Garbutt vs Mount Louisa

Mount Louisa is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 42 in Garbutt. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Garbutt, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Mount Louisa, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mount Louisa: a median of $705,000, against $565,000 in Garbutt, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Garbutt tends to suit renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Mount Louisa suits families with children and couples.

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

Mount Louisa

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 4)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 36%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 65%)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Louisa

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($270,000 vs $1,100,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 28%)
  • But Garbutt has cheaper houses ($565,000 vs $705,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Garbutt

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (57% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper rent ($220/wk vs $350/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

  • Garbutt sits closer to the CBD (1355.6 km vs 1359 km)
  • Mount Louisa is more walkable (59/100 vs 32/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Garbutt has more units and townhouses to downsize into (35% vs 4%)
  • Mount Louisa is more walkable (59/100 vs 32/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Garbutt returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 4.3%)
  • Mount Louisa is growing faster (4.6% vs -3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Garbutt Mount Louisa
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.

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Walkability 32 / 59
Garbutt — Walkability: 32/100 Mount Louisa — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 2 / 27
Garbutt — Safety: 2/100 Mount Louisa — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 48 / 100
Garbutt — Low fire risk: 48/100 Mount Louisa — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mount Louisa has more residents (9,227 vs 2,309); Mount Louisa has higher household incomes ($107,744 vs $56,264).

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Population 2,309 9,227
+300% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.6% +4.6%
Median age 42 34
Median household income $56,264/yr $107,744/yr
+91% vs other
Median weekly rent $220/wk $350/wk
+59% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Garbutt Mount Louisa
0-4 5.1% / 6.8%
Garbutt — 0-4: 5.1% Mount Louisa — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 9.4% / 16.1%
Garbutt — 5-14: 9.4% Mount Louisa — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 5.6% / 6.4%
Garbutt — 15-19: 5.6% Mount Louisa — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 8.0% / 6.8%
Garbutt — 20-24: 8.0% Mount Louisa — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 14.3% / 14.6%
Garbutt — 25-34: 14.3% Mount Louisa — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 10.9% / 15.3%
Garbutt — 35-44: 10.9% Mount Louisa — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 13.1% / 12.8%
Garbutt — 45-54: 13.1% Mount Louisa — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 14.1% / 9.8%
Garbutt — 55-64: 14.1% Mount Louisa — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 11.4% / 7.2%
Garbutt — 65-74: 11.4% Mount Louisa — 65-74: 7.2%
75-84 6.0% / 3.0%
Garbutt — 75-84: 6.0% Mount Louisa — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 1.6% / 1.2%
Garbutt — 85+: 1.6% Mount Louisa — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Garbutt 54.7% lone person
Garbutt — Lone Person: 54.7% Garbutt — Couple Families: 15.9% Garbutt — One Parent Families: 20.0% Garbutt — Group Household: 7.3% Garbutt — Other Families: 2.1%
Mount Louisa 23.3% lone person
Mount Louisa — Lone Person: 23.3% Mount Louisa — Couple Families: 51.3% Mount Louisa — One Parent Families: 18.4% Mount Louisa — Group Household: 5.1% Mount Louisa — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Garbutt 57.1% renting
Garbutt — Owned Outright: 18.1% Garbutt — Mortgage: 24.8% Garbutt — Renting: 57.1%
Mount Louisa 33.9% renting
Mount Louisa — Owned Outright: 21.6% Mount Louisa — Mortgage: 44.5% Mount Louisa — Renting: 33.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 19.0%
Garbutt — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Mount Louisa — Certificate III & IV: 19.0%
Bachelor Degree 7.0% / 10.7%
Garbutt — Bachelor Degree: 7.0% Mount Louisa — Bachelor Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 7.0%
Garbutt — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Mount Louisa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 1.9%
Garbutt — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Mount Louisa — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 1.6%
Garbutt — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Mount Louisa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

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.

