Toukley
A 47-year median age puts Toukley 7 years above the national median, while household income sits at the 14.8th percentile and average household size is 2.1 people. The profile is older and lower-income than national settings, with 42.7% renting and an 11.2% vacancy rate. Detached homes dominate at 71.0%. Compared with nearby Norah Head and Budgewoi, Toukley presents a more established, detached-home profile suited to buyers weighing affordability and local services. Population growth is measured at 0.32% annually, so Toukley reads as an established, slow-growth market rather than a fast-expanding one.
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
56
Buyers are choosing mostly detached stock: 71.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 15.9% are semi-detached and 13.0% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 42.0%, ahead of four-plus-bedroom homes at 18.9%, which suits smaller households because the average household size is 2.1 people. The $1,742 monthly mortgage benchmark equals 38.5% of household income, higher than the 32.6% rent-to-income burden, so repayments require careful testing. Compared with apartment-led options elsewhere on the Central Coast, Toukley may appeal to buyers prioritising land, but the 42.7% renting share and lower household incomes point to price sensitivity.
For Buyers
Buyers are choosing mostly detached stock: 71.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 15.9% are semi-detached and 13.0% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 42.0%, ahead of four-plus-bedroom homes at 18.9%, which suits smaller households because the average household size is 2.1 people. The $1,742 monthly mortgage benchmark equals 38.5% of household income, higher than the 32.6% rent-to-income burden, so repayments require careful testing. Compared with apartment-led options elsewhere on the Central Coast, Toukley may appeal to buyers prioritising land, but the 42.7% renting share and lower household incomes point to price sensitivity.
For Investors
Investor conditions are mixed. Renting accounts for 42.7% of occupied dwellings, while the 11.2% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied rental market would normally be. Weekly rent is $340 and rent stress affects 32.6% of household income, so price-sensitive tenants may limit upside despite the substantial renter base. Development activity reached 58 applications in 12 months, including a secondary dwelling and alterations to a dwelling house, which can gradually add competing or supplementary stock. Forecast migration is Balanced and annual growth is 0.32%, pointing to a steadier, income-sensitive strategy rather than aggressive yield chasing. Compared with lower-vacancy pockets nearby, Toukley needs conservative vacancy and maintenance assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
281
Last 12 Months
56
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+43.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Toukley
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
At 47, Toukley's median age is 7 years above the national median, supporting demand for accessible services and lower-maintenance housing. University attainment is 16.1%, 14 percentage points below the national level, while overseas-born residents make up 13.5%, or 8.1 points below the national share. English, Irish and Scottish are the leading reported ancestries, at 1,865, 488 and 421 people. Christianity, at 2,294 people, is more common than no religion at 1,773. Couples without children form 44.6% of families, compared with 28.0% of couples with children, while one-parent families account for 25.1%. Compared with younger, more university-heavy Central Coast suburbs, Toukley has a smaller-household profile because its average household size is 2.1, or 0.4 below the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.0%
Houses
15.9%
Townhouse
13.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing is the defining form: 71.0% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 13.0% apartments and 15.9% semi-detached homes. Tenure is split between 32.9% owned outright, 22.9% with a mortgage and 42.7% renting, making renting the largest single category and ownership less dominant than in many established owner-occupied suburbs. The bedroom mix is concentrated in three-bedroom homes at 42.0%, followed by two-bedroom homes at 32.7%; only 18.9% have four or more bedrooms. Mortgage costs of $1,742 per month represent 38.5% of household income, higher than the 32.6% rent burden, because lower incomes amplify repayment pressure. Compared with Norah Head and Budgewoi, buyers should test whether Toukley's 11.2% vacancy rate compensates for its more varied tenure base.
Mortgage / mo
$1,742
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $340.
