Railway Estate vs South Townsville

Railway Estate is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in South Townsville. In Railway Estate, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. In South Townsville, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. On these figures, South Townsville tends to suit 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

Railway Estate

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (71% vs 52%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (43% vs 33%)

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

First-home buyers

Railway Estate

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($371,000 vs $460,000)

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

Railway Estate

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (48/100 vs 39/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Railway Estate is more walkable (48/100 vs 39/100)
  • South Townsville has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 29%)

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

Investors

Railway Estate

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Railway Estate and South Townsville 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 South Townsville
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 South Townsville
Walkability 48 / 39
Railway Estate — Walkability: 48/100 South Townsville — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 13 / 5
Railway Estate — Safety: 13/100 South Townsville — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Railway Estate — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Townsville — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Townsville skews older (41 vs 36).

Railway Estate South Townsville
Population 2,871
+16% vs other
 2,424
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.7% +3.0%
Median age 36 41
Median household income $79,508/yr $78,832/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Railway Estate South Townsville
0-4 5.2% / 3.5%
Railway Estate — 0-4: 5.2% South Townsville — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 11.7% / 7.8%
Railway Estate — 5-14: 11.7% South Townsville — 5-14: 7.8%
15-19 6.2% / 4.1%
Railway Estate — 15-19: 6.2% South Townsville — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 8.9% / 8.6%
Railway Estate — 20-24: 8.9% South Townsville — 20-24: 8.6%
25-34 16.1% / 16.1%
Railway Estate — 25-34: 16.1% South Townsville — 25-34: 16.1%
35-44 12.5% / 13.8%
Railway Estate — 35-44: 12.5% South Townsville — 35-44: 13.8%
45-54 13.3% / 15.4%
Railway Estate — 45-54: 13.3% South Townsville — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 13.1% / 15.6%
Railway Estate — 55-64: 13.1% South Townsville — 55-64: 15.6%
65-74 8.9% / 9.9%
Railway Estate — 65-74: 8.9% South Townsville — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 3.0% / 4.0%
Railway Estate — 75-84: 3.0% South Townsville — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 1.4% / 1.3%
Railway Estate — 85+: 1.4% South Townsville — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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%
South Townsville 55.4% lone person
South Townsville — Lone Person: 55.4% South Townsville — Couple Families: 20.7% South Townsville — One Parent Families: 12.5% South Townsville — Group Household: 8.8% South Townsville — Other Families: 2.6%
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%
South Townsville 50.3% renting
South Townsville — Owned Outright: 22.8% South Townsville — Mortgage: 26.9% South Townsville — Renting: 50.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Railway Estate South Townsville
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 16.7%
Railway Estate — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% South Townsville — Certificate III & IV: 16.7%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 11.9%
Railway Estate — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% South Townsville — Bachelor Degree: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.7%
Railway Estate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% South Townsville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 4.2%
Railway Estate — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% South Townsville — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.9%
Railway Estate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% South Townsville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

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 South Townsville
England 2.6% / 3.3%
Railway Estate — England: 2.6% South Townsville — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 2.6% / 2.5%
Railway Estate — New Zealand: 2.6% South Townsville — New Zealand: 2.5%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.9%
Railway Estate — Philippines: 0.5% South Townsville — Philippines: 0.9%
Germany 0.6% / 0.5%
Railway Estate — Germany: 0.6% South Townsville — Germany: 0.5%
India 0.5% / 0.4%
Railway Estate — India: 0.5% South Townsville — India: 0.4%
Italy — / 0.5%
Railway Estate — Italy: not among its largest South Townsville — Italy: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

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%
South Townsville 51.8% houses
South Townsville — Houses: 51.8% South Townsville — Townhouses: 24.8% South Townsville — Flats / Apartments: 23.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Railway Estate South Townsville
Median house price $612,750 $665,500
Median unit price $371,000 $460,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 38 sales
 26 days
from 23 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.

Railway Estate South Townsville
2 bed $360K / $432K
Railway Estate — 2 bed: $360K (15 sales) South Townsville — 2 bed: $432K (57 sales)

15 vs 57 sales

3 bed $519K / $652K
Railway Estate — 3 bed: $519K (6 sales) South Townsville — 3 bed: $652K (24 sales)

6 vs 24 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 South Townsville
2 bed $545K / $645K
Railway Estate — 2 bed: $545K (23 sales) South Townsville — 2 bed: $645K (14 sales)

23 vs 14 sales

3 bed $600K / $620K
Railway Estate — 3 bed: $600K (58 sales) South Townsville — 3 bed: $620K (27 sales)

58 vs 27 sales

4 bed $700K / $670K
Railway Estate — 4 bed: $700K (27 sales) South Townsville — 4 bed: $670K (17 sales)

27 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Railway Estate South Townsville
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 South Townsville
Houses 5.0%
$650/wk on $675K
 4.2%
$602/wk on $750K
Units 5.6%
$450/wk on $419K
 5.3%
$450/wk on $440K

Ranking within QLD

Railway Estate South Townsville
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 Higher than 84% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 97% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 63% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD

Liveability

Railway Estate is more walkable (48 vs 39).

Railway Estate South Townsville
Grade C
same for both
Score 39/100 35/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
same for both

Risk profile

Railway Estate South Townsville
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 High
95/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
90/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Railway Estate South Townsville
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 1.9 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 1.9%

Schools in Railway Estate

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

Schools in South Townsville

  • Townsville South State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Railway Estate South Townsville
Cafes & restaurants 0 6
Parks & reserves 5 7
Childcare 2
same for both
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Railway Estate South Townsville
Walkability score 48/100 39/100
Distance to Brisbane 1349.2 km 1350 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 921 min 920 min
Public transport score 58/100
Bus
 67/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 18.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 19.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Railway Estate South Townsville
Car (driver) 83.0% / 77.8%
Railway Estate — Car (driver): 83.0% South Townsville — Car (driver): 77.8%
Worked from Home 5.2% / 7.1%
Railway Estate — Worked from Home: 5.2% South Townsville — Worked from Home: 7.1%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 5.0%
Railway Estate — Car (passenger): 7.1% South Townsville — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Walked Only 1.7% / 8.0%
Railway Estate — Walked Only: 1.7% South Townsville — Walked Only: 8.0%
Bicycle 1.7% / 1.5%
Railway Estate — Bicycle: 1.7% South Townsville — Bicycle: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.0%).

Setting

Railway Estate South Townsville
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
2.1 km to a named beach
 677 m
833 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Railway Estate South Townsville
Connectivity score 100/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,657 premises
 84%
1,842 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Railway Estate South Townsville
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Railway Estate South Townsville
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

South Townsville

Affordable Beach Coastal 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 Oonoonba Railway Estate vs Stuart

Other comparisons with South Townsville

South Townsville vs Townsville City South Townsville vs Stuart South Townsville vs Coral Sea
Full data on Railway Estate Full data on South Townsville
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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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