Toukley
With a median age of 47, Toukley runs 7 years older than the national figure and sits in SEIFA decile 2 on both IRSD and IRSAD, placing it among the more disadvantaged suburbs in NSW. Household income lands in the 14.8th percentile nationally, well below the median, yet the median house price has reached $790,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 38.5% that exceeds the stress threshold. The vacancy rate of 11.2% is high for a suburb of 4,557 people, reflecting a coastal holiday and investor-owned stock mix. Healthcare employs 23.3% of the local workforce, and 43.3% of residents rent rather than own.
Population
4,557
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,044/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
49
Median House
$790K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $790,000, with minimal movement: prices edged from $790,000 in 2024 to $791,750 in 2025, a 0.2% gain. The monthly mortgage of $1,742 implies a mortgage-to-income ratio of 38.5%, above the standard 30% stress threshold and higher than average for the Central Coast. Separate houses dominate at 71.0% of stock, with semi-detached at 15.9% and apartments at 13.0%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 42.0%, followed by two-bedroom at 32.7%. The average household size of 2.1 is below the national 2.5, reflecting the older demographic.
For Buyers
The median house price is $790,000, with minimal movement: prices edged from $790,000 in 2024 to $791,750 in 2025, a 0.2% gain. The monthly mortgage of $1,742 implies a mortgage-to-income ratio of 38.5%, above the standard 30% stress threshold and higher than average for the Central Coast. Separate houses dominate at 71.0% of stock, with semi-detached at 15.9% and apartments at 13.0%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 42.0%, followed by two-bedroom at 32.7%. The average household size of 2.1 is below the national 2.5, reflecting the older demographic.
For Investors
Toukley's 43.3% renter share sits above the national average, providing a broad tenant pool, but the 11.2% vacancy rate signals that available stock currently exceeds demand. Weekly rent of $340 against the $790,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.2%. Development activity totals 50 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new dwellings. Net migration brings roughly 32 internal and 26 overseas arrivals annually. The gentrification score of 42 with an early-signs classification suggests limited near-term upward price pressure, so the investment case rests on rental income rather than capital acceleration.
Development Activity
Total DAs
264
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+32.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Toukley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Toukley Public School
P-6 · 494 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure. Overseas-born residents sit at 13.5%, which is 8.1 percentage points below the national average, consistent with an Anglo-Celtic community: English (1,865), Irish (488) and Scottish (421) are the leading ancestries. University qualifications at 16.1% are 14 percentage points below the national level, reflecting both the older age structure and the lower-income occupational profile. Average household size of 2.1 is below the national 2.5, and couples without children account for 33.7% of families. The labour force participation rate of 39.1% is low, driven by 1,844 residents not in the labour force.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.0%
Houses
15.9%
Townhouse
13.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits show 33.4% own outright, 23.3% carry a mortgage, and 43.3% rent. The high outright ownership share relative to mortgage holders is consistent with a long-settled older cohort who have paid off debt, while the large renter share points to investor-owned stock. The median house price of $790,000 was flat across 2024-2025. Household income sits in the 14.8th percentile nationally, so rent-to-income at 32.6% and mortgage-to-income at 38.5% both breach the standard stress threshold. Three-bedroom homes lead at 42.0% and the 11.2% vacancy rate is above typical suburban levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,742
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$606
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.2%
Unoccupied
249
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
38.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.7%
Couples, no children
3,136
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 23.3% of local workers (236), above the state average, because the older population creates sustained service demand. Construction follows at 14.8% (150), then Education at 9.6%, Retail at 8.6% and Public Administration at 6.7%. By occupation, Professionals (246) and Community and Personal Service workers (242) lead. Unemployment at 9.1% is higher than the NSW state norm, and the full-time employment rate of 60.8% reflects part-time and casual work patterns. SEIFA decile 2 on both IRSD and IRSAD places Toukley in the bottom quintile nationally, consistent with household income at the 14.8th percentile.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
4,447
Unemployed
241
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.8%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
39.1%
Employed
1,366
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.1%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
13.5%
Dwellings
1,976
Transport to Work
Transport is car-dependent: 88.7% drive to work and only 2.0% use public transport, lower than metropolitan NSW norms. Walking and cycling accounts for 3.8%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families use schools in neighbouring areas. The suburb scores decile 2 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the lower advantage tier. The need-for-assistance rate of 11.8% (501 people) is above average, aligning with the median age of 47 and the lower SEIFA profile. Housing stress is a real constraint: rent-to-income at 32.6% and mortgage-to-income at 38.5% both exceed the standard 30% threshold.
Drive
88.7%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+32 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.32% per year, below the national average for established suburbs. The broader SA2 area held 9,885 residents in 2023 and 9,908 in 2025, with medium-scenario forecasts projecting around 10,234 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with roughly 32 internal and 26 overseas arrivals annually. The gentrification score of 42 with an early-signs classification is lower than actively gentrifying suburbs. Affordability held stable, shifting from 55.6% in 2011 to 54.8% in 2021. Rents rose 45.8% over the period while real income grew 20.3%, meaning rent growth substantially outpaced income gains.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+26
Net Internal / yr
+32
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Toukley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toukley a good suburb to live in?
Toukley suits residents who value a quieter, older-demographic coastal community. The suburb sits in SEIFA decile 2 nationally on both IRSD and IRSAD, indicating below-average advantage, and household income sits at the 14.8th percentile. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure. Housing stress affects a significant share: rent-to-income is 32.6% and mortgage-to-income is 38.5%. The 11.2% vacancy rate reflects seasonal and investment-owned stock.
What is the median house price in Toukley?
The median house price is $790,000 based on 2024-2025 PSI-derived data. Prices moved modestly from $790,000 in 2024 to $791,750 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,742, and weekly rent is $340. Against local household incomes at the 14.8th percentile nationally, these costs produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 38.5%.
What schools are in Toukley?
No schools are recorded within the Toukley suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb has a population of 4,557 and a median age of 47, and families with school-age children rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The university qualification rate locally is 16.1%, which is 14 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Toukley safe?
Detailed crime rate statistics are not available for Toukley in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, placing it in the lower tier. The need-for-assistance rate of 11.8% (501 residents) is above average, and the unemployment rate of 9.1% is elevated compared to state norms.
Is Toukley good for property investment?
Toukley has a 43.3% renter share, above the national average, providing a tenant pool, but the 11.2% vacancy rate is high and signals current oversupply. Weekly rent of $340 against the $790,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.2%. Population growth runs at 0.32% per year with a gentrification score of 42 and an early-signs classification, suggesting limited short-term capital growth pressure.
How is Toukley's population changing?
Toukley is growing slowly at 0.32% per year, adding about 32 residents annually. The broader SA2 area recorded 9,885 residents in 2023 and 9,908 in 2025. The 10-year population change sits at 10.1% for the broader area. Net migration is balanced, with 32 internal and 26 overseas arrivals annually. Forecasts project the broader population reaching around 10,234 by 2031.
How much development is happening in Toukley?
There were 50 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including a neighbourhood supermarket alteration and a telecommunications facility. Most applications are alterations to existing structures rather than new dwellings, consistent with limited new supply in an established suburb with a 0.32% annual growth rate.
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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