Located in New South Wales, Townsend sits 641 km from Sydney CBD, around 6 hours 55 minutes by car. The locality has 991 residents, a median age of 42, and a median household income of $54,288 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the bottom 20% nationally. The locality grew 11.3% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $365 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,419. Townsend is characterised by high crime risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. 2 schools sit within the locality boundary, and walkability is moderate.
Is Townsend a good place to live?
Townsend scores a C (34/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — weaker on community.
Mixed results
2 schools
Some car dependence
Walkability 41/100 · 641.4 km · 415 min drive to Sydney
Around the state median
Median $730K · Cheaper than 77% of NSW
Moderate crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 68/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 1/10 · median age 42 · 991 residents
Liveability Rating
34 / 100 · Ranked #1177 in NSWEach bar is Townsend's rank among NSW suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
No flood data is published for New South Wales — a blank here means we hold no data, not that there is no risk.
How do you rate the liveability in Townsend?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
34 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataTownsend's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $730,000, roughly 12% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$730,000
Based on 51 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 56 days — median across 24 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 3 bed 28 sales $695K
- 4 bed 17 sales $780K
Land
$335,000
Based on 15 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 133 days — median across 7 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Townsend are currently listed at around $800,000 on average. Based on 11 houses listed in the past six months.
$800K
11 houses listed in the last 6 months.
11 of the suburb's 401 dwellings (2.7%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Townsend rent for around $620 a week on average, based on 3 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$620/wk
3 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
4 rentals advertised against an estimated 112 rented homes (3.6%) in the last 6 months.
Rent agreed on new leases
Jul–Sep 2026- 3-bed houses
- $600/wk
- 13 bonds
- +34% since 2021
Median weekly rent on bonds lodged for new tenancies across postcode 2463 (NSW publishes bonds by postcode, which can cover several suburbs). Change since 2021 compares the median of the first four quarters with the last four. Asking rents above come from advertised listings.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025100 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 30% of its income on the median rent in postcode 2463.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$620/week ($32,000 a year) on a $800,000 median
Based on a small sample (3 listings) — indicative only.
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Short-Stay Rentals
No active Airbnb listings.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months. The share is against private dwellings at the 2021 Census.
Is Townsend safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Townsend sits in the moderate band, with 54 incidents recorded in 2025 — down roughly 19% on the prior year.
54 offences
19.4% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–20254 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Council Flood Studies
Clarence Valley Council has published 10 flood studies on the NSW Flood Data Portal. The mapped flood areas are in those studies; SuburbScan does not hold them.
Schools
Two schools serve Townsend, and performance is broadly on par with peer-suburb schools.
- • 328 students across 2 schools (avg 164)
- • ICSEA 951-985, median 968 (below the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Pacific Valley Christian School (277 students)
Combined
Walkability
Townsend is car-dependent on foot — at 41/100, most errands require a car.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Townsend.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 51%
- Premises covered
- 592
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Clarence Valley: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Townsend is home to 991 residents, with a median age of 42, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $54,000 a year, with unemployment at 3.7%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
991
Median Age
42
Median Household Income
$54,288/yr
Census Median Rent
$365/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,419/mo
Avg Household Size
2.4
Median Personal Income
$29,900/yr
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Unoccupied Dwellings
5.2%
Total Dwellings
401
Owner-Occupier Rate
72.1%
Houses
92.3%
Rental Stress
35.0%
Mortgage Stress
31.4%
Work From Home
4.8%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
3 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 8 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 107 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 87.5%
- English Spoken at Home
- 93.0%
- Employment Rate
- 47%
- Completed Year 12
- 26.1%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
8 residents (0.8%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
3.3% of residents (31) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Sydney (16).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 926 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,380 a year through Clarence Valley based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Rural and farming 42%
- Residential 31%
- Industrial 13%
- Infrastructure and transport 7%
- Environmental 3%
- Parks and recreation 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the locality around it — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Clarence Valley
In the year to August 2026, 246 new dwellings were approved across Clarence Valley. That mix is 213 houses and 33 units. Approvals are down 80.4% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Land Council
Aboriginal land in this area is administered by the Yaegl Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Local Aboriginal Land Councils are statutory bodies under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, responsible for land claims and land management for their members. Their boundaries are administrative and are not a statement of whose Country this is. NSW does not publish a register of Aboriginal parties by area — they are registered for each project.
Climate & Setting
from Harwood Island (Harwood Sugar Mill), 5.8 kmHigh rainfall.
- Elevation
- 10 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 8.1 km
- Annual rainfall
- 1,408 mm
- 108 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- —
- Winter min (Jul)
- —
Elevation is the ground at the locality centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
1 facility within 5 km- 0.5 kmPetroleum Product WholesalingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · n-Hexane · Toluene (methylbenzene)
EV adoption
In postcode 2463, 17 of 6,789 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.0% (137 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.3%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 2463, 2,495 rooftop-solar systems totalling 16.3 MW have been installed since 2001, against 3,582 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 202 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $600,000.
Off-the-plan or contracted-build value cap is $750,000 (vs $600,000 for completed new homes). Stamp duty concessions are a separate scheme (First Home Buyers Assistance).
Mortgage repayments
1 mortgage broker is registered in postcode 2463.
Transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Revenue NSW
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $600,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with Revenue NSW.
At $730,000 this is $130,000 above the $600,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with Revenue NSW.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Kevin Hogan The Nationals
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kevin Hogan | 40.7% | 59.3% | +1.4 |
| 2022 | Kevin Hogan | 39.3% | 60.7% | +1.3 |
| 2019 | Kevin Hogan | 40.5% | 59.5% | +7.2 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Richie Williamson The Nationals
Next state election: 13 March 2027.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Richie Williamson NP | 64.2% |
| 2019 | Chris Gulaptis NP | 64.5% |
| 2015 | Chris Gulaptis NP | 59.7% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: © State of New South Wales through the NSW Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0, adapted.
Looking at a specific address in Townsend?
Every figure above is a locality average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 991 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Compare Townsend to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other NSW suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Townsend
Is Townsend a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Townsend is moderate (68/100, ranked against other NSW suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Townsend?
Townsend has no recorded bushfire history. These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Townsend a good place to live?
Townsend has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of C (34/100), ranked against other NSW suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Townsend?
Townsend, NSW had a population of 991 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Townsend, NSW?
The postcode for Townsend, NSW is 2463.
How far is Townsend from Sydney?
Townsend is 641 km from Sydney CBD by road, about 415 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Townsend?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Townsend was $54,288 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Townsend?
The median advertised rent in Townsend is $620 a week for houses (3 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Townsend?
The median age of residents in Townsend was 42 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Townsend?
There are 2 schools inside the Townsend boundary: 1 at similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Townsend walkable?
Townsend scores 41/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the weather like in Townsend?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Townsend, Harwood Island (Harwood Sugar Mill) (5.8 km away), 1,408 mm of rain a year over 108 rainy days over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Townsend?
First-home buyers in NSW may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $600,000. The grant is administered by Revenue NSW; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Townsend belong to?
Townsend sits within the Clarence Valley local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Townsend?
The average residential rates bill through Clarence Valley is $1,380 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Townsend?
Across Clarence Valley, 246 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 80.4% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Townsend in?
Townsend sits within the federal Division of Page, currently held by Kevin Hogan (The Nationals).
Search another suburb or address
Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- Short-stay rentals · Jun 2026
- State electorate · 2023
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.