Heatley vs Kirwan

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Kirwan: a median of $656,000, against $557,000 in Heatley, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Heatley tends to suit 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

Kirwan

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (17 vs 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 51%)

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

First-home buyers

Heatley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($557,000 vs $655,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Heatley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $325/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heatley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (1354.1 km vs 1358.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Heatley has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 15%)
  • Kirwan has more GPs (4 vs 0)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Heatley 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.

Heatley 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.

Heatley Kirwan
Walkability 71 / 75
Heatley — Walkability: 71/100 Kirwan — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 13 / 19
Heatley — Safety: 13/100 Kirwan — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Heatley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kirwan — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kirwan has more residents (20,780 vs 3,907); Kirwan has higher household incomes ($86,996 vs $65,832).

Heatley Kirwan
Population 3,907 20,780
+432% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.2% -3.0%
Median age 40 38
Median household income $65,832/yr $86,996/yr
+32% vs other
Median weekly rent $280/wk $325/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heatley Kirwan
0-4 4.7% / 5.6%
Heatley — 0-4: 4.7% Kirwan — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 12.8% / 14.5%
Heatley — 5-14: 12.8% Kirwan — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 7.6% / 7.7%
Heatley — 15-19: 7.6% Kirwan — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 6.4% / 6.4%
Heatley — 20-24: 6.4% Kirwan — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 12.2% / 12.0%
Heatley — 25-34: 12.2% Kirwan — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 12.3% / 13.0%
Heatley — 35-44: 12.3% Kirwan — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 12.6% / 13.8%
Heatley — 45-54: 12.6% Kirwan — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 10.6% / 12.2%
Heatley — 55-64: 10.6% Kirwan — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 9.6% / 9.1%
Heatley — 65-74: 9.6% Kirwan — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 8.2% / 4.4%
Heatley — 75-84: 8.2% Kirwan — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 2.7% / 1.4%
Heatley — 85+: 2.7% Kirwan — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heatley 41.0% lone person
Heatley — Lone Person: 41.0% Heatley — Couple Families: 27.7% Heatley — One Parent Families: 23.7% Heatley — Group Household: 4.7% Heatley — Other Families: 3.0%
Kirwan 30.9% lone person
Kirwan — Lone Person: 30.9% Kirwan — Couple Families: 40.7% Kirwan — One Parent Families: 22.3% Kirwan — Group Household: 4.5% Kirwan — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Heatley 34.9% renting
Heatley — Owned Outright: 30.9% Heatley — Mortgage: 34.2% Heatley — Renting: 34.9%
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.

Heatley Kirwan
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 17.7%
Heatley — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Kirwan — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 6.7% / 8.4%
Heatley — Bachelor Degree: 6.7% Kirwan — Bachelor Degree: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.6% / 7.1%
Heatley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6% Kirwan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 1.7%
Heatley — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Kirwan — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.4%
Heatley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% 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.

Heatley Kirwan
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.2%
Heatley — New Zealand: 2.2% Kirwan — New Zealand: 2.2%
England 1.9% / 2.3%
Heatley — England: 1.9% Kirwan — England: 2.3%
Philippines 2.0% / 1.3%
Heatley — Philippines: 2.0% Kirwan — Philippines: 1.3%
India 0.4% / 0.6%
Heatley — India: 0.4% Kirwan — India: 0.6%
Malaysia 0.4% / —
Heatley — Malaysia: 0.4% Kirwan — Malaysia: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.4%
Heatley — Scotland: not among its largest Kirwan — Scotland: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Heatley 83.9% houses
Heatley — Houses: 83.9% Heatley — Townhouses: 16.0% Heatley — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Kirwan 88.7% houses
Kirwan — Houses: 88.7% Kirwan — Townhouses: 10.2% Kirwan — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Heatley Kirwan
Median house price $557,000 $655,500
Median unit price — $425,000
Median land price — $525,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 18 sales
 23 days
from 215 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.

Heatley Kirwan
3 bed $550K / $605K
Heatley — 3 bed: $550K (49 sales) Kirwan — 3 bed: $605K (201 sales)

49 vs 201 sales

4 bed $628K / $701K
Heatley — 4 bed: $628K (12 sales) Kirwan — 4 bed: $701K (186 sales)

12 vs 186 sales

Development activity

Heatley 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.

Heatley Kirwan
Houses 4.8%
$570/wk on $612K
 4.4%
$590/wk on $699K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Heatley Kirwan
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 31% of QLD Higher than 60% of QLD
Schools Higher than 25% of QLD Higher than 41% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 92% 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 99% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 72% of QLD

Liveability

Kirwan scores higher overall (37 vs 28).

Heatley Kirwan
Grade D C
Score 28/100 37/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Heatley Kirwan
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 High
81/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Heatley Kirwan
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 7.5 km
 None

Schools in Heatley

  • Heatley Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Heatley State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Townsville-Thuringowa Centre for Continuing Secondary Education Government · 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

Heatley Kirwan
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 3 22
Childcare 3 17
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 4

Mobility

Kirwan sits further from the CBD (1358.4 km vs 1354.1 km).

Heatley Kirwan
Walkability score 71/100 75/100
Distance to Brisbane 1354.1 km 1358.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 926 min 928 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.5
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.

Heatley Kirwan
Car (driver) 81.4% / 84.0%
Heatley — Car (driver): 81.4% Kirwan — Car (driver): 84.0%
Car (passenger) 9.0% / 7.5%
Heatley — Car (passenger): 9.0% Kirwan — Car (passenger): 7.5%
Worked from Home 5.5% / 4.9%
Heatley — Worked from Home: 5.5% Kirwan — Worked from Home: 4.9%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.5%
Heatley — Walked Only: 1.8% Kirwan — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bus 1.4% / 1.3%
Heatley — Bus: 1.4% Kirwan — Bus: 1.3%

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

Setting

Heatley Kirwan
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.8 km 9.8 km

NBN connectivity

Heatley Kirwan
Connectivity score 100/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,816 premises
 68%
8,910 premises

Climate

Heatley 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)

Heatley 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

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

Federal electorate

Heatley 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

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

Tags

Heatley

Affordable Parks

Kirwan

Affordable Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heatley

Heatley vs Mount Louisa Heatley vs Cranbrook Heatley vs Aitkenvale Heatley vs Garbutt Heatley vs Vincent

Other comparisons with Kirwan

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