Child Care Thornton

Needs Analysis

Demand and supply analysis of Child Care Centres and demographic drivers for Thornton 2322. Key stats for childcare operators, investors and developers.

Updated January 30, 2026 11 Centres Pop: 12,001
Id Name Type Places Approval Distance (Km) Day Rate Availability

* Click centres on the map for more detail and custom analysis options.

Key Metrics

Thornton (NSW) / Rest of NSW

LDC Providers
LDC Providers
8
1,058
LDC Places
Total LDC Places
628
67,247
Population
Total Population
12,001
2,973,097
Per Place
Persons Per Place
19.1
-
Avg Age
Avg Centre Age
10.1 yrs
13 yrs
0-4 Pop
Population 0-4
925
167,084
Kids Per Place
0-4 Per LDC Place
1.47
2.6
Workforce
Workforce Impact
Low
Standard
School Att
School Attendance
1,097
-
School Per LDC
School Per LDC Place
1.75
6.3
Avg Fee
Avg LDC Fee ($/day)
$154
$149
Other
Other Places (PSK/OOSH)
140
-

SOURCE: ACECQA, StartingBlocks, ABS data analysed by AreaSearch
Last updated:

Thornton (NSW) Child Care FAQ

What is the Child Care supply composition of Thornton (NSW)?

As of our last update on January 30, 2026, there are 11 child care centres in Thornton (NSW). Of these, 8 centres provide Long Day Care with 628 places, there is one Out of Hours School Care centre that has 140 places, and 2 centres provide other child care services. The area is also serviced by 2 schools, collectively accommodating 1,097 enrolments.

What population do these centres in Thornton (NSW) service?

AreaSearch's latest population estimate for Thornton (NSW) as at August 2025 stands at a total of 12,001 people, of this 925 are estimated to be children under five years of age.

Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for Thornton (NSW)?

Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census Thornton (NSW) was assessed as having 10,690 people with 828 of these (7.7%) being children under 5yo. Thornton (NSW) has seen 289 new addresses added since this time, which, combined with broader ABS population estimates for resident population, leads us to estimate that Thornton (NSW) has experienced population growth of approximately 1,311 people from the 2021 Census.

How does the ratio of children per LDC place in Thornton (NSW) compare to those in Rest of NSW?

In Thornton (NSW), our latest analysis shows there are 1.5 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is significantly lower than the 2.6 children per place across Rest of NSW.

How do childcare fees in Thornton (NSW) relate to those in Rest of NSW?

Childcare fees in Thornton (NSW) average $154, which is comparable to the regional average of $149 in Rest of NSW.

How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in Thornton (NSW) and Rest of NSW?

In Thornton (NSW), there are 1.8 students per LDC place. This figure is significantly lower than the 6.3 students per LDC place in Rest of NSW.

What is the average age of Long Daycare Centres in Thornton (NSW)?

The average LDC in Thornton (NSW) was approved 10.1 years ago, while across Rest of NSW the typical centre approval is 13 years old.

Is the local workforce a significant driver of additional child care demand for Thornton (NSW)?

No, daily workforce activity is considered low in this area and is unlikely to be a significant driver of child care demand.

Who would typically use analysis such as this?

Childcare operators, developers, investors and financiers would typically conduct a thorough child care supply and demand analysis (SDA) on Thornton (NSW) before allocating the significant amount of capital required. Boundary-based analysis such as this is often used as an initial guide however, and analysis would be undertaken on the specific site adopting a radial, travel time, or custom catchment to take into account nearby competition and demand drivers that would influence a centre's performance.

Comprehensive Demographic Analysis

Understanding child care demand requires deep analysis of population growth trends, dwelling supply forecasts, and workforce participation rates. Our detailed suburb profiles provide the complete demographic picture, including census data, building approvals, migration patterns, and economic indicators that drive child care demand in each area.

View the full demographic analysis, population projections, and market insights for this area:


Generate a property-specific child care needs assessment
1
Search Address

Search a specific address and choose a custom boundary

2
Select Boundary

Select a radius, travel time or draw your catchment

3
Order Report

Order a report with the child care option included