NSW 2640 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Thurgoona

Thurgoona's standout trait is scale without density: 11,028 residents spread across 35.6 sq km, with density of 309.8 people per sq km and a detached-house share of 97.1%. Compared with central Albury or Lavington, it reads more as a new family growth corridor because 58.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and the median age is 34, which is 6 years below the national figure. Household income sits in the 73.3 percentile, supporting mortgage-belt demand rather than inner-city rental churn.

Thurgoona urban fabric map

Population

11,028

Median Age

34.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,953/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

295

Median House

$603K

2024-2025 (PSI derived)

35.6 km²· 309.8 people/km²· Family income $2,169/wk

Homebuyers are mainly buying space: the median house price is $603,000, 97.1% of dwellings are separate houses, and 58.3% have 4 or more bedrooms. That suits larger households because the average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above the national figure. Mortgage payments are relatively contained at $1,625 a month, with mortgage costs at 19.2% of income, below common stress thresholds. The trade-off is car reliance, with 93.6% driving to work and only 0.2% using public transport.

For Buyers

Homebuyers are mainly buying space: the median house price is $603,000, 97.1% of dwellings are separate houses, and 58.3% have 4 or more bedrooms. That suits larger households because the average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above the national figure. Mortgage payments are relatively contained at $1,625 a month, with mortgage costs at 19.2% of income, below common stress thresholds. The trade-off is car reliance, with 93.6% driving to work and only 0.2% using public transport.

For Investors

For investors, Thurgoona is more a family-house rental market than a high-density yield play. Renters make up 25.7% of households, median rent is $360 a week, and rent takes 18.4% of household income, below stress levels. Vacancy is 4.9%, so leasing conditions look softer than in very tight markets. However, 266 development applications in 12 months and a 9.0% rise from the 2024 price point to 2025 show active expansion. Demand is likely tied to families and workers needing detached housing near Albury.

Development Activity

Total DAs

1,945

Last 12 Months

295

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

-3.3%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
146
Commercial / Industrial
136
Garage / Carport / Shed
80
Swimming Pool / Spa
70
Renovation / Extension
52
Subdivision
30
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
25
Deck / Pergola / Patio
16

Schools in Thurgoona iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Trinity Anglican College - Albury

ICSEA 1102 Combined Independent

K-12 · 1441 students

Border Christian College

ICSEA 1046 Combined Independent

K-12 · 278 students

Thurgoona Public School

ICSEA 990 Primary Government

K-6 · 573 students

Demographics

Thurgoona is younger and more locally born than the national average. The median age is 34, which is 6 years below national, while 11.2% of residents were born overseas, 10.4 percentage points below the national comparison. University attainment is 29.8%, just 0.3 points lower than national, so the suburb is not low-skill despite its outer-growth profile. English ancestry is the largest count at 4,474, followed by Irish at 1,460 and Scottish at 1,257. Average household size is 2.8, above national by 0.3, reinforcing the family pattern.

Age Distribution

0-14
24.1%
15-24
12.4%
25-44
28.3%
45-64
21.5%
65+
13.9%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.3%
2 bed
3.1%
3 bed
37.2%
4+ bed
58.3%

Dwelling Structure

97.1%

Houses

1.7%

Townhouse

1.2%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 26.3% Mortgage 48.0% Rent 25.7%

Housing is overwhelmingly detached and mortgage-led. Separate houses account for 97.1% of dwellings, compared with only 1.2% apartments and 1.7% semi-detached homes. The latest price point was $627,000 in 2025, above $575,000 in 2024, a 9.0% increase across 1 year, with the latest quarter also the peak. Ownership is split between 26.3% owned outright, 48.0% with a mortgage and 25.7% renting. Because 58.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, prices are driven by family-sized stock rather than compact dwellings.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,625

Rent / wk

$360

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$906

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.9%

Unoccupied

196

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.4%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.2%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Nepali
70
Punjabi
38
Mandarin
23
Afrikaans
11
Hindi
11
Italian
11

Ancestry

English
4,474
Irish
1,460
Scottish
1,257
German
813
Other
779
Ancestry NS
456

Household Composition

24.2%

Couples, no children

9,181

Total families

Economy & Employment

Thurgoona's workforce is anchored by public and service-sector employment. Healthcare is the largest industry at 23.3% or 902 workers, followed by education at 15.4% and construction at 11.4%. Public admin adds 9.6% and manufacturing 7.6%, giving the suburb a broader base than a single-industry commuter estate. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 1,271, with community and personal service workers at 776. Unemployment is 3.7% and participation is 66.1%, while household income ranks at the 73.3 percentile, above the national median.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

63.6%

Part-time

32.7%

Participation

66.1%

Employed

5,331

Occupations

Professionals 1,271
Community/Personal 776
Clerical/Admin 730
Managers 640
Sales 527
Labourers 428
Machinery/Drivers 338

Top Industries

Healthcare 23.3%
Education 15.4%
Construction 11.4%
Public Admin 9.6%
Manufacturing 7.6%

University

29.8%

Postgraduate

5.4%

Born Overseas

11.2%

Dwellings

3,764

Transport to Work

Livability is strongest for households wanting schools, space and car access. There are 3 local schools with ICSEA scores from 990 to 1102. Trinity Anglican College is the standout by scale and score, with ICSEA 1102 and 1,441 enrolments, while Border Christian College adds an Independent option at ICSEA 1046 and 278 enrolments. Thurgoona Public School serves the government primary role with 573 enrolments. Compared with transit-oriented suburbs, travel is car-led: 93.6% drive to work, 1.6% walk or cycle, and only 0.2% use public transport.

Drive

93.6%

Public Transport

0.2%

Walk / Cycle

1.6%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Thurgoona compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 4%
Household Income
Top 27%
Rent Level
Top 24%
Apartments
Bottom 25%
Renters
Top 36%
Uni Educated
Top 35%
Public Transport
Bottom 0%
Born Overseas
Bottom 36%
Density
Top 22%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thurgoona a good suburb to live in?

Thurgoona suits households wanting space, schools and a younger family setting. It has 11,028 residents, a median age of 34, and 97.1% separate houses, while household income ranks at the 73.3 percentile, above the national median.

What is the median house price in Thurgoona?

The median house price in Thurgoona is $603,000. The price history moved from $575,000 in 2024 to $627,000 in 2025, a 9.0% rise, with the latest point matching the recorded peak.

What schools are in Thurgoona?

Thurgoona has 3 local schools: Trinity Anglican College, Border Christian College and Thurgoona Public School. ICSEA scores range from 990 to 1102, with Trinity the highest and above the other 2 schools.

Is Thurgoona safe?

A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Thurgoona, so safety is best assessed through street visits and local police updates. The suburb has 11,028 residents, 3 schools and a strongly family-sized housing base, with 58.3% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms.

Is Thurgoona good for property investment?

Thurgoona can suit investors seeking detached-house tenants rather than apartment turnover. Renters are 25.7% of households, median rent is $360 a week, vacancy is 4.9%, and 266 development applications point to higher local activity.

How is Thurgoona's population changing?

Thurgoona is growing through new housing and family demand. It has 11,028 residents across 35.6 sq km, and 266 development applications in 12 months indicate expansion compared with a mature, low-build suburb.

How much development is happening in Thurgoona?

Development activity is high, with 266 applications lodged in 12 months. The samples include dwelling houses and residential accommodation, which fits the suburb's 97.1% separate-house profile rather than a shift toward apartments.

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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