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

Thornlie's population, as of November 2025, is estimated at around 25,706. This reflects an increase of 2,041 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 23,665. The current population is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 25,696 residents following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 66 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,258 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Thornlie's population growth rate of 8.6% since the census positions it within 0.3 percentage points of the national average (8.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the suburb.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 to estimate 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 aggregated SA2-level projections, Thornlie is expected to grow by 1,311 persons to reach a population of around 27,017 by 2041, reflecting an increase of approximately 5.1% in total 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 averaged approximately 31 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25. This totals an estimated 159 homes. In FY-26 so far, 6 approvals have been recorded. Each home built has resulted in an average of 9.7 new residents annually.

The average construction cost value for these homes is $254,000, which is below regional norms. Thornlie has seen $24.9 million in commercial development approvals this financial year. Compared to Greater Perth, Thornlie has significantly less development activity, at 72.0% below the regional average per person. The area is dominated by detached dwellings, with approximately 93.0% of new building activity being for these types of homes, and around 7.0% for townhouses or apartments. This sustains Thornlie's suburban identity, with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space.

With around 1020 people per approval, Thornlie shows characteristics of a mature, established area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Thornlie is expected to grow by approximately 1,301 residents through to 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with these growth projections, though increased competition among buyers may result from this population growth.

Thornlie has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely to affect the area. 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 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.

Employment performance in Thornlie has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Thornlie has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 5.7% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.1%. This is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of June 2025, 13,340 residents were in work, with an unemployment rate of 1.8% above Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 61.8%, compared to Greater Perth's 65.2%.

Leading employment industries among residents included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area had a particularly notable concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. However, professional & technical services had limited presence, with only 5.1% of employment compared to the regional average of 8.2%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 3.1%, while labour force increased by 3.1%, and unemployment remained essentially unchanged. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 3.7% and labour force growth of 3.8%, with a slight rise in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Thornlie's employment mix, local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Thornlie's median income among taxpayers was $50,988 in the financial year 2022, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $59,002 during this period. In comparison, Greater Perth had figures of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively for median and average incomes. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022, current estimates project Thornlie's median income to be approximately $58,228 and the average income to be around $67,380 by September 2025. Data from the 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Thornlie rank modestly, between the 25th and 39th percentiles. The majority of locals (34.6%, or 8,894 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, which is similar to the surrounding region where 32.0% occupy this range. After housing costs, 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 (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Perth metro's 88.9% houses and 11.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Thornlie stood at 34.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.9% and rented ones at 21.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, lower than Perth metro's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Thornlie was $330, the same as Perth metro's figure. Nationally, Thornlie's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 23.8%, with lone person households at 21.0% and group households accounting for 2.8%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.8.

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

In Thornlie Trail region, 21.3% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common (15.1%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 36.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 25.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 10.2% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 4.9% in tertiary education. Seven schools operate within Thornlie Trail, educating approximately 4,141 students. The area has balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 991). These schools include five primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school.

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

Thirteen active transport stops operate within Thornlie, serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by thirteen routes, collectively facilitating 3060 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 191 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 437 daily trips across all routes, equating to approximately 23 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Thornlie residents.

The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 51% (~13,014 people) of the total population has private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.3% and 7.1% of residents respectively. Around 70.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 73.3% across Greater Perth. Thornlie has 18.6% (4,781 people) of its residents aged 65 and over, which is higher than the 14.7% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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 in Thornlie, accounting for 42.1%. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Perth, comprising 12.1% versus 11.8%.

The top three ancestral groups are English (24.9%), Australian (18.8%), and Other (17.3%). Some ethnic groups show notable variations: Maori at 1.2% in Thornlie compared to 1.0% regionally, South African at 0.7% versus 0.8%, and Korean at 0.6% versus 0.5%.

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

The median age in Thornlie is 38 years, close to Greater Perth's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Relative to Greater Perth, Thornlie has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (10.3%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.3%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 has grown from 5.2% to 6.3%, while the percentage of those aged 55-64 has declined from 11.9% to 11.2%. By 2041, Thornlie's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 is projected to grow by 67%, reaching 2,700 from 1,619. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 77% of the population growth. Conversely, declines in population are projected for those aged 0-4 and 5-14.