Chisholm vs Thornton
Thornton (median $825,000) is roughly 12% cheaper to buy into than Chisholm ($932,500). Over the past year, Thornton (+4.4%) ran 0.8 percentage points ahead of Chisholm (+3.6%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Chisholm or Thornton?
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Chisholm and Thornton side by side
| Measure | Chisholm | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $932,500 | $825,000 |
| Median unit | $285,120 | $285,120 |
| House price change, 12 months | +3.6% | +4.4% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $680/wk | $680/wk |
| Unit rent | $510/wk | $510/wk |
| Owner occupied | 79.0% | 64.0% |
| Renter occupied | 19.0% | 34.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 994 | 967 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 0 | 4 |
| Transit score | 0 | 20 |
| Bike score | 15 | 100 |
| Population | 4,577 | 10,690 |
| Median age | 32 | 32 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 920 mm | 951 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.8°C | 29.6°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Thornton scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 4/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Chisholm (994) sits above Thornton (967). Chisholm skews owner-occupied (79%), Thornton runs more rental-dense (64% owner).
- For buyers
- Thornton is the lower entry point at $825,000 median, 12% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Thornton carries both higher gross yield (4.29% vs 3.79%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
- For families
- Chisholm edges out on average school ICSEA (994 vs 967). Chisholm also has a higher family-household share (92% vs 82%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Chisholm vs Thornton: common questions
Is Chisholm or Thornton cheaper to buy in?
Thornton has the lower median house price at $825,000, roughly 12% below Chisholm ($932,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Chisholm or Thornton?
Over the past 12 months, Thornton grew +4.4% vs +3.6% in Chisholm, a gap of 0.8 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Chisholm or Thornton have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Chisholm scores 994 vs 967 in Thornton. 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, Chisholm or Thornton?
Thornton scores 4/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, Chisholm or Thornton?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.29% in Thornton vs 3.79% in Chisholm. 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.
Keep comparing
The two suburbs
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