Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Thornlands has an estimated 22,066 residents, up from 19,263 at the 2021 Census — a change of 2,803 people, or 14.6%. Growth has averaged 3.1% a year over five years, faster than 83% of areas nationally. 440 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 47.1% of that increase. That puts 1,019 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Demographic assessment by AreaSearch indicates that Thornlands has reached an estimated population of 22,066 as of Aug 2026. Relative to the 2021 Census total of 19,263 people, the locality expanded by 2,803 people (14.6%). This growth calculation is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 21,863 recorded as of June 2025 alongside 440 validated new addresses added following the Census. Local population density stands at 1,019 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with broader benchmarks tracked by AreaSearch. Outpacing both the wider SA4 region (8.5%) and national trends, the 14.6% expansion since the 2021 census positions Thornlands at the forefront of regional population gains.
Net interstate migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 47.1% of all new residents in recent times, supplemented by positive inflows from natural increase and overseas arrivals. Projections developed jointly by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilised by AreaSearch across SA2 locations. For territories omitted from that release or extending beyond 2032, models incorporate the Queensland State Government SA2 series published in 2023 from 2021 baseline figures. Because state models exclude age-specific distributions, proportional allocations aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 utilizing 2022 data) are applied across cohorts. Long-term demographic modelling indicates above median population growth compared to Australian statistical areas, anticipating Thornlands will add 3,043 persons by 2041 under latest annual ERP figures, culminating in an overall 16-year increase of 12.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
539 new dwellings have been approved in Thornlands over the past five years, an average of 107 a year. That places the area in the 92nd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 107 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 66% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential planning records show Thornlands averaging approximately 107 new homes approved per year, yielding 539 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Net population inflows averaged 5.7 people per year for every newly built residence over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), creating an environment where residential demand substantially exceeds construction volume, elevating competitive pressure among purchasers where average building costs reach $405,000 per dwelling. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $9.6 million this financial year, pointing to steady non-residential development. Per capita building activity in Thornlands trails Greater Brisbane by 50.0%, reflecting a noticeably constrained construction rate.
This limited development pace tends to underpin values and reinforce interest across the established housing stock. Building approvals comprise 66.0% detached houses alongside 34.0% medium and high-density housing, expanding the local presence of apartments and townhouses to deliver varied price tiers from family dwellings to compact alternatives. This transition represents a shift away from the existing property base (currently 87.0% houses), driven by site scarcity and evolving lifestyle preferences. Averaging around 190 people per dwelling approval, the area continues along an active development trajectory. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Thornlands is on track to welcome an additional 2,840 residents by 2041. Sustaining existing approval volumes should allow local residential additions to satisfy anticipated demand, fostering stable market conditions for purchasers while accommodating demographic expansion beyond base forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Thornlands
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 6 current infrastructure and development projects inside Thornlands, worth an estimated $444 million. A further 80 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $16.9 billion. 26 are already under construction and 33 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Capital investments and strategic civic planning exert a significant influence on local performance and growth. AreaSearch has highlighted 14 major initiatives with direct relevance to the district. Among the most prominent developments are the Retirement Facility - Redland Bay Road, Paradise Garden Shopping Village, Cleveland-Redland Bay Road Duplication, and the Wellington Street / Panorama Drive Road Upgrade Program.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Retirement Facility - Redland Bay Road
Approval granted following a Planning and Environment Court appeal for a relocatable home park and retirement community. The proposal encompasses 264 over-50s dwellings, communal facilities, and open space on a consolidated 8.5-hectare holding. The development redevelops former poultry farming and yard properties along the Cleveland-Redland Bay Road corridor.
Redland Whitewater Centre
An Olympic-standard whitewater facility located within the 62-hectare Birkdale Community Precinct. The venue will host Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross for the Brisbane 2032 Games and serve as a year-round hub for athlete training, swift-water rescue drills for emergency services, and community recreation. It features an international-standard competition channel, a warm-up zone, and temporary seating for up to 8,000 spectators.
Kinross Road Townhouses, Thornlands
Ausbuild development comprising 122 townhouses across various layout configurations within the Kinross Road Declared Master Planned Area. The development incorporates dedicated koala habitat corridor planting of native vegetation and communal resident open space amenities.