$580
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $600 · units $500
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
28.0%
Couples with children
44.6%
Couples, no children
25.1%
Single parent
1,187
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Toukley's largest recorded industry at 23.3% of jobs, ahead of construction at 14.8%, education at 9.6%, retail at 8.6% and public administration at 6.7%. This mix supports local service demand because health, education and community-facing work are less tied to discretionary spending than some retail activity. Trades are the leading occupation group at 276 people, followed by professionals at 246 and community or personal workers at 242; clerical and administrative workers at 187 and labourers at 186 are lower. The unemployment rate is 7.8% and participation is 45.2%, while the full-time rate is 51.8%, pointing to a smaller labour-force base than more employment-intensive suburbs. Household income is $1,044 weekly and sits at the 14.8th percentile, so spending power is below the national average and housing costs matter more.
Unemployment
7.8%
Labour Force
1,737
Unemployed
136
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.8%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
45.2%
Employed
1,601
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.1%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
13.5%
Dwellings
1,976
Transport to Work
Toukley suits residents who value local convenience and driving access, but it is less suited to households needing frequent public transport. Car driving is the main commute mode at 67.9%, compared with 1.5% using public transport and 2.9% walking or cycling; 23.5% work from home, which can reduce daily travel pressure. One government primary school, Toukley Public School, is identified within the suburb, so families should check enrolment zones and compare nearby secondary and non-government options before signing. The median age of 47 is above the national median by 7 years, and the IRSAD decile of 2 is below higher-resource areas, so service proximity and transport planning matter. A volunteering rate of 10.3% and need-assistance rate of 11.8% also make community services relevant. For safety, check current local police and council information before deciding.
Drive
67.9%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
23.5%
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+32 people/yr)
EstablishedToukley fits an established profile: the forecast annual trend is 0.32%, and population change across the wider area is 10.1% over 10 years. Migration is labelled Balanced, while the shift trajectory is Stable and affordability moved only from 55.6 to 54.8 between 2011 and 2021. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 0 and stage Not gentrifying, while the shift indicators record a score of 42 and Early signs. That divergence argues for measured expectations because rent growth of 45.8% has not yet translated into a clear repricing story. Senior and young shares each moved 0.7%, reinforcing gradual rather than sharply directional change. Compared with faster-growth coastal markets, Toukley is a steadier established suburb.
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 may suit residents seeking established housing, local services and a quieter pace. Its median age is 47, the average household size is 2.1 people and 71.0% of dwellings are separate houses. Car dependence is high at 67.9%, so households should assess transport needs and nearby services carefully.
What is the median house price in Toukley?
A current median house price should be checked against the latest 12-month sales data, as the available housing figures do not establish a sale median. Toukley is dominated by three-bedroom homes at 42.0%, while 71.0% of dwellings are separate houses, so compare prices by dwelling type and bedroom count.
What schools are in Toukley?
Toukley Public School is the identified government primary school in the suburb. Families should verify enrolment boundaries for the exact address and compare nearby secondary and non-government choices, as the local list records 1 school rather than every option available across the wider area.
Is Toukley safe?
Safety should be checked using current police and council information because a reliable local crime-rate comparison is not available. Toukley covers 3.68 square kilometres and has a density of 1,237.5 people per square kilometre, so conditions can vary across a compact but fairly dense area.
Is Toukley good for property investment?
Toukley may suit a conservative investor, but the 11.2% vacancy rate is high relative to a tightly supplied rental market. Renting accounts for 42.7% of dwellings and weekly rent is $340, while annual growth is forecast at 0.32%. These figures support careful yield, vacancy and maintenance modelling rather than aggressive assumptions.
How is Toukley's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is recorded at 10.1% over 10 years, while the annual forecast trend is 0.32%. Migration is labelled Balanced and the trajectory is Stable. Senior and young shares each changed by 0.7%, indicating gradual adjustment rather than a rapid demographic shift.
What development is occurring in Toukley?
Development activity reached 58 applications in 12 months. Examples include a secondary dwelling, alterations to an existing dwelling house, and advertising or signage work. This pattern may add incremental housing and business changes rather than signal a single large project, so investors should monitor local approvals and construction timing.
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.
Explore Toukley on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map