Lakes Entrance vs Toorloo Arm

Toorloo Arm is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 55 in Lakes Entrance. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lakes Entrance, most households are people living alone. On these figures, Lakes Entrance tends to suit people living alone and 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

Lakes Entrance

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • But Toorloo Arm is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 39%)

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 33%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Toorloo Arm

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($170/wk vs $252/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Lakes Entrance

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (321.5 km vs 332 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (242 min vs 249 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lakes Entrance

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (19% vs 6%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (36% vs 17%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, 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 7.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Lakes Entrance 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.

Lakes Entrance 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.

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Walkability 0 / 0
Lakes Entrance — Walkability: 0/100 Toorloo Arm — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 6 / 9
Lakes Entrance — Safety: 6/100 Toorloo Arm — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 44 / 12
Lakes Entrance — Low fire risk: 44/100 Toorloo Arm — Low fire risk: 12/100
Low flood risk 43 / 100
Lakes Entrance — Low flood risk: 43/100 Toorloo Arm — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lakes Entrance has more residents (5,145 vs 509); Toorloo Arm has higher household incomes ($68,484 vs $45,032).

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Population 5,145
+90% vs other
 509
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.0% +40.6%
Median age 55 45
Median household income $45,032/yr $68,484/yr
+52% vs other
Median weekly rent $252/wk
+33% vs other
 $170/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
0-4 4.6% / 5.3%
Lakes Entrance — 0-4: 4.6% Toorloo Arm — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 10.1% / 14.5%
Lakes Entrance — 5-14: 10.1% Toorloo Arm — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 4.3% / 6.5%
Lakes Entrance — 15-19: 4.3% Toorloo Arm — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 3.1% / 5.9%
Lakes Entrance — 20-24: 3.1% Toorloo Arm — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 7.7% / 7.5%
Lakes Entrance — 25-34: 7.7% Toorloo Arm — 25-34: 7.5%
35-44 9.5% / 9.0%
Lakes Entrance — 35-44: 9.5% Toorloo Arm — 35-44: 9.0%
45-54 9.6% / 16.9%
Lakes Entrance — 45-54: 9.6% Toorloo Arm — 45-54: 16.9%
55-64 15.0% / 17.7%
Lakes Entrance — 55-64: 15.0% Toorloo Arm — 55-64: 17.7%
65-74 20.4% / 10.8%
Lakes Entrance — 65-74: 20.4% Toorloo Arm — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 11.6% / 5.1%
Lakes Entrance — 75-84: 11.6% Toorloo Arm — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 3.8% / 1.0%
Lakes Entrance — 85+: 3.8% Toorloo Arm — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lakes Entrance 55.7% lone person
Lakes Entrance — Lone Person: 55.7% Lakes Entrance — Couple Families: 23.3% Lakes Entrance — One Parent Families: 15.9% Lakes Entrance — Group Household: 4.2% Lakes Entrance — Other Families: 0.9%
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.

Lakes Entrance 28.9% renting
Lakes Entrance — Owned Outright: 51.2% Lakes Entrance — Mortgage: 19.9% Lakes Entrance — Renting: 28.9%
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.

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
England 4.0% / 3.9%
Lakes Entrance — England: 4.0% Toorloo Arm — England: 3.9%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.8%
Lakes Entrance — New Zealand: 1.1% Toorloo Arm — New Zealand: 0.8%
Italy 0.8% / —
Lakes Entrance — Italy: 0.8% Toorloo Arm — Italy: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Lakes Entrance — Netherlands: 0.7% Toorloo Arm — Netherlands: not among its largest
Scotland 0.6% / —
Lakes Entrance — Scotland: 0.6% Toorloo Arm — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

Qualifications

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

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 15.7%
Lakes Entrance — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Toorloo Arm — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 6.2% / 6.3%
Lakes Entrance — Bachelor Degree: 6.2% Toorloo Arm — Bachelor Degree: 6.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 3.9%
Lakes Entrance — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Toorloo Arm — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.8%
Lakes Entrance — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Toorloo Arm — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 1.0%
Lakes Entrance — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Toorloo Arm — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lakes Entrance 81.4% houses
Lakes Entrance — Houses: 81.4% Lakes Entrance — Townhouses: 12.8% Lakes Entrance — Flats / Apartments: 5.8%
Toorloo Arm 93.5% houses
Toorloo Arm — Houses: 93.5% Toorloo Arm — Townhouses: 0.0% Toorloo Arm — Flats / Apartments: 6.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Median house price $535,000 —
Median unit price $445,000 —
Median land price $196,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 74 days
from 54 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Lakes Entrance has more rural and farming land (54% vs 11%).

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Parks and recreation 20% 80%
Rural and farming 54% 11%
Residential 22% 0%
Other and special use 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 1%
Commercial 1% 0%
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

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
New dwellings approved 386
across East Gippsland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
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.

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Houses 3.9%
$500/wk on $668K
 —
Units 4.1%
$345/wk on $438K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
House price Higher than 18% of VIC —
Income Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 30% of VIC
Schools Higher than 93% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 26% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 30% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 61% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 13% of VIC —

Liveability

Lakes Entrance scores higher overall (28 vs 9).

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Grade D
same for both
Score 28/100 9/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Lakes Entrance carries more flood risk (57 vs 0); Toorloo Arm carries more bushfire risk (88 vs 56).

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 High
88/100
Crime High
94/100
 High
91/100
Flood Moderate
57/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion High
90/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Lakes Entrance

  • Lakes Entrance Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Brendan's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Lakes Entrance Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Toorloo Arm

  • Toorloo Arm Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 14 0
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 5 0
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 3 0
Waterways 8 3

Mobility

Toorloo Arm sits further from the CBD (332 km vs 321.5 km).

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 321.5 km 332 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 242 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.

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Car (driver) 75.8% / 79.1%
Lakes Entrance — Car (driver): 75.8% Toorloo Arm — Car (driver): 79.1%
Worked from Home 11.2% / 14.2%
Lakes Entrance — Worked from Home: 11.2% Toorloo Arm — Worked from Home: 14.2%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 4.5%
Lakes Entrance — Car (passenger): 6.9% Toorloo Arm — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 4.7% / 2.2%
Lakes Entrance — Walked Only: 4.7% Toorloo Arm — Walked Only: 2.2%
Bicycle 0.8% / —
Lakes Entrance — Bicycle: 0.8% Toorloo Arm — Bicycle: not among its largest

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

Setting

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Elevation 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.9 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 7.7 km

NBN connectivity

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Connectivity score 71/100 27/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
3,598 premises
 0%
159 premises

Climate

Lakes Entrance 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

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

Federal electorate

Lakes Entrance Toorloo Arm
Division Gippsland
same for both
Member Darren Chester
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Lakes Entrance

Affordable Coastal Retirees

Toorloo Arm

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance vs Kalimna Lakes Entrance vs Lake Tyers Beach Lakes Entrance vs Lake Bunga Lakes Entrance vs Kalimna West

Other comparisons with Toorloo Arm

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

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