Douglas vs Kirwan

Douglas is the younger of the two, with a median age of 26 against 38 in Kirwan. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Douglas, about half of households rent. In Kirwan, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Douglas: a median of $731,000, against $656,000 in Kirwan, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Douglas tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Kirwan suits families with children.

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

Kirwan

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (17 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 17)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Douglas has cheaper land ($188,500 vs $525,000)
  • Kirwan has cheaper houses ($655,500 vs $731,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Douglas has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 36%)
  • Kirwan has cheaper rent ($325/wk vs $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Douglas sits closer to the CBD (1353.1 km vs 1358.4 km)
  • Kirwan is more walkable (75/100 vs 47/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kirwan

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (15% vs 9%)
  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 47/100)

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

Investors

Kirwan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Douglas Kirwan
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.

Douglas Kirwan
Walkability 47 / 75
Douglas — Walkability: 47/100 Kirwan — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 21 / 19
Douglas — Safety: 21/100 Kirwan — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Douglas — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kirwan — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kirwan has more residents (20,780 vs 7,780); Kirwan skews older (38 vs 26).

Douglas Kirwan
Population 7,780 20,780
+167% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.5% -3.0%
Median age 26 38
Median household income $105,300/yr
+17% vs other
 $86,996/yr
Median weekly rent $360/wk
+10% vs other
 $325/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Douglas Kirwan
0-4 5.0% / 5.6%
Douglas — 0-4: 5.0% Kirwan — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 10.2% / 14.5%
Douglas — 5-14: 10.2% Kirwan — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 12.0% / 7.7%
Douglas — 15-19: 12.0% Kirwan — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 18.5% / 6.4%
Douglas — 20-24: 18.5% Kirwan — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 16.2% / 12.0%
Douglas — 25-34: 16.2% Kirwan — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 11.7% / 13.0%
Douglas — 35-44: 11.7% Kirwan — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 10.1% / 13.8%
Douglas — 45-54: 10.1% Kirwan — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 7.5% / 12.2%
Douglas — 55-64: 7.5% Kirwan — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 5.5% / 9.1%
Douglas — 65-74: 5.5% Kirwan — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 2.0% / 4.4%
Douglas — 75-84: 2.0% Kirwan — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 1.3% / 1.4%
Douglas — 85+: 1.3% Kirwan — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Douglas 38.9% couple families
Douglas — Couple Families: 38.9% Douglas — Lone Person: 28.8% Douglas — One Parent Families: 11.9% Douglas — Group Household: 17.7% Douglas — Other Families: 2.7%
Kirwan 40.7% couple families
Kirwan — Couple Families: 40.7% Kirwan — Lone Person: 30.9% Kirwan — One Parent Families: 22.3% Kirwan — Group Household: 4.5% Kirwan — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Douglas 52.0% renting
Douglas — Owned Outright: 18.4% Douglas — Mortgage: 29.6% Douglas — Renting: 52.0%
Kirwan 35.5% renting
Kirwan — Owned Outright: 26.9% Kirwan — Mortgage: 37.6% Kirwan — Renting: 35.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Douglas Kirwan
Certificate III & IV 10.4% / 17.7%
Douglas — Certificate III & IV: 10.4% Kirwan — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 17.7% / 8.4%
Douglas — Bachelor Degree: 17.7% Kirwan — Bachelor Degree: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.9% / 7.1%
Douglas — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9% Kirwan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.8% / 1.7%
Douglas — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8% Kirwan — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.4%
Douglas — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Kirwan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

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.

Douglas Kirwan
India 5.8% / 0.6%
Douglas — India: 5.8% Kirwan — India: 0.6%
England 2.3% / 2.3%
Douglas — England: 2.3% Kirwan — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.2%
Douglas — New Zealand: 1.9% Kirwan — New Zealand: 2.2%
Philippines 1.1% / 1.3%
Douglas — Philippines: 1.1% Kirwan — Philippines: 1.3%
Sri Lanka 1.2% / —
Douglas — Sri Lanka: 1.2% Kirwan — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.4%
Douglas — Scotland: not among its largest Kirwan — Scotland: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Douglas 84.0% houses
Douglas — Houses: 84.0% Douglas — Townhouses: 3.9% Douglas — Flats / Apartments: 12.0%
Kirwan 88.7% houses
Kirwan — Houses: 88.7% Kirwan — Townhouses: 10.2% Kirwan — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Douglas Kirwan
Median house price $731,000 $655,500
Median unit price $433,000 $425,000
Median land price $188,500 $525,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 59 sales
 23 days
from 215 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Douglas Kirwan
2 bed $425K / $405K
Douglas — 2 bed: $425K (30 sales) Kirwan — 2 bed: $405K (14 sales)

