Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Torquay
34 km²
Over half of all residents in Torquay have moved here in the last five years, marking it as a rapidly changing community. It is a wealthy, well-educated area with a strong presence of young families and children. Many of these households are larger than the national average, which helps explain why there are so many family homes and a high number of parents caring for children. This affluent coastal hub is defined by high incomes and a preference for detached housing.
Torquay's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
Torquay has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
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The community is notably young, with children under 15 making up 22.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 18.2%. The typical resident is 39, and there are more people in de facto relationships here than in most similar areas.
Most people here were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 13.4% of the population, which is far below the 27.7% national average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 91.4% of residents. Only 4.7% use another language at home, a figure that is far below the national average of 22.3%.
A majority of residents (52.9%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 40.1%.
Torquay is highly qualified, with 34.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national average of 26.3%. Year 12 completion is also much higher than in most similar areas.
This is a high-income area where the typical family earns $2,627 a week, which is a little above the national figure. Households earning $3,000 or more per week are much more common here than in most other areas.
Residents generally experience better health than the national average, with fewer people needing help with daily activities and a lower rate of long-term health conditions.
Unpaid care for children is very common here, with 35.3% of people providing this support, well above the national figure of 26.3%. Volunteering rates are also well above the national average.
The First Nations community in Torquay is notably older and earns much more than the national average for this group. Year 12 completion among First Nations residents is also far above the national figure.
Families with children are the dominant group, making up 64.9% of households. This contributes to larger home sizes, with an average of 2.7 people per home.
The area is dominated by separate houses, with 90.6% of homes being detached. These are typically large, with 90.3% of homes having three or more bedrooms, though rents and mortgage payments are well above national figures.
While most people use a car, 28.6% of the workforce works from home, which is well above the national average. Public transport use is very low, though most homes are within a short walk of a stop.
The population is highly mobile, with 50.6% of people moving into the area in the last five years. This is well above the national figure of 40.7%.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas. The most common industries for local workers are health care, construction, and education.
The area is very walkable, particularly for accessing parks and groceries. Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, and 93.1% are near public transport.