Castle Hill vs West End

West End is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 46 in Castle Hill. In Castle Hill, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In West End, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Castle Hill: a median of $1.37 million, against $680,000 in West End, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Castle Hill tends to suit couples, while West End suits renters, people living alone, 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Castle Hill is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 35%)
  • West End has more childcare (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Castle Hill

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (17% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper units ($335,000 vs $438,500)
  • has cheaper land ($387,500 vs $482,750)
  • But West End has cheaper houses ($680,000 vs $1,370,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

West End

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $570/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West End

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 38/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (925 min vs 930 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

West End

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (51% vs 8%)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 38/100)
  • But Castle Hill carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 92/100)

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

Investors

Castle Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.3% vs -4.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Castle Hill and West End drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Castle Hill West End
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.

Castle Hill West End
Walkability 38 / 79
Castle Hill — Walkability: 38/100 West End — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 23 / 8
Castle Hill — Safety: 23/100 West End — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Castle Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 West End — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West End has more residents (3,891 vs 972); Castle Hill has higher household incomes ($196,612 vs $72,904).

Castle Hill West End
Population 972 3,891
+300% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% -4.3%
Median age 46 40
Median household income $196,612/yr
+63% vs other
 $72,904/yr
Median weekly rent $570/wk
+56% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castle Hill West End
0-4 4.4% / 5.2%
Castle Hill — 0-4: 4.4% West End — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 13.5% / 9.2%
Castle Hill — 5-14: 13.5% West End — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 6.7% / 4.6%
Castle Hill — 15-19: 6.7% West End — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 4.9% / 7.4%
Castle Hill — 20-24: 4.9% West End — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 7.8% / 16.0%
Castle Hill — 25-34: 7.8% West End — 25-34: 16.0%
35-44 9.9% / 14.0%
Castle Hill — 35-44: 9.9% West End — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 19.4% / 15.3%
Castle Hill — 45-54: 19.4% West End — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 18.7% / 13.7%
Castle Hill — 55-64: 18.7% West End — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 9.7% / 9.1%
Castle Hill — 65-74: 9.7% West End — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 4.5% / 4.7%
Castle Hill — 75-84: 4.5% West End — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 1.3% / 1.1%
Castle Hill — 85+: 1.3% West End — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Castle Hill 23.1% lone person
Castle Hill — Lone Person: 23.1% Castle Hill — Couple Families: 58.7% Castle Hill — One Parent Families: 10.7% Castle Hill — Group Household: 7.6% Castle Hill — Other Families: 0.0%
West End 57.3% lone person
West End — Lone Person: 57.3% West End — Couple Families: 20.9% West End — One Parent Families: 13.7% West End — Group Household: 6.6% West End — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Castle Hill 13.2% renting
Castle Hill — Owned Outright: 47.3% Castle Hill — Mortgage: 39.5% Castle Hill — Renting: 13.2%
West End 52.3% renting
West End — Owned Outright: 19.5% West End — Mortgage: 28.2% West End — Renting: 52.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castle Hill West End
Bachelor Degree 24.5% / 13.9%
Castle Hill — Bachelor Degree: 24.5% West End — Bachelor Degree: 13.9%
Certificate III & IV 7.6% / 16.7%
Castle Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.6% West End — Certificate III & IV: 16.7%
Postgraduate Degree 11.9% / 5.1%
Castle Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 11.9% West End — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 6.9%
Castle Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% West End — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 1.9%
Castle Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% West End — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.5%).

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.

Castle Hill West End
England 5.0% / 2.7%
Castle Hill — England: 5.0% West End — England: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.5%
Castle Hill — New Zealand: 1.6% West End — New Zealand: 2.5%
India 1.7% / 0.9%
Castle Hill — India: 1.7% West End — India: 0.9%
South Africa 1.6% / 0.5%
Castle Hill — South Africa: 1.6% West End — South Africa: 0.5%
Scotland 1.4% / —
Castle Hill — Scotland: 1.4% West End — Scotland: not among its largest
Germany 0.6% / 0.6%
Castle Hill — Germany: 0.6% West End — Germany: 0.6%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Castle Hill — Philippines: not among its largest West End — Philippines: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castle Hill 92.2% houses
Castle Hill — Houses: 92.2% Castle Hill — Townhouses: 6.6% Castle Hill — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
West End 48.7% houses
West End — Houses: 48.7% West End — Townhouses: 41.6% West End — Flats / Apartments: 9.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castle Hill West End
Median house price $1,370,000 $680,000
Median unit price $335,000 $438,500
Median land price $387,500 $482,750
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 19 sales
 20 days
from 40 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Castle Hill West End
3 bed $976K / $670K
Castle Hill — 3 bed: $976K (10 sales) West End — 3 bed: $670K (48 sales)

10 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $800K
Castle Hill — 4 bed: $1.3M (19 sales) West End — 4 bed: $800K (29 sales)

19 vs 29 sales

5 bed $1.61M / $1.11M
Castle Hill — 5 bed: $1.61M (12 sales) West End — 5 bed: $1.11M (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Castle Hill West End
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.

Castle Hill West End
Houses — 4.4%
$550/wk on $649K
Units — 5.4%
$485/wk on $469K

Ranking within QLD

Castle Hill West End
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 43% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of QLD Higher than 99% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 73% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 79% of QLD

Liveability

West End is more walkable (79 vs 38); Castle Hill scores higher overall (59 vs 41).

Castle Hill West End
Grade B C
Score 59/100 41/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

West End carries more crime risk (92 vs 77).

Castle Hill West End
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
77/100
 High
92/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Castle Hill West End
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 1.8 km
 1
James Cook University - Townsville, 2.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 1.7%

Schools in Castle Hill

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in West End

  • Townsville West State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Townsville Flexible School Catholic · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Castle Hill West End
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 3 10
Childcare 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 0 6

Mobility

Castle Hill West End
Walkability score 38/100 79/100
Distance to Brisbane 1353.8 km 1352.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 930 min 925 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 45.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 27 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4810
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 4810
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.

Castle Hill West End
Car (driver) 80.4% / 79.9%
Castle Hill — Car (driver): 80.4% West End — Car (driver): 79.9%
Worked from Home 12.2% / 7.2%
Castle Hill — Worked from Home: 12.2% West End — Worked from Home: 7.2%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 6.0%
Castle Hill — Car (passenger): 3.9% West End — Car (passenger): 6.0%
Walked Only 1.6% / 3.3%
Castle Hill — Walked Only: 1.6% West End — Walked Only: 3.3%
Bicycle 1.8% / 2.6%
Castle Hill — Bicycle: 1.8% West End — Bicycle: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.4%).

Setting

Castle Hill West End
Elevation 158 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
1.6 km to a named beach
 2.5 km
2.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Castle Hill West End
Connectivity score 100/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
486 premises
 96%
2,578 premises

Climate

Castle Hill West End
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)

Castle Hill West End
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

Castle Hill West End
Average residential rate $1,810/yr
same for both
Council Townsville
same for both

Federal electorate

Castle Hill West End
Division Herbert
same for both
Member Phillip Thompson
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Castle Hill West End
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Castle Hill

Acreage Coastal Professionals Quiet

West End

Coastal Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castle Hill

Castle Hill vs North Ward Castle Hill vs Townsville City Castle Hill vs Belgian Gardens

Other comparisons with West End

West End vs Hermit Park West End vs Townsville City West End vs Railway Estate West End vs Pimlico West End vs Currajong West End vs Garbutt
Full data on Castle Hill Full data on West End
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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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