NSW · Clarence Valley Council
Townsend, 2463
Current weather
18°CPartly cloudy
82% humidity · 9.6 km/h wind · 20.7° / 13.8° today · 0.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Townsend is a quieter smaller community in Clarence Valley, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker community and employment and transport and access against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and safety holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 991
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,044
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 419
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,419
- Employment rate
- 47%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 44 / 27 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $580
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 59
- Against the person
- 20
- Against property
- 23
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 59.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 50 residents
- State safety percentile
- 36.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order30
- Domestic Violence Related Assault32
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment63
- Malicious Damage To Property41
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault38
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 968
- Pacific Valley Christian SchoolCombined
- Valley Hope Christian SchoolSpecial
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
16 public transport stops in this suburb
- Brooms Head Rd At Armstrong Rd
- Brooms Head Rd Opp Cedar Dr
- Diamond St Opp Sapphire Cl
- Jubilee St At Koala Dr
- Jubilee St At Scullin St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
112 planning-related records
2026· 8 proposals
June 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure32 EDINBURGH DRIVE TOWNSEND 2463Under Assessment
May 2026
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; General industry6C IRONBARK DRIVE TOWNSEND 2463Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool8 KINTYRE CLOSE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 KINTYRE CLOSE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 BROCKAGH COURT TOWNSEND 2463Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Artisan food and drink industry5 RE ROAD TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport7 AMBER CLOSE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah22 CYPRESS STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
2025· 19 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Industrial development; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure107 JUBILEE STREET TOWNSEND 2463Under Assessment
November 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool24 CELTIC CIRCUIT TOWNSEND 2463Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 CELTIC CIRCUIT TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14 SAPPHIRE CLOSE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
August 2025
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)12 KINTYRE CLOSE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Light industry7 IRONBARK DRIVE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 BROCKAGH COURT TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry7 IRONBARK DRIVE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport4 SKYE PLACE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 BROCKAGH COURT TOWNSEND 2463Determined
April 2025
- Subdivision7 PINE AVENUE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; General industryRE ROAD TOWNSEND 2463Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation3 BROCKAGH COURT TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport7 AMBER CLOSE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 SAPPHIRE CLOSE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 BROCKAGH COURT TOWNSEND 2463Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Supporting Development8 EDINBURGH DRIVE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Subdivision107 JUBILEE STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Storage premises; Light industry10 THINK ROAD TOWNSEND 2463Determined
2024· 9 proposals
November 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 ARMSTRONG ROAD TOWNSEND 2463Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; CarportJUBILEE STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
August 2024
- Educational establishment; Erection of a new structure; School8 EDINBURGH DRIVE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
July 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structureJUBILEE STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
March 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 DUNKELD PLACE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle repair station107 JUBILEE STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
February 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility114 JUBILEE STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 DUNKELD PLACE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
January 2024
- Industrial development; Erection of a new structure; Light industry107 JUBILEE STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
2023· 4 proposals
November 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; General industry119 JUBILEE STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11 KINTYRE CLOSE TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Subdivision19A CELTIC CIRCUIT TOWNSEND 2463Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Highway service centre2 SCHWONBERG STREET TOWNSEND 2463Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
9 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Sanctus Brewing Co.Bar
- Townsend General StoreConvenience store
- MI Organics TownsendGarden Centre
Paperbark Drive, Townsend
- Maclean Community PreschoolKindergarten
- Pacific Valley Christian SchoolKindergarten
- LibertyPetrol station
- Lower Clarence Baptist ChurchPlace of worship
- Playground
- Public toilets
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Maclean Community Preschoolkindergarten
- Pacific Valley Christian Schoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 45.1/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 39% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2595th in Australia
- State rank
- 822nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #91 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #213 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 75%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Libertyamenitiesfuel
- Lower Clarence Baptist Churchamenitiesplace_of_worship
- MI Organics TownsendamenitiesPaperbark Drive, Townsendgarden_centre
- Maclean Community Preschoolamenitieskindergarten
- Pacific Valley Christian Schoolamenitieskindergarten
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Sanctus Brewing Co.amenitiesbar
- Townsend General Storeamenitiesconvenience
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime30
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Clarence Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.