Torquay
An older coastal suburb, Torquay has a median age of 55, which is 15 years above the national comparison, and 6,533 residents across 4.33 square kilometres. Its 12.1% vacancy rate is high, while 40.9% of homes are owned outright and 17.7% have a mortgage, pointing to a settled base. Healthcare is the leading industry at 34.2%, and the annual growth trend is 2.98%, higher than its aging trajectory might suggest. Compared with nearby Pialba and Scarness, Torquay presents as a smaller, established coastal market with strong retirement influence and early signs of change.
Population
6,533
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$917/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
36
Torquay suits buyers who value established housing and a quieter coastal setting, but household budgets need careful testing. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,299 and weekly rent is $300, while both rent and mortgage stress reach 32.7% of income. Household size averages 2.1 people, 0.4 below the national comparison, which helps explain the concentration of 2-bedroom dwellings at 29.0% and 3-bedroom homes at 37.5%. Separate houses make up 69.6%, compared with 8.3% apartments and 17.7% semi-detached homes. Buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type and condition, because a single suburb-wide price does not capture this mixed stock.
For Buyers
Torquay suits buyers who value established housing and a quieter coastal setting, but household budgets need careful testing. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,299 and weekly rent is $300, while both rent and mortgage stress reach 32.7% of income. Household size averages 2.1 people, 0.4 below the national comparison, which helps explain the concentration of 2-bedroom dwellings at 29.0% and 3-bedroom homes at 37.5%. Separate houses make up 69.6%, compared with 8.3% apartments and 17.7% semi-detached homes. Buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type and condition, because a single suburb-wide price does not capture this mixed stock.
For Investors
Torquay's investment case is shaped by supply and affordability rather than tight rental scarcity. Weekly rent is $300, vacancy is 12.1%, and 38.0% of households rent, giving tenants more choice than in a low-vacancy market. That can moderate rent pressure, so returns depend on purchase price, maintenance and tenant retention. Development activity is also notable, with 35 applications in 12 months, while healthcare supports 448 jobs and the annual growth trend is 2.98%. Compared with a lower-vacancy market, Torquay may suit a patient strategy focused on older residents, local services and long-term holding.
Development Activity
Total DAs
49
Last 12 Months
36
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+620.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Torquay
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Star of the Sea Catholic School (Torquay)
Torquay State School
Demographics
Torquay's median age is 55, 15 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 17.4%, 12.7 percentage points below national. That profile helps explain why community and personal occupations lead at 403 people, with professionals at 365, and why healthcare accounts for 448 workers or 34.2% of employment. Households average 2.1 people, 0.4 below national, and couples without children represent 52.6% of families, versus 23.5% with children. English ancestry is recorded by 2,945 residents, followed by Irish at 769 and Scottish at 750. Resident turnover is 28.2%, while 71.8% stayed.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.6%
Houses
17.7%
Townhouse
8.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Torquay's housing mix is settled but not uniform, so buyers should compare recent sales by dwelling type, age and condition. Outright ownership is 40.9%, mortgage ownership 17.7% and renting 38.0%, a more owner-established profile than a strongly renter-led precinct. Separate houses account for 69.6%, versus 8.3% apartments and 17.7% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 37.5%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 29.0% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 24.8%. Weekly rent is $300, but rent and mortgage stress are both 32.7% of income. Compared with an apartment-heavy coastal market, Torquay gives families and downsizers more detached-stock choice, although its 12.1% vacancy rate gives renters negotiating room.
Mortgage / mo
$1,299
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $300.
$590
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $590 · units $480
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$518
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.1%
Unoccupied
387
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.7% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.7% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.5%
Couples with children
52.6%
Couples, no children
22.1%
Single parent
1,713
Total families
Economy & Employment
Torquay's economy is anchored by care, education and local service work. Healthcare leads with 448 workers or 34.2%, followed by education at 143 or 10.9%, construction at 116 or 8.9%, hospitality at 110 or 8.4%, and retail at 87 or 6.6%. Community and personal occupations lead at 403, ahead of professionals at 365 and trades at 258. Unemployment is 10.3%, participation is 39.6%, and median household income is $917 weekly, with a 9.2 percentile ranking that sits below the national average. SEIFA reinforces the pressure: IRSAD is decile 1, while IEO, IER and IRSD are each decile 2, all lower than more advantaged areas. This mix supports essential services but can constrain discretionary spending.
Unemployment
10.3%
Labour Force
2,252
Unemployed
233
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.9%
Part-time
41.7%
Participation
39.6%
Employed
2,019
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.4%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
19.4%
Dwellings
2,763
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car dependent: 81.3% drive to work, compared with 0.6% using public transport and 5.1% walking or cycling. Only 6.3% work from home, so practical access to shops, health services and jobs matters more than in a remote-work-heavy suburb. Two local schools provide one government option and one Catholic option; check the enrolment zone against the exact address. The median age is 55, 15 years above national comparison, and 12.9% of residents need assistance, making accessible homes and nearby support important. IRSAD is decile 1, lower than IRSD and IER at decile 2, signalling more socioeconomic pressure than higher-ranked areas. For safety, inspect the street at different times and check current address-level information before committing.
Drive
81.3%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
6.3%
Population Forecast
+2.98%/yr
(+792 people/yr)
EstablishedTorquay is classified as established, with an annual growth trend of 2.98% and population change across the wider area of 63.6% over 10 years. Migration is labelled Balanced, so growth is not dependent on one arrival stream. The demographic trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 5.3 percentage points and the working share has decreased 3.0 points, which should lift demand for healthcare, support and low-maintenance homes. Gentrification remains at Early signs, with a score of 38, while the shift measure records a score of 29 at the same stage. Compared with a rapid growth corridor, Torquay's pace is measured, but 35 development applications in 12 months show ongoing renewal.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+170
Net Internal / yr
+186
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal migration +186/yr, Accelerating: 23% → 39%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Torquay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Torquay a good suburb to live in?
Torquay can suit people seeking an established coastal suburb, with 6,533 residents and 2 local schools. Its median age is 55, 15 years above the national comparison, and 81.3% drive to work, so it is better suited to car-oriented living than a transit-focused lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Torquay?
A suburb-wide median house price is not available as a dependable guide, so compare recent sales by dwelling type and condition. Torquay has 69.6% separate houses, 8.3% apartments and 17.7% semi-detached homes, creating different price brackets.
What schools are in Torquay?
Torquay has 2 identified local schools: Torquay State School, a government school, and Star of the Sea Catholic School, a Catholic school. Check the enrolment zone for the exact address, as nearby boundaries can differ from the suburb boundary.
Is Torquay safe?
Safety should be checked at the exact address using current local information. Torquay has 6,533 residents and a 12.1% vacancy rate, so inspect lighting, access, surrounding activity and building security at different times before choosing a home.
Is Torquay good for property investment?
Torquay may suit a patient investor, but 12.1% vacancy and $300 weekly rent give tenants more choice than a tightly supplied market. Healthcare supports 448 jobs, the annual growth trend is 2.98%, and 35 development applications in 12 months make tenant demand and future competition important checks.
How is Torquay's population changing?
Torquay is aging while continuing to grow. The median age is 55, the senior share has risen 5.3 percentage points and the working share has fallen 3.0 points. Across the wider area, population change is 63.6% over 10 years and the annual growth trend is 2.98%, with migration rated Balanced.
Is there development happening in Torquay?
Yes. Torquay recorded 35 development applications in 12 months, including dwelling-house work. That points to ongoing renewal rather than a single large project, so buyers should check construction timing, parking and stormwater impacts for the exact property.
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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