Thornleigh vs Wahroonga
Thornleigh (median $1,850,000) is roughly 38% cheaper to buy into than Wahroonga ($2,990,000). Over the past year, Wahroonga (+3.1%) ran 5.1 percentage points ahead of Thornleigh (-2%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Thornleigh or Wahroonga?
Selling in Thornleigh? The free selling guide
Thornleigh and Wahroonga side by side
| Measure | Thornleigh | Wahroonga |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,850,000 | $2,990,000 |
| Median unit | $446,400 | $514,800 |
| House price change, 12 months | -2.0% | +3.1% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $963/wk | $1075/wk |
| Unit rent | $650/wk | $750/wk |
| Owner occupied | 75.0% | 78.0% |
| Renter occupied | 23.0% | 18.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 1139 | 1143 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 34 | 50 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 45 | 80 |
| Population | 8,898 | 17,853 |
| Median age | 40 | 44 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1113 mm | 1097 mm |
| Mean max, January | 28.0°C | 27.8°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
Wahroonga scores higher on walkability (34/100 vs 50/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Wahroonga (1143) sits above Thornleigh (1139).
- For buyers
- Thornleigh is the lower entry point at $1,850,000 median, 38% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Thornleigh delivers the better gross yield (2.71% vs 1.87%), but Wahroonga has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
- For families
- Wahroonga edges out on average school ICSEA (1143 vs 1139).
Thornleigh vs Wahroonga: common questions
Is Thornleigh or Wahroonga cheaper to buy in?
Thornleigh has the lower median house price at $1,850,000, roughly 38% below Wahroonga ($2,990,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Thornleigh or Wahroonga?
Over the past 12 months, Wahroonga grew +3.1% vs -2% in Thornleigh, a gap of 5.1 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 Thornleigh or Wahroonga have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Wahroonga scores 1143 vs 1139 in Thornleigh. 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, Thornleigh or Wahroonga?
Wahroonga scores 50/100 on walkability vs 34/100. 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, Thornleigh or Wahroonga?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.71% in Thornleigh vs 1.87% in Wahroonga. 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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