Saunders Beach vs Yabulu

Yabulu is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 49 in Saunders Beach. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Saunders Beach, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Saunders Beach 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

Saunders Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (95% vs 83%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Yabulu

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Saunders Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (945 min vs 991 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (1382.7 km vs 1385.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Yabulu

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Yabulu

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.2% vs -5.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Saunders Beach Yabulu
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.

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Walkability 0 / 0
Saunders Beach — Walkability: 0/100 Yabulu — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 29 / 24
Saunders Beach — Safety: 29/100 Yabulu — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Saunders Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Yabulu — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Yabulu has more residents (719 vs 385); Saunders Beach rents higher ($320/wk vs $280/wk).

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Population 385 719
+87% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.9% +3.2%
Median age 49 43
Median household income $77,116/yr
+9% vs other
 $70,408/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+12% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Saunders Beach Yabulu
0-4 3.9% / 5.0%
Saunders Beach — 0-4: 3.9% Yabulu — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 11.7% / 13.4%
Saunders Beach — 5-14: 11.7% Yabulu — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 4.9% / 5.4%
Saunders Beach — 15-19: 4.9% Yabulu — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 4.9% / 4.9%
Saunders Beach — 20-24: 4.9% Yabulu — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 6.2% / 9.7%
Saunders Beach — 25-34: 6.2% Yabulu — 25-34: 9.7%
35-44 10.4% / 14.5%
Saunders Beach — 35-44: 10.4% Yabulu — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 19.2% / 14.2%
Saunders Beach — 45-54: 19.2% Yabulu — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 23.6% / 18.8%
Saunders Beach — 55-64: 23.6% Yabulu — 55-64: 18.8%
65-74 10.1% / 11.0%
Saunders Beach — 65-74: 10.1% Yabulu — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 5.7% / 3.2%
Saunders Beach — 75-84: 5.7% Yabulu — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 1.8% / 0.6%
Saunders Beach — 85+: 1.8% Yabulu — 85+: 0.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Saunders Beach 48.3% lone person
Saunders Beach — Lone Person: 48.3% Saunders Beach — Couple Families: 26.3% Saunders Beach — One Parent Families: 18.6% Saunders Beach — Group Household: 6.8%
Yabulu 37.9% lone person
Yabulu — Lone Person: 37.9% Yabulu — Couple Families: 36.2% Yabulu — One Parent Families: 15.8% Yabulu — Group Household: 10.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Saunders Beach 25.2% renting
Saunders Beach — Owned Outright: 34.6% Saunders Beach — Mortgage: 40.3% Saunders Beach — Renting: 25.2%
Yabulu 18.6% renting
Yabulu — Owned Outright: 36.0% Yabulu — Mortgage: 45.5% Yabulu — Renting: 18.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 20.6%
Saunders Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Yabulu — Certificate III & IV: 20.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 4.5%
Saunders Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Yabulu — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.5%
Bachelor Degree 7.8% / 2.8%
Saunders Beach — Bachelor Degree: 7.8% Yabulu — Bachelor Degree: 2.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 0.6%
Saunders Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Yabulu — Postgraduate Degree: 0.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 0.4%
Saunders Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Yabulu — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

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.

Saunders Beach Yabulu
England 6.0% / 1.8%
Saunders Beach — England: 6.0% Yabulu — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 3.9% / 2.9%
Saunders Beach — New Zealand: 3.9% Yabulu — New Zealand: 2.9%
Germany 1.3% / 0.4%
Saunders Beach — Germany: 1.3% Yabulu — Germany: 0.4%
Scotland 1.3% / —
Saunders Beach — Scotland: 1.3% Yabulu — Scotland: not among its largest
Netherlands 1.0% / —
Saunders Beach — Netherlands: 1.0% Yabulu — Netherlands: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.7%
Saunders Beach — Philippines: not among its largest Yabulu — Philippines: 0.7%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Saunders Beach — South Africa: not among its largest Yabulu — South Africa: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Saunders Beach 94.6% houses
Saunders Beach — Houses: 94.6% Saunders Beach — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Saunders Beach — Townhouses: 6.6%
Yabulu 83.1% houses
Yabulu — Houses: 83.1% Yabulu — Flats / Apartments: 16.9% Yabulu — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Median house price $570,000
same for both
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $665,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 69 days
from 3 sales

Development activity

Saunders Beach Yabulu
New dwellings approved 1,096
across Townsville
same for both
Approvals change year on year -22%
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Saunders Beach Yabulu
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 48% of QLD Higher than 38% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 13% of QLD Higher than 61% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 69% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 52% of QLD Higher than 68% of QLD

Liveability

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Grade — D
Score — 23/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 High
76/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
81/100
 High
85/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Saunders Beach Yabulu
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Yabulu sits further from the CBD (1385.6 km vs 1382.7 km).

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Brisbane 1382.7 km 1385.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 945 min 991 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 4818
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 87
postcode 4818
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.

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Car (driver) 94.4% / 80.5%
Saunders Beach — Car (driver): 94.4% Yabulu — Car (driver): 80.5%
Worked from Home 2.1% / 8.2%
Saunders Beach — Worked from Home: 2.1% Yabulu — Worked from Home: 8.2%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 5.9%
Saunders Beach — Car (passenger): 3.5% Yabulu — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Walked Only — / 3.9%
Saunders Beach — Walked Only: not among its largest Yabulu — Walked Only: 3.9%
Bus — / 1.6%
Saunders Beach — Bus: not among its largest Yabulu — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (94.4%).

Setting

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 746 m 3.6 km

NBN connectivity

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Connectivity score 30/100 43/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
220 premises
 0%
277 premises

Climate

Saunders Beach Yabulu
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)

Saunders Beach Yabulu
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

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Saunders Beach Yabulu
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Saunders Beach

Acreage Affordable Coastal

Yabulu

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Saunders Beach

Saunders Beach vs Bluewater Saunders Beach vs Coral Sea

Other comparisons with Yabulu

Yabulu vs Black River Yabulu vs Bluewater Yabulu vs Coral Sea
Full data on Saunders Beach Full data on Yabulu
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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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