Thrumster
At median age 32, Thrumster runs 8 years below the national figure, making it one of the youngest owner-occupier suburbs in the Port Macquarie region. Family formation drives this: average household size is 2.9, which is 0.4 above national, and 65.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, far higher than most NSW suburbs. The suburb sits at the 74.5th percentile for household income nationally, and 90.8% of homes are separate houses. With 189 development applications lodged in 12 months, Thrumster is actively expanding, suggesting an area mid-build rather than settled.
Population
2,382
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,988/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
198
Median House
$550K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $550,000, well below the Sydney metro average, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.2%, safely below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly repayments average $2,080. Price data shows movement from $445,000 in 2024 to $740,000 in 2025, though that swing may reflect a shift in the mix of properties transacting as new estates land. The stock is strongly detached: 90.8% separate houses and 65.1% with 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers seeking a family-sized home on a block have a wide choice compared to most NSW coastal markets. Only 20.8% of households own outright and 48.2% carry a mortgage, consistent with a younger suburb where residents purchased in the last decade rather than decades ago.
For Buyers
The median house price is $550,000, well below the Sydney metro average, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.2%, safely below the 30% stress threshold. Monthly repayments average $2,080. Price data shows movement from $445,000 in 2024 to $740,000 in 2025, though that swing may reflect a shift in the mix of properties transacting as new estates land. The stock is strongly detached: 90.8% separate houses and 65.1% with 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers seeking a family-sized home on a block have a wide choice compared to most NSW coastal markets. Only 20.8% of households own outright and 48.2% carry a mortgage, consistent with a younger suburb where residents purchased in the last decade rather than decades ago.
For Investors
Renters account for 31% of households, paying a median $460 per week. Against the $550,000 median house price, that implies a gross yield around 4.3%, which is higher than many coastal NSW markets. The vacancy rate is 5.4%, elevated relative to the national norm of around 2%, so landlords should price carefully to avoid extended vacancy. Development activity is significant, with 189 applications in the past 12 months, mostly new dwellings via Complying Development Certificates. That pipeline adds supply, which may moderate rent growth. Healthcare, construction and education employ 52.2% of local workers, sectors that attract families with stable incomes, which supports rental demand from households who are not yet buyers.
Development Activity
Total DAs
967
Last 12 Months
198
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-23.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, reflecting a suburb dominated by young families rather than retirees. Average household size is 2.9 compared to the national 2.5, and 1,060 couples with children live here against 504 couples without, confirming the family profile. Overseas-born residents make up 14.9% of the population, which is 6.7 percentage points below the national figure, giving the suburb an Anglo-Celtic character: English ancestry leads at 1,014 residents, followed by Irish (274) and Scottish (189). University qualifications reach 27.2%, which is 2.9 points below national. Volunteering at 13.1% is moderate, and 5% of residents need daily assistance, in line with the suburb's relatively young and able-bodied age structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.8%
Houses
8.5%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely freestanding: 90.8% separate houses and just 0.8% apartments, with semi-detached dwellings at 8.5%. Bedroom count skews large, with 65.1% of dwellings having 4 or more rooms and 25.7% having 3, reflecting demand from growing families rather than downsizers. Tenure splits across 20.8% outright owners, 48.2% on a mortgage and 31% renting. The rent-to-income ratio is 23.1%, below the stress threshold of 30%, so rental affordability is manageable at the current $460 weekly median. Price history shows $445,000 in 2024 and $740,000 in 2025, a 66.3% movement, though with only 2 data points a single year comparison may not reflect a stable trend. Mortgage stress is not flagged at 24.2% of income, compared to many Sydney suburbs above 35%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,080
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$882
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.4%
Unoccupied
45
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.5%
Couples, no children
2,058
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 29.1% of employed residents (241 workers), more than double the next largest sector. Construction follows at 11.6% (96 workers) and Education at 11.5% (95 workers), with Retail at 7.5% and Public Administration at 6.5%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 267, followed by Community and Personal service workers (178) and Managers (154). Unemployment is 3.8%, close to national norms. The full-time employment rate is 64.6% with a participation rate of 64.9%, meaning most working-age residents are employed. Household income at the 74.5th percentile nationally indicates a workforce earning moderately above average, driven by the healthcare and professional services base rather than resource or finance sector wages.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
31.6%
Participation
64.9%
Employed
1,099
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.2%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
14.9%
Dwellings
790
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high: 90.6% of residents drive to work and only 0.3% use public transport, well below the national average of around 9% for public transport use. Walking and cycling accounts for 2.5% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in surrounding Port Macquarie suburbs. Crime statistics are not available for Thrumster. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% and rent-to-income of 23.1% both sit below the 30% stress level, meaning most households carry manageable housing costs. With 13.1% of residents volunteering, there is moderate community engagement for a suburb of only 2,382 people.
Drive
90.6%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Thrumster compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thrumster a good suburb to live in?
Thrumster suits families looking for large detached homes at a median price of $550,000, well below Sydney and many coastal NSW markets. Mortgage costs average 24.2% of income, below the 30% stress threshold. Car dependency is high at 90.6%, so access to a vehicle is essential. The suburb's young median age of 32 and active construction suggest a growing, family-oriented community.
What is the median house price in Thrumster?
The median house price in Thrumster is $550,000 based on PSI-derived data. Price history recorded $445,000 in 2024 and $740,000 in 2025, though with only 2 data points the trend should be interpreted with caution. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,080 and weekly rent is $460.
What schools are in Thrumster?
No schools are recorded inside the Thrumster suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 2,382 and a median age of 32, the suburb is family-oriented, so residents rely on schools in nearby Port Macquarie suburbs. University qualifications reach 27.2% of adults, which is 2.9 points below the national figure.
Is Thrumster safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Thrumster in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb sits at the 74.5th income percentile nationally and housing stress indicators are below the 30% threshold for both renters at 23.1% and mortgage holders at 24.2%, suggesting a financially stable community with lower risk factors associated with higher crime rates.
Is Thrumster good for property investment?
The weekly rent of $460 against a $550,000 median gives an estimated gross yield of around 4.3%, higher than many coastal NSW markets. However, the vacancy rate is 5.4%, above the national norm of roughly 2%, so void risk is real. With 189 development applications lodged in 12 months adding new supply, rental competition may increase. Demand from Healthcare and Construction workers provides a stable tenant base.
How is Thrumster's population changing?
Thrumster's population stands at 2,382 and the suburb is actively growing, with 189 development applications in the past 12 months mostly for new houses. The suburb turnover rate is 42.2%, higher than established areas, indicating ongoing in-migration. The median age of 32, which is 8 years below national, points to continued family arrivals rather than retiree-driven growth.
How much development is happening in Thrumster?
There were 189 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, predominantly for new dwelling houses via Complying Development Certificates. This is a high volume for a suburb of 2,382 people at a density of 182 per km2, indicating active greenfield estate expansion. The bulk of applications are single dwellings, consistent with the suburb's 90.8% separate house composition.
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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