Maclean vs Townsend.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $655,000 and $645,000.
Townsend (median $645,000) is roughly 2% cheaper to buy into than Maclean ($655,000). Over the past year, Maclean (+1.6%) ran 9.5 percentage points ahead of Townsend (-7.9%) on house-price growth.
For buyers
Townsend is the lower entry point at $645,000 median, 2% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Townsend delivers the better gross yield (2.74% vs 2.70%), but Maclean has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
For families
School and household data is too similar between the two to call a winner on family fit. Check the individual profiles for street-level school catchments.
Common questions
Is Maclean or Townsend cheaper to buy in?
Townsend has the lower median house price at $645,000, roughly 2% below Maclean ($655,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Maclean or Townsend?
Over the past 12 months, Maclean grew +1.6% vs -7.9% in Townsend, a gap of 9.5 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Maclean or Townsend?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.74% in Townsend vs 2.70% in Maclean. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Maclean against another suburb