Question 1

Is West End a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

West End, at the foot of Castle Hill just west of the CBD, has a quiet residential character. Tree-lined streets of classic timber Queenslanders sit alongside more recent townhouses and units, and residents enjoy easy access to Castle Hill trails, nearby parks, small neighbourhood shops and community facilities. That mix appeals to families, long-term locals and professionals who want close city access without the bustle, while major roads make links around Townsville straightforward.

The suburb houses 3,891 people with a median age of 40 and a median household income of $1,402 a week. Families make up a large share of households and homes are more often rented than owner-occupied, with 52.3% rented. West End is also seeing significant local infrastructure work, including a private hospital development that reuses the heritage Townsville West State School for specialist consulting suites alongside a new multi-storey hospital, and council works preparing for future water reservoirs and trunk mains.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in West End?

Accepted Answer

Buying in West End sits well above what a typical local household earned at the last Census. A median house price of $676,000 is about 9.3 times a local year's household income at the last Census, while the median unit price of $465,000 is about 6.4 times annual household income.

Rent is less stretched than buying but still takes a sizeable share of local incomes at the last Census: house rent of $520 a week is about 37.1% of a typical local household's weekly income, and unit rent of $430 a week is about 30.7%. On these figures, whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is West End a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

The clearest story in West End over the past 12 months is that units have outperformed houses on both price and rent. Median unit values jumped 32.9% while unit rents rose 11.7%.

By comparison, median house values also rose strongly, up 20.2%, while house rents increased a more modest 2.0%. The value numbers speak to capital growth and the rent numbers to rental income, and on both measures units were the stronger performer this year. Whether that balance fits your investment goals and circumstances is something only you can decide.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$676K	$465K
Change in value Past 12 months	20.2%	32.9%
Sold Past 3 months	15	17
Median days on market Past 12 months	22	17
Average rent Past 12 months	$520	$430
Change in rent Past 12 months	2.0%	11.7%

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