Kalimna West vs Toorloo Arm

Toorloo Arm is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 57 in Kalimna West. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Kalimna West tends to suit older residents, while Toorloo Arm suits 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Kalimna West carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 91/100)
  • Toorloo Arm is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 40%)

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

First-home buyers

Toorloo Arm

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Toorloo Arm

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 5%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($170/wk vs $225/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kalimna West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (316.4 km vs 332 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (244 min vs 249 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kalimna West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (36% vs 17%)
  • carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

Toorloo Arm

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (40.6% vs 14.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Kalimna West and Toorloo Arm drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
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.

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Walkability 0 / 0
Kalimna West — Walkability: 0/100 Toorloo Arm — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 23 / 9
Kalimna West — Safety: 23/100 Toorloo Arm — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 39 / 12
Kalimna West — Low fire risk: 39/100 Toorloo Arm — Low fire risk: 12/100
Low flood risk 85 / 100
Kalimna West — Low flood risk: 85/100 Toorloo Arm — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Toorloo Arm has more residents (509 vs 161); Kalimna West rents higher ($225/wk vs $170/wk).

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Population 161 509
+216% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.2% +40.6%
Median age 57 45
Median household income $59,748/yr $68,484/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $225/wk
+24% vs other
 $170/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
0-4 1.9% / 5.3%
Kalimna West — 0-4: 1.9% Toorloo Arm — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 5.6% / 14.5%
Kalimna West — 5-14: 5.6% Toorloo Arm — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 7.5% / 6.5%
Kalimna West — 15-19: 7.5% Toorloo Arm — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 4.3% / 5.9%
Kalimna West — 20-24: 4.3% Toorloo Arm — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 5.0% / 7.5%
Kalimna West — 25-34: 5.0% Toorloo Arm — 25-34: 7.5%
35-44 9.3% / 9.0%
Kalimna West — 35-44: 9.3% Toorloo Arm — 35-44: 9.0%
45-54 17.4% / 16.9%
Kalimna West — 45-54: 17.4% Toorloo Arm — 45-54: 16.9%
55-64 21.7% / 17.7%
Kalimna West — 55-64: 21.7% Toorloo Arm — 55-64: 17.7%
65-74 21.7% / 10.8%
Kalimna West — 65-74: 21.7% Toorloo Arm — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 9.3% / 5.1%
Kalimna West — 75-84: 9.3% Toorloo Arm — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 5.0% / 1.0%
Kalimna West — 85+: 5.0% Toorloo Arm — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kalimna West 40.0% lone person
Kalimna West — Lone Person: 40.0% Kalimna West — Couple Families: 28.9% Kalimna West — One Parent Families: 11.1% Kalimna West — Group Household: 13.3% Kalimna West — Other Families: 6.7%
Toorloo Arm 33.6% lone person
Toorloo Arm — Lone Person: 33.6% Toorloo Arm — Couple Families: 37.2% Toorloo Arm — One Parent Families: 21.2% Toorloo Arm — Group Household: 8.0% Toorloo Arm — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kalimna West 5.3% renting
Kalimna West — Owned Outright: 59.6% Kalimna West — Mortgage: 35.1% Kalimna West — Renting: 5.3%
Toorloo Arm 23.8% renting
Toorloo Arm — Owned Outright: 39.2% Toorloo Arm — Mortgage: 37.1% Toorloo Arm — Renting: 23.8%
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.

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
England 6.8% / 3.9%
Kalimna West — England: 6.8% Toorloo Arm — England: 3.9%
China 1.9% / —
Kalimna West — China: 1.9% Toorloo Arm — China: not among its largest
Indonesia 1.9% / —
Kalimna West — Indonesia: 1.9% Toorloo Arm — Indonesia: not among its largest
Netherlands 1.9% / —
Kalimna West — Netherlands: 1.9% Toorloo Arm — Netherlands: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.8%
Kalimna West — New Zealand: not among its largest Toorloo Arm — New Zealand: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

Qualifications

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

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Certificate III & IV 18.6% / 15.7%
Kalimna West — Certificate III & IV: 18.6% Toorloo Arm — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 6.8% / 6.3%
Kalimna West — Bachelor Degree: 6.8% Toorloo Arm — Bachelor Degree: 6.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 3.9%
Kalimna West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Toorloo Arm — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.8%
Kalimna West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Toorloo Arm — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%
Postgraduate Degree — / 1.0%
Kalimna West — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Toorloo Arm — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kalimna West 100.0% houses
Kalimna West — Houses: 100.0% Kalimna West — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Toorloo Arm 93.5% houses
Toorloo Arm — Houses: 93.5% Toorloo Arm — Flats / Apartments: 6.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Zoning mix

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Parks and recreation 78% 80%
Rural and farming 21% 11%
Other and special use 0% 8%
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

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
New dwellings approved 386
across East Gippsland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 30% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 30% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC

Liveability

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Grade — D
Score — 9/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Kalimna West carries more flood risk (15 vs 0); Toorloo Arm carries more bushfire risk (88 vs 61).

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Bushfire Moderate
61/100
 High
88/100
Crime High
77/100
 High
91/100
Flood Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Kalimna West

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Toorloo Arm

  • Toorloo Arm Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
GPs 0 1
Waterways 6 3

Mobility

Toorloo Arm sits further from the CBD (332 km vs 316.4 km).

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 316.4 km 332 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 244 min 249 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3909
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 3909
same for both

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.

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Car (driver) 70.2% / 79.1%
Kalimna West — Car (driver): 70.2% Toorloo Arm — Car (driver): 79.1%
Worked from Home 29.8% / 14.2%
Kalimna West — Worked from Home: 29.8% Toorloo Arm — Worked from Home: 14.2%
Car (passenger) — / 4.5%
Kalimna West — Car (passenger): not among its largest Toorloo Arm — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only — / 2.2%
Kalimna West — Walked Only: not among its largest Toorloo Arm — Walked Only: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.1%).

Setting

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Elevation 92 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.5 km 7.7 km

NBN connectivity

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Connectivity score 30/100 27/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
86 premises
 0%
159 premises

Climate

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Annual rainfall 620 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Average residential rate $1,807/yr
same for both
Council East Gippsland
same for both

Federal electorate

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Division Gippsland
same for both
Member Darren Chester
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kalimna West Toorloo Arm
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kalimna West

Retirees Rural

Toorloo Arm

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kalimna West

Kalimna West vs Lakes Entrance Kalimna West vs Kalimna Kalimna West vs Swan Reach Kalimna West vs Nungurner Kalimna West vs Tambo Upper

Other comparisons with Toorloo Arm

Toorloo Arm vs Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm vs Bruthen Toorloo Arm vs Lake Tyers Beach Toorloo Arm vs Tambo Upper Toorloo Arm vs Nowa Nowa
Full data on Kalimna West Full data on Toorloo Arm
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or