Side by sideSuburb comparison

Capalaba vs Thorneside.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $825,000 and $943,750. Capalaba edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Capalaba (median $825,000) is roughly 13% cheaper to buy into than Thorneside ($943,750).

Capalaba scores higher on walkability (100/100 vs 18/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Thorneside (1040) sits above Capalaba (1037).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Capalaba is the lower entry point at $825,000 median, 13% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

Capalaba offers the higher gross rental yield (4.35% vs 2.04%), favouring cash-flow investors.

For families

Thorneside edges out on average school ICSEA (1040 vs 1037).

Common questionsCapalaba vs Thorneside

Common questions

Is Capalaba or Thorneside cheaper to buy in?

Capalaba has the lower median house price at $825,000, roughly 13% below Thorneside ($943,750). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does Capalaba or Thorneside have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Thorneside scores 1040 vs 1037 in Capalaba. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.

Which is more walkable, Capalaba or Thorneside?

Capalaba scores 100/100 on walkability vs 18/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.

Which suburb has higher rental yield, Capalaba or Thorneside?

Gross rental yield on houses is 4.35% in Capalaba vs 2.04% in Thorneside. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.

The numbers behind the take

Capalaba
Metric
Thorneside

Price & Market

$825,000
Median house
$943,750
$560,000
Median unit
$517,500
+0.0%
Annual growth (house)
+0.0%
Days on market

Rental

$690/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$370/wk
$465/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$370/wk
72.0%
Owner occupied
69.0%
26.0%
Renter occupied
29.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

100
Walk score
18
50
Transit score
0
60
Bike score
100
18,002
Population
3,877
39
Median age
41

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1037
Avg ICSEA
1040

Climate

1068 mm
Annual rainfall
1068 mm
30.4°C
Mean max (Jan)
30.4°C

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).