Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
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
Thorneside has an estimated 4,020 residents, up from 3,877 at the 2021 Census — a change of 143 people, or 3.7%. That puts 1,506 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
According to ABS demographic updates for the surrounding region and subsequent address validations conducted by AreaSearch, the suburb of Thorneside is home to approximately 4,020 residents as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 143 individuals (3.7%) relative to the 3,877 residents documented in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is derived from the current estimated population of 4,020, calculated by AreaSearch using the latest ABS ERP release from June 2025 alongside five validated new addresses added since the Census. Such population levels translate to a density of 1,505 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical density recorded across standard Australian localities monitored by AreaSearch.
Throughout the prior decade, the suburb of Thorneside has shown steady expansion with a 0.5% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the pace of the wider SA3 region. Demographic growth locally was chiefly underpinned by natural increase, which was responsible for roughly 53.0% of the overall population gains in recent times. Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 (using 2022 as the base year) are utilized for SA2 zones. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and for the period after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (utilizing 2021 data) are adopted. Because these state-level figures omit age-specific details, AreaSearch applies age-cohort distribution weightings matching the ABS Greater Capital Region projections published in 2023 using 2022 data. Future growth in the suburb of Thorneside is projected to align with the lower quartile of areas monitored by AreaSearch, with collective SA2 projections suggesting an increase of 48 residents to 2041, representing a total expansion of 1.2% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
57 new dwellings have been approved in Thorneside over the past five years, an average of 11 a year. That is 2.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 14, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Based on analysis of ABS building approvals allocated to this locality, the area has averaged approximately 11 residential approvals annually, yielding a total of 57 new dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 13 approvals have been logged. With an average of 1.4 additional occupants per newly built home recorded between FY-21 and FY-25, demand matches supply closely to support stable local market conditions. Newly approved residences carry an average estimated construction value of $385,000, which is higher than the typical regional average and indicates a focus on premium construction.
Building activity per resident in this locality is 14.0% below the level seen in Greater Brisbane, ranking it in the 29th percentile of areas evaluated nationwide. This points to a relatively established suburban setting with potential planning constraints and fewer options for buyers, which supports demand for existing properties. The recent additions to the housing stock have consisted entirely of detached houses, preserving the traditional suburban look of the neighborhood and its focus on spacious family residences. This emphasis on detached builds is more pronounced than the historical housing mix of 64.0% recorded at the Census, indicating sustained demand for standalone family homes despite density pressures. There are approximately 575 residents for every new dwelling approval, reflecting a highly consolidated market. Looking forward, the population is projected to grow by 48 individuals through to 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimates. Ongoing construction trends suggest that the supply of new housing will be sufficient to accommodate this growth, supporting buyer conditions and leaving room for growth to potentially surpass current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Thorneside
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 66 current infrastructure and development projects close to Thorneside, worth an estimated $6.34 billion. 18 are already under construction and 21 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and sports & recreation. 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
Changes in local infrastructure projects and planning guidelines represent key drivers of real estate performance. A single project has been identified in the area that is expected to influence local trends. Major developments in the surrounding region include Eastwood Birkdale, the Redland Hospital Expansion, the Redlands Coast Smart and Connected City Strategy, and the Cleveland Line Duplication (Park Road to Cleveland), with the most relevant details listed below.
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
358 Manly Road Townhouse Development
30 low-medium density townhouses in 8 building groups. Comprises 25 x 3-bedroom and 5 x 2-bedroom units. Designed by Christian Zambelli with communal spaces and visitor parking.
Birkdale Grove
A private residential neighbourhood of 34 lots in a leafy bayside setting, approximately 17km from Brisbane CBD. Current sales are underway following development approval for reconfiguring a lot and associated works. Easy access to public transport, schools and shopping centres.
Capalaba Town Centre Revitalisation Project
A $183 million to $250 million urban renewal initiative transforming 1.55 hectares into the civic and commercial heart of Capalaba. The masterplan features a new Redland City Council library, customer service centre, arts centre, and community hall. The precinct includes a town square, village green with a large entertainment screen, commercial office space, and boutique residential apartments. Stage 1 construction, focusing on the library and civic facilities, commenced in May 2026 to stimulate a day/night economy and improve transport connectivity.
