Suburb report · NSW 2322
Thornton
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
13,325
Thornton suburb profile
Who lives in Thornton
At 127km from central Sydney, Thornton runs as its own regional market. Thornton is one of the most populous suburbs in New South Wales, with 13,325 residents, more than 89% of the state's suburbs. Among the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, it ranks 31 by population. At a median age of 33, Thornton is among the youngest fifth of New South Wales suburbs. Of the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 42 have a younger median age. That is in line with the average of 33 in the other suburb of the Thornton-Millers Forest statistical area.
Income and home ownership
Median household income is $117,500, higher than 61% of New South Wales suburbs. That is 25.5% below the average of $157,800 in the other suburb of the Thornton-Millers Forest statistical area. On household income it ranks 171 of 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD. A renting share of 34.7% is above the state norm, where the median suburb has 73.1% ownership. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 163 have a lower share of owner-occupiers than Thornton. In the other suburb of the Thornton-Millers Forest statistical area the ownership share is 80.6%, 15.3 points higher than in Thornton.
Household mix
The 2021 Census counted 3,699 occupied private dwellings in Thornton, one of the larger housing stocks in New South Wales. Families with children are the largest household type at 52.8%, ahead of couples without children at 28.7% and people living alone at 15%. On the share of families with children it ranks 146 of 761 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD. The 15% share of people living alone sits below most of New South Wales, at the 20th percentile. At 28.7%, couples without children are more common here than in 66% of New South Wales suburbs. The rest of the Thornton-Millers Forest statistical area averages 63.6% families with children, 10.8 points above Thornton.
Housing supply
Approvals eased to 334 in the year to June 2025 across the Thornton-Millers Forest statistical area, below its 2020 to 2024 average of 380 a year. Supply figures here are for the Thornton-Millers Forest statistical area, home to 19,925 residents in 2025, which takes in Thornton and neighbouring suburbs. Per head of population the pipeline is deep: 16.8 approvals per 1,000 residents of that area against 3 for the median New South Wales area. The busiest year for approvals since 2020 was 2020, with 513, and the quietest was 2024, with 255.
Population trend
The population of the Thornton-Millers Forest statistical area surged 36.9% from 2020 to 2025, against 5.9% for New South Wales as a whole. Over those 5 years a typical New South Wales statistical area added 2.5%, putting this area 34.4 points ahead. That rate is faster than 98% of New South Wales statistical areas. The fastest single year was to 2021, at 9.8%, and the slowest to 2025, at 4.6%.
Against its neighbours
Of the nearby suburbs listed below, East Maitland differs most on the share of people living alone: 33.3% there against 15% in Thornton. Wallsend is the closest match on the owner-occupied share, at 61.8% against 65.3%. Raymond Terrace sits 12km away, with a median household income of $76,300 against $117,500 here.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Thornton data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Thornton-Millers Forest statistical area, whose boundary differs from Thornton's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.