Toodyay
Toodyay’s standout feature is its combination of a 56 median age and a 20.7% vacancy rate across a population of 1,362. The age profile sits 16 years above the national benchmark, while 95.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 45.3% are owned outright. Household income is at the 10.2 percentile nationally, helping explain a cautious, established market rather than rapid turnover. Compared with nearby Northam and Goomalling, Toodyay has a lower-density, smaller-town feel, with 22.1 people per square kilometre and 74.7% of residents staying at the same address five years earlier.
Local council: Toodyay
Population
1,362
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$941/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are choosing a predominantly detached market: 95.2% of homes are separate houses, with 49.1% containing 3 bedrooms and 28.1% containing 4 or more. A current median house price is unavailable, so the $1,365 monthly mortgage figure is a useful budgeting reference rather than a purchase benchmark. Mortgage repayments at 33.5% of household income are above the 29.8% rent-to-income figure, while 19.4% of residents rent their homes. Compared with apartment-heavy regional centres, Toodyay suits buyers seeking established housing and space, but its 56 median age and 2.1-person average household suggest lower demand for compact family stock.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a predominantly detached market: 95.2% of homes are separate houses, with 49.1% containing 3 bedrooms and 28.1% containing 4 or more. A current median house price is unavailable, so the $1,365 monthly mortgage figure is a useful budgeting reference rather than a purchase benchmark. Mortgage repayments at 33.5% of household income are above the 29.8% rent-to-income figure, while 19.4% of residents rent their homes. Compared with apartment-heavy regional centres, Toodyay suits buyers seeking established housing and space, but its 56 median age and 2.1-person average household suggest lower demand for compact family stock.
For Investors
Toodyay’s investment case is shaped by a $280 weekly rent, 19.4% renting and a 20.7% vacancy rate. Vacancy is high compared with a tightly leased market, so landlords should allow for longer letting periods and test tenant demand street by street. Gross yield cannot be calculated without a current median house price. Development activity is recorded at 0 projects in the past 12 months, limiting near-term new-supply pressure but also signalling a thin market. Growth is forecast at 0.93% annually, driven by internal migration, while the Aging trajectory may favour downsizers and service-linked households more than fast-growing young families. Rent growth of 14.0% is encouraging, but it sits beside 33.5% mortgage-to-income stress.
Schools in Toodyay
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
TOODYAY DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL
Demographics
Toodyay has an older, relatively settled population: the median age is 56, or 16 years above the national comparison, and 74.7% of residents stayed at the same address five years earlier. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below the national figure, helping explain the strong share of couples without children at 57.0%. English ancestry is recorded for 635 people, followed by Irish at 158 and Scottish at 137. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 629, ahead of Christianity at 547. University attainment is 17.8%, 12.3 percentage points below the national level, while overseas-born residents are 23.0%, 1.4 points above it. Compared with nearby Northam, Toodyay’s age and small-household profile are important considerations for local services and housing demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.2%
Houses
1.7%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Toodyay’s housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: separate houses account for 95.2%, semi-detached homes 1.7%, and no apartment share is published. The tenure mix is more secure than a renter-led market, with 45.3% owned outright, 32.9% mortgaged and 19.4% rented. Three-bedroom homes make up 49.1% of dwellings and 4-plus-bedroom homes 28.1%, consistent with a low-density setting of 22.1 people per square kilometre. No current median house price is published, so the $1,365 monthly mortgage reference and $280 weekly rent are better used for budgeting than direct price comparison. Mortgage-to-income stress is 33.5%, above rent-to-income at 29.8%, making outright ownership particularly relevant. Compared with nearby Northam, Toodyay is more detached and land-oriented, with less visible apartment supply.
