Toronto

Toronto has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

The population of the suburb of Toronto is estimated at around 6,155 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 182 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,973 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,949 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 659 persons per square kilometer. Toronto's growth rate of 3.0% since the census positions it within 2.9 percentage points of the Rest of NSW, demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 60.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Toronto expected to grow by 814 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 10.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Toronto, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, Toronto has experienced approximately 22 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, around 113 homes were approved, with an additional 5 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 0.8 people have moved to the area each year for each dwelling built over these five financial years.

This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and enabling population growth that could surpass current expectations. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $706,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, there have been $1.6 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Comparatively, Toronto shows significantly reduced construction activity relative to the rest of NSW, at 58.0% below the regional average per person.

This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. The composition of new development consists of 64.0% standalone homes and 36.0% townhouses or apartments, with a growing mix providing options across different price points, from family homes to more affordable compact living. The estimated population density is 749 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate that Toronto will gain approximately 671 residents by the year 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Toronto has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Four projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area: Toronto Foreshore Revitalisation, 114-120 Cary Street Mixed Use Development, 136-138 Brighton Avenue Apartment Development, and Rathmines Park Transformation.

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Employment conditions in Toronto face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Toronto's workforce is skilled with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 8.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1%. As of September 2025, Toronto had 2,336 residents employed and an unemployment rate of 4.4%, higher than Rest of NSW's 3.8%.

Workforce participation was lower at 50.5% compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. Home workership stood at 20.5%. Key industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction, while agriculture had limited presence at 0.7% versus regional 5.3%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census data comparison. Over the year ending September 2025, employment increased by 1.1%, labour force by 2.9%, raising unemployment rate by 1.6 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of NSW where employment contracted by 0.5%, labour force fell by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimated a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Toronto's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The median taxpayer income in Toronto suburb was $41,640 and the average was $59,187 according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages. Rest of NSW had a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth since then, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $45,329 (median) and $64,431 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Toronto's household, family, and personal incomes fell between the 9th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income distribution showed that 27.4% of residents earned between $400-$799 weekly, contrasting with broader area where the $1500-$2999 bracket led at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Toronto, with only 82.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.

Toronto is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Toronto's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 77.8% houses and 22.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Toronto was at 38.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.1% and rented ones at 36.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,616, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Toronto was $320, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Toronto's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,616 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Toronto features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 65.6% of all households, including 18.8% couples with children, 29.1% couples without children, and 16.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households at 32.1% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Toronto fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (29.4%).

A substantial 24.6% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.4% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 3.0% in tertiary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis shows that as of 2021 there are 41 active transport stops operating within Toronto. These stops offer a mix of bus services, with a total of 80 individual routes providing 1,889 weekly passenger trips combined. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located approximately 217 meters from the nearest transport stop. In this primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 91%, while walking accounts for 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, some 20.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 269 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 46 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Toronto is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Toronto faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across a range of health conditions that affect both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~3,100 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, impacting 12.1 and 12.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 53.2% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.9%, with 1,840 people falling into this category, compared to 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally aligned with the broader population.

Toronto is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Toronto's cultural diversity was below average, with 87.4% born in Australia, 91.0% being citizens, and 94.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 52.7%. This compares to 55.9% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.5%), Australian (30.6%), and Scottish (8.1%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 5.8% in Toronto compared to the regional average of 4.6%. Welsh and Samoan groups also showed higher representation at 0.7% and 0.3%, respectively, compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 0.1%.

Toronto ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Toronto's median age of 49 exceeds both the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 75-84 age cohort is notably over-represented in Toronto at 11.2%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while those aged 5-14 are under-represented at 10.0%. This concentration of the 75-84 cohort is significantly higher than the national figure of 6.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 8.6% to 11.1% of Toronto's population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 11.4% to 9.9%, and the 55-64 group has dropped from 13.1% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Toronto's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 171 people (23%), from 732 to 904. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 65-74 and 55-64 cohorts.