Newtown vs South Toowoomba

In both, about half of households rent, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in South Toowoomba: a median of $765,000, against $698,000 in Newtown.

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

Newtown

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 5)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

  • Newtown is more walkable (85/100 vs 70/100)
  • South Toowoomba sits closer to the CBD (125.9 km vs 128.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Newtown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 70/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Newtown South Toowoomba
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.

Newtown South Toowoomba
Walkability 85 / 70
Newtown — Walkability: 85/100 South Toowoomba — Walkability: 70/100
Safety 14 / 15
Newtown — Safety: 14/100 South Toowoomba — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Newtown — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Toowoomba — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Newtown has more residents (10,039 vs 5,512); South Toowoomba has higher household incomes ($70,408 vs $62,400).

Newtown South Toowoomba
Population 10,039
+45% vs other
 5,512
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.6% +5.5%
Median age 35 36
Median household income $62,400/yr $70,408/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $289/wk $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Newtown South Toowoomba
0-4 6.2% / 5.8%
Newtown — 0-4: 6.2% South Toowoomba — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 12.5% / 11.0%
Newtown — 5-14: 12.5% South Toowoomba — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 6.9% / 5.9%
Newtown — 15-19: 6.9% South Toowoomba — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 8.0% / 8.1%
Newtown — 20-24: 8.0% South Toowoomba — 20-24: 8.1%
25-34 16.0% / 17.6%
Newtown — 25-34: 16.0% South Toowoomba — 25-34: 17.6%
35-44 11.5% / 12.8%
Newtown — 35-44: 11.5% South Toowoomba — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 11.0% / 12.5%
Newtown — 45-54: 11.0% South Toowoomba — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 11.4% / 10.7%
Newtown — 55-64: 11.4% South Toowoomba — 55-64: 10.7%
65-74 9.3% / 8.7%
Newtown — 65-74: 9.3% South Toowoomba — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 5.3% / 4.7%
Newtown — 75-84: 5.3% South Toowoomba — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 2.0% / 2.2%
Newtown — 85+: 2.0% South Toowoomba — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Newtown 49.2% lone person
Newtown — Lone Person: 49.2% Newtown — Couple Families: 23.0% Newtown — One Parent Families: 19.9% Newtown — Group Household: 6.3% Newtown — Other Families: 1.6%
South Toowoomba 48.6% lone person
South Toowoomba — Lone Person: 48.6% South Toowoomba — Couple Families: 24.3% South Toowoomba — One Parent Families: 17.6% South Toowoomba — Group Household: 7.3% South Toowoomba — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Newtown 48.4% renting
Newtown — Owned Outright: 24.4% Newtown — Mortgage: 27.2% Newtown — Renting: 48.4%
South Toowoomba 49.7% renting
South Toowoomba — Owned Outright: 22.2% South Toowoomba — Mortgage: 28.1% South Toowoomba — Renting: 49.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Newtown South Toowoomba
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 15.9%
Newtown — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% South Toowoomba — Certificate III & IV: 15.9%
Bachelor Degree 8.6% / 13.4%
Newtown — Bachelor Degree: 8.6% South Toowoomba — Bachelor Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 6.9%
Newtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% South Toowoomba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 4.0%
Newtown — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% South Toowoomba — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.1%
Newtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% South Toowoomba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

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.

Newtown South Toowoomba
Iraq 3.9% / 3.5%
Newtown — Iraq: 3.9% South Toowoomba — Iraq: 3.5%
England 1.6% / 1.8%
Newtown — England: 1.6% South Toowoomba — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.5%
Newtown — New Zealand: 1.5% South Toowoomba — New Zealand: 1.5%
India 0.9% / 1.7%
Newtown — India: 0.9% South Toowoomba — India: 1.7%
Philippines 1.0% / 1.1%
Newtown — Philippines: 1.0% South Toowoomba — Philippines: 1.1%
China 1.0% / 0.6%
Newtown — China: 1.0% South Toowoomba — China: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Newtown 70.9% houses
Newtown — Houses: 70.9% Newtown — Townhouses: 19.2% Newtown — Flats / Apartments: 9.9%
South Toowoomba 69.4% houses
South Toowoomba — Houses: 69.4% South Toowoomba — Townhouses: 25.0% South Toowoomba — Flats / Apartments: 5.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Newtown South Toowoomba
Median house price $698,000 $765,000
Median unit price $540,000 $580,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 114 sales
 29 days
from 66 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.

