Crime and safety analysis based on 77 blocks and 4,324 residents. SEIFA score 960 (average)
Total crime rate 18,081 per 100,000 residents. Violent crime: 1 in 29. Property crime: 1 in 14.
West End in Townsville is moderately safe, but like most inner-urban areas, crime clusters on specific streets while quiet residential pockets remain relatively crime-free.
West End records 18,081 crimes per 100,000 residents across 260 blocks. Property crime dominates, accounting for the bulk of offences. The highest-crime streets are Crauford Street, Tuffley Street, Montgomery Street, Penny Lane, Sturt Street, and Valentine Court. Commercial blocks here average 10,795 crimes per 100,000, roughly 1.6 times higher than residential blocks at 6,923 per 100,000. Property crime in commercial zones hits 4,099 per 100,000, reflecting retail and street-level theft. Violent crime in commercial areas reaches 1,524 per 100,000, noticeably elevated compared to residential zones at 1,172 per 100,000.
The safest residential streets include Church Street, Echlin Street, Kings Road, Jane Street, Stagpole Street, and Francis Street. These quieter areas sit well below the suburb average. Crime rates here fall into the 5,000-6,000 per 100,000 range rather than the 10,000-plus seen on high-crime streets. Property crime in these safer residential blocks averages 2,718 per 100,000, less than two-thirds the rate in commercial areas. Violent crime drops to just over 1,000 per 100,000, creating noticeably safer residential experiences.
The 8-times crime variation between safest and most dangerous blocks is substantial. Buyers on Crauford Street face eight times the crime exposure of those on Church Street. Violent crime fluctuates from 1,524 per 100,000 in commercial zones to 1,172 in residential areas. Drugs offences show similar gradients: 2,026 per 100,000 commercially versus 1,378 residentially.
West End has 4,324 residents with a SEIFA score of 960, indicating relative stability. Average income sits at 1,400 per week. Public housing comprises 4.9 per cent of housing, with 14.4 per cent welfare dependent. Renters account for 34 per cent. Overseas-born parents make up 21 per cent of households. These demographics suggest a mixed-tenure neighbourhood with reasonable socioeconomic stability.
For buyers, West End offers reasonable safety if streets are chosen carefully. Avoid Crauford Street, Tuffley Street, and Montgomery Street. Target the residential neighbourhoods around Church Street, Echlin Street, and Kings Road instead. Crime here remains manageable for an inner-urban Queensland location. The 8-times street variation is real but smaller than comparable suburbs. West End remains viable for families and investors willing to avoid known hotspots.
| Category | West End (Townsville - Qld) | QLD Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 3,416 | 900 |
| Property crime | 6,956 | 3,800 |
| Drug offences | 2,758 | 800 |
| Public order | 1,473 | 900 |
Rates per 100,000 residents. Source: BOCSAR, Victoria Police, QPS.
| Metric | West End (Townsville - Qld) |
|---|---|
| Public housing | 4.9% |
| Unemployment | 0.1% |
| Welfare dependent | 14.4% |
| SEIFA disadvantage | 960 |
| Median household income | $1,400/wk |
Source: ABS Census 2021.
Some high-crime suburbs grow faster than their quiet neighbours. Others do not. The difference depends on what is driving the crime. We studied 14,000 suburbs to find out which side West End (Townsville - Qld) falls on.
The full West End (Townsville - Qld) report includes block-level growth forecasts, the streets where crime is costing owners money, and the streets where it is not.
Which Streets in West End (Townsville - Qld) Are Affected?