North Toowoomba vs Toowoomba City

North Toowoomba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 41 in Toowoomba City. In North Toowoomba, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. In Toowoomba City, most households rent and most households are people living alone. On these figures, Toowoomba City tends to suit renters and people living alone.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • North Toowoomba has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 53%)
  • Toowoomba City has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Toowoomba City

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($500,000 vs $620,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Toowoomba City

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (62% vs 44%)
  • has cheaper rent ($255/wk vs $285/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Toowoomba City

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 84/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Toowoomba City

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 84/100)
  • But North Toowoomba carries lower crime risk (78/100 vs 99/100)

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

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

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
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.

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Walkability 84 / 92
North Toowoomba — Walkability: 84/100 Toowoomba City — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 22 / 1
North Toowoomba — Safety: 22/100 Toowoomba City — Safety: 1/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Toowoomba — Low fire risk: 100/100 Toowoomba City — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Toowoomba has more residents (3,332 vs 2,321); North Toowoomba has higher household incomes ($65,312 vs $56,368).

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Population 3,332
+30% vs other
 2,321
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.8% +11.2%
Median age 37 41
Median household income $65,312/yr
+14% vs other
 $56,368/yr
Median weekly rent $285/wk
+11% vs other
 $255/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
0-4 6.1% / 4.6%
North Toowoomba — 0-4: 6.1% Toowoomba City — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 11.7% / 8.7%
North Toowoomba — 5-14: 11.7% Toowoomba City — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 5.2% / 5.5%
North Toowoomba — 15-19: 5.2% Toowoomba City — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 7.3% / 7.2%
North Toowoomba — 20-24: 7.3% Toowoomba City — 20-24: 7.2%
25-34 16.5% / 15.9%
North Toowoomba — 25-34: 16.5% Toowoomba City — 25-34: 15.9%
35-44 11.3% / 11.1%
North Toowoomba — 35-44: 11.3% Toowoomba City — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 12.1% / 12.8%
North Toowoomba — 45-54: 12.1% Toowoomba City — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 12.5% / 13.1%
North Toowoomba — 55-64: 12.5% Toowoomba City — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 8.8% / 9.3%
North Toowoomba — 65-74: 8.8% Toowoomba City — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 5.6% / 5.9%
North Toowoomba — 75-84: 5.6% Toowoomba City — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 3.0% / 5.9%
North Toowoomba — 85+: 3.0% Toowoomba City — 85+: 5.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Toowoomba 47.5% lone person
North Toowoomba — Lone Person: 47.5% North Toowoomba — Couple Families: 26.7% North Toowoomba — One Parent Families: 17.7% North Toowoomba — Group Household: 5.6% North Toowoomba — Other Families: 2.5%
Toowoomba City 59.1% lone person
Toowoomba City — Lone Person: 59.1% Toowoomba City — Couple Families: 18.0% Toowoomba City — One Parent Families: 13.4% Toowoomba City — Group Household: 6.0% Toowoomba City — Other Families: 3.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Toowoomba 44.5% renting
North Toowoomba — Owned Outright: 23.6% North Toowoomba — Mortgage: 31.9% North Toowoomba — Renting: 44.5%
Toowoomba City 62.1% renting
Toowoomba City — Owned Outright: 18.9% Toowoomba City — Mortgage: 19.1% Toowoomba City — Renting: 62.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Certificate III & IV 15.0% / 12.6%
North Toowoomba — Certificate III & IV: 15.0% Toowoomba City — Certificate III & IV: 12.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.2% / 11.2%
North Toowoomba — Bachelor Degree: 12.2% Toowoomba City — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 6.4%
North Toowoomba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Toowoomba City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 4.0%
North Toowoomba — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Toowoomba City — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.8%
North Toowoomba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Toowoomba City — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

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.

