Toormina
A median age of 45, sitting 5 years above the national level, is the clearest marker of Toormina's older resident base. The suburb has 6,171 people across 5.4 square kilometres, producing density of 1,142.1 people per square kilometre. Household income sits at the 15.2 percentile, below the broad national distribution, which helps explain the appeal of 3-bedroom homes at 47.7% of dwellings and a weekly rent of $335. Compared with nearby Sawtell, Toormina reads as a practical residential and services precinct, supported by 2 government schools and healthcare accounting for 26.6% of employment. Housing costs need close budgeting because mortgage and rent stress reach 33.1% and 31.6% of income.
Population
6,171
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,059/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
52
Toormina is most workable for buyers who prioritise conventional family layouts over high-rise stock. Separate houses make up 65.2%, semi-detached homes 23.4% and apartments 10.4%, while 3-bedroom dwellings account for 47.7% and 2-bedroom homes 28.1%. The indicative monthly mortgage figure is $1,517, with mortgage costs at 33.1% of income, higher than the 31.6% rent-to-income measure. Renting is 34.3%, above outright ownership at 30.6%, so buyers may face competition from long-term tenants and existing owners. Compared with a smaller apartment-led market, the local mix gives families more choice of house formats, but the household-income percentile of 15.2 means deposit size, repairs and rate rises deserve conservative testing.
For Buyers
Toormina is most workable for buyers who prioritise conventional family layouts over high-rise stock. Separate houses make up 65.2%, semi-detached homes 23.4% and apartments 10.4%, while 3-bedroom dwellings account for 47.7% and 2-bedroom homes 28.1%. The indicative monthly mortgage figure is $1,517, with mortgage costs at 33.1% of income, higher than the 31.6% rent-to-income measure. Renting is 34.3%, above outright ownership at 30.6%, so buyers may face competition from long-term tenants and existing owners. Compared with a smaller apartment-led market, the local mix gives families more choice of house formats, but the household-income percentile of 15.2 means deposit size, repairs and rate rises deserve conservative testing.
For Investors
Rental demand has a meaningful base: 34.3% of occupied homes are rented, compared with 30.6% owned outright, and the weekly rent is $335. A 5.2% vacancy rate is not ultra-tight, so landlords may need sensible pricing and presentation rather than assuming automatic rent growth. The 47.7% share of 3-bedroom dwellings broadens the tenant pool toward families, while 23.4% semi-detached stock can support lower-maintenance positioning. Fifty-three development matters in 12 months, including health-services and telecommunications work, may improve amenity but can also add competing stock or disruption. Compared with a low-vacancy market, the case is more dependent on acquisition discipline, local tenant demand and holding costs; a reliable sale median is needed before estimating yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
253
Last 12 Months
52
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+52.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Toormina
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Toormina has a median age of 45, 5 years above the national figure, and an average household size of 2.3, 0.2 below national. The ancestry profile is Anglo-leaning: English is recorded by 2,614 people, Irish by 709 and Scottish by 666. University qualification reaches 19.3%, 10.8 percentage points below national, while overseas-born residents are 12.0%, 9.6 points below national. Christianity accounts for 2,880 responses and no religion for 2,515, indicating a sizeable split in social outlooks. Household structure helps explain the mature feel: couples without children are 40.2% of families, compared with 30.5% couples with children, and one-parent families are 27.1%. With 81.7% staying in the same address and turnover at 18.3%, the suburb is more settled than a high-churn market.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.2%
Houses
23.4%
Townhouse
10.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Toormina's stock is weighted toward medium-sized, ground-oriented homes. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 47.7%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 28.1%; 4-plus bedrooms represent 20.9% and 0-1 bedrooms 3.3%. Separate houses account for 65.2%, compared with 23.4% semi-detached and 10.4% apartments, giving buyers a broader non-apartment choice than a dense unit market. Tenure is split between 30.6% owned outright, 28.3% mortgaged and 34.3% rented, with 6.8% in other arrangements. Rent-to-income is 31.6%, while mortgage-to-income is higher at 33.1%, so cost pressure is more acute for leveraged households. Compared with nearby Sawtell's coastal setting, Toormina's 65.2% separate-house share and 47.7% three-bedroom share point to a more practical family-housing orientation.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $335.
$660
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $720 · units $460
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$590
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
138
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.5%
Couples with children
40.2%
Couples, no children
27.1%
Single parent
1,579
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 26.6% and 379 workers, more than twice hospitality's 6.7% and 96 workers. Education contributes 11.9% or 170 workers, followed by construction at 10.7% and 152, and retail at 9.7% and 139. The occupation mix reinforces a hands-on service economy: community and personal roles total 392, labourers 344, professionals 338, trades 309 and clerical or admin 266. Participation is 48.7%, unemployment 6.6% and full-time employment 49.7%, suggesting a smaller active labour pool than a high-participation suburb. Household income of $1,059 per week sits at the 15.2 percentile, below broader benchmarks, so healthcare, education and essential services matter because they provide accessible local work and support demand for everyday retail.
Unemployment
6.6%
Labour Force
2,480
Unemployed
164
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.7%
Part-time
42.7%
Participation
48.7%
Employed
2,316
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
12.0%
Dwellings
2,491
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 80.5% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.8% using public transport and 3.8% walking or cycling. That makes access to shops, health services and schools easier by car than by active or public modes, while 8.1% work from home. Two local government schools cover primary and secondary years, giving families access to both stages of schooling. Average household size is 2.3 and 10.2% of residents need assistance, so accessible homes, parking and everyday support services deserve attention. Compared with a more transit-oriented suburb, Toormina is better suited to households with a vehicle. Check enrolment zones against the exact address and review current street-level safety information before deciding, since no suburb-wide crime rate is available.
Drive
80.5%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
8.1%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Toormina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toormina a good suburb to live in?
Toormina suits households seeking practical services, conventional housing and local schooling. It has 6,171 residents, a median age of 45 and 2 government schools. Car access is important because 80.5% travel as car drivers, while only 0.8% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Toormina?
A current median house price is not stated. Buyers should compare recent settled sales and test borrowing capacity carefully; the indicative monthly mortgage figure is $1,517, while 3-bedroom homes represent 47.7% of the local dwelling mix.
What schools are in Toormina?
Toormina has 2 government schools: Toormina Public School, a primary school, and Toormina High School, a secondary school. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone for each address because catchments can affect eligibility.
Is Toormina safe?
A suburb-wide crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked through current police incident information and an inspection of the exact street. Toormina has 6,171 residents, making street-level conditions and nearby activity important when comparing addresses.
Is Toormina good for property investment?
Toormina has a rental base of 34.3%, weekly rent of $335 and a 5.2% vacancy rate. These figures support rental analysis, but investors should not assume a strong yield without a current sale price, and should also review the 53 development matters recorded over 12 months.
How is Toormina's population changing?
Toormina has 6,171 residents and appears relatively stable rather than highly transient: 81.7% stayed at the same address and turnover was 18.3%. With a median age of 45, future change is likely to increase demand for healthcare, accessibility and ageing-related services.
What development is planned in Toormina?
There were 53 development matters over 12 months, including a health-services facility, telecommunications infrastructure and alterations to residential accommodation. This activity may improve services and amenity, although each proposal should be checked for timing, scale and effects on nearby properties.
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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