Rowes Bay vs Garbutt

Garbutt is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 69 in Rowes Bay. In Rowes Bay, most households own their home and the large majority of households are people living alone. In Garbutt, most households rent, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Rowes Bay: a median of $965,000, against $565,000 in Garbutt, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Rowes Bay tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Garbutt suits renters and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Garbutt

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (65% vs 36%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (36% vs 20%)
  • But Rowes Bay has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Garbutt

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 51%)
  • has cheaper houses ($565,000 vs $965,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Garbutt

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (57% vs 35%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($220/wk vs $265/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Garbutt

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (930 min vs 945 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1355.6 km vs 1358 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Rowes Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (57% vs 19%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 35%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rowes Bay Garbutt
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.

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Walkability 25 / 32
Rowes Bay — Walkability: 25/100 Garbutt — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 2 / 2
Rowes Bay — Safety: 2/100 Garbutt — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 57 / 48
Rowes Bay — Low fire risk: 57/100 Garbutt — Low fire risk: 48/100

Demographics

Garbutt has more residents (2,309 vs 541); Rowes Bay skews older (69 vs 42).

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Population 541 2,309
+327% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.6% -3.6%
Median age 69 42
Median household income $44,356/yr $56,264/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $265/wk
+17% vs other
 $220/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rowes Bay Garbutt
0-4 0.9% / 5.1%
Rowes Bay — 0-4: 0.9% Garbutt — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 7.4% / 9.4%
Rowes Bay — 5-14: 7.4% Garbutt — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 5.5% / 5.6%
Rowes Bay — 15-19: 5.5% Garbutt — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 1.7% / 8.0%
Rowes Bay — 20-24: 1.7% Garbutt — 20-24: 8.0%
25-34 4.4% / 14.3%
Rowes Bay — 25-34: 4.4% Garbutt — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 7.9% / 10.9%
Rowes Bay — 35-44: 7.9% Garbutt — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 7.2% / 13.1%
Rowes Bay — 45-54: 7.2% Garbutt — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 7.0% / 14.1%
Rowes Bay — 55-64: 7.0% Garbutt — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 17.4% / 11.4%
Rowes Bay — 65-74: 17.4% Garbutt — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 19.6% / 6.0%
Rowes Bay — 75-84: 19.6% Garbutt — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 19.6% / 1.6%
Rowes Bay — 85+: 19.6% Garbutt — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rowes Bay 76.8% lone person
Rowes Bay — Lone Person: 76.8% Rowes Bay — Couple Families: 15.8% Rowes Bay — One Parent Families: 4.5% Rowes Bay — Group Household: 2.8% Rowes Bay — Other Families: 0.0%
Garbutt 54.7% lone person
Garbutt — Lone Person: 54.7% Garbutt — Couple Families: 15.9% Garbutt — One Parent Families: 20.0% Garbutt — Group Household: 7.3% Garbutt — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rowes Bay 34.8% renting
Rowes Bay — Owned Outright: 39.8% Rowes Bay — Mortgage: 25.5% Rowes Bay — Renting: 34.8%
Garbutt 57.1% renting
Garbutt — Owned Outright: 18.1% Garbutt — Mortgage: 24.8% Garbutt — Renting: 57.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 16.8%
Rowes Bay — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% Garbutt — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 11.3% / 7.0%
Rowes Bay — Bachelor Degree: 11.3% Garbutt — Bachelor Degree: 7.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 5.7%
Rowes Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Garbutt — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 1.7%
Rowes Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Garbutt — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 0.7%
Rowes Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Garbutt — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

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.

Rowes Bay Garbutt
England 5.7% / 1.8%
Rowes Bay — England: 5.7% Garbutt — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.7% / 3.4%
Rowes Bay — New Zealand: 1.7% Garbutt — New Zealand: 3.4%
Philippines — / 2.0%
Rowes Bay — Philippines: not among its largest Garbutt — Philippines: 2.0%
Germany 1.5% / 0.3%
Rowes Bay — Germany: 1.5% Garbutt — Germany: 0.3%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.6%
Rowes Bay — Scotland: 0.6% Garbutt — Scotland: 0.6%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.3%
Rowes Bay — South Africa: 0.7% Garbutt — South Africa: 0.3%
India 0.7% / —
Rowes Bay — India: 0.7% Garbutt — India: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 0.4%
Rowes Bay — Malaysia: not among its largest Garbutt — Malaysia: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rowes Bay 36.1% houses
Rowes Bay — Houses: 36.1% Rowes Bay — Townhouses: 59.6% Rowes Bay — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Garbutt 65.3% houses
Garbutt — Houses: 65.3% Garbutt — Townhouses: 31.6% Garbutt — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Median house price $965,000 $565,000
Median unit price — $395,000
Median land price — $1,100,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 94 days
from 3 sales
 27 days
from 23 sales

Development activity

Rowes Bay Garbutt
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.

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Houses — 4.8%
$550/wk on $599K
Units — 6.1%
$530/wk on $449K

Ranking within QLD

Rowes Bay Garbutt
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 7% of QLD Higher than 19% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 73% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 98% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 85% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 91% of QLD

Liveability

Rowes Bay scores higher overall (36 vs 15).

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Grade C D
Score 36/100 15/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Bushfire Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
52/100
Crime High
98/100
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
73/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise High
100/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 4.0 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 5.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.7% 1.1%

Schools in Rowes Bay

  • Cleveland Education and Training Centre Government · Combined · Special school above peers

Schools in Garbutt

  • Garbutt State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 9
Parks & reserves 0 4
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 1 12

Mobility

Rowes Bay sits further from the CBD (1358 km vs 1355.6 km).

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Walkability score 25/100 32/100
Distance to Brisbane 1358 km 1355.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 945 min 930 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 63.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 29.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4810
 0.7%
postcode 4814
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 4810
 63
postcode 4814

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.

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Car (driver) 85.7% / 80.6%
Rowes Bay — Car (driver): 85.7% Garbutt — Car (driver): 80.6%
Worked from Home 10.1% / 3.6%
Rowes Bay — Worked from Home: 10.1% Garbutt — Worked from Home: 3.6%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 9.4%
Rowes Bay — Car (passenger): 4.2% Garbutt — Car (passenger): 9.4%
Walked Only — / 3.5%
Rowes Bay — Walked Only: not among its largest Garbutt — Walked Only: 3.5%
Bicycle — / 1.8%
Rowes Bay — Bicycle: not among its largest Garbutt — Bicycle: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.7%).

Setting

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 832 m
2.6 km to a named beach
 3.3 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Connectivity score 85/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
444 premises
 91%
3,077 premises

Climate

Rowes Bay Garbutt
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)

Rowes Bay Garbutt
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.25 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rowes Bay Garbutt
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rowes Bay

Coastal Professionals Retirees River Townhouses

Garbutt

Affordable Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rowes Bay

Rowes Bay vs Belgian Gardens Rowes Bay vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Garbutt

Garbutt vs Mount Louisa Garbutt vs Heatley Garbutt vs West End Garbutt vs Currajong Garbutt vs Vincent Garbutt vs Belgian Gardens
Full data on Rowes Bay Full data on Garbutt
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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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