Thornbury vs Preston.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,390,000 and $1,230,000.
Preston (median $1,230,000) is roughly 13% cheaper to buy into than Thornbury ($1,390,000).
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Thornbury (1111) sits above Preston (1080).
For buyers
Preston is the lower entry point at $1,230,000 median, 13% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Preston offers the higher gross rental yield (2.37% vs 1.96%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Thornbury edges out on average school ICSEA (1111 vs 1080).
Common questions
Is Thornbury or Preston cheaper to buy in?
Preston has the lower median house price at $1,230,000, roughly 13% below Thornbury ($1,390,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Thornbury or Preston have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Thornbury scores 1111 vs 1080 in Preston. 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 suburb has higher rental yield, Thornbury or Preston?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.37% in Preston vs 1.96% in Thornbury. 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
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Thornbury against another suburb