Town Pop. 49,861

Living in Torquay: Liveability Score 56/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Torquay scores 56/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Transport is where Torquay most outperforms the national norm: 84/100 against a median of 21/100 across UK towns. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 21/100 against a town median of 88/100.

On the national picture that lands Torquay in the top quarter of all the places we score. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the TQ1 postcode district.

56
OUT OF 100
Average
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Torquay scores 56 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Torquay.
Or compare:
TQ1 1AG TQ1 2AA TQ1 3AA TQ1 4AA TQ1 9FE TQ1 TQ12 TQ2

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
21
158.5 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 3,279 crimes
↑ 98% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 1,338 crimes
↑ 76% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 672 crimes
↑ 99% above national average
Shoplifting 599 crimes
↑ 54% above national average
Other theft 532 crimes
↑ 73% above national average
other 1,485 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Parking Area 605 crimes
  2. 2 Shopping Area 421 crimes
  3. 3 East Street 186 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
71
Air Quality NO₂ 5 · PM2.5 5.4 · PM10 8.9 µg/m³
79
Green Space 54
Parks Ample 52
Sports Pitches Ample 46
Allotments Ample 4
Golf Courses Adequate 2
Tennis Courts Ample 22
Bowling Greens Ample 6
Playgrounds Ample 29

Services

Schools
66
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 26 in area
1Outstanding21Good4Ungraded
  • Torquay Girls' Grammar SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
    Outstanding
  • All Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Combe Pafford SchoolSpecial · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Ellacombe Church of England AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Homelands Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
    Good
  • Ilsham Church of England AcademyPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Kingskerswell Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Lift Barton HillPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Mayfield SchoolSpecial · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Healthcare
62
A&E departmentsTorbay Hospital0.2 mi
Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Wonford)13.9 mi
Derriford Hospital24.8 mi
Hospital waitsTorbay And South Devon NHS Foundation Trust0.3 mi
Routine referral (median)10 wks
Treated within 18 weeks66.4%
A&E seen within 4 hrs66.2%
4 GP surgeries in area 6 within 4km best 'Good'
GP capacity1,729 patients per GP
13dentists13pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
67
Full fibre (FTTP)84.2%
available across Torbay
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
85.3%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
87.3%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
97.5%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 1,318 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
28
Employment rate50.5%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed50.5%Unemployed3.3%Retired27.8%Student3.4%Other inactive15%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial30.4%Skilled & technical36.2%Routine & elementary33.4%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications20.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.5%Level 3 (A levels)16.8%Level 4+ (degree & above)25.7%Apprenticeship6.9%Other (incl. vocational)3.2%
Home ownership57.1%
Among the most-deprived 28% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
42
Council tax Torbay · 2026-27
A £1,647
B £1,921
C £2,196
D £2,470
E £3,019
F £3,568
G £4,117
H £4,940
Energy South West England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water South West Water
Average bill regional £600/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
84
Torre 0.9 mi
Torquay 1.4 mi
Paignton 3.5 mi
J31 M5 13.8 mi
J31 M5 14.1 mi
J30 M5 16 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
60
Pubs & Bars Ample 42
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 66
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 26
Retail Shopping Ample 151
Takeaways Ample 19
Fitness Ample 33

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £216,750 356
Detached £400,000 45
Semi-detached £274,250 66
Terraced £210,000 124
Flat / Maisonette £150,000 121
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£141k £310k £484k £653k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Kingskerswell 54 2.7 mi away ⇄
Stokeinteignhead 38 3.1 mi away ⇄
Paignton 61 3.2 mi away ⇄
Marldon 55 3.4 mi away ⇄
Shaldon 41 4.2 mi away ⇄
Abbotskerswell 54 4.4 mi away ⇄
Ipplepen 44 4.9 mi away ⇄
Newton Abbot 52 5.0 mi away ⇄
Collaton St Mary 44 5.0 mi away ⇄
Bishopsteignton 45 5.2 mi away ⇄
Teignmouth 47 5.4 mi away ⇄
East Ogwell 42 5.6 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Torquay a nice place to live?

Torquay is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Torquay is 56/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Torquay?

Crime levels in Torquay are high relative to the national average. Our safety score is 21/100. There were 7,905 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Torquay?

Among the top-rated schools in Torquay are Torquay Girls' Grammar School, All Saints Babbacombe CofE Primary School and Combe Pafford School, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 26 rated schools in Torquay in total.

What are house prices like in Torquay?

The current median house price in Torquay is £216,750, around 24% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £400,000, semi-detached £274,250, terraced £210,000, flat £150,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 12%. There were 356 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Torquay in context

See where Torquay ranks among the best places to live in Devon

Postcode districts in Torquay

TQ1 56 ⇄
TQ12 49 ⇄
TQ2 56 ⇄

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