Railway Estate vs Oonoonba

Oonoonba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 36 in Railway Estate. In both, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. In Railway Estate, most households own their home. In Oonoonba, about half of households rent. On these figures, Oonoonba tends to suit renters and 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

Railway Estate

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Oonoonba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($282,000 vs $371,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Oonoonba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (53% vs 42%)

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

Commuting to the city

Oonoonba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (1347 km vs 1349.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

  • Railway Estate returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 4.5%)
  • Oonoonba is growing faster (22.4% vs 0.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Railway Estate Oonoonba
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.

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Walkability 48 / 45
Railway Estate — Walkability: 48/100 Oonoonba — Walkability: 45/100
Safety 13 / 14
Railway Estate — Safety: 13/100 Oonoonba — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Railway Estate — Low fire risk: 100/100 Oonoonba — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Railway Estate has more residents (2,871 vs 2,050); Railway Estate skews older (36 vs 31).

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Population 2,871
+29% vs other
 2,050
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.7% +22.4%
Median age 36 31
Median household income $79,508/yr
+1% vs other
 $78,520/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk $320/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Railway Estate Oonoonba
0-4 5.2% / 4.9%
Railway Estate — 0-4: 5.2% Oonoonba — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 11.7% / 8.8%
Railway Estate — 5-14: 11.7% Oonoonba — 5-14: 8.8%
15-19 6.2% / 5.7%
Railway Estate — 15-19: 6.2% Oonoonba — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 8.9% / 14.7%
Railway Estate — 20-24: 8.9% Oonoonba — 20-24: 14.7%
25-34 16.1% / 22.1%
Railway Estate — 25-34: 16.1% Oonoonba — 25-34: 22.1%
35-44 12.5% / 12.8%
Railway Estate — 35-44: 12.5% Oonoonba — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 13.3% / 9.9%
Railway Estate — 45-54: 13.3% Oonoonba — 45-54: 9.9%
55-64 13.1% / 10.2%
Railway Estate — 55-64: 13.1% Oonoonba — 55-64: 10.2%
65-74 8.9% / 6.5%
Railway Estate — 65-74: 8.9% Oonoonba — 65-74: 6.5%
75-84 3.0% / 3.6%
Railway Estate — 75-84: 3.0% Oonoonba — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 1.4% / 1.1%
Railway Estate — 85+: 1.4% Oonoonba — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Railway Estate 47.0% lone person
Railway Estate — Lone Person: 47.0% Railway Estate — Couple Families: 25.4% Railway Estate — One Parent Families: 17.3% Railway Estate — Group Household: 8.0% Railway Estate — Other Families: 2.3%
Oonoonba 51.3% lone person
Oonoonba — Lone Person: 51.3% Oonoonba — Couple Families: 20.2% Oonoonba — One Parent Families: 16.5% Oonoonba — Group Household: 9.6% Oonoonba — Other Families: 2.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Railway Estate 42.0% renting
Railway Estate — Owned Outright: 24.9% Railway Estate — Mortgage: 33.2% Railway Estate — Renting: 42.0%
Oonoonba 52.6% renting
Oonoonba — Owned Outright: 17.2% Oonoonba — Mortgage: 30.2% Oonoonba — Renting: 52.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 18.1%
Railway Estate — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% Oonoonba — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 12.1%
Railway Estate — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Oonoonba — Bachelor Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 5.6%
Railway Estate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Oonoonba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 2.7%
Railway Estate — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Oonoonba — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.7%
Railway Estate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Oonoonba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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.

Railway Estate Oonoonba
England 2.6% / 2.1%
Railway Estate — England: 2.6% Oonoonba — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 2.6% / 2.0%
Railway Estate — New Zealand: 2.6% Oonoonba — New Zealand: 2.0%
Philippines 0.5% / 1.2%
Railway Estate — Philippines: 0.5% Oonoonba — Philippines: 1.2%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.8%
Railway Estate — South Africa: 0.4% Oonoonba — South Africa: 0.8%
Germany 0.6% / 0.2%
Railway Estate — Germany: 0.6% Oonoonba — Germany: 0.2%
India 0.5% / 0.3%
Railway Estate — India: 0.5% Oonoonba — India: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Railway Estate 71.2% houses
Railway Estate — Houses: 71.2% Railway Estate — Townhouses: 23.3% Railway Estate — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Oonoonba 73.3% houses
Oonoonba — Houses: 73.3% Oonoonba — Townhouses: 23.3% Oonoonba — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Median house price $612,750 $597,000
Median unit price $371,000 $282,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 38 sales
 20 days
from 15 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.

Railway Estate Oonoonba
2 bed $545K / $552K
Railway Estate — 2 bed: $545K (23 sales) Oonoonba — 2 bed: $552K (6 sales)

23 vs 6 sales

3 bed $600K / $635K
Railway Estate — 3 bed: $600K (58 sales) Oonoonba — 3 bed: $635K (34 sales)

58 vs 34 sales

4 bed $700K / $530K
Railway Estate — 4 bed: $700K (27 sales) Oonoonba — 4 bed: $530K (6 sales)

27 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Railway Estate Oonoonba
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.

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Houses 5.0%
$650/wk on $675K
 4.5%
$565/wk on $649K
Units 5.6%
$450/wk on $419K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Railway Estate Oonoonba
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 50% of QLD Higher than 49% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 74% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 93% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 78% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 83% of QLD —

Liveability

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Grade C
same for both
Score 39/100 36/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 High
86/100
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 11
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 1.9 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 3.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 3.1%

Schools in Railway Estate

  • Railway Estate State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Townsville State High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Oonoonba

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

Amenities in the suburb

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 2
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Railway Estate sits further from the CBD (1349.2 km vs 1347 km).

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Walkability score 48/100 45/100
Distance to Brisbane 1349.2 km 1347 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 921 min 917 min
Public transport score 58/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 18.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 6.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4810
 0.7%
postcode 4811
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 4810
 61
postcode 4811

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.

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Car (driver) 83.0% / 87.9%
Railway Estate — Car (driver): 83.0% Oonoonba — Car (driver): 87.9%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 5.5%
Railway Estate — Car (passenger): 7.1% Oonoonba — Car (passenger): 5.5%
Worked from Home 5.2% / 4.6%
Railway Estate — Worked from Home: 5.2% Oonoonba — Worked from Home: 4.6%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.0%
Railway Estate — Walked Only: 1.7% Oonoonba — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bicycle 1.7% / 0.7%
Railway Estate — Bicycle: 1.7% Oonoonba — Bicycle: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (87.9%).

Setting

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
2.1 km to a named beach
 3.1 km
3.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Connectivity score 100/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,657 premises
 69%
1,144 premises

Climate

Railway Estate Oonoonba
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)

Railway Estate Oonoonba
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Division Herbert Dawson
Member Phillip Thompson Andrew Willcox
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Railway Estate Oonoonba
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Railway Estate

Affordable Coastal Parks Quiet Townhouses

Oonoonba

Affordable Quiet Students Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Railway Estate

Railway Estate vs West End Railway Estate vs Hermit Park Railway Estate vs Townsville City Railway Estate vs South Townsville Railway Estate vs Stuart

Other comparisons with Oonoonba

Oonoonba vs Idalia Oonoonba vs Hermit Park Oonoonba vs Rosslea Oonoonba vs Stuart Oonoonba vs Cluden
Full data on Railway Estate Full data on Oonoonba
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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