Cleveland-Redland Bay Road Upgrade
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is delivering a $110 million package to upgrade Cleveland-Redland Bay Road. The current main works duplicate the road from two to four lanes between Anita Street in Redland Bay and Magnolia Parade in Victoria Point, with traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, active transport links, improved bus stops, noise barriers, fauna and fish passage upgrades, koala fencing and intersection safety works. Construction for the Anita Street to Magnolia Parade duplication started in May 2023 and remains listed by TMR as under construction.
Paradise Garden Shopping Village
A completed Coles-anchored neighbourhood shopping centre with 8,000sqm GFA featuring specialty stores, dining options, medical facilities, BP service station, and 1.4 hectares of green space parkland, serving as a thriving community retail and leisure hub that officially opened May 3, 2024.
Redlands Health and Wellness Precinct
Master-planned health precinct centred on Redland Hospital and Mater Private Hospital Redland in Cleveland. Metro South Health has invested more than $300 million in staged Redland Hospital upgrades, including new inpatient beds, a new ICU, expanded mental health services, a 7-level car park, a completed 37-bed Stage 1 expansion, and further Transit Care Hub works. Redland City Council, Metro South Health, and Mater Health are progressing a precinct master plan to support public and private hospital expansion and related health industry clustering.
Wellington Street / Panorama Drive Road Upgrade Program
Stage 1 of the multi-stage road upgrade program has been completed, duplicating 2.3km of road from two to four lanes, upgrading intersections at Ziegenfusz Road/Panorama Drive and Panorama Drive/Wellington Street, installing a shared cycling and pedestrian pathway, and constructing a fauna underpass. The project improves journey times, reduces congestion, enhances safety, and supports population growth in Redlands Coast.
Arc on the Point
Masterplanned residential estate by Urbex comprising 295 homesites across approximately 25 hectares at Victoria Point. The community includes landscaped parkland, playgrounds, walking and cycling trails, and conservation areas. Construction has progressed through multiple stages with operational works continuing while the final land releases have now sold out.
13,403 residents of Thornlands are employed, from a labour force of 13,675. Unemployment sits at 2.0%, with participation at 78.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 16,754, about 76% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Thornlands features an active, skilled labour force with solid representation across key public and social sectors, an unemployment rate of 2.0%, and annual employment growth estimated at 3.8%. Total employed persons reached 13,403 as of March 2026, while the local jobless rate sits 2.3% under the Greater Brisbane figure of 4.3%. Labour participation stands at an elevated 78.1% compared to 70.1% across Greater Brisbane. Census data indicates that 17.2% of workers operated from home, though figures capture the influence of Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Construction shows notable local concentration, engaging workers at 1.4 times the regional proportion. In contrast, professional & technical roles account for a smaller share at 6.5%, below the regional benchmark of 8.9%. Given the disparity between Census working population numbers and resident population figures, this residential district provides limited direct employment within its boundaries. Analysis of ABS and SALM figures indicates that in the 12 months to March 2026, employment grew by 3.8% alongside a 4.0% expansion in the labour force, nudging local unemployment up by 0.2 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Greater Brisbane recorded 3.2% employment growth, a 3.4% rise in the labour pool, and a 0.1 percentage points increase in unemployment. Future labour market trends can be evaluated using Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts from Mar-26. Nationally, job numbers are projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these sectoral trajectories to the resident industry profile indicates potential employment increases of 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years for Thornlands, based on structural industry weighting without adjusting for localized demographic shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Thornlands is $2,218 a week (about $115,000 a year), with median personal income at $920 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $61,617 a year against an average of $73,811. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ATO postcode data for financial year 2023, taxpayers in the Thornlands SA2 recorded a median income of $61,617 and an average income of $73,811, surpassing national norms as well as Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated figures reach approximately $68,617 (median) and $82,196 (average) as of March 2026. Across 2021 Census benchmarks, personal, family, and household earnings align around the 74th percentile across Australia. Roughly 36.9% of residents (8,142 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, matching regional distributions where 33.3% occupy this range.