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Iraq 5.3% / 4.4%
North Toowoomba — Iraq: 5.3% Toowoomba City — Iraq: 4.4%
England 2.4% / 1.9%
North Toowoomba — England: 2.4% Toowoomba City — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.6%
North Toowoomba — New Zealand: 2.0% Toowoomba City — New Zealand: 1.6%
India 0.7% / 0.9%
North Toowoomba — India: 0.7% Toowoomba City — India: 0.9%
China — / 0.8%
North Toowoomba — China: not among its largest Toowoomba City — China: 0.8%
Philippines 0.6% / —
North Toowoomba — Philippines: 0.6% Toowoomba City — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Toowoomba 79.8% houses
North Toowoomba — Houses: 79.8% North Toowoomba — Townhouses: 19.8% North Toowoomba — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Toowoomba City 52.7% houses
Toowoomba City — Houses: 52.7% Toowoomba City — Townhouses: 23.2% Toowoomba City — Flats / Apartments: 24.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Median house price $722,500 $761,750
Median unit price $620,000 $500,000
Median land price $450,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 43 sales
 25 days
from 21 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.

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
2 bed $635K / $619K
North Toowoomba — 2 bed: $635K (23 sales) Toowoomba City — 2 bed: $619K (8 sales)

23 vs 8 sales

3 bed $723K / $730K
North Toowoomba — 3 bed: $723K (81 sales) Toowoomba City — 3 bed: $730K (32 sales)

81 vs 32 sales

4 bed $850K / $1.09M
North Toowoomba — 4 bed: $850K (21 sales) Toowoomba City — 4 bed: $1.09M (14 sales)

21 vs 14 sales

Development activity

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
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.

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Houses 3.9%
$565/wk on $750K
 4.2%
$610/wk on $764K
Units 3.8%
$505/wk on $687K
 4.1%
$435/wk on $549K

Ranking within QLD

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 31% of QLD Higher than 19% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 28% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 70% of QLD Higher than 71% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of QLD Higher than 92% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 49% of QLD Higher than 62% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 24% of QLD Higher than 35% of QLD

Liveability

North Toowoomba scores higher overall (48 vs 34); Toowoomba City is more walkable (92 vs 84).

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Grade C D
Score 48/100 34/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Toowoomba City carries more crime risk (99 vs 78).

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
99/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 1.5 km
 1
USQ (Toowoomba), 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.8% 1.4%

Schools in North Toowoomba

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Toowoomba City

  • Holy Name Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Toowoomba North State School Government · Primary below peers
  • The Industry School - Toowoomba Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Supermarkets 1 5
Cafes & restaurants 1 35
Parks & reserves 4 14
Childcare 3 7
GPs 0 7
Pharmacies 1 5
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 9
Fuel stations 2 4
Waterways 3 14

Mobility

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Walkability score 84/100 92/100
Distance to Brisbane 126 km 124.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 101 min 100 min
Public transport score 67/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 24.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 65.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Car (driver) 77.4% / 66.0%
North Toowoomba — Car (driver): 77.4% Toowoomba City — Car (driver): 66.0%
Walked Only 5.3% / 14.8%
North Toowoomba — Walked Only: 5.3% Toowoomba City — Walked Only: 14.8%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 8.5%
North Toowoomba — Worked from Home: 9.2% Toowoomba City — Worked from Home: 8.5%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / 7.5%
North Toowoomba — Car (passenger): 6.5% Toowoomba City — Car (passenger): 7.5%
Bicycle 1.3% / 2.4%
North Toowoomba — Bicycle: 1.3% Toowoomba City — Bicycle: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.4%).

Setting

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Elevation 599 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 592 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Connectivity score 96/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 92%
1,832 premises
 66%
3,276 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Average residential rate $1,618/yr
same for both
Council Toowoomba
same for both

Federal electorate

North Toowoomba Toowoomba City
Division Groom
same for both
Member Garth Hamilton
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Toowoomba

Parks River

Toowoomba City

Parks River Townhouses

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Toowoomba City

Toowoomba City vs Newtown Toowoomba City vs Harristown Toowoomba City vs East Toowoomba Toowoomba City vs South Toowoomba
Full data on North Toowoomba Full data on Toowoomba City
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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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