Beresfield vs Thornton

Thornton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 39 in Beresfield. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Thornton, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Thornton: a median of $860,000, against $785,000 in Beresfield, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Beresfield tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Thornton suits families with children and couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Thornton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 6)
  • is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 54%)
  • carries lower crime risk (72/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Beresfield has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Thornton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 27%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Beresfield has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $400/wk)
  • Thornton leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 28%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Thornton

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 41/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (155.7 km vs 158.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Beresfield has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • Thornton is more walkable (68/100 vs 41/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Thornton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (32.6% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Beresfield and Thornton drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Beresfield Thornton
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Beresfield Thornton
Walkability 41 / 68
Beresfield — Walkability: 41/100 Thornton — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 10 / 28
Beresfield — Safety: 10/100 Thornton — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 100 / 80
Beresfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Thornton — Low fire risk: 80/100

Demographics

Thornton has more residents (10,690 vs 3,267); Thornton has higher household incomes ($106,652 vs $65,364).

Beresfield Thornton
Population 3,267 10,690
+227% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +32.6%
Median age 39 32
Median household income $65,364/yr $106,652/yr
+63% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $400/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Beresfield Thornton
0-4 5.5% / 7.7%
Beresfield — 0-4: 5.5% Thornton — 0-4: 7.7%
5-14 11.5% / 13.9%
Beresfield — 5-14: 11.5% Thornton — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 4.7% / 6.3%
Beresfield — 15-19: 4.7% Thornton — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.0% / 8.0%
Beresfield — 20-24: 6.0% Thornton — 20-24: 8.0%
25-34 16.4% / 17.7%
Beresfield — 25-34: 16.4% Thornton — 25-34: 17.7%
35-44 11.7% / 13.0%
Beresfield — 35-44: 11.7% Thornton — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 11.0% / 12.0%
Beresfield — 45-54: 11.0% Thornton — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 11.2% / 11.0%
Beresfield — 55-64: 11.2% Thornton — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 10.7% / 6.9%
Beresfield — 65-74: 10.7% Thornton — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 8.9% / 2.7%
Beresfield — 75-84: 8.9% Thornton — 75-84: 2.7%
85+ 2.3% / 0.6%
Beresfield — 85+: 2.3% Thornton — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Beresfield 30.8% couple families
Beresfield — Couple Families: 30.8% Beresfield — Lone Person: 39.2% Beresfield — One Parent Families: 22.9% Beresfield — Group Household: 4.7% Beresfield — Other Families: 2.4%
Thornton 54.6% couple families
Thornton — Couple Families: 54.6% Thornton — Lone Person: 20.9% Thornton — One Parent Families: 18.5% Thornton — Group Household: 4.6% Thornton — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Beresfield 32.1% renting
Beresfield — Owned Outright: 36.7% Beresfield — Mortgage: 31.2% Beresfield — Renting: 32.1%
Thornton 34.7% renting
Thornton — Owned Outright: 24.0% Thornton — Mortgage: 41.3% Thornton — Renting: 34.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Beresfield Thornton
Certificate III & IV 20.1% / 21.2%
Beresfield — Certificate III & IV: 20.1% Thornton — Certificate III & IV: 21.2%
Bachelor Degree 5.9% / 8.5%
Beresfield — Bachelor Degree: 5.9% Thornton — Bachelor Degree: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.8% / 7.3%
Beresfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8% Thornton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 1.9%
Beresfield — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Thornton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 1.1%
Beresfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Thornton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Beresfield Thornton
England 1.6% / 1.8%
Beresfield — England: 1.6% Thornton — England: 1.8%
China 1.8% / 0.3%
Beresfield — China: 1.8% Thornton — China: 0.3%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.1%
Beresfield — New Zealand: 0.6% Thornton — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.6%
Beresfield — Philippines: 0.7% Thornton — Philippines: 0.6%
India 0.4% / 0.8%
Beresfield — India: 0.4% Thornton — India: 0.8%
Malaysia 0.6% / —
Beresfield — Malaysia: 0.6% Thornton — Malaysia: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.6%
Beresfield — South Africa: not among its largest Thornton — South Africa: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Beresfield 90.2% houses
Beresfield — Houses: 90.2% Beresfield — Townhouses: 7.7% Beresfield — Flats / Apartments: 2.2%
Thornton 92.8% houses
Thornton — Houses: 92.8% Thornton — Townhouses: 6.2% Thornton — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Beresfield Thornton
Median house price $785,000 $860,000
Median unit price $602,000 $