High-earning households generating above $3,000 weekly make up 31.3% of the community, bolstering local purchasing power. Although housing costs account for 16.5% of income, disposable earnings hold at the 77th percentile, positioning the district in the 7th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Thornlands had 6,408 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 1% apartments. 48% are owned with a mortgage, 27% rented and 25% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $470 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month, a total housing cost higher than 85% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 21.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records reveal that separate houses accounted for 87.4% of residences in Thornlands, with 12.6% classified as other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with the Brisbane metro split of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Outright property ownership stood at 25.3%, slightly trailing the Brisbane metro rate, while 48.0% of properties were mortgaged and 26.6% were rented. Typical monthly mortgage payments stood at $2,167 compared to $1,863 across Brisbane metro, with median weekly rents reaching $470 versus $380 regionally. Relative to broader benchmarks, mortgage commitments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and rental rates remain well above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Thornlands counted 6,408 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 7,340 today, averaging 2.9 people each. 43% are couples with children, more than in 86% of areas nationally, against 28% couples without children. 14% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 84.2% of all local households, divided between couples with children at 43.3%, couples without children at 28.0%, and single parent families at 12.0%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 15.8%, consisting of lone person households (13.9%) and group households (1.9%). Average household occupancy sits at 2.9 people, exceeding the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
21.9% of adults in Thornlands hold a university qualification, including 15.5% with a bachelor degree and 4.0% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 28.2% hold a vocational qualification. 5 schools serve the area, with 2,993 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,029 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in Thornlands sits below wider metropolitan levels, with 21.9% of individuals aged 15+ possessing a higher education degree compared to 30.5% in Greater Brisbane. Bachelor degree holders account for 15.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are widespread, held by 42.0% of residents aged 15+, comprising certificates (28.2%) and advanced diplomas (13.8%). Student engagement is substantial across the suburb, with 30.4% of the population participating in formal study. This total includes 10.5% attending primary schools, 9.8% enrolled in secondary education, and 4.6% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Thornlands means driving: households keep an average of 1.9 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
71.1% of residents in Thornlands report no long-term health condition. 5.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Thornlands align closely with nationwide standards across chronic condition prevalence and mortality metrics evaluated by AreaSearch. Overall diagnosis rates remain typical for the broader community but elevate slightly among senior age brackets, while private health insurance coverage is extensive, encompassing roughly 56% of the population (~12,379 people). Mental health conditions and asthma represent the leading diagnosed ailments, affecting 8.1 and 8.0% of the community, respectively, while 71.1% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Residents aged under 65 exhibit strong health profiles.
The 65 and over demographic comprises 15.3% of the locality (3,382 people), presenting comparatively higher medical needs that track below wider national rates for this age bracket.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
26.3% of Thornlands residents were born overseas and 9.2% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.8%) and Australian (25.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Thornlands displays an elevated level of multicultural diversity, with 26.3% of residents born abroad and 9.2% using a language other than English in their households. Christianity is the predominant faith, practiced by 52.4% of residents compared to 47.8% throughout Greater Brisbane. Ancestry records show English lineage as the most prevalent at 31.8% of the local population, notably higher than the regional share of 26.8%, followed by Australian at 25.4% and Scottish at 8.6%. Other backgrounds show distinct representations, with New Zealand ancestry accounting for 1.3% (vs 1.0% regionally), South Australian at 1.2% (vs 0.6%), and Maori ancestry at 1.1% (vs 1.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Thornlands is 36. 25.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic profile of Thornlands aligns closely with the Greater Brisbane benchmark, with the most pronounced variation across age brackets being 5.2 percentage points. The median age is estimated at 36, matching both the 2021 Census figure and the Greater Brisbane median recorded in 2021. The proportion of residents aged 65 and over has increased from 14.0% at the Census to an estimated 15.3%. Long-term projections indicate that retiree and elderly cohorts will see the largest expansion to 2041, increasing by 1,589 residents (47%) to 4,972, while the share of young to middle aged adults is expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Thornlands
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Sep 2026 last month all 6 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Sep 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 440 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (19,263 at the 2021 Census → 22,066 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (301021012). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.