30 vs 14 sales

3 bed $620K / $536K
Douglas — 3 bed: $620K (11 sales) Kirwan — 3 bed: $536K (8 sales)

11 vs 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.

Douglas Kirwan
3 bed $656K / $605K
Douglas — 3 bed: $656K (66 sales) Kirwan — 3 bed: $605K (201 sales)

66 vs 201 sales

4 bed $785K / $701K
Douglas — 4 bed: $785K (87 sales) Kirwan — 4 bed: $701K (186 sales)

87 vs 186 sales

5 bed $1.04M / $759K
Douglas — 5 bed: $1.04M (20 sales) Kirwan — 5 bed: $759K (24 sales)

20 vs 24 sales

Development activity

Douglas Kirwan
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.

Douglas Kirwan
Houses 3.7%
$565/wk on $800K
 4.4%
$590/wk on $699K
Units 5.6%
$520/wk on $487K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Douglas Kirwan
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 77% of QLD Higher than 60% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 41% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 73% of QLD Higher than 56% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of QLD Higher than 72% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 82% of QLD —

Liveability

Kirwan is more walkable (75 vs 47); Douglas scores higher overall (54 vs 37).

Douglas Kirwan
Grade B C
Score 54/100 37/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Douglas Kirwan
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
79/100
 High
81/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Douglas Kirwan
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Douglas

  • Enkindle Village School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Tec-NQ Independent · Secondary

Schools in Kirwan

  • Kirwan State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kirwan State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Ryan Catholic College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • The Willows State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Douglas Kirwan
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 4 2
Parks & reserves 17 22
Childcare 2 17
GPs 4
same for both
Pharmacies 2 3
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 1 4
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 18 0

Mobility

Kirwan sits further from the CBD (1358.4 km vs 1353.1 km).

Douglas Kirwan
Walkability score 47/100 75/100
Distance to Brisbane 1353.1 km 1358.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 924 min 928 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 61.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 102.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4814
 0.4%
postcode 4817
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 63
postcode 4814
 76
postcode 4817

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.

Douglas Kirwan
Car (driver) 82.5% / 84.0%
Douglas — Car (driver): 82.5% Kirwan — Car (driver): 84.0%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 7.5%
Douglas — Car (passenger): 5.7% Kirwan — Car (passenger): 7.5%
Worked from Home 5.3% / 4.9%
Douglas — Worked from Home: 5.3% Kirwan — Worked from Home: 4.9%
Walked Only 2.8% / 1.5%
Douglas — Walked Only: 2.8% Kirwan — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bus 1.6% / 1.3%
Douglas — Bus: 1.6% Kirwan — Bus: 1.3%
Bicycle 2.0% / 0.8%
Douglas — Bicycle: 2.0% Kirwan — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.0%).

Setting

Douglas Kirwan
Elevation 35 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.2 km 9.8 km

NBN connectivity

Douglas Kirwan
Connectivity score 70/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
2,842 premises
 68%
8,910 premises

Climate

Douglas Kirwan
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)

Douglas Kirwan
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

Douglas Kirwan
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

Douglas Kirwan
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Douglas Kirwan
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Douglas

Professionals Students

Kirwan

Affordable Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Douglas

Douglas vs Annandale Douglas vs Condon Douglas vs Cranbrook Douglas vs Aitkenvale Douglas vs Thuringowa Central Douglas vs Murray

Other comparisons with Kirwan

Kirwan vs Mount Louisa Kirwan vs Condon Kirwan vs Cranbrook Kirwan vs Bohle Plains Kirwan vs Heatley Kirwan vs Thuringowa Central
Full data on Douglas Full data on Kirwan
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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