Torquay (Vic.)

Torquay lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Torquay (Vic.) is around 22,280. This reflects an increase of 3,746 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,534. The change was inferred from the resident population of 19,868 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), along with an additional 346 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 649 persons per square kilometer. Torquay's growth of 20.2% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Vic.'s (8.1%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 53.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, the suburb is expected to grow by 6,027 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 16.3% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Torquay among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Torquay averaged 179 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 899 homes. In FY26 so far, 52 approvals have been recorded. This results in approximately 3.5 new residents per home built annually between FY21 and FY25. The average construction cost of these new homes is $891,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment.

Commercial approvals this financial year amount to $39.5 million, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to other areas in Victoria and nationally, Torquay has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it among the 50th percentile of assessed areas. The area's building activity is dominated by detached houses at 83.0%, maintaining its traditional low density character with a focus on family homes.

With approximately 318 people per dwelling approval, Torquay shows signs of a developing market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 3,629 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Torquay has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

"Twenty-four projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Among these, key projects include Summerset Torquay Retirement Village, Wurdi Baierr Aquatic and Recreation Centre - Stage Two, Torquay North Residential Development Area, and Haven Torquay.".

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market strength in Torquay positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Torquay's workforce is well-educated with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.4% as of September 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. In this month, 10,990 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.3 percentage points lower than Rest of Vic.'s 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Torquay stood at 71.7%, surpassing Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. Census responses indicated that 32.6% of residents worked from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training sectors. Torquay showed significant specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 1.0% of local workers, below Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.3%, with employment decreasing by 0.5% and unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of Vic., where employment contracted by 0.7%, the labour force fell by 0.6%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered insights into potential future demand within Torquay. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, indicated that national employment was forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differed significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Torquay's employment mix suggested that local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, although this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not take into account localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows Torquay's median income was $59,885 and average income was $84,320. This compares to Rest of Vic.'s median income of $50,954 and average income of $62,728. By September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $64,826 and average income $91,276, based on an 8.25% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census ranks Torquay's household, family, and personal incomes between the 80th and 83rd percentiles nationally. Incomes predominantly fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category (31.8% of locals), similar to metropolitan regions (30.3%). Notably, 35.5% earn above $3,000 weekly. Housing accounts for 14.4% of income, with residents ranking in the 83rd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Torquay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Torquay's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 90.8% houses and 9.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structures were 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Torquay was at 34.0%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (44.1%) or rented (22.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Torquay was $2,167, exceeding Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Torquay was $500, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s $285 and the national average of $375.

Torquay features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.6% of all households, including 39.0% couples with children, 29.7% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.4%, with lone person households at 19.2% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Torquay demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Torquay's educational attainment significantly surpasses broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 38.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the Rest of Vic. and 28.6% in the SA4 region. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 25.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.5%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%).

Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 33.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.4%) and certificates (20.3%). Educational participation is notably high, with 31.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Torquay has 64 active public transport stops serving 14 different routes. These routes facilitate 1,024 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 324 meters, indicating good accessibility. Most residents commute outwards due to Torquay's primarily residential nature. Cars are the dominant mode of transport, used by 92% of residents. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling in Torquay, exceeding the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 32.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 146 trips per day, equating to approximately 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

Torquay's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Torquay's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population (13,383 people), compared to 50.5% in Rest of Vic.. The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 7.8 and 7.2% of residents respectively. 73.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Rest of Vic.. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 16.1% of residents aged 65 and over (3,587 people), lower than the 23.9% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Torquay's population showed lower-than-average cultural diversity, with 86.1% born in Australia and 91.1% being citizens. English was the home language for 95.1%. Christianity dominated religiously, at 42.7%.

Judaism's representation was notably higher than regional averages (0.1% vs 0.1%). Ancestrally, English (30.6%), Australian (27.1%), and Irish (11.3%) were the top groups. Other ethnicities with notable differences included Scottish (9.4% vs 8.8%), Dutch (1.7% vs 1.7%), and Maltese (0.8% vs 0.5%).

Torquay's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Torquay is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 years but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Vic., Torquay has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (16.9%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25-34 increased from 10.2% to 11.0%, while the population aged 65-74 decreased from 10.3% to 9.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Torquay's age structure. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 28% (881 people), reaching 4,001 from 3,119. Meanwhile, the 65-74 age group is projected to grow by a modest 0% (2 people).