20-24: 2.5% Yabulu — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 12.9% / 9.7%
Bluewater — 25-34: 12.9% Yabulu — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 13.4% / 14.5%
Bluewater — 35-44: 13.4% Yabulu — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 13.5% / 14.2%
Bluewater — 45-54: 13.5% Yabulu — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 12.6% / 18.8%
Bluewater — 55-64: 12.6% Yabulu — 55-64: 18.8%
65-74 11.4% / 11.0%
Bluewater — 65-74: 11.4% Yabulu — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 4.4% / 3.2%
Bluewater — 75-84: 4.4% Yabulu — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 1.2% / 0.6%
Bluewater — 85+: 1.2% Yabulu — 85+: 0.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
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% Yabulu — 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.

Bluewater 12.6% renting
Bluewater — Owned Outright: 32.5% Bluewater — Mortgage: 54.9% Bluewater — Renting: 12.6%
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.

Bluewater Yabulu
Certificate III & IV 22.2% / 20.6%
Bluewater — Certificate III & IV: 22.2% Yabulu — Certificate III & IV: 20.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 4.5%
Bluewater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Yabulu — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5%
Bachelor Degree 5.3% / 2.8%
Bluewater — Bachelor Degree: 5.3% Yabulu — Bachelor Degree: 2.8%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 0.6%
Bluewater — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Yabulu — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 0.4%
Bluewater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Yabulu — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

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.

Bluewater Yabulu
England 3.8% / 1.8%
Bluewater — England: 3.8% Yabulu — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.8% / 2.9%
Bluewater — New Zealand: 1.8% Yabulu — New Zealand: 2.9%
Scotland 1.0% / —
Bluewater — Scotland: 1.0% Yabulu — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.7%
Bluewater — Philippines: not among its largest Yabulu — Philippines: 0.7%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Bluewater — South Africa: not among its largest Yabulu — South Africa: 0.7%
Germany 0.3% / 0.4%
Bluewater — Germany: 0.3% Yabulu — Germany: 0.4%
Singapore 0.5% / —
Bluewater — Singapore: 0.5% Yabulu — Singapore: not among its largest
Fiji 0.5% / —
Bluewater — Fiji: 0.5% Yabulu — Fiji: 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.

Bluewater 98.6% houses
Bluewater — Houses: 98.6% Bluewater — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Bluewater — Townhouses: 1.4%
Yabulu 83.1% houses
Yabulu — Houses: 83.1% Yabulu — Flats / Apartments: 16.9% Yabulu — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bluewater Yabulu
Median house price $702,000 $570,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $590,000 $665,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 48 days
from 8 sales
 69 days
from 3 sales

Development activity

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

Ranking within QLD

Bluewater Yabulu
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 73% of QLD Higher than 38% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 50% 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 62% of QLD Higher than 68% of QLD

Liveability

Yabulu scores higher overall (23 vs 18).

Bluewater Yabulu
Grade D
same for both
Score 18/100 23/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Bluewater carries more bushfire risk (65 vs 0).

Bluewater Yabulu
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
74/100
 High
76/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
91/100
 High
85/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Bluewater

  • Bluewater State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Yabulu

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

Amenities in the suburb

Bluewater Yabulu
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 0
Childcare 2 0
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 8 1

Mobility

Bluewater Yabulu
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 1385 km 1385.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 942 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.

Bluewater Yabulu
Car (driver) 84.5% / 80.5%
Bluewater — Car (driver): 84.5% Yabulu — Car (driver): 80.5%
Worked from Home 7.6% / 8.2%
Bluewater — Worked from Home: 7.6% Yabulu — Worked from Home: 8.2%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 5.9%
Bluewater — Car (passenger): 4.7% Yabulu — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Walked Only 2.1% / 3.9%
Bluewater — Walked Only: 2.1% Yabulu — Walked Only: 3.9%
Bus 1.1% / 1.6%
Bluewater — Bus: 1.1% Yabulu — Bus: 1.6%

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

Setting

Bluewater Yabulu
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.5 km 3.6 km

NBN connectivity

Bluewater Yabulu
Connectivity score 30/100 43/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
451 premises
 0%
277 premises

Climate

Bluewater 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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Bluewater 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

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

Tags

Bluewater

Family River Rural

Yabulu

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bluewater

Bluewater vs Black River Bluewater vs Bluewater Park Bluewater vs Saunders Beach Bluewater vs Toolakea Bluewater vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Yabulu

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

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