Sawtell vs Toormina
The verdict
Toormina is more affordable, with a median house price of $766K versus $1.16M in Sawtell. Sawtell rates higher for education (52 vs 38). Toormina rates higher for transport (70 vs 54).
Scores
| Sawtell | Toormina | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 55 | 58 |
| Transport | 54 | 70 |
| Education | 52 | 38 |
| Liveability | 59 | 64 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Sawtell | Toormina | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,788 | 6,171 |
| Median age | 47 | 45 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,405 | $1,059 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 39.3% | 21.8% |
| Born in Australia | 83.1% | 81.0% |
| Avg household size | 2.3 | 2.3 |
Growth: Sawtell Stable · Toormina Stable
Property
| Sawtell | Toormina | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.16M | $766K |
| Median unit price | $723K | $544K |
| House price YoY | -20.0% | 22.2% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $650 | $650 |
| Rental yield (house) | 3.0% | 3.9% |
| Days on market (house) | 42 | 40 |
Median price history
Safety
| Sawtell | Toormina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 20 | 23 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 792 | 373 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 528 | 373 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 475 | 1,313 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 5,649 | 9,836 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Sawtell | Toormina | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 1 | 5 |
| Government | 1 | 3 |
| Independent | 0 | 1 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,003 | 950 |
See the full school list on each profile: Sawtell · Toormina
Transport
| Sawtell | Toormina | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 54 | 70 |
| Train stations | 0 | 2 |
| Bus stops | 0 | 0 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest train station (km) | 1.0 km | 1.0 km |
Liveability
| Sawtell | Toormina | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 27.0°C | 27.0°C |
| Winter max temp | 19.0°C | 19.0°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,700 | 1,700 |
| Supermarkets | 0 | 3 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 8 | 2 |
| Parks | 6 | 2 |
| Playgrounds | 3 | 4 |
| Swimming pools | 21 | Data not available |
| Medical GPs | 0 | 2 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 810 m | 1.8 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 428.3 km | 429.4 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 780 m | 1.8 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 5.7 km | 4.2 km |
Population & growth
| Sawtell | Toormina | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 3,788 | 6,171 |
| Estimated 2025 | 3,875 | 6,313 |
| Projected 2041 | 3,984 | 6,490 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.57% | 0.57% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Sawtell or Toormina?
Toormina has the higher residential safety score (Sawtell 20/100 vs Toormina 23/100).
Which is more affordable, Sawtell or Toormina?
Toormina is more affordable, with a median house price of $766K versus $1.16M.
Which has better schools, Sawtell or Toormina?
Sawtell has a higher average school ICSEA (Sawtell 1003 vs Toormina 950; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Sawtell or Toormina?
Toormina has the higher transport score (Sawtell 54/100 vs Toormina 70/100).
Try another comparison
Compare two suburbs