Toodyay
A median age of 56 makes Toodyay one of the oldest communities in WA, sitting 16 years above the national figure and reflecting a population that has steadily aged over the past decade. Despite that, the area drew net internal migration of 118 people a year, suggesting the draw of rural lifestyle rather than population decline. Household income sits at just the 10.2nd percentile nationally, yet 46.4% of residents own their home outright, a sign that long-held property and mortgage-free retirement, rather than high earnings, characterise the financial picture here.
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
Median House
$350K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $350,000, the median house price is well below WA state and national medians, making Toodyay one of the more affordable detached-house markets within reach of Perth. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,365, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 33.5%, above the 30% stress threshold because household income is in the bottom 10.2nd percentile nationally. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.2%, with semi-detached at 1.7%. Bedroom sizes lean three-bedroom at 49.1%, followed by four-plus at 28.1%, giving buyers mostly mid-to-large family homes rather than small units. With 46.4% owning outright and only 33.7% carrying mortgages, the owner base skews toward established, debt-free households.
For Buyers
At $350,000, the median house price is well below WA state and national medians, making Toodyay one of the more affordable detached-house markets within reach of Perth. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,365, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 33.5%, above the 30% stress threshold because household income is in the bottom 10.2nd percentile nationally. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 95.2%, with semi-detached at 1.7%. Bedroom sizes lean three-bedroom at 49.1%, followed by four-plus at 28.1%, giving buyers mostly mid-to-large family homes rather than small units. With 46.4% owning outright and only 33.7% carrying mortgages, the owner base skews toward established, debt-free households.
For Investors
The 20.7% vacancy rate is the single biggest caution for investors, indicating meaningful oversupply relative to the small renter pool of 19.9%. Weekly rent of $280 against a $350,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, reasonable on paper, but with rent-to-income at 29.8% tenants are already at the affordable edge, limiting upward pressure on rents. Net internal migration of 118 people a year to the broader area supports long-run demand, but the suburb population of 1,362 means absorption of vacant stock is slow. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, so supply is not growing, which may gradually reduce vacancy over time if migration holds.
Schools in Toodyay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Toodyay District High School
K-10 · 275 students
Demographics
The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure, and the trend is accelerating: the senior share rose 11.3 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 5.0 points. Overseas-born residents sit at 23.0%, which is 1.4 points above the national rate. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (635 residents), Irish (158) and Scottish (137). University qualifications reach only 17.8%, which is 12.3 points below national, consistent with a trade and services workforce rather than a professional one. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, aligning with the predominance of couples without children at 44.3% of families. Volunteering at 26.8% is notably high, reflecting the older, community-invested resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.2%
Houses
1.7%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Toodyay's housing stock is defined by detached family homes: 95.2% are separate houses, far above national averages, and three-bedroom dwellings account for 49.1% with four-plus at 28.1%. Tenure splits distinctly: 46.4% own outright, 33.7% carry mortgages and only 19.9% rent, compared to higher renter shares in most metropolitan areas. The outright-owner majority reflects long-standing residents who purchased decades ago at lower price points. At $350,000 the median is affordable in absolute terms, though the 33.5% mortgage-to-income ratio means buyers on local wages face pressure. The 20.7% vacancy rate suggests a surplus of available rental properties, keeping rents at $280 a week rather than tightening them.
Mortgage / mo
$1,365
Rent / wk
$280
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
44.3%
Couples, no children
890
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 19.1% of the local workforce (57 workers), followed by Public Admin at 12.8% and Education at 12.1%, together forming a public-service base typical of rural WA towns. Construction accounts for 9.7% and Mining 9.1%, the latter connecting some residents to regional resource activity. Professionals (74) and Clerical/Admin (64) are the top occupations, but the participation rate of 41.5% is low, because 517 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the high median age of 56. Unemployment sits at 7.8%, above metropolitan norms, and full-time employment runs at 61.7% of those employed. The SEIFA IEO decile of 3 and IRSAD decile of 4 both place Toodyay in the lower third nationally for economic advantage.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
2,547
Unemployed
76
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.7%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
41.5%
Employed
449
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.8%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
23.0%
Dwellings
578
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 86.1% drive to work and only 3.1% use public transport, reflecting the rural setting and limited transit infrastructure compared to Perth metro suburbs. Walking or cycling accounts for 4.0%. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Toodyay in the lower-advantage tier nationally, meaning access to services and economic resources is below average. The IRSD decile of 4 similarly indicates above-average disadvantage relative to national norms. Mortgage stress (33.5% of income) affects borrowing households, though the majority owning outright softens the community-wide impact. Need for assistance sits at 6.2% (76 residents), proportionally higher than wealthier suburbs, partly because of the older age profile. No schools are recorded in the dataset for the suburb boundary.
Drive
86.1%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.93%/yr
(+49 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth in the broader SA2 area ran at 0.93% per year and 4.9% over the past decade, moderate rather than stagnant. Internal migration is the primary driver at a net 118 arrivals a year, with overseas migration adding 14 more, suggesting the area has genuine lifestyle appeal for people relocating from metro Perth. However, the shift trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 11.3 points, so growth in headcount coexists with a shrinking working-age base. Gentrification signals are classified as early, with a score of 35: the population is up 16% since 2011 and internal migration is accelerating from near-zero to 18% net intake, though affordability improved from 50.4% to 45.7% over the same period, suggesting buyers have not yet pushed prices significantly above income.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
+118
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +16% since 2011, Net internal migration +118/yr, Accelerating: -2% → 18%
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 suits buyers who prioritise space and affordability over services. The median house price of $350,000 is well below state and national medians, and 95.2% of dwellings are separate houses on larger blocks. Trade-offs include a 3.1% public transport rate, IRSAD decile 4 (below-average national advantage) and a median age of 56, pointing to limited youth amenities.
What is the median house price in Toodyay?
The median house price is $350,000 (estimated from 2025 rental data). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,365. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 33.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, because local household income sits at only the 10.2nd percentile nationally.
What schools are in Toodyay?
No schools are recorded inside the Toodyay suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the broader Toodyay townsite or nearby regional centres. The local university qualification rate is 17.8%, which is 12.3 points below the national figure, reflecting a trade and services employment base.
Is Toodyay safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Toodyay in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 4 nationally, meaning above-average disadvantage, which can correlate with higher crime rates compared to higher-decile areas. The 26.8% volunteering rate suggests a strong community involvement culture.
Is Toodyay good for property investment?
The $350,000 median and $280 weekly rent imply a gross yield near 4.2%, above what most Perth metro suburbs offer. However, the 20.7% vacancy rate signals real oversupply in the rental market, limiting near-term rent growth. Internal migration of 118 people per year provides steady demand support, but the small total population of 1,362 means absorption is slow.
How is Toodyay's population changing?
The broader area grew 4.9% over the past decade, running at 0.93% per year, driven mainly by internal migration of 118 net arrivals annually. The composition is shifting: the senior share rose 11.3 points over the decade while working-age share fell 5.0 points, so headcount growth coexists with an aging profile.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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