North Ward vs Townsville City

In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in North Ward: a median of $544,000, against $480,000 in Townsville City, though rent is higher in Townsville City. On these figures, Townsville City tends to suit young adults.

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

North Ward

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (24% vs 12%)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Townsville City

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper houses ($760,000 vs $1,050,000)
  • has cheaper units ($480,000 vs $543,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

North Ward

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($285/wk vs $390/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Townsville City

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 78/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Townsville City

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 78/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (88% vs 76%)

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

Investors

Townsville City

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 2.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

North Ward and Townsville 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 Ward Townsville 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 Ward Townsville City
Walkability 78 / 91
North Ward — Walkability: 78/100 Townsville City — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 11 / 2
North Ward — Safety: 11/100 Townsville City — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Ward — Low fire risk: 100/100 Townsville City — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Ward has more residents (5,073 vs 2,945); Townsville City rents higher ($390/wk vs $285/wk).

North Ward Townsville City
Population 5,073
+42% vs other
 2,945
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.2% +1.2%
Median age 40 39
Median household income $78,000/yr $104,676/yr
+34% vs other
Median weekly rent $285/wk $390/wk
+37% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Ward Townsville City
0-4 3.2% / 2.5%
North Ward — 0-4: 3.2% Townsville City — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 8.5% / 4.4%
North Ward — 5-14: 8.5% Townsville City — 5-14: 4.4%
15-19 6.6% / 2.9%
North Ward — 15-19: 6.6% Townsville City — 15-19: 2.9%
20-24 7.4% / 9.0%
North Ward — 20-24: 7.4% Townsville City — 20-24: 9.0%
25-34 16.8% / 23.6%
North Ward — 25-34: 16.8% Townsville City — 25-34: 23.6%
35-44 13.1% / 13.3%
North Ward — 35-44: 13.1% Townsville City — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 14.1% / 13.6%
North Ward — 45-54: 14.1% Townsville City — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 14.7% / 15.0%
North Ward — 55-64: 14.7% Townsville City — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 9.8% / 10.7%
North Ward — 65-74: 9.8% Townsville City — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 4.7% / 4.1%
North Ward — 75-84: 4.7% Townsville City — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.1% / 1.0%
North Ward — 85+: 1.1% Townsville City — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Ward 62.1% lone person
North Ward — Lone Person: 62.1% North Ward — Couple Families: 17.6% North Ward — Group Household: 8.5% North Ward — One Parent Families: 10.5% North Ward — Other Families: 1.2%
Townsville City 65.0% lone person
Townsville City — Lone Person: 65.0% Townsville City — Couple Families: 15.4% Townsville City — Group Household: 9.9% Townsville City — One Parent Families: 7.5% Townsville City — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Ward 58.9% renting
North Ward — Owned Outright: 23.2% North Ward — Mortgage: 17.9% North Ward — Renting: 58.9%
Townsville City 57.6% renting
Townsville City — Owned Outright: 23.3% Townsville City — Mortgage: 19.1% Townsville City — Renting: 57.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Ward Townsville City
Bachelor Degree 19.0% / 20.9%
North Ward — Bachelor Degree: 19.0% Townsville City — Bachelor Degree: 20.9%
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 13.1%
North Ward — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Townsville City — Certificate III & IV: 13.1%
Postgraduate Degree 8.7% / 7.9%
North Ward — Postgraduate Degree: 8.7% Townsville City — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.1%
North Ward — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Townsville City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 3.1%
North Ward — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Townsville City — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.9%).

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.

