Housing
Housing tenure
About this topic
Housing tenure shows whether households own their dwelling outright, are purchasing it, rent privately, rent from a social landlord, or occupy it under another arrangement. It describes how households hold or access housing, not the type of dwelling itself.
This topic is useful for analysing housing markets, affordability, stability, and the mix of owners and renters. It works best alongside dwelling type, household composition, and housing cost topics such as mortgage repayments and rent.
Interpretation notes
- Tenure type describes how the dwelling is occupied, including ownership, mortgage, rental, or other arrangements.
- It applies to occupied private dwellings and should not be confused with dwelling structure or housing cost measures.
Key insight
In 2021, 60.4% of households in Townsville (C) were purchasing or had fully paid off their home, while 36.6% were renting. The mortgage share was higher than Regional Qld (32.8%).
Section overview
Housing tenure
Townsville (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises housing tenure for Townsville (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Housing tenure snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Townsville (C), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Fully owned
2021 count
17,274
% of total
24.7%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
17,274
24.7%
+1.8pp
Mortgage
2021 count
24,981
% of total
35.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
24,981
35.7%
+0.5pp
Renting - Total
2021 count
25,586
% of total
36.6%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
25,586
36.6%
-2.0pp
Renting - Social housing
2021 count
2,971
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,971
4.3%
-0.1pp
Renting - Private
2021 count
22,474
% of total
32.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
22,474
32.2%
-1.5pp
Renting - Not stated
2021 count
134
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
134
0.2%
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
2021 count
1,037
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,037
1.5%
+0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,009
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,009
1.4%
-1.1pp
Chart view
Housing tenure change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Fully owned
+2,283
+1.8pp
Mortgage
+1,896
+0.5pp
Renting - Total
+273
-2.0pp
Renting - Social housing
+70
-0.1pp
Renting - Private
+381
-1.5pp
Renting - Not stated
-176
-0.3pp
Other tenure type
+475
+0.6pp
Not stated
-652
-1.1pp
Data table
Housing tenure for Townsville (C). Housing tenure. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Fully owned | 17,274 | 24.7% | 32.0% | 14,991 | 22.9% | 30.3% | +2,283 | +1.8pp |
| Mortgage | 24,981 | 35.7% | 32.8% | 23,085 | 35.2% | 31.9% | +1,896 | +0.5pp |
| Renting - Total | 25,586 | 36.6% | 31.1% | 25,313 | 38.6% | 33.9% | +273 | -2.0pp |
| Renting - Social housing | 2,971 | 4.3% | 3.3% | 2,901 | 4.4% | 3.7% | +70 | -0.1pp |
| Renting - Private | 22,474 | 32.2% | 27.6% | 22,093 | 33.7% | 29.5% | +381 | -1.5pp |
| Renting - Not stated | 134 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 310 | 0.5% | 0.7% | -176 | -0.3pp |
| Other tenure type | 1,037 | 1.5% | 2.2% | 562 | 0.9% | 1.0% | +475 | +0.6pp |
| Not stated | 1,009 | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1,661 | 2.5% | 2.9% | -652 | -1.1pp |
| Total households | 69,892 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 65,599 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,293 | 0.0pp |