Sawtell vs Toormina.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,195,000 and $735,000. Toormina edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Toormina (median $735,000) is roughly 63% cheaper to buy into than Sawtell ($1,195,000). Over the past year, Toormina (+6.4%) ran 9.8 percentage points ahead of Sawtell (-3.4%) on house-price growth.
Toormina scores higher on walkability (16/100 vs 22/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Sawtell (974) sits above Toormina (964).
For buyers
Toormina is the lower entry point at $735,000 median, 63% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Toormina carries both higher gross yield (5.09% vs 3.13%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Sawtell edges out on average school ICSEA (974 vs 964).
Common questions
Is Sawtell or Toormina cheaper to buy in?
Toormina has the lower median house price at $735,000, roughly 63% below Sawtell ($1,195,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Sawtell or Toormina?
Over the past 12 months, Toormina grew +6.4% vs -3.4% in Sawtell, a gap of 9.8 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Sawtell or Toormina have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Sawtell scores 974 vs 964 in Toormina. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Sawtell or Toormina?
Toormina scores 22/100 on walkability vs 16/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Sawtell or Toormina?
Gross rental yield on houses is 5.09% in Toormina vs 3.13% in Sawtell. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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