Thornlie
Statistical Area - sa2

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 is 25,706 as of November 2025. From the 2021 Census, it had a population of 23,665. This increase of 2,041 people (8.6%) is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 25,696 in June 2024 and 66 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density is 2,217 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Thornlie's growth rate of 8.6% since the census is close to the national average of 8.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 73.2% of overall population gains recently.

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 post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch uses growth rates by age cohort from the ABS's Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). By 2041, Thornlie is projected to increase by 1,311 persons, a gain of 5.1% over the 17 years.

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 each year. Between the financial years FY21 and FY25, a total of 159 homes were approved, with an additional 6 approved so far in FY26. Over these five financial years, there was an average of 9.7 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed.

This high demand relative to supply typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost value for new dwellings is $172,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options in Thornlie. In FY26, there have been $24.9 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Perth, Thornlie has significantly less development activity, with 72.0% fewer approvals per person. This scarcity of new properties often strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

This trend is also below the national average, which could reflect the area's maturity or possible planning constraints. New development in Thornlie consists predominantly of detached dwellings (95.0%) with a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (5.0%), maintaining the area's suburban identity with a focus on family homes suited to buyers seeking space. The location has approximately 1105 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. Future projections show Thornlie adding 1,301 residents by 2041. Construction is keeping pace with projected growth, but as the population increases, buyers may face growing competition for properties.

Thornlie has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that may affect this region. Notable projects 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.

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

Thornlie's workforce is skilled with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. As of June 2025, its unemployment rate is 5.7%, having seen a 3.1% employment growth in the past year.

In June 2025, there are 13,340 employed residents, with an unemployment rate at 1.8% above Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is lower than Greater Perth's standard (61.8% vs 65.2%). Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, transport, postal & warehousing has employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence with only 5.1% employment compared to the regional average of 8.2%. Local employment opportunities appear limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 3.1%, while labour force grew by the same percentage, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Perth saw employment rise by 3.7% and labour force grow by 3.8%, with a slight increase in unemployment to 4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 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 growth of approximately 6.0%% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, although this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Thornlie's median income among taxpayers was $50,988 in financial year 2022, with an average income of $59,002. This compares to Greater Perth's figures of $58,380 and $78,020 respectively. Based on a 14.2% growth since financial year 2022, estimated median income is approximately $58,228 and average income is $67,380 as of September 2025. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Thornlie rank modestly, between the 25th and 40th percentiles. The largest income bracket comprises 34.6% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (8,894 residents), similar to broader trends across the broader area showing 32.0% in the same category. 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 recorded in 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 was at 34.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.9% and rented ones at 21.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,625, below Perth metro's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Thornlie was recorded at $330, matching Perth metro's figure. 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 lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 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 account for 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, 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, 21.3% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are 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 holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 25.3%.

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

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

Thornlie has 134 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 13 different routes, collectively facilitating 3,060 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 191 meters to the nearest stop.

Daily service frequency across all routes averages 437 trips, translating to approximately 22 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

Thornlie residents show relatively positive health outcomes. The prevalence of common health conditions is low across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 49% (~12,621 people) have private health cover, lower than Greater Perth's 51.2%, but higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (7.3%) and mental health issues (7.1%). About 70.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 73.3% in Greater Perth. Thornlie has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 18.6% (4,791 people), compared to Greater Perth's 14.7%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly aligning 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 32.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 43.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Thornlie, making up 42.1% of people. Islam is overrepresented compared to Greater Perth, comprising 12.1% of Thornlie's population versus 11.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (24.9%), Australian (18.8%), and Other (17.3%). Notable divergences include Maori at 1.2% (vs regional 1.0%), Chinese at 7.9% (vs 7.5%), and South African at 0.7% (vs 0.8%).

Thornlie's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Thornlie is close to Greater Perth's average of 37 years, similar to Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared 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 population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 5.2% to 6.3%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 11.9% to 11.2%. By 2041, Thornlie's age composition is expected to change significantly. The demographic shift will be led by the 75 to 84 group, which is projected to grow by 65%, reaching 2,699 people from 1,632. This growth will contribute to a significant increase in the percentage of residents aged 65 and above, who are expected to comprise 77% of the population growth. Meanwhile, declines are projected for the populations aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 years.