Townsville
North Queensland's biggest city: defence, port, health, education and a strong trades workforce.
Snapshot
- Population: 192,768 at the 2021 Census (Townsville City LGA); estimated 206,260 at 30 June 2025 (preliminary ERP)
- Median age 36; median weekly household income $1,701 (2021 Census)
- Top industries of employment (2021 Census): hospitals 6.6%, defence 5.6% (against 0.8% for Queensland), social assistance 3.1%, primary education 2.8%, takeaway food 2.7%
- Major projects (Townsville City Council): Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct ($86.8m in council's 2026–27 budget for enabling roads and water) and the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2 water security project ($195m State + $85m council)
Sources: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats, Townsville (LGA37010), https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA37010; QGSO, Estimated resident population by LGA/UCL, Queensland, 2001 to 2025p (published 31 March 2026), https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/statistics/theme/population/population-estimates/regions; Townsville City Council, Major Projects, https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/building-planning-and-projects/council-projects/major-projects; Townsville City Council, budget media release, June 2026, https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/news-and-publications/media-releases/2026/june/townsville-open-for-business-as-budget-invests-in-growth
What's selling
5 public listings right now (below). What we're seeing: Townsville is a steady market with plenty of buyers who know the city, a lot of them tradies and locals stepping up from a job to owning one. Well-run trade, service and food businesses with clean books tend to get attention, and freehold-plus-business deals stir up the most interest.
Life up here
Trent will eat just about anything put in front of him on the road. Just about. Eel's still off the menu, and he's not sorry.