North Ward Townsville City
England 4.0% / 4.6%
North Ward — England: 4.0% Townsville City — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 2.8% / 3.2%
North Ward — New Zealand: 2.8% Townsville City — New Zealand: 3.2%
India 1.1% / 1.5%
North Ward — India: 1.1% Townsville City — India: 1.5%
Philippines 1.3% / 1.1%
North Ward — Philippines: 1.3% Townsville City — Philippines: 1.1%
South Africa 0.9% / 0.7%
North Ward — South Africa: 0.9% Townsville City — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.8%
North Ward — Scotland: 0.7% Townsville City — Scotland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Ward 57.6% flats / apartments
North Ward — Flats / Apartments: 57.6% North Ward — Houses: 23.5% North Ward — Townhouses: 18.9%
Townsville City 83.5% flats / apartments
Townsville City — Flats / Apartments: 83.5% Townsville City — Houses: 11.5% Townsville City — Townhouses: 5.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

North Ward Townsville City
Median house price $1,050,000 $760,000
Median unit price $543,500 $480,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 47 days
from 43 sales
 60 days
from 14 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 Ward Townsville City
2 bed $722K / $540K
North Ward — 2 bed: $722K (6 sales) Townsville City — 2 bed: $540K (10 sales)

6 vs 10 sales

3 bed $985K / $880K
North Ward — 3 bed: $985K (22 sales) Townsville City — 3 bed: $880K (7 sales)

22 vs 7 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $885K
North Ward — 4 bed: $1.11M (27 sales) Townsville City — 4 bed: $885K (5 sales)

27 vs 5 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.

North Ward Townsville City
1 bed $315K / $356K
North Ward — 1 bed: $315K (19 sales) Townsville City — 1 bed: $356K (32 sales)

19 vs 32 sales

2 bed $508K / $482K
North Ward — 2 bed: $508K (102 sales) Townsville City — 2 bed: $482K (70 sales)

102 vs 70 sales

3 bed $780K / $606K
North Ward — 3 bed: $780K (42 sales) Townsville City — 3 bed: $606K (42 sales)

42 vs 42 sales

Development activity

North Ward Townsville City
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.

North Ward Townsville City
Houses 2.6%
$600/wk on $1.2M
 4.3%
$500/wk on $600K
Units 4.3%
$500/wk on $599K
 6.5%
$680/wk on $547K

Ranking within QLD

North Ward Townsville City
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 49% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD
Schools Higher than 89% of QLD —
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 45% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD

Liveability

Townsville City is more walkable (91 vs 78).

North Ward Townsville City
Grade B
same for both
Score 59/100 55/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

North Ward Townsville City
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
89/100
 High
98/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
56/100
 Low
24/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

North Ward Townsville City
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 1.4 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 1.8%

Schools in North Ward

  • St Joseph's Catholic School, The Strand Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Townsville Central State School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Patrick's College Townsville Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Townsville Grammar School Independent · Secondary below peers

Schools in Townsville City

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

Amenities in the suburb

North Ward Townsville City
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 24
same for both
Parks & reserves 10 5
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 2
same for both
Pharmacies 1 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Beaches 4 0

Mobility

North Ward Townsville City
Walkability score 78/100 91/100
Distance to Brisbane 1353.5 km 1351.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 926 min 923 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 35.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 206.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4810
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 4810
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 Ward Townsville City
Car (driver) 74.4% / 67.2%
North Ward — Car (driver): 74.4% Townsville City — Car (driver): 67.2%
Walked Only 8.2% / 15.7%
North Ward — Walked Only: 8.2% Townsville City — Walked Only: 15.7%
Worked from Home 7.9% / 8.2%
North Ward — Worked from Home: 7.9% Townsville City — Worked from Home: 8.2%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 5.4%
North Ward — Car (passenger): 5.9% Townsville City — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bicycle 2.4% / 1.9%
North Ward — Bicycle: 2.4% Townsville City — Bicycle: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.4%).

Setting

North Ward Townsville City
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 426 m
387 m to a named beach
 822 m
818 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Ward Townsville City
Connectivity score 96/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 90%
3,699 premises
 85%
3,468 premises

Climate

North Ward Townsville City
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)

North Ward Townsville City
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³ —
PM10 15.6 µg/m³ 15.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.25 pphm —

Council rates

North Ward Townsville City
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

North Ward Townsville City
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Ward

Affordable Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Parks Professionals

Townsville City

Affordable Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Ward

North Ward vs Belgian Gardens North Ward vs Castle Hill North Ward vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Townsville City

Townsville City vs West End Townsville City vs Railway Estate Townsville City vs South Townsville Townsville City vs Castle Hill Townsville City vs Coral Sea
Full data on North Ward Full data on Townsville 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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