West End
More than half of West End households rent, with renting at 51.6% and vacancy at 14.5%, an unusual combination that gives tenants choice but can increase investor reletting risk. Near South Townsville and Railway Estate, the 3.09 square kilometre suburb differs from a conventional detached-house setting through its 41.9% semi-detached share and density of 1,260.3 people per square kilometre. Its population is 3,891, while annual growth is forecast at 3.56% and 121 development applications were recorded over 12 months. This mix of high vacancy, compact housing and strong growth suggests a market changing faster than its stable household profile might imply.
Population
3,891
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,402/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
124
West End suits buyers seeking smaller, lower-maintenance homes, although a suburb-level median house price is not available. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 45.8% of homes, while 41.9% are semi-detached and 49.0% are separate houses, creating more choice than a purely detached-house market. The monthly mortgage indicator is $1,430, equal to 23.6% of household income, while weekly rent is $250 and rent takes 17.8% of income. Compared with a conventional family-oriented suburb, the 1.9-person average household size points to stronger suitability for singles, couples and downsizers because smaller dwellings are more common.
For Buyers
West End suits buyers seeking smaller, lower-maintenance homes, although a suburb-level median house price is not available. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 45.8% of homes, while 41.9% are semi-detached and 49.0% are separate houses, creating more choice than a purely detached-house market. The monthly mortgage indicator is $1,430, equal to 23.6% of household income, while weekly rent is $250 and rent takes 17.8% of income. Compared with a conventional family-oriented suburb, the 1.9-person average household size points to stronger suitability for singles, couples and downsizers because smaller dwellings are more common.
For Investors
West End has a renter-majority profile, with 51.6% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent recorded at $250. The 14.5% vacancy rate is above a low-vacancy market, so landlords may face longer reletting periods even when tenant demand is supported by compact housing. Two-bedroom homes represent 45.8% of stock, which aligns with the suburb's average household size of 1.9 people. Compared with a stable, low-development area, 121 applications in 12 months and forecast growth of 3.56% may support future demand. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but investors should weigh that upside against vacancy volatility.
Development Activity
Total DAs
400
Last 12 Months
124
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+44.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in West End
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Townsville West State School
West End State School
Demographics
West End's median age is 40, level with the national average, while university attainment is 33.9%, or 3.8 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 17.3%, 4.3 points below the national share, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning ancestry profile led by English at 1,471 people, Irish at 503 and Scottish at 449. Average household size is 1.9, which is 0.6 below the national comparison and helps explain the strong two-bedroom housing share. Christianity accounts for 1,673 residents and no religion for 1,672, an almost even split that contrasts with a more religiously concentrated profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
49.0%
Houses
41.9%
Townhouse
8.5%
Apartment
Tenure
West End is renter-heavy: 51.6% of occupied dwellings are rented, compared with 27.9% under mortgage and 19.3% owned outright. A suburb-level median house price is not available, so the tenure and dwelling mix are more useful for assessing entry conditions. Two-bedroom homes make up 45.8% of stock, followed by three-bedroom dwellings at 32.0%, while 14.1% have four or more bedrooms and 8.1% have zero or one bedroom. Compared with an owner-dominated suburb, the combination of 41.9% semi-detached homes, 49.0% separate houses and 8.5% apartments creates a more compact, flexible market. Mortgage costs equal 23.6% of household income, higher than the 17.8% rent-to-income measure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,430
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $250.
$565
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $565 · units $480
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$921
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.5%
Unoccupied
307
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.7%
Couples with children
45.5%
Couples, no children
20.8%
Single parent
924
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is West End's largest industry at 21.7%, employing 309 people, followed by public administration at 12.2% and 174 people, education at 11.3% and 160, professional and technical services at 8.6% and 122, and construction at 8.2% and 117. The labour force totals 2,136, with 64.0% participation and 5.1% unemployment. Compared with the middle of the decile scale, the IEO education and occupation decile is high at 8, while the IER economic resources decile is low at 2. IRSD sits at 5 and IRSAD at 6. That gap suggests strong educational and occupational characteristics do not translate evenly into household resources, possibly because incomes and housing costs vary across the renter-majority population.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
2,136
Unemployed
110
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.2%
Part-time
29.4%
Participation
64.0%
Employed
2,026
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.9%
Postgraduate
9.1%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
1,799
Transport to Work
West End's 3.09 square kilometre footprint and density of 1,260.3 people per square kilometre support a compact suburban layout. Transport is more car-oriented than a transit-led suburb: 79.9% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.9% using public transport and 6.0% walking or cycling. Two nearby schools serve the area, both state schools in the government sector, giving families a basic local education option while exact enrolment zones should be checked by address. The 1.9-person average household size supports demand for smaller homes, and the IRSAD decile of 6 places West End slightly above the middle of the national decile scale. Car dependence matters because limited public transport use can increase household transport costs.
Drive
79.9%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
6.0%
Work from Home
7.2%
Population Forecast
+3.56%/yr
(+639 people/yr)
High GrowthWest End is positioned for strong growth, with annual change forecast at 3.56% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 85.5%, while the trajectory is labelled Stable rather than sharply accelerating. Rent growth of 18.4% indicates that housing demand has strengthened, and the affordability measure moved from 52.3 in 2011 to 39.9 in 2021 while the trend is labelled Improving. Compared with a low-growth area, the 3.56% annual rate and 121 development applications point to substantial activity. Gentrification signals are still measured as Early signs with a score of 30, so change is more likely to emerge through new development and migration than rapid tenure replacement.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+457
Net Internal / yr
+132
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West End compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West End a good suburb to live in?
West End can suit residents who value compact housing, access to 2 nearby government schools and a renter-friendly market. It has 3,891 residents, 51.6% renting and an IRSAD decile of 6. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, car use is high at 79.9%, while the 14.5% vacancy rate may create more choice for renters.
What is the median house price in West End?
A median house price is not available for West End. Weekly rent is recorded at $250, and 51.6% of occupied dwellings are rented. Buyers should compare recent sales for similar two-bedroom, semi-detached and separate houses because those categories represent 45.8%, 41.9% and 49.0% of local housing respectively.
What schools are in West End?
West End has 2 nearby schools, both state schools in the government sector. Families should check the enrolment zone for the exact address because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. The local housing profile includes 293 couples with children and 192 one-parent families, so school access is relevant to a substantial household group.
Is West End safe?
A verified suburb-level crime rate cannot be stated for West End. The suburb covers 3.09 square kilometres, so conditions can vary by street and around different activity areas. Check recent Queensland Police updates, inspect the exact address in daylight and after dark, and compare the immediate surroundings before making a housing decision.
Is West End good for property investment?
West End has investment positives, including 51.6% renters, weekly rent of $250, forecast annual growth of 3.56% and 121 development applications in 12 months. The 14.5% vacancy rate is high compared with a tight rental market, so reletting risk should be modelled carefully. Smaller homes may suit the average 1.9-person household.
How is West End's population changing?
Growth is forecast at 3.56% a year, driven primarily by overseas migration. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 85.5%, while the trajectory is described as Stable. The young share has increased by 0.9 percentage points and the senior share by 0.3 points, indicating gradual change rather than a single age group's rapid expansion.
What development is occurring in West End?
West End recorded 121 development applications over 12 months. Recent examples include a commercial and dwelling-house extension with partial demolition, a shed within side and rear setbacks, and a carport within a front setback. This level of activity is higher than a lightly changing area and may gradually alter housing presentation without confirming a specific number of new dwellings.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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