Freshwater Creek vs Torquay

Torquay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 45 in Freshwater Creek. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. On these figures, Torquay tends to suit families with children.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Torquay

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (17 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Freshwater Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $500/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 22%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Freshwater Creek sits closer to the CBD (96.1 km vs 101.1 km)
  • Torquay is more walkable (76/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Torquay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 57/100)
  • But Freshwater Creek has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 16%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Torquay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (39.8% vs 9.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Freshwater Creek and Torquay drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Walkability 0 / 76
Freshwater Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Torquay — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 43 / 60
Freshwater Creek — Safety: 43/100 Torquay — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Freshwater Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100 Torquay — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 47 / 48
Freshwater Creek — Low flood risk: 47/100 Torquay — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Torquay has more residents (18,534 vs 454); Torquay rents higher ($500/wk vs $300/wk).

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Population 454 18,534
+3982% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.7% +39.8%
Median age 45 39
Median household income $108,524/yr $119,340/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $500/wk
+67% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek Torquay
0-4 3.7% / 7.2%
Freshwater Creek — 0-4: 3.7% Torquay — 0-4: 7.2%
5-14 14.3% / 15.2%
Freshwater Creek — 5-14: 14.3% Torquay — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 8.6% / 5.5%
Freshwater Creek — 15-19: 8.6% Torquay — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 3.7% / 4.4%
Freshwater Creek — 20-24: 3.7% Torquay — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 6.6% / 10.2%
Freshwater Creek — 25-34: 6.6% Torquay — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 12.1% / 16.4%
Freshwater Creek — 35-44: 12.1% Torquay — 35-44: 16.4%
45-54 16.5% / 14.0%
Freshwater Creek — 45-54: 16.5% Torquay — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 13.0% / 10.7%
Freshwater Creek — 55-64: 13.0% Torquay — 55-64: 10.7%
65-74 14.5% / 10.3%
Freshwater Creek — 65-74: 14.5% Torquay — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 6.2% / 4.4%
Freshwater Creek — 75-84: 6.2% Torquay — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 2.0% / 1.7%
Freshwater Creek — 85+: 2.0% Torquay — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek 61.4% couple families
Freshwater Creek — Couple Families: 61.4% Freshwater Creek — Lone Person: 25.7% Freshwater Creek — One Parent Families: 12.9% Freshwater Creek — Group Household: 0.0% Freshwater Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Torquay 55.4% couple families
Torquay — Couple Families: 55.4% Torquay — Lone Person: 27.3% Torquay — One Parent Families: 11.9% Torquay — Group Household: 4.6% Torquay — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek 14.8% renting
Freshwater Creek — Owned Outright: 51.7% Freshwater Creek — Mortgage: 33.6% Freshwater Creek — Renting: 14.8%
Torquay 22.0% renting
Torquay — Owned Outright: 34.0% Torquay — Mortgage: 44.0% Torquay — Renting: 22.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Freshwater Creek Torquay
England 3.3% / 3.7%
Freshwater Creek — England: 3.3% Torquay — England: 3.7%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.5%
Freshwater Creek — New Zealand: 1.3% Torquay — New Zealand: 1.5%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.6%
Freshwater Creek — Scotland: 0.7% Torquay — Scotland: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.9%
Freshwater Creek — South Africa: not among its largest Torquay — South Africa: 0.9%
Germany — / 0.5%
Freshwater Creek — Germany: not among its largest Torquay — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Bachelor Degree 16.3% / 18.2%
Freshwater Creek — Bachelor Degree: 16.3% Torquay — Bachelor Degree: 18.2%
Certificate III & IV 13.2% / 12.5%
Freshwater Creek — Certificate III & IV: 13.2% Torquay — Certificate III & IV: 12.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.5%
Freshwater Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Torquay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 4.8% / 5.3%
Freshwater Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8% Torquay — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.6%
Freshwater Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Torquay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek 94.2% houses
Freshwater Creek — Houses: 94.2% Freshwater Creek — Townhouses: 0.0% Freshwater Creek — Flats / Apartments: 5.8%
Torquay 90.6% houses
Torquay — Houses: 90.6% Torquay — Townhouses: 8.4% Torquay — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Median house price — $1,180,000
Median unit price — $810,000
Median land price — $633,750
Typical days to sell (houses) — 41 days
from 201 sales

Zoning mix

Freshwater Creek has more rural and farming land (99% vs 49%).

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Rural and farming 99% 49%
Residential 0% 32%
Parks and recreation 0% 13%
Other and special use 0% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
same for both
Industrial 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Freshwater Creek Torquay
New dwellings approved 300
across Surf Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +57%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Houses — 3.1%
$775/wk on $1.31M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Freshwater Creek Torquay
House price — Higher than 78% of VIC
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 48% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 16% of VIC

Liveability

Torquay is more walkable (76 vs 0).

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Grade — A
Score — 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Freshwater Creek carries more crime risk (57 vs 40).

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
48/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 2

Schools in Freshwater Creek

  • Freshwater Creek Steiner School Independent · Primary below peers

Schools in Torquay

  • Torquay Coast Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lisieux Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Surf Coast Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Therese School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Torquay P-6 College Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 0 35
Parks & reserves 0 15
Childcare 0 17
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 0 5
Waterways 27 15

Mobility

Torquay sits further from the CBD (101.1 km vs 96.1 km).

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Walkability score 0/100 76/100
Distance to Melbourne 96.1 km 101.1 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 75 min 79 min
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3217
 1.7%
postcode 3228
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 3217
 41
postcode 3228

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Car (driver) 58.3% / 59.4%
Freshwater Creek — Car (driver): 58.3% Torquay — Car (driver): 59.4%
Worked from Home 33.3% / 33.2%
Freshwater Creek — Worked from Home: 33.3% Torquay — Worked from Home: 33.2%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 3.4%
Freshwater Creek — Car (passenger): 3.4% Torquay — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 3.4% / 2.5%
Freshwater Creek — Walked Only: 3.4% Torquay — Walked Only: 2.5%
Bicycle 1.5% / 0.7%
Freshwater Creek — Bicycle: 1.5% Torquay — Bicycle: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.4%).

Setting

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.3 km 2.0 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Connectivity score 30/100 74/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
183 premises
 54%
9,074 premises

Climate

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Annual rainfall 599 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Freshwater Creek Torquay
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Average residential rate $2,314/yr
same for both
Council Surf Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Division Wannon Corangamite
Member Dan Tehan Libby Coker
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Freshwater Creek Torquay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Freshwater Creek

Rural

Torquay

Coastal Family Large Blocks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Freshwater Creek

Freshwater Creek vs Mount Duneed Freshwater Creek vs Waurn Ponds Freshwater Creek vs Bellbrae Freshwater Creek vs Moriac Freshwater Creek vs Mount Moriac Freshwater Creek vs Paraparap

Other comparisons with Torquay

Torquay vs Mount Duneed Torquay vs Jan Juc Torquay vs Bellbrae Torquay vs Connewarre Torquay vs Breamlea
Full data on Freshwater Creek Full data on Torquay
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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