Heatley vs Mount Louisa

Mount Louisa is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 40 in Heatley. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Mount Louisa, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mount Louisa: a median of $705,000, against $557,000 in Heatley, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Heatley tends to suit people living alone, older residents, 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 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 51%)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 87/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Heatley has cheaper houses ($557,000 vs $705,000)
  • Mount Louisa leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 24%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Heatley has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $350/wk)
  • Mount Louisa leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Heatley

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 59/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (926 min vs 933 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1354.1 km vs 1359 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Heatley

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 4%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 11%)
  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 59/100)
  • But Mount Louisa carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 87/100)

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

  • Heatley returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 4.3%)
  • Mount Louisa is growing faster (4.6% vs -3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Heatley 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.

Heatley 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.

Heatley Mount Louisa
Walkability 71 / 59
Heatley — Walkability: 71/100 Mount Louisa — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 13 / 27
Heatley — Safety: 13/100 Mount Louisa — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Heatley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Louisa — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mount Louisa has more residents (9,227 vs 3,907); Mount Louisa has higher household incomes ($107,744 vs $65,832).

Heatley Mount Louisa
Population 3,907 9,227
+136% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.2% +4.6%
Median age 40 34
Median household income $65,832/yr $107,744/yr
+64% vs other
Median weekly rent $280/wk $350/wk
+25% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heatley Mount Louisa
0-4 4.7% / 6.8%
Heatley — 0-4: 4.7% Mount Louisa — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 12.8% / 16.1%
Heatley — 5-14: 12.8% Mount Louisa — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 7.6% / 6.4%
Heatley — 15-19: 7.6% Mount Louisa — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 6.4% / 6.8%
Heatley — 20-24: 6.4% Mount Louisa — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 12.2% / 14.6%
Heatley — 25-34: 12.2% Mount Louisa — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 12.3% / 15.3%
Heatley — 35-44: 12.3% Mount Louisa — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 12.6% / 12.8%
Heatley — 45-54: 12.6% Mount Louisa — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 10.6% / 9.8%
Heatley — 55-64: 10.6% Mount Louisa — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 9.6% / 7.2%
Heatley — 65-74: 9.6% Mount Louisa — 65-74: 7.2%
75-84 8.2% / 3.0%
Heatley — 75-84: 8.2% Mount Louisa — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 2.7% / 1.2%
Heatley — 85+: 2.7% Mount Louisa — 85+: 1.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heatley 27.7% couple families
Heatley — Couple Families: 27.7% Heatley — Lone Person: 41.0% Heatley — One Parent Families: 23.7% Heatley — Group Household: 4.7% Heatley — Other Families: 3.0%
Mount Louisa 51.3% couple families
Mount Louisa — Couple Families: 51.3% Mount Louisa — Lone Person: 23.3% Mount Louisa — One Parent Families: 18.4% Mount Louisa — Group Household: 5.1% Mount Louisa — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
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.

Heatley Mount Louisa
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 19.0%
Heatley — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Mount Louisa — Certificate III & IV: 19.0%
Bachelor Degree 6.7% / 10.7%
Heatley — Bachelor Degree: 6.7% Mount Louisa — Bachelor Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.6% / 7.0%
Heatley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6% Mount Louisa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 1.9%
Heatley — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Mount Louisa — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.6%
Heatley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% 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.

Heatley Mount Louisa
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.0%
Heatley — New Zealand: 2.2% Mount Louisa — New Zealand: 2.0%
England 1.9% / 1.9%
Heatley — England: 1.9% Mount Louisa — England: 1.9%
Philippines 2.0% / 1.4%
Heatley — Philippines: 2.0% Mount Louisa — Philippines: 1.4%
South Africa 0.2% / 1.0%
Heatley — South Africa: 0.2% Mount Louisa — South Africa: 1.0%
India 0.4% / 0.6%
Heatley — India: 0.4% Mount Louisa — India: 0.6%
Malaysia 0.4% / —
Heatley — Malaysia: 0.4% Mount Louisa — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.2%).

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%
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

Heatley Mount Louisa
Median house price $557,000 $705,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $270,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 18 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.

Heatley Mount Louisa
3 bed $550K / $630K
Heatley — 3 bed: $550K (49 sales) Mount Louisa — 3 bed: $630K (64 sales)

49 vs 64 sales

4 bed $628K / $735K
Heatley — 4 bed: $628K (12 sales) Mount Louisa — 4 bed: $735K (127 sales)

12 vs 127 sales

Development activity

Heatley 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.

Heatley Mount Louisa
Houses 4.8%
$570/wk on $612K
 4.3%
$625/wk on $762K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Heatley Mount Louisa
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 31% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Schools Higher than 25% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 92% 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 99% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 66% of QLD

Liveability

Mount Louisa scores higher overall (50 vs 28); Heatley is more walkable (71 vs 59).

Heatley Mount Louisa
Grade D B
Score 28/100 50/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Heatley carries more crime risk (87 vs 73).

Heatley Mount Louisa
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 High
73/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Heatley Mount Louisa
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 7.5 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 9.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.2% 1.6%

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 Mount Louisa

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

Amenities in the suburb

Heatley Mount Louisa
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 3 8
Childcare 3 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Mount Louisa sits further from the CBD (1359 km vs 1354.1 km).

Heatley Mount Louisa
Walkability score 71/100 59/100
Distance to Brisbane 1354.1 km 1359 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 926 min 933 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.5
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.

Heatley Mount Louisa
Car (driver) 81.4% / 85.9%
Heatley — Car (driver): 81.4% Mount Louisa — Car (driver): 85.9%
Car (passenger) 9.0% / 5.7%
Heatley — Car (passenger): 9.0% Mount Louisa — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Worked from Home 5.5% / 5.9%
Heatley — Worked from Home: 5.5% Mount Louisa — Worked from Home: 5.9%
Walked Only 1.8% / 0.9%
Heatley — Walked Only: 1.8% Mount Louisa — Walked Only: 0.9%
Bus 1.4% / 0.8%
Heatley — Bus: 1.4% Mount Louisa — Bus: 0.8%
Bicycle 0.9% / 0.8%
Heatley — Bicycle: 0.9% Mount Louisa — Bicycle: 0.8%

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

Setting

Heatley 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 6.8 km 7.2 km

NBN connectivity

Heatley Mount Louisa
Connectivity score 100/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,816 premises
 91%
3,550 premises

Climate

Heatley 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)

Heatley 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

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

Federal electorate

Heatley 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

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

Tags

Heatley

Affordable Parks

Mount Louisa

Family Large Blocks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heatley

Heatley vs Kirwan Heatley vs Cranbrook Heatley vs Aitkenvale Heatley vs Garbutt Heatley vs Vincent

Other comparisons with Mount Louisa

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