Scarness vs Torquay

Scarness is the younger of the two, with a median age of 51 against 55 in Torquay. In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone.

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 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Scarness

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 68/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (286.5 km vs 288.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Scarness

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Scarness 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.

Scarness 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.

Scarness Torquay
Walkability 82 / 68
Scarness — Walkability: 82/100 Torquay — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 23 / 19
Scarness — Safety: 23/100 Torquay — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 78
Scarness — Low fire risk: 100/100 Torquay — Low fire risk: 78/100

Demographics

Torquay has more residents (6,533 vs 3,646); Torquay skews older (55 vs 51).

Scarness Torquay
Population 3,646 6,533
+79% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% +3.4%
Median age 51 55
Median household income $48,516/yr
+2% vs other
 $47,684/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Scarness Torquay
0-4 3.5% / 3.7%
Scarness — 0-4: 3.5% Torquay — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 10.1% / 9.4%
Scarness — 5-14: 10.1% Torquay — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 4.9% / 4.7%
Scarness — 15-19: 4.9% Torquay — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 4.3% / 3.9%
Scarness — 20-24: 4.3% Torquay — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 9.9% / 8.3%
Scarness — 25-34: 9.9% Torquay — 25-34: 8.3%
35-44 10.0% / 8.4%
Scarness — 35-44: 10.0% Torquay — 35-44: 8.4%
45-54 11.4% / 11.3%
Scarness — 45-54: 11.4% Torquay — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 14.8% / 14.9%
Scarness — 55-64: 14.8% Torquay — 55-64: 14.9%
65-74 17.8% / 18.6%
Scarness — 65-74: 17.8% Torquay — 65-74: 18.6%
75-84 10.1% / 12.7%
Scarness — 75-84: 10.1% Torquay — 75-84: 12.7%
85+ 3.5% / 4.3%
Scarness — 85+: 3.5% Torquay — 85+: 4.3%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Scarness 52.1% lone person
Scarness — Lone Person: 52.1% Scarness — Couple Families: 19.5% Scarness — One Parent Families: 20.1% Scarness — Group Household: 6.7% Scarness — Other Families: 1.5%
Torquay 53.0% lone person
Torquay — Lone Person: 53.0% Torquay — Couple Families: 20.5% Torquay — One Parent Families: 19.3% Torquay — Group Household: 5.5% Torquay — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Scarness 42.8% renting
Scarness — Owned Outright: 35.4% Scarness — Mortgage: 21.8% Scarness — Renting: 42.8%
Torquay 39.3% renting
Torquay — Owned Outright: 42.4% Torquay — Mortgage: 18.3% Torquay — Renting: 39.3%
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.

Scarness Torquay
England 4.9% / 5.2%
Scarness — England: 4.9% Torquay — England: 5.2%
New Zealand 4.0% / 3.9%
Scarness — New Zealand: 4.0% Torquay — New Zealand: 3.9%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.8%
Scarness — Philippines: 1.0% Torquay — Philippines: 0.8%
Germany 0.7% / 0.8%
Scarness — Germany: 0.7% Torquay — Germany: 0.8%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.6%
Scarness — South Africa: 0.8% Torquay — South Africa: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

Qualifications

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

Scarness Torquay
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 18.1%
Scarness — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Torquay — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 6.8%
Scarness — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Torquay — Bachelor Degree: 6.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 6.7%
Scarness — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Torquay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 1.7%
Scarness — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Torquay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.2%
Scarness — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Torquay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Scarness 65.7% houses
Scarness — Houses: 65.7% Scarness — Townhouses: 26.5% Scarness — Flats / Apartments: 7.8%
Torquay 68.2% houses
Torquay — Houses: 68.2% Torquay — Townhouses: 17.3% Torquay — Flats / Apartments: 14.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Scarness Torquay
Median house price $710,000 $762,000
Median unit price $555,000 $545,000
Median land price $594,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 58 sales
 36 days
from 62 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Scarness Torquay
2 bed $535K / $530K
Scarness — 2 bed: $535K (20 sales) Torquay — 2 bed: $530K (39 sales)

20 vs 39 sales

3 bed $592K / $805K
Scarness — 3 bed: $592K (11 sales) Torquay — 3 bed: $805K (9 sales)

11 vs 9 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Scarness Torquay
2 bed $645K / $685K
Scarness — 2 bed: $645K (10 sales) Torquay — 2 bed: $685K (14 sales)

10 vs 14 sales

3 bed $695K / $745K
Scarness — 3 bed: $695K (81 sales) Torquay — 3 bed: $745K (77 sales)

81 vs 77 sales

4 bed $760K / $830K
Scarness — 4 bed: $760K (45 sales) Torquay — 4 bed: $830K (50 sales)

45 vs 50 sales

Development activity

Scarness Torquay
New dwellings approved 1,578
across Fraser Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year -8%
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.

Scarness Torquay
Houses 3.8%
$550/wk on $760K
 3.8%
$590/wk on $800K
Units 4.3%
$500/wk on $599K
 4.0%
$470/wk on $612K

Ranking within QLD

Scarness Torquay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 11% of QLD Higher than 10% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 91% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 59% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of QLD Higher than 43% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 45% of QLD Higher than 31% of QLD

Liveability

Scarness scores higher overall (40 vs 27); Scarness is more walkable (82 vs 68).

Scarness Torquay
Grade C D
Score 40/100 27/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Torquay carries more bushfire risk (22 vs 0).

Scarness Torquay
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
22/100
Crime High
77/100
 High
81/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Scarness Torquay
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 Scarness

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

Schools in Torquay

  • Torquay State School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Scarness Torquay
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 9 13
Parks & reserves 4 8
Childcare 1 4
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Torquay sits further from the CBD (288.8 km vs 286.5 km).

Scarness Torquay
Walkability score 82/100 68/100
Distance to Brisbane 286.5 km 288.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 211 min 212 min
Public transport score 50/100
Bus
 65/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 9.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 4655
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 81
postcode 4655
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.

Scarness Torquay
Car (driver) 77.7% / 81.2%
Scarness — Car (driver): 77.7% Torquay — Car (driver): 81.2%
Worked from Home 9.3% / 6.2%
Scarness — Worked from Home: 9.3% Torquay — Worked from Home: 6.2%
Car (passenger) 6.2% / 6.7%
Scarness — Car (passenger): 6.2% Torquay — Car (passenger): 6.7%
Walked Only 4.8% / 4.3%
Scarness — Walked Only: 4.8% Torquay — Walked Only: 4.3%
Bicycle 1.4% / 0.8%
Scarness — Bicycle: 1.4% Torquay — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.2%).

Setting

Scarness Torquay
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 524 m
1.7 km to a named beach
 808 m
914 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Scarness Torquay
Connectivity score 70/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
2,252 premises
 31%
3,924 premises

Climate

Scarness Torquay
Annual rainfall 1,074 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Scarness Torquay
Average residential rate $1,576/yr
same for both
Council Fraser Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Scarness Torquay
Division Hinkler
same for both
Member David Batt
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Scarness Torquay
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Scarness

Coastal Parks Retirees Townhouses

Torquay

Beach Coastal Parks Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Scarness

Scarness vs Kawungan Scarness vs Pialba

Other comparisons with Torquay

Torquay vs Urangan Torquay vs Kawungan Torquay vs Wondunna
Full data on Scarness 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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