Maclean vs Townsend

Townsend is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 56 in Maclean. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Maclean, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Maclean tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Townsend suits families with children.

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

Townsend

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (68/100 vs 88/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (55% vs 44%)
  • But Maclean has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Maclean

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($447,500 vs $565,000)
  • has cheaper land ($287,500 vs $335,000)

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

Renters

Maclean

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $365/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Townsend

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (41/100 vs 21/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (415 min vs 421 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (641.4 km vs 648.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Maclean has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • Townsend is more walkable (41/100 vs 21/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Maclean returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 4.0%)
  • Townsend is growing faster (11.3% vs 5.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Maclean Townsend
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.

Maclean Townsend
Walkability 21 / 41
Maclean — Walkability: 21/100 Townsend — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 12 / 32
Maclean — Safety: 12/100 Townsend — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 72 / 100
Maclean — Low fire risk: 72/100 Townsend — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Maclean has more residents (2,778 vs 991); Maclean skews older (56 vs 42).

Maclean Townsend
Population 2,778
+64% vs other
 991
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +11.3%
Median age 56 42
Median household income $50,180/yr $54,288/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $330/wk $365/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maclean Townsend
0-4 4.7% / 6.6%
Maclean — 0-4: 4.7% Townsend — 0-4: 6.6%
5-14 9.4% / 13.8%
Maclean — 5-14: 9.4% Townsend — 5-14: 13.8%
15-19 4.0% / 7.4%
Maclean — 15-19: 4.0% Townsend — 15-19: 7.4%
20-24 3.2% / 3.9%
Maclean — 20-24: 3.2% Townsend — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 7.9% / 11.4%
Maclean — 25-34: 7.9% Townsend — 25-34: 11.4%
35-44 8.6% / 11.3%
Maclean — 35-44: 8.6% Townsend — 35-44: 11.3%
45-54 10.8% / 10.9%
Maclean — 45-54: 10.8% Townsend — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 15.1% / 9.9%
Maclean — 55-64: 15.1% Townsend — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 15.7% / 14.3%
Maclean — 65-74: 15.7% Townsend — 65-74: 14.3%
75-84 13.4% / 8.4%
Maclean — 75-84: 13.4% Townsend — 75-84: 8.4%
85+ 7.2% / 3.0%
Maclean — 85+: 7.2% Townsend — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Maclean 50.6% lone person
Maclean — Lone Person: 50.6% Maclean — Couple Families: 24.4% Maclean — One Parent Families: 19.4% Maclean — Group Household: 3.7% Maclean — Other Families: 2.0%
Townsend 36.9% lone person
Townsend — Lone Person: 36.9% Townsend — Couple Families: 35.6% Townsend — One Parent Families: 19.4% Townsend — Group Household: 5.2% Townsend — Other Families: 2.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Maclean 32.2% renting
Maclean — Owned Outright: 47.7% Maclean — Mortgage: 20.1% Maclean — Renting: 32.2%
Townsend 27.9% renting
Townsend — Owned Outright: 41.5% Townsend — Mortgage: 30.5% Townsend — Renting: 27.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maclean Townsend
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 17.8%
Maclean — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% Townsend — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 5.4%
Maclean — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% Townsend — Bachelor Degree: 5.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 6.4%
Maclean — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Townsend — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.8%
Maclean — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Townsend — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 1.4%
Maclean — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Townsend — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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.

Maclean Townsend
England 3.2% / 2.0%
Maclean — England: 3.2% Townsend — England: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.2%
Maclean — New Zealand: 1.5% Townsend — New Zealand: 1.2%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.4%
Maclean — Philippines: 1.0% Townsend — Philippines: 0.4%
South Africa 0.4% / 1.0%
Maclean — South Africa: 0.4% Townsend — South Africa: 1.0%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.5%
Maclean — Scotland: 0.7% Townsend — Scotland: 0.5%
Netherlands — / 0.5%
Maclean — Netherlands: not among its largest Townsend — Netherlands: 0.5%
India 0.4% / —
Maclean — India: 0.4% Townsend — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Maclean 86.8% houses
Maclean — Houses: 86.8% Maclean — Townhouses: 6.8% Maclean — Flats / Apartments: 6.4%
Townsend 92.3% houses
Townsend — Houses: 92.3% Townsend — Townhouses: 6.7% Townsend — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Maclean Townsend
Median house price $678,500 $730,000
Median unit price $447,500 $565,000
Median land price $287,500 $335,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 57 sales
 56 days
from 24 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.

Maclean Townsend
3 bed $675K / $695K
Maclean — 3 bed: $675K (73 sales) Townsend — 3 bed: $695K (28 sales)

73 vs 28 sales

4 bed $760K / $780K
Maclean — 4 bed: $760K (25 sales) Townsend — 4 bed: $780K (17 sales)

25 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Maclean has more land zoned for conservation (40% vs 3%); Townsend has more rural and farming land (42% vs 26%).

Maclean Townsend
Rural and farming 26% 42%
Environmental 40% 3%
Residential 21% 31%
Industrial 0% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 7%
Parks and recreation 3%
same for both
Commercial 1% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Maclean Townsend
New dwellings approved 246
across Clarence Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
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.

Maclean Townsend
Houses 4.8%
$640/wk on $699K
 4.0%
$620/wk on $800K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Maclean Townsend
House price Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Income Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Schools Higher than 15% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 27% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW

Liveability

Townsend is more walkable (41 vs 21); Townsend scores higher overall (34 vs 18).

Maclean Townsend
Grade D C
Score 18/100 34/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Maclean carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 0); Maclean carries more crime risk (88 vs 68).

Maclean Townsend
Bushfire Low
28/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
88/100
 Moderate
68/100
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 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Maclean Townsend
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Maclean

  • Maclean High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Maclean Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Townsend

  • Pacific Valley Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Valley Hope Christian School Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Maclean Townsend
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 10 0
Parks & reserves 10 0
Childcare 1 4
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Maclean sits further from the CBD (648.3 km vs 641.4 km).

Maclean Townsend
Walkability score 21/100 41/100
Distance to Sydney 648.3 km
+1% vs other
 641.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 421 min 415 min
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 2463
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 70
postcode 2463
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.

Maclean Townsend
Car (driver) 74.1% / 84.0%
Maclean — Car (driver): 74.1% Townsend — Car (driver): 84.0%
Worked from Home 10.3% / 4.8%
Maclean — Worked from Home: 10.3% Townsend — Worked from Home: 4.8%
Walked Only 10.1% / 2.6%
Maclean — Walked Only: 10.1% Townsend — Walked Only: 2.6%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 7.1%
Maclean — Car (passenger): 4.8% Townsend — Car (passenger): 7.1%
Bicycle — / 1.6%
Maclean — Bicycle: not among its largest Townsend — Bicycle: 1.6%
Bus 0.7% / —
Maclean — Bus: 0.7% Townsend — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (84.0%).

Setting

Maclean Townsend
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.3 km 8.1 km

NBN connectivity

Maclean Townsend
Connectivity score 68/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
1,583 premises
 51%
592 premises

Climate

Maclean Townsend
Annual rainfall 1,408 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Maclean Townsend
Average residential rate $1,380/yr
same for both
Council Clarence Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Maclean Townsend
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Maclean Townsend
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Maclean

Acreage Affordable Retirees

Townsend

Acreage Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Maclean

Maclean vs Gulmarrad Maclean vs Harwood Maclean vs Ashby Maclean vs James Creek Maclean vs South Arm

Other comparisons with Townsend

Townsend vs Gulmarrad Townsend vs James Creek
Full data on Maclean Full data on Townsend
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or