Normanton vs Karumba

Normanton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 55 in Karumba. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Normanton, most households rent. In Karumba, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. On these figures, Normanton tends to suit renters and families with children, while Karumba suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Normanton

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 26%)
  • But Karumba carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 97/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Normanton leaves households under less mortgage stress (14% vs 28%)
  • Karumba has cheaper land ($232,500 vs $360,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Normanton

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (10% vs 23%)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (72% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper rent ($170/wk vs $220/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Normanton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (1400 min vs 1488 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (2059.4 km vs 2157.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Karumba

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 10%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (36% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Normanton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.7% vs -8.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Normanton Karumba
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.

Normanton Karumba
Walkability 0 / 0
Normanton — Walkability: 0/100 Karumba — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 3 / 35
Normanton — Safety: 3/100 Karumba — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 72 / 100
Normanton — Low fire risk: 72/100 Karumba — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Normanton has more residents (1,391 vs 487); Karumba skews older (55 vs 31).

Normanton Karumba
Population 1,391
+65% vs other
 487
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.7% -8.3%
Median age 31 55
Median household income $87,932/yr
+42% vs other
 $50,648/yr
Median weekly rent $170/wk $220/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Normanton Karumba
0-4 8.5% / 2.3%
Normanton — 0-4: 8.5% Karumba — 0-4: 2.3%
5-14 18.4% / 6.2%
Normanton — 5-14: 18.4% Karumba — 5-14: 6.2%
15-19 4.9% / 2.7%
Normanton — 15-19: 4.9% Karumba — 15-19: 2.7%
20-24 8.3% / 3.1%
Normanton — 20-24: 8.3% Karumba — 20-24: 3.1%
25-34 14.9% / 8.4%
Normanton — 25-34: 14.9% Karumba — 25-34: 8.4%
35-44 11.6% / 9.4%
Normanton — 35-44: 11.6% Karumba — 35-44: 9.4%
45-54 11.8% / 16.0%
Normanton — 45-54: 11.8% Karumba — 45-54: 16.0%
55-64 11.4% / 25.7%
Normanton — 55-64: 11.4% Karumba — 55-64: 25.7%
65-74 6.5% / 17.2%
Normanton — 65-74: 6.5% Karumba — 65-74: 17.2%
75-84 3.1% / 9.0%
Normanton — 75-84: 3.1% Karumba — 75-84: 9.0%
85+ 0.2% / 1.2%
Normanton — 85+: 0.2% Karumba — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Normanton 27.5% lone person
Normanton — Lone Person: 27.5% Normanton — Couple Families: 34.1% Normanton — One Parent Families: 31.9% Normanton — Group Household: 2.5% Normanton — Other Families: 4.1%
Karumba 70.6% lone person
Karumba — Lone Person: 70.6% Karumba — Couple Families: 12.4% Karumba — One Parent Families: 13.1% Karumba — Group Household: 3.9% Karumba — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Normanton 72.4% renting
Normanton — Owned Outright: 19.8% Normanton — Mortgage: 7.8% Normanton — Renting: 72.4%
Karumba 33.5% renting
Karumba — Owned Outright: 53.1% Karumba — Mortgage: 13.4% Karumba — Renting: 33.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Normanton Karumba
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 19.9%
Normanton — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Karumba — Certificate III & IV: 19.9%
Bachelor Degree 4.5% / 5.7%
Normanton — Bachelor Degree: 4.5% Karumba — Bachelor Degree: 5.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 3.4% / 4.9%
Normanton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.4% Karumba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 1.2%
Normanton — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Karumba — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 0.8%
Normanton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Karumba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

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.

Normanton Karumba
England 0.9% / 1.8%
Normanton — England: 0.9% Karumba — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.2%
Normanton — New Zealand: 0.8% Karumba — New Zealand: 1.2%
Philippines 0.9% / —
Normanton — Philippines: 0.9% Karumba — Philippines: not among its largest
China — / 0.8%
Normanton — China: not among its largest Karumba — China: 0.8%
Germany — / 0.8%
Normanton — Germany: not among its largest Karumba — Germany: 0.8%
Netherlands — / 0.8%
Normanton — Netherlands: not among its largest Karumba — Netherlands: 0.8%
India 0.4% / —
Normanton — India: 0.4% Karumba — India: not among its largest
Fiji 0.3% / —
Normanton — Fiji: 0.3% Karumba — Fiji: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Normanton 85.9% houses
Normanton — Houses: 85.9% Normanton — Flats / Apartments: 12.3% Normanton — Townhouses: 1.8%
Karumba 63.6% houses
Karumba — Houses: 63.6% Karumba — Flats / Apartments: 35.2% Karumba — Townhouses: 1.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Normanton Karumba
Median house price $270,850 $290,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $360,000 $232,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 73 days
from 5 sales
 208 days
from 3 sales

Development activity

Normanton Karumba
New dwellings approved 1
across Carpentaria
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Normanton Karumba
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 14% of QLD
Schools Higher than 24% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 31% of QLD Higher than 25% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption —
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 9% of QLD

Liveability

Normanton Karumba
Grade D —
Score 10/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Normanton carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 0); Normanton carries more crime risk (97 vs 65).

Normanton Karumba
Bushfire Low
28/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
97/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
94/100
 High
79/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Normanton Karumba
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Normanton

  • Gulf Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Normanton State School Government · Combined at peers
  • Gulf Christian College - Thompson Street Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Karumba

  • Karumba State School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Normanton Karumba
Supermarkets 3 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 3
Parks & reserves 5 1
Childcare 2 1
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 3 2
Waterways 26 0

Mobility

Karumba sits further from the CBD (2157.6 km vs 2059.4 km).

Normanton Karumba
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 2059.4 km 2157.6 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 1400 min 1488 min
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 4890
 0.0%
postcode 4891
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 4890
 30
postcode 4891

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.

Normanton Karumba
Car (driver) 63.8% / 55.7%
Normanton — Car (driver): 63.8% Karumba — Car (driver): 55.7%
Walked Only 20.8% / 26.4%
Normanton — Walked Only: 20.8% Karumba — Walked Only: 26.4%
Worked from Home 6.6% / 8.0%
Normanton — Worked from Home: 6.6% Karumba — Worked from Home: 8.0%
Car (passenger) 8.1% / 4.6%
Normanton — Car (passenger): 8.1% Karumba — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bicycle 0.7% / 5.2%
Normanton — Bicycle: 0.7% Karumba — Bicycle: 5.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.8%).

Setting

Normanton Karumba
Elevation 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 41.6 km 3.5 km

NBN connectivity

Normanton Karumba
Connectivity score 15/100
same for both
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster)
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
93 premises
 0%
46 premises

Climate

Normanton Karumba
Annual rainfall 967 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Normanton Karumba
Average residential rate $749/yr
same for both
Council Carpentaria
same for both

Federal electorate

Normanton Karumba
Division Kennedy
same for both
Member Bob Katter
same for both
Party Katter's Australian Party (KAP)
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Normanton Karumba
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Normanton

Affordable Family River Rural

Karumba

Affordable Retirees Rural
Full data on Normanton Full data on Karumba
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or