Thorneside
At a median age of 41, Thorneside sits squarely at the national average while its household income ranks in the 46.5th percentile, placing it in the middle tier for Australian suburbs. The suburb spans 2.67 km2 on Moreton Bay's western shore with a density of 1,454 residents per km2, and 75.1% of residents stayed put over the five-year census period, pointing to a settled, stable community. Three-bedroom separate houses dominate the stock at 63.6% of dwellings, and the affordability trend has improved, with mortgage-to-income dropping from 49.3% in 2011 to 44.7% in 2021. Healthcare employs 17.9% of local workers, the largest single industry.
Population
3,877
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,488/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$479K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $479,000 positions Thorneside well below the national median, offering relative value compared to most southeast Queensland coastal suburbs. Separate houses make up 63.6% of stock and semi-detached dwellings 32.6%, so apartment options are limited at 1.2%. The bedroom split favours three-bedroom homes at 45.9%, with four-plus bedrooms at 26.4% and two-bedroom dwellings at 23.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,787 against a household income in the 46.5th percentile nationally, and mortgage stress is absent with mortgage-to-income at 27.7%, well below the 30% threshold. Outright owners represent 33.6% of households, a sign that many properties are held debt-free by long-term residents, which keeps turnover lower than higher-priced suburban markets.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $479,000 positions Thorneside well below the national median, offering relative value compared to most southeast Queensland coastal suburbs. Separate houses make up 63.6% of stock and semi-detached dwellings 32.6%, so apartment options are limited at 1.2%. The bedroom split favours three-bedroom homes at 45.9%, with four-plus bedrooms at 26.4% and two-bedroom dwellings at 23.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,787 against a household income in the 46.5th percentile nationally, and mortgage stress is absent with mortgage-to-income at 27.7%, well below the 30% threshold. Outright owners represent 33.6% of households, a sign that many properties are held debt-free by long-term residents, which keeps turnover lower than higher-priced suburban markets.
For Investors
Renters represent 29.4% of households and the weekly median rent sits at $370, pointing to a moderate yield base against the $479,000 estimated median. The vacancy rate of 3.2% is elevated compared to sub-2% tight markets, suggesting some softness in tenant demand that investors should factor into assumptions. Rent grew 12.1% over the measured period, outpacing the 0.4% real income growth, which signals improving gross yield. Net overseas migration averages 28 arrivals per year while internal migration runs at negative 25, so population growth depends on overseas arrivals sustaining rental demand. Development activity is nil in the past 12 months, meaning no new supply is coming to dilute existing stock. The 10-year population growth of 9.2% shows Thorneside is expanding, though at a measured pace compared to outer greenfield suburbs.
Schools in Thorneside iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
South East Brisbane Steiner School
Prep-6 · 30 students
Demographics
Thorneside's median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure, and the demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 7.0 points and the working-age share falling 4.5 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents at 21.5% are 0.1 points below national, so the suburb is largely Australian-born. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 1,645 residents, followed by Irish (496), Scottish (490) and German (273). Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, consistent with couples-without-children patterns, as 29.1% of families are couples with no dependents. University qualifications at 27.7% sit 2.4 points below the national rate, which aligns with the below-median income profile and the dominance of practical trade and service occupations in the local workforce.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.6%
Houses
32.6%
Townhouse
1.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into roughly thirds: 33.6% own outright, 37.0% carry a mortgage and 29.4% rent. Outright owners are fewer than mortgage holders, the reverse of higher-wealth suburbs, suggesting many buyers entered at relatively affordable levels and are still paying down debt. The stock is 63.6% separate houses with only 1.2% apartments, so the market behaves like a freestanding house market with limited strata product. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 45.9% and four-plus bedroom homes add 26.4%, meaning two thirds of dwellings have three or more bedrooms. The estimated median house price of $479,000 is lower than the broader Bayside area median, and affordability has improved over the decade, with mortgage-to-income falling from 49.3% in 2011 to 44.7% in 2021. Rent-to-income at 24.9% keeps renting comfortable and below the 30% stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,787
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$827
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.2%
Unoccupied
54
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.1%
Couples, no children
3,047