Newtown South Toowoomba
2 bed $515K / $522K
Newtown — 2 bed: $515K (48 sales) South Toowoomba — 2 bed: $522K (28 sales)

48 vs 28 sales

3 bed $636K / $629K
Newtown — 3 bed: $636K (20 sales) South Toowoomba — 3 bed: $629K (10 sales)

20 vs 10 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.

Newtown South Toowoomba
2 bed $605K / $720K
Newtown — 2 bed: $605K (24 sales) South Toowoomba — 2 bed: $720K (11 sales)

24 vs 11 sales

3 bed $696K / $764K
Newtown — 3 bed: $696K (155 sales) South Toowoomba — 3 bed: $764K (82 sales)

155 vs 82 sales

4 bed $770K / $818K
Newtown — 4 bed: $770K (49 sales) South Toowoomba — 4 bed: $818K (32 sales)

49 vs 32 sales

Development activity

Newtown South Toowoomba
New dwellings approved 1,513
across Toowoomba
same for both
Approvals change year on year -25%
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.

Newtown South Toowoomba
Houses 3.9%
$550/wk on $729K
 3.8%
$580/wk on $799K
Units 3.8%
$465/wk on $644K
 3.6%
$450/wk on $649K

Ranking within QLD

Newtown South Toowoomba
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 28% of QLD Higher than 37% of QLD
Schools Higher than 89% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 71% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of QLD Higher than 39% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 23% of QLD Higher than 16% of QLD

Liveability

Newtown scores higher overall (51 vs 42); Newtown is more walkable (85 vs 70).

Newtown South Toowoomba
Grade B C
Score 51/100 42/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Newtown South Toowoomba
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
86/100
 High
85/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Newtown South Toowoomba
Inside the suburb 8 2
Rated above peers 4 2
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 1.8 km
same for both
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.8% 1.0%

Schools in Newtown

  • Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Mary's College Catholic · Combined above peers
  • St Ursula's College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • The Glennie School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Newtown State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Queensland Pathways State College - Toowoomba Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in South Toowoomba

  • St Saviour's College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • St Saviour's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Newtown South Toowoomba
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 5
Parks & reserves 15 9
Childcare 9 5
GPs 3
same for both
Pharmacies 4 0
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 9 0
Fuel stations 5 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 8

Mobility

Newtown sits further from the CBD (128.5 km vs 125.9 km).

Newtown South Toowoomba
Walkability score 85/100 70/100
Distance to Brisbane 128.5 km
+2% vs other
 125.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 103 min 99 min
Public transport score 74/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 113.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 42.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 4350
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 4350
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.

Newtown South Toowoomba
Car (driver) 79.4% / 78.5%
Newtown — Car (driver): 79.4% South Toowoomba — Car (driver): 78.5%
Car (passenger) 8.4% / 7.2%
Newtown — Car (passenger): 8.4% South Toowoomba — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Worked from Home 5.9% / 7.2%
Newtown — Worked from Home: 5.9% South Toowoomba — Worked from Home: 7.2%
Walked Only 4.3% / 5.4%
Newtown — Walked Only: 4.3% South Toowoomba — Walked Only: 5.4%
Bicycle 0.9% / 1.3%
Newtown — Bicycle: 0.9% South Toowoomba — Bicycle: 1.3%
Bus 1.0% / 0.4%
Newtown — Bus: 1.0% South Toowoomba — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.4%).

Setting

Newtown South Toowoomba
Elevation 634 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 624 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Newtown South Toowoomba
Connectivity score 61/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
5,375 premises
 86%
3,230 premises

Climate

Newtown South Toowoomba
Annual rainfall 643 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Newtown South Toowoomba
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³ 2.4 µg/m³
PM10 12.0 µg/m³ 3.8 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Newtown South Toowoomba
Average residential rate $1,618/yr
same for both
Council Toowoomba
same for both

Federal electorate

Newtown South Toowoomba
Division Groom
same for both
Member Garth Hamilton
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Newtown South Toowoomba
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Newtown

Parks Regional Centre

South Toowoomba

Parks River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Newtown

Newtown vs Harristown Newtown vs Glenvale Newtown vs Wilsonton Newtown vs North Toowoomba Newtown vs Rockville Newtown vs Harlaxton

Other comparisons with South Toowoomba

South Toowoomba vs Kearneys Spring South Toowoomba vs Harristown South Toowoomba vs Rangeville South Toowoomba vs Centenary Heights South Toowoomba vs East Toowoomba South Toowoomba vs Toowoomba City
Full data on Newtown Full data on South Toowoomba
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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