Garbutt Mount Louisa
New Zealand 3.4% / 2.0%
Garbutt — New Zealand: 3.4% Mount Louisa — New Zealand: 2.0%
England 1.8% / 1.9%
Garbutt — England: 1.8% Mount Louisa — England: 1.9%
Philippines 2.0% / 1.4%
Garbutt — Philippines: 2.0% Mount Louisa — Philippines: 1.4%
South Africa 0.3% / 1.0%
Garbutt — South Africa: 0.3% Mount Louisa — South Africa: 1.0%
Scotland 0.6% / —
Garbutt — Scotland: 0.6% Mount Louisa — Scotland: not among its largest
India — / 0.6%
Garbutt — India: not among its largest Mount Louisa — India: 0.6%
Malaysia 0.4% / —
Garbutt — Malaysia: 0.4% Mount Louisa — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Garbutt 65.3% houses
Garbutt — Houses: 65.3% Garbutt — Townhouses: 31.6% Garbutt — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Mount Louisa 96.3% houses
Mount Louisa — Houses: 96.3% Mount Louisa — Townhouses: 3.6% Mount Louisa — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Median house price $565,000 $705,000
Median unit price $395,000 —
Median land price $1,100,000 $270,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 23 sales
 22 days
from 108 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.

Garbutt Mount Louisa
3 bed $562K / $630K
Garbutt — 3 bed: $562K (52 sales) Mount Louisa — 3 bed: $630K (64 sales)

52 vs 64 sales

4 bed $650K / $735K
Garbutt — 4 bed: $650K (9 sales) Mount Louisa — 4 bed: $735K (127 sales)

9 vs 127 sales

Development activity

Garbutt Mount Louisa
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.

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Houses 4.8%
$550/wk on $599K
 4.3%
$625/wk on $762K
Units 6.1%
$530/wk on $449K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Garbutt Mount Louisa
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 19% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 73% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 66% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 91% of QLD —

Liveability

Mount Louisa scores higher overall (50 vs 15); Mount Louisa is more walkable (59 vs 32).

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Grade D B
Score 15/100 50/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Garbutt carries more bushfire risk (52 vs 0); Garbutt carries more crime risk (98 vs 73).

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Bushfire Moderate
52/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
98/100
 High
73/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
100/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 5.3 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 9.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 1.6%

Schools in Garbutt

  • Garbutt State School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mount Louisa

  • Calvary Christian College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Eaton College Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 9 1
Parks & reserves 4 8
Childcare 2 4
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 4 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 12 2

Mobility

Mount Louisa sits further from the CBD (1359 km vs 1355.6 km).

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Walkability score 32/100 59/100
Distance to Brisbane 1355.6 km 1359 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 930 min 933 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 63.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 30.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4814
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 63
postcode 4814
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.

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Car (driver) 80.6% / 85.9%
Garbutt — Car (driver): 80.6% Mount Louisa — Car (driver): 85.9%
Car (passenger) 9.4% / 5.7%
Garbutt — Car (passenger): 9.4% Mount Louisa — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Worked from Home 3.6% / 5.9%
Garbutt — Worked from Home: 3.6% Mount Louisa — Worked from Home: 5.9%
Walked Only 3.5% / 0.9%
Garbutt — Walked Only: 3.5% Mount Louisa — Walked Only: 0.9%
Bicycle 1.8% / 0.8%
Garbutt — Bicycle: 1.8% Mount Louisa — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.9%).

Setting

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 84 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
4.6 km to a named beach
 7.2 km

NBN connectivity

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Connectivity score 97/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 91%
3,077 premises
 91%
3,550 premises

Climate

Garbutt Mount Louisa
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)

Garbutt Mount Louisa
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

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Garbutt Mount Louisa
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Garbutt

Affordable Townhouses

Mount Louisa

Family Large Blocks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Garbutt

Garbutt vs Heatley Garbutt vs West End Garbutt vs Currajong Garbutt vs Vincent Garbutt vs Belgian Gardens Garbutt vs Rowes Bay

Other comparisons with Mount Louisa

Mount Louisa vs Kirwan Mount Louisa vs Heatley Mount Louisa vs Shaw Mount Louisa vs Cosgrove Mount Louisa vs Bohle Mount Louisa vs Mount St John
Full data on Garbutt Full data on Mount Louisa
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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