Mortgage / mo
$1,365
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$280
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$568
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.7%
Unoccupied
151
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.3%
Couples with children
57.0%
Couples, no children
17.1%
Single parent
356
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Toodyay’s largest listed industry at 19.1% of jobs, followed by Public Administration at 12.8%, Education at 12.1%, Construction at 9.7% and Mining at 9.1%. The occupation mix is similarly practical and service-oriented: Trades account for 90 workers, Professionals 74, Clerical and Administration 64, Community and Personal Service 63, and Managers 61. Labour-force participation is 45.7%, with 536 people in the labour force and unemployment at 7.1%; 277 employed residents work full time and 172 part time. Household income sits at the 10.2 percentile nationally, well below the national median. SEIFA helps explain the uneven picture: education and occupation disadvantage is in decile 3, economic resources in decile 6, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 4. The gap between decile 3 and decile 6 suggests employment and qualification constraints are more pronounced than household-resource constraints, even though overall income remains low.
Unemployment
7.1%
Labour Force
536
Unemployed
38
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
34.5%
Participation
45.7%
Employed
498
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.8%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
23.0%
Dwellings
578
Transport to Work
Toodyay’s 61.61 square kilometres and density of 22.1 people per square kilometre create a low-density lifestyle, but they also make car access important. About 75.6% of commuters drive, compared with 2.7% using public transport, while 3.5% walk or cycle and 12.2% work from home. One local government District High School is listed, so families should confirm enrolment zones, year levels and travel arrangements against the exact address rather than infer access from the suburb name. A suburb-level crime rate is not available for comparison, so current WA Police information and street-level conditions remain important checks. The IRSAD score is 952, in decile 4, below the top decile, while volunteering reaches 26.8%, supporting local participation. Compared with denser regional centres, Toodyay is lower-density and more space-oriented, but less suited to households seeking frequent public transport.
Drive
75.6%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
12.2%
Growth Outlook
Toodyay’s growth outlook is gradual rather than explosive. The annual trend is 0.93%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 4.9% over 10 years. The demographic trajectory is explicitly Aging: the senior share has risen 11.3 percentage points, the young share has fallen 4.3 points and the working share has dropped 5.0 points. Gentrification signals are mixed but not strong: one marker records a score of 3 and stage Not gentrifying, while another gives a score of 35 and stage Early signs. Rent growth of 14.0% and real income growth of 2.3% may improve buyer attention, but affordability moved from 50.4% in 2011 to 45.7% in 2021. Compared with high-growth outer corridors, Toodyay is more likely to see measured demand from internal movers and older households than a rapid family surge.
Population trend: Toodyay council area
Toodyay sits in the Toodyay council area. These are the council area's residents, not Toodyay's.
Residents 2025
5,251
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+3.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Toodyay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toodyay a good suburb to live in?
Toodyay can suit buyers seeking detached housing, space and a settled community. Its median age is 56, 95.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 75.6% of commuters drive, so it is better suited to car-oriented living than frequent transit use.
What is the median house price in Toodyay?
A current median house price for Toodyay is unavailable. Rent is $280 per week and the mortgage reference is $1,365 per month, but those measures are not a substitute for a recent sale-based median. Check several local sales before setting a purchase budget.
What schools are in Toodyay?
Toodyay District High School is the listed local school, operating as a government District High School. With a suburb density of 22.1 people per square kilometre, families should check enrolment zones, year levels and travel times because access can be more spread out than in larger centres.
Is Toodyay safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so Toodyay cannot be ranked as safer or less safe than nearby areas on that measure. The population is 1,362 and the area covers 61.61 square kilometres; check current WA Police information, traffic conditions and lighting before deciding.
Is Toodyay good for property investment?
Toodyay may suit a selective, long-term investor, but the 20.7% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly leased market. Rent is $280 per week, development activity is 0 projects over 12 months and no median house price is available for a yield calculation. Annual growth is forecast at 0.93%.
How is Toodyay's population changing?
Toodyay has 1,362 residents today. Growth across the wider area is 4.9% over 10 years and the annual trend is 0.93%, driven by internal migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 11.3 percentage points and the young share down 4.3, so change is slower and older than a rapid-growth corridor.
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).
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