Railway Estate vs Townsville City

Railway Estate is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 39 in Townsville City. In Railway Estate, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. In Townsville City, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Townsville City: a median of $760,000, against $613,000 in Railway Estate, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Railway Estate tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Townsville City suits 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

Railway Estate

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (71% vs 12%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (43% vs 23%)

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

First-home buyers

Railway Estate

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($371,000 vs $480,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($612,750 vs $760,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Railway Estate has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $390/wk)
  • Townsville City has a bigger rental market to choose from (58% vs 42%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Railway Estate sits closer to the CBD (1349.2 km vs 1351.7 km)
  • Townsville City is more walkable (91/100 vs 48/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Townsville City

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (88% vs 29%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 48/100)
  • But Railway Estate carries lower crime risk (87/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Railway Estate returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 4.3%)
  • Townsville City returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 5.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Railway Estate 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.

Railway Estate 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.

Railway Estate Townsville City
Walkability 48 / 91
Railway Estate — Walkability: 48/100 Townsville City — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 13 / 2
Railway Estate — Safety: 13/100 Townsville City — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Railway Estate — Low fire risk: 100/100 Townsville City — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Townsville City has higher household incomes ($104,676 vs $79,508); Townsville City rents higher ($390/wk vs $300/wk).

Railway Estate Townsville City
Population 2,871 2,945
+3% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.7% +1.2%
Median age 36 39
Median household income $79,508/yr $104,676/yr
+32% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $390/wk
+30% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Railway Estate Townsville City
0-4 5.2% / 2.5%
Railway Estate — 0-4: 5.2% Townsville City — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 11.7% / 4.4%
Railway Estate — 5-14: 11.7% Townsville City — 5-14: 4.4%
15-19 6.2% / 2.9%
Railway Estate — 15-19: 6.2% Townsville City — 15-19: 2.9%
20-24 8.9% / 9.0%
Railway Estate — 20-24: 8.9% Townsville City — 20-24: 9.0%
25-34 16.1% / 23.6%
Railway Estate — 25-34: 16.1% Townsville City — 25-34: 23.6%
35-44 12.5% / 13.3%
Railway Estate — 35-44: 12.5% Townsville City — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 13.3% / 13.6%
Railway Estate — 45-54: 13.3% Townsville City — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 13.1% / 15.0%
Railway Estate — 55-64: 13.1% Townsville City — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 8.9% / 10.7%
Railway Estate — 65-74: 8.9% Townsville City — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 3.0% / 4.1%
Railway Estate — 75-84: 3.0% Townsville City — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.4% / 1.0%
Railway Estate — 85+: 1.4% Townsville City — 85+: 1.0%

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

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%
Townsville City 65.0% lone person
Townsville City — Lone Person: 65.0% Townsville City — Couple Families: 15.4% Townsville City — One Parent Families: 7.5% Townsville City — Group Household: 9.9% Townsville City — Other Families: 2.2%
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%
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.

Railway Estate Townsville City
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 20.9%
Railway Estate — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Townsville City — Bachelor Degree: 20.9%
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 13.1%
Railway Estate — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% Townsville City — Certificate III & IV: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.1%
Railway Estate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Townsville City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 7.9%
Railway Estate — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Townsville City — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 3.1%
Railway Estate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% 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.

Railway Estate Townsville City
England 2.6% / 4.6%
Railway Estate — England: 2.6% Townsville City — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 2.6% / 3.2%
Railway Estate — New Zealand: 2.6% Townsville City — New Zealand: 3.2%
India 0.5% / 1.5%
Railway Estate — India: 0.5% Townsville City — India: 1.5%
Philippines 0.5% / 1.1%
Railway Estate — Philippines: 0.5% Townsville City — Philippines: 1.1%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.8%
Railway Estate — Scotland: 0.5% Townsville City — Scotland: 0.8%
Germany 0.6% / —
Railway Estate — Germany: 0.6% Townsville City — Germany: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Railway Estate 5.5% flats / apartments
Railway Estate — Flats / Apartments: 5.5% Railway Estate — Houses: 71.2% Railway Estate — Townhouses: 23.3%
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

Railway Estate Townsville City
Median house price $612,750 $760,000
Median unit price $371,000 $480,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 38 sales
 60 days
from 14 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 Townsville City
2 bed $360K / $482K
Railway Estate — 2 bed: $360K (15 sales) Townsville City — 2 bed: $482K (70 sales)

15 vs 70 sales

3 bed $519K / $606K
Railway Estate — 3 bed: $519K (6 sales) Townsville City — 3 bed: $606K (42 sales)

6 vs 42 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 Townsville City
2 bed $545K / $540K
Railway Estate — 2 bed: $545K (23 sales) Townsville City — 2 bed: $540K (10 sales)

23 vs 10 sales

3 bed $600K / $880K
Railway Estate — 3 bed: $600K (58 sales) Townsville City — 3 bed: $880K (7 sales)

58 vs 7 sales

4 bed $700K / $885K
Railway Estate — 4 bed: $700K (27 sales) Townsville City — 4 bed: $885K (5 sales)

27 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Railway Estate 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.

Railway Estate Townsville City
Houses 5.0%
$650/wk on $675K
 4.3%
$500/wk on $600K
Units 5.6%
$450/wk on $419K
 6.5%
$680/wk on $547K

Ranking within QLD

Railway Estate Townsville City
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 50% of QLD Higher than 77% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 99% 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 70% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 94% of QLD

Liveability

Townsville City is more walkable (91 vs 48); Townsville City scores higher overall (55 vs 39).

Railway Estate Townsville City
Grade C B
Score 39/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Townsville City carries more crime risk (98 vs 87).

Railway Estate Townsville City
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 High
98/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
24/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Railway Estate Townsville City
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, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 1.8%

Schools in Railway Estate

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

Railway Estate Townsville City
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 24
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 2 3
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Townsville City sits further from the CBD (1351.7 km vs 1349.2 km).

Railway Estate Townsville City
Walkability score 48/100 91/100
Distance to Brisbane 1349.2 km 1351.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 921 min 923 min
Public transport score 58/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 18.0
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.

Railway Estate Townsville City
Car (driver) 83.0% / 67.2%
Railway Estate — Car (driver): 83.0% Townsville City — Car (driver): 67.2%
Walked Only 1.7% / 15.7%
Railway Estate — Walked Only: 1.7% Townsville City — Walked Only: 15.7%
Worked from Home 5.2% / 8.2%
Railway Estate — Worked from Home: 5.2% Townsville City — Worked from Home: 8.2%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 5.4%
Railway Estate — Car (passenger): 7.1% Townsville City — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bicycle 1.7% / 1.9%
Railway Estate — Bicycle: 1.7% Townsville City — Bicycle: 1.9%

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

Setting

Railway Estate Townsville City
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.7 km
2.1 km to a named beach
 822 m
818 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Railway Estate Townsville City
Connectivity score 100/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,657 premises
 85%
3,468 premises

Climate

Railway Estate 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)

Railway Estate Townsville City
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.6 µg/m³ 15.5 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Railway Estate 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

Railway Estate Townsville City
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

Townsville City

Affordable Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Railway Estate

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

Other comparisons with Townsville City

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