Daveson Road Social and Affordable Housing
Low-rise development delivering 55 one, two and three bedroom social and affordable homes with onsite communal spaces, car parking and sustainability features (targeting 7+ star NatHERS), led by Brisbane Housing Company with Paladin as builder under Queensland Government Quickstarts funding.
Wellington Point Village Streetscape Revitalisation
Redland City Council is upgrading the Wellington Point Village heart to create a more vibrant and walkable precinct. The project includes widening footpaths, installing new street furniture, and integrated landscaping to support local traders and enhance the public realm. Recent efforts in late 2025 and 2026 have focused on activating the precinct through collaboration between the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.
Birkdale Community Precinct including Redland Whitewater Centre
A 62-hectare destination transforming Birkdale into a world-class community precinct featuring the Redland Whitewater Centre, an Olympic-standard venue for the Brisbane 2032 Games. The precinct includes 38.8 hectares of conservation area, the heritage-listed Willards Farm, and a WWII Radio Receiving Station. It serves as a swift-water rescue training hub for emergency services and includes a public swimming lagoon, adventure playground, and seven community hubs focused on innovation, entertainment, and recreation.
Mayfair Village Shopping Centre Expansion
The expansion of Mayfair Village involves a 475sqm addition to the existing neighbourhood shopping centre. The development features a two-level extension in the north-east corner, providing new retail tenancies and a drive-thru facility. The project aims to improve streetscape activation and pedestrian connectivity along Burnett Street while maintaining the existing parking capacity of 348 vehicles.
Eastwood Birkdale
Small house-and-land estate opposite the proposed Birkdale Community Precinct, delivering 18 titled lots (all 400m2 or larger) with wide frontages and level blocks. Estate infrastructure complete and lots reported sold out by Sep 2025; individual home construction by purchasers ongoing.
2,323 residents of Thorneside are employed, from a labour force of 2,414. Unemployment sits at 3.8%, with participation at 72.5%. 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. The working-day population is estimated at 3,056, 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
The local workforce is characterized by a high proportion of skilled professionals, particularly in key service sectors, alongside a low unemployment rate of 3.8% and an estimated annual job growth rate of 4.2%. As of March 2026, there are 2,323 employed residents, with the local unemployment rate sitting 0.6% lower than the Greater Brisbane rate of 4.3%. The labor force participation rate stands at 72.5%, compared to 70.4% in Greater Brisbane. According to Census data, 17.0% of the working population performed their duties from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic lockdowns.
The primary employment sectors for local residents are healthcare & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The construction sector is particularly prominent, employing 1.4 times the proportion of workers compared to the wider region. Conversely, accommodation & food services is underrepresented, accounting for only 4.6% of the local workforce relative to 6.7% across Greater Brisbane. A comparison of Census working population statistics against resident population figures indicates that this heavily residential suburb offers few employment opportunities within its own boundaries. Based on ABS and SALM data aggregated for the area, the year ending March 2026 saw employment expand by 4.2% and the labor force grow by 4.1%, resulting in a 0.1 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.2% and labor force growth of 3.4%, while its unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage points. Long-term national employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia (released in May-25) provide a baseline for future demand. Over five and ten years, national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% and 13.7% respectively, though rates vary by sector. Applying these national sector trends to the local industry profile suggests that employment among residents could rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, assuming local shares remain consistent and excluding localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Thorneside is $1,488 a week (about $77,000 a year), with median personal income at $827 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,492 a year against an average of $66,152. 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 the latest postcode-level ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in this area recorded a median income of $55,492 and an average income of $66,152, sitting slightly below national benchmarks and contrasting with Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current figures are estimated at approximately $61,796 for the median and $73,667 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed personal incomes in the 54th percentile ($827 weekly), while household incomes sat in the 35th percentile.
The largest income bracket comprises 30.1% of residents (1,210 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which aligns closely with the regional proportion of 33.3% in the same category. Financial pressure from housing is significant, with only 82.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking in the 34th percentile, while the SEIFA index places the area in the 5th decile for income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Thorneside had 1,620 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 64% detached houses and 1% apartments. 37% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 34% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $370 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,787 a month. Rent absorbs 24.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 27.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The housing stock in this area at the time of the last Census consisted of 63.6% detached houses and 36.4% alternative dwelling types like townhouses and apartments, compared to a metro Brisbane split of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Homeownership was high at 34.0%, with the remaining properties either under mortgage (36.8%) or occupied by tenants (29.1%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,787 and median weekly rent of $370 were both below the metro Brisbane averages of $1,863 and $380 respectively. Nationally, local mortgage commitments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent levels are below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Thorneside counted 1,620 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 30% 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 make up 67.0% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 24.8%, couples without children at 26.4%, and single-parent households at 15.2%. Non-family households account for 33.0% of the total, with single-person households at 29.6% and group housing making up 3.2%. The median household size of 2.3 people is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
22.4% of adults in Thorneside hold a university qualification, including 16.0% with a bachelor degree and 3.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 29.1% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 31 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,040 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 qualification rates in this locality sit below regional averages, with 22.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 30.5% in Greater Brisbane. Within this group, bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.8%. Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications in these fields, including 11.9% with advanced diplomas and 29.1% with certificates. Engagement in education is high, with 26.3% of the population enrolled in study. This group includes 10.0% attending primary school, 7.7% in secondary school, and 3.3% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Thorneside reaches 26 stops on 26 routes, timetabled for about 1,700 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Analysis of local transit infrastructure shows 26 active bus and train stops operating in the area. These stops are connected to 26 different routes, delivering a total of 1,651 weekly passenger journeys. Access to services is convenient, with dwellings situated an average of 184 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, leading to a high rate of outward commuting. Private vehicles are the main travel method at 87%, followed by train travel at 9%. Average car ownership stands at 1.3 vehicles per household. Additionally, 17.0% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which was likely affected by pandemic restrictions.
Public transport services average 235 daily trips across the network, which translates to approximately 63 trips per week for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.2% of residents in Thorneside report no long-term health condition. 4.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and chronic illness rates, health challenges are visible across different age groups, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is slightly above the SA2 average at approximately 53% of the population (~2,147 people), compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane. Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most frequently reported issues, affecting 10.2% and 8.8% of the population respectively, with 64.2% of residents reporting no chronic health conditions compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. The working-age cohort exhibits elevated rates of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 22.7% of the population (912 people), compared to 15.1% in Greater Brisbane, with seniors showing above-average health outcomes that rank higher than those of the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Thorneside is largely Australian-born, at 78.5% of residents, with 6.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.1%) and Australian (27.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures are below the national average, with 78.5% of residents born in Australia, 89.8% holding citizenship, and 93.3% speaking only English at home. The most common religious affiliation is Christianity, accounting for 48.1% of the population, which is similar to the 47.8% recorded across Greater Brisbane. The primary ancestries reported by residents are English at 30.1%, Australian at 27.9%, and Irish at 9.1%. Some birthplaces are represented at higher rates than the regional average, including New Zealand at 1.2% of the local population (compared to 1.0% regionally), Russia at 0.6% (compared to 0.3%), and France at 0.7% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Thorneside is 41. 21.9% 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 median age of 41 in this area is higher than the Greater Brisbane median of 36 and slightly above the national median of 38. Compared to the capital city, there is an overrepresentation of residents aged 65 - 74 (11.6% locally) and an underrepresentation of those aged 25 - 34 (10.2%). Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 5.2% to 8.3%, and the 15 to 24 group has risen from 9.2% to 11.7%. Meanwhile, the 25 to 34 age bracket declined from 12.4% to 10.2%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 13.3% to 11.5%.
Demographic projections for 2041 point to a changing age profile, with the 85+ cohort expected to grow by 183 people (163%) from 112 to 296. The combined 65+ age brackets are projected to account for 92% of the total population growth, while the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age cohorts are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Thorneside
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 5 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,877 at the 2021 Census → 4,020 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 May 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 (SAL32814). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.