Thornlie

Thornlie is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Thornlie is around 25,709. This figure reflects an increase of 2,044 people since the Census in 2021, which reported a population of 23,665. AreaSearch validated this estimate by examining the latest ERP data release by the ABS from June 2024 and considering an additional 66 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,259 persons per square kilometer, which is above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Thornlie's population growth rate of 8.6% since the census is within 1.3 percentage points of the national average of 9.9%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.0% of overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and for estimating growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. According to these trends, Thornlie is expected to grow by approximately 1,311 persons to reach a population of around 27,020 by 2041, reflecting an increase of about 5.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Thornlie recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Thornlie has averaged approximately 31 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. This totals an estimated 159 homes. As of FY26, 15 approvals have been recorded. Each home built in this period is associated with an average of 9.7 new residents annually.

The average construction cost value for new properties during this time was $254,000. In FY26, commercial approvals reached $24.9 million, indicating steady investment activity. Thornlie's building activity is significantly lower compared to Greater Perth, with 72% below the regional average per person. This limited supply typically supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. Nationally, Thornlie also reflects below-average building activity, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints.

New building activity in Thornlie consists of approximately 93% detached dwellings and 7% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban identity with a focus on family homes suited to buyers seeking space. The population density is around 1020 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Thornlie is projected to grow by 1,298 residents through to 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, though buyers may experience increased competition as the population expands.

Thornlie has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Nicholson Road, Garden Street and Yale Road Grade Separation, Tulloch Way Residential Development, Tulloch Way, Canning Vale Development, and West Canning Vale Outline Development Plan. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Thornlie recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Thornlie has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 5.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.7%. As of September 2025, 13,084 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.9%, which is 1.9% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Thornlie was 66.4%, compared to Greater Perth's 71.6%. According to Census responses, only 5.2% of residents worked from home. The leading employment industries were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Thornlie had a notably high concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services showed lower representation at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 8.2%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 1.7%, while labour force grew by 2.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 2.9% and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Thornlie's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Thornlie's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $50,988, with an average income of $59,002. These figures are lower than Greater Perth's median and average incomes of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes in Thornlie would be approximately $55,893 and $64,678 based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Thornlie rank modestly, between the 25th and 39th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 34.6% of Thornlie's population (8,895 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the surrounding region where 32.0% occupy this bracket. After housing expenses, 85.0% of income remains for other expenses.

Thornlie is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Thornlie's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.1% houses and 8.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Perth metro's structure which was 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Thornlie stood at 34.3%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (43.9%) or rented (21.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,625, lower than Perth metro's average of $1,907. The median weekly rent figure for Thornlie was recorded at $330, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Thornlie's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Thornlie has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 76.2% of all households, including 35.4% couples with children, 26.8% couples without children, and 12.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.8%, with lone person households at 21.0% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Thornlie shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

Thornlie trail has 21.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 36.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (25.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.8% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Thornlie has 132 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 17 routes, providing 4,139 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 193 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 83%, while train usage stands at 9%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 591 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 31 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Thornlie's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Thornlie's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health conditions are low across all age groups. Approximately 51% (~13,016 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Perth's 59.0% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent conditions are arthritis (7.3%) and mental health issues (7.1%), with 70.2% reporting no medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Perth's 71.9%. Under-65 residents have better-than-average health outcomes. Thornlie has 19.3% of residents aged 65 and over (4,961 people), higher than Greater Perth's 16.3%. Senior health outcomes are above average, similar to national rankings for the general population.

Thornlie is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Thornlie's cultural diversity is notable, with 32.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 43.5% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 42.1%. However, Islam is overrepresented at 12.1%, significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 3.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (24.9%), Australian (18.8%), and Other (17.3%), the latter being substantially higher than the regional average of 11.2%. Some ethnic groups show significant divergences: Maori at 1.2% vs 0.9%, South African at 0.7% vs 1.0%, and Korean at 0.6% vs 0.3%.

Thornlie's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Thornlie is close to Greater Perth's average at 37 years and equivalent to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Thornlie has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (10.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.9%). Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 5.2% to 6.6% of Thornlie's population, while the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 12.7% to 11.9%. By 2041, Thornlie is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 59%, reaching 2,700 people from 1,696. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 75% of the population growth. Conversely, declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups.