Moving to Kelso QLD 4815
What the official numbers say about living in Kelso — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $300 a week, against a median household income of $1,626 a week.
About 67% of homes are owner-occupied and 32% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Kelso grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (10,202 → 10,599 people).
Around 79% of households are families, averaging 2.8 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, England, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Australian Indigenous, Italian, Thai.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Kelso scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (93% of workers).
Nearest airport: RAAF Base Townsville, 14.2 km north.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 1105 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 3 schools · 2 cafes & restaurants · 1 supermarket · 12 parks — see them all on the Kelso profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Kelso State School 400 m · Good Shepard Catholic Community School 2.3 km · Rasmussen State School 2.3 km
Groceries: Woolworths 2.4 km
Parks and reserves: Charles Moroney Park 150 m · Blue Wren Drive Park 900 m · Blue Hills Park 950 m · Ponti Road Park 1.1 km · Framara Park 1.2 km · Rosewood Avenue Park 1.3 km · Rosemead Park 1.3 km · North Ross Park 2.3 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Kelso, most often seen first: Peaceful Dove · Magpie-lark · Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian White Ibis · Yellow Honeyeater · Brown Honeyeater.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Kelso, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelso here | 10,599 | — | 2/10 | 21% |
| Rasmussen | 4,669 | — | 1/10 | 15% |
| Condon | 5,894 | — | 2/10 | 17% |
| Douglas | 7,780 | — | 9/10 | 25% |
| Thuringowa Central | 1,953 | — | 3/10 | 11% |
| Kirwan | 20,780 | — | 3/10 | 8% |
| Bohle Plains | 3,989 | — | 8/10 | 29% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Townsville — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Herbert — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4815 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Kelso profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $300 a week, and about 32% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 10,202 people to 10,599. It sits about 1105 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Townsville council, and the federal seat is Herbert.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Kelso vs Rasmussen · Kelso vs Condon.
Nearby guides: Rasmussen · Condon · Douglas · Thuringowa Central · Kirwan · Bohle Plains.
Keep an eye on Kelso
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