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 17.9% of workers (231 people), followed by Construction at 12.5% (161) and Education at 11.8% (152), with Professional/Tech at 7.4% and Manufacturing at 6.7%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 379 workers, ahead of Clerical/Admin (279), Managers (238) and Community/Personal service roles (228). The full-time employment rate of 67.8% is solid, but the unemployment rate of 6.0% is above average for southeast Queensland, which may reflect the below-median income profile. The participation rate of 58.7% is moderate, with 1,005 residents not in the labour force, partly because the aging trajectory leaves more residents past working age. SEIFA decile 5 on all four indexes places the suburb squarely at the national midpoint for both advantage and disadvantage.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
2,408
Unemployed
87
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.8%
Part-time
26.2%
Participation
58.7%
Employed
1,725
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.7%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
21.5%
Dwellings
1,619
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 86.8% of commuters driving, while public transport use at 6.6% is below state averages, reflecting Thorneside's bayside suburban layout with limited heavy rail access. Only 1.4% walk or cycle to work, typical for a low-density suburb where destinations are spread out. SEIFA decile 5 on IRSAD places Thorneside at the national median for relative advantage and disadvantage, with neither notable deprivation nor exceptional affluence. A volunteering rate of 14.9% and only 5.0% of residents needing daily assistance (186 people) indicate moderate community engagement and a relatively healthy population for its age profile. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families draw on institutions in adjoining Bayside suburbs, a practical limitation for households with school-age children. Rent-to-income at 24.9% and mortgage-to-income at 27.7% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, making housing costs manageable relative to local incomes.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
6.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.57%/yr
(+23 people/yr)
EstablishedThorneside's population has grown 9.2% over the past decade and is forecast to reach 4,175 by 2031 under medium projections, up from 4,020 in 2025, an annual addition of around 23 people or 0.57% growth per year. The growth engine is overseas migration at a net 28 arrivals annually, which more than offsets the internal outflow of negative 25 residents per year. The gentrification score of 15 places the suburb in the not gentrifying stage, consistent with middle-quintile SEIFA scores and 0.4% real income growth over the decade. Affordability has improved, with the mortgage-to-income ratio falling from 49.3% in 2011 to 44.7% in 2021, suggesting the suburb is becoming more accessible relative to incomes rather than pricing buyers out. Rent growth of 12.1% over the period shows the rental market is tightening faster than wages, which may attract yield-seeking investors.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+28
Net Internal / yr
-25
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Thorneside compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thorneside a good suburb to live in?
Thorneside scores decile 5 on SEIFA's IRSAD index, placing it at the national median for relative advantage. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 27.7% and rent-to-income at 24.9%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The main practical trade-off is high car dependence at 86.8% and no schools recorded inside the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Thorneside?
The estimated median house price is $479,000, with weekly rent averaging $370. Monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,787, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. Rent grew 12.1% over the most recent measured period.
What schools are in Thorneside?
No schools are recorded inside the Thorneside suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Bayside suburbs. Locally, 27.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 2.4 points below the national rate, and 58.7% of the working-age population participates in the labour force.
Is Thorneside safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Thorneside in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 5 on IRSD, placing it at the national median for relative disadvantage. About 5.0% of residents (186 people) need daily assistance, consistent with an average-disadvantage suburb rather than a high-risk area.
Is Thorneside good for property investment?
Renters make up 29.4% of households and weekly rent is $370 against an estimated $479,000 median, giving a moderate yield base. Rent grew 12.1% over the measured period while real incomes grew only 0.4%, narrowing the affordability gap for landlords. The vacancy rate of 3.2% is higher than the tightest markets, so demand is not under severe pressure. The 10-year population growth of 9.2% and zero new development approvals in the past 12 months both support existing stock values.
How is Thorneside's population changing?
Population grew 9.2% over the past decade and stands at approximately 4,020 in 2025. Annual growth is 0.57%, adding about 23 people per year. Medium forecasts project 4,175 residents by 2031. Growth is driven by overseas migration at a net 28 arrivals annually, offsetting internal outflow of negative 25 per year. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 7.0 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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