Question 1

Is Toronto a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Toronto sits on the western shore of Lake Macquarie and is anchored by a long foreshore, a marina and a compact waterside main street with cafes and shops facing the lake. The suburb mixes lakeside apartments and modern family houses with older weatherboard cottages on tree-lined streets, and appeals to boating enthusiasts, families and retirees who favour an outdoor, water-orientated lifestyle. Residents use boat ramps, walking and cycle paths and picnic reserves along the water, while local community facilities and road links provide access to the wider Newcastle area and regional services.

With a population of 5,973 and a median age of 50, Toronto leans towards an established, older community and roughly two in three homes are owner-occupied. Recent foreshore works included a $1.0 million upgrade to the Toronto Baths with a jetty extension, new decking, an accessible ramp and perimeter netting, and council planning identifies further foreshore, playspace, outdoor gym and staged park upgrades. Whether that suits you depends on what you’re looking for in a suburb.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Toronto?

Accepted Answer

Buying a house in Toronto works out to about 14.0 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, based on a median house price of $854,000 and a household income of $1,170 a week at the last Census. On the rental side, $620 a week for a house would take about 53.0% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and $520 a week for a unit about 44.4%, so both rents represent a large share of that Census income; for prospective renters those rent shares are the most relevant figures.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Toronto a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

The past year shows a clear split between houses and units in Toronto. House values rose 12.0% over the 12 months, a strong increase, and house rents climbed 11.7%, also a strong rise. By contrast, unit values fell 13.2% over the year, a sharp decline, while unit rents increased 6.1%, a solid rise.

Put simply, the numbers show strong capital growth and rental growth on the house side this year, while units saw a notable fall in value even as rents rose more modestly. Which of those outcomes matters to you depends on your investment goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$854K	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	12.0%	-13.2%
Sold Past 3 months	14	3
Median days on market Past 12 months	36	96
Average rent Past 12 months	$620	$520
Change in rent Past 12 months	11.7%	6.1%

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