Thomson
A 53.6% renter majority in a suburb of just 1,606 people signals something important about Thomson: it functions more as a transient address than a long-term settlement. Household income sits at the 21st percentile nationally, well below average, yet the SEIFA education and occupation index reaches decile 7, a gap explained by a workforce concentrated in healthcare (24.3% of employed residents). Vacancy runs at 10.8%, roughly double a healthy rental market, and the crime rate of 259.7 per 1,000 residents is elevated compared to most VIC suburbs. Population grew 12% over the past decade, driven almost entirely by overseas arrivals averaging 217 per year.
Population
1,606
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,126/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
No recent median house price is available for Thomson because transaction volumes are low in this 0.96 km2 suburb. What the data does show is a tenure structure weighted heavily toward renters at 53.6%, with only 21.4% owning outright and 25% carrying a mortgage, lower than the state average. Separate houses make up 69.6% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 27.3%, giving buyers more variety than most comparable suburbs. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant stock at 50.3%, followed by two-bedroom at 31.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.9%, just below the 30% stress threshold. The low outright ownership rate compared to similar VIC suburbs suggests many established owner-occupiers have not yet entered this market.
For Buyers
No recent median house price is available for Thomson because transaction volumes are low in this 0.96 km2 suburb. What the data does show is a tenure structure weighted heavily toward renters at 53.6%, with only 21.4% owning outright and 25% carrying a mortgage, lower than the state average. Separate houses make up 69.6% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 27.3%, giving buyers more variety than most comparable suburbs. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant stock at 50.3%, followed by two-bedroom at 31.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.9%, just below the 30% stress threshold. The low outright ownership rate compared to similar VIC suburbs suggests many established owner-occupiers have not yet entered this market.
For Investors
Thomson's rental fundamentals are mixed. Weekly rent of $295 is affordable, drawing from a pool where 53.6% of residents rent, the majority of the suburb. However, the 10.8% vacancy rate is elevated and indicates excess supply relative to demand, which puts downward pressure on rents. Rent grew 36% over the past decade while real incomes rose 17.2%, narrowing the affordability gap for tenants but improving landlord income. Overseas migration averages 217 arrivals per year, which provides a steady base of new renters, but net internal outflow of 179 per year offsets much of that gain. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, so no near-term supply addition is expected. The IER decile of 3 reflects limited household economic resources, meaning tenants may have constrained capacity to absorb rent increases.
Demographics
Thomson's median age of 38 sits 2 years below the national figure, giving it a slightly younger profile than the national average. Overseas-born residents account for 15.8%, which is 5.8 percentage points below the national rate, and the ancestry profile is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (634), Irish (237) and Scottish (206) heritage. University qualifications reach 25.6%, which is 4.5 points below the national level, consistent with a workforce oriented toward trades and service sectors rather than knowledge professions. Average household size is 1.9, which is 0.6 below the national figure, reflecting a high share of couples without children (33.7% of families) and the renter-heavy profile where smaller households are common. The volunteering rate of 11.3% is moderate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.6%
Houses
27.3%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix in Thomson favours renters, with 53.6% of residents renting compared to the state norm. Only 21.4% own outright and 25% hold a mortgage. Separate houses dominate at 69.6% of dwellings, a higher proportion than the 3.1% apartment share would suggest, with semi-detached homes filling the gap at 27.3%. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.3% of the stock and two-bedroom 31.5%, making it a suburb suited to small-to-medium households. The average household size of 1.9 is below national norms. Rent-to-income sits at 26.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning renters here are not severely stretched. Mortgage-to-income at 28.9% is also below stress levels. No median transaction price data is available due to low sales volumes in the period.
Mortgage / mo
$1,408
Rent / wk
$295
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$667
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.8%
Unoccupied
93
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.7%
Couples, no children
978
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant local industry, employing 24.3% of Thomson workers (132 people), a share well above the national average for the sector. Construction follows at 12.5% (68 workers), then Retail at 8.3%, Education at 7.7% and Hospitality at 7.2%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 137 workers, followed closely by Community and Personal Service workers at 113, a combination that reflects the healthcare-heavy base. The unemployment rate is 4.8% and the full-time employment rate is 60.5%. The participation rate of 52.1% is below average, with 506 residents not in the labour force, likely reflecting the aging trajectory and a share of residents on welfare support. The household income percentile of 21 places Thomson in the lower income quartile nationally.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
8,221
Unemployed
420
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.5%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
52.1%
Employed
696
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.6%
Postgraduate
6.7%
Born Overseas
15.8%
Dwellings
766
Transport to Work
Car dependence in Thomson is pronounced, with 88.5% of commuters driving, well above the national average, and only 3% using public transport. Walking and cycling account for 3.4%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in surrounding Geelong suburbs. The crime rate of 259.7 incidents per 1,000 residents is elevated, driven by property and deception offences (154 incidents), justice procedures (113) and crimes against the person (99). The IRSAD decile of 6 places Thomson at an average advantage level nationally, neither highly disadvantaged nor advantaged. The IEO decile of 7 indicates above-average education and occupation resources. About 10.3% of residents (154 people) need daily assistance with core activities, higher than the national average, consistent with the aging demographic trajectory.
Drive
88.5%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+83 people/yr)
EstablishedThomson grew 12% over the past decade, adding roughly 172 residents, and current annual growth runs at 0.61%, equivalent to about 83 people per year. Overseas migration is the primary engine, with net inflows of 217 people annually, while net internal outflow runs at 179 per year, meaning the suburb loses almost as many residents domestically as it gains from abroad. The medium population forecast reaches 14,290 by 2031 for the broader area. The suburb's trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 3.7 percentage points and the young adult share falling 1.9 points over the decade. The gentrification score of 13 places Thomson as not gentrifying, and affordability improved from 42.7% in 2011 to 40.3% in 2021, a modest easing relative to state-level benchmarks.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+217
Net Internal / yr
-179
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011, Net internal outflow -179/yr, Strong overseas inflow +217/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
417
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
259.7
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Thomson compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thomson a good suburb to live in?
Thomson suits renters and healthcare workers well. The suburb has a SEIFA IEO decile of 7, meaning education and occupation resources rank above average nationally, and rent-to-income sits at a manageable 26.2%. Trade-offs include a crime rate of 259.7 per 1,000, an elevated 10.8% vacancy rate, and no schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Thomson?
No median house price is available for Thomson due to low recent transaction volumes. Weekly rent averages $295, with a rent-to-income ratio of 26.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,408, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.9%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Thomson?
No schools are recorded within the Thomson suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Geelong suburbs. About 25.6% of Thomson residents hold university qualifications, which is 4.5 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Thomson safe?
Thomson recorded 417 criminal incidents in the reference period, giving a crime rate of 259.7 per 1,000 residents, which is elevated compared to many VIC suburbs. The largest categories are property and deception offences (154 incidents) and justice procedures offences (113 incidents).
Is Thomson good for property investment?
Thomson has a strong renter base at 53.6% and steady overseas migration of 217 per year, which supports tenant demand. However, the 10.8% vacancy rate is elevated and net internal outflow of 179 per year partially offsets overseas arrivals. No recent median sale price data is available, making yield calculations imprecise.
How is Thomson's population changing?
Thomson grew 12% over the past decade and currently adds around 83 residents per year, a 0.61% annual rate. Overseas migration drives growth at 217 arrivals annually, while net internal outflow runs at 179 per year. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 3.7 percentage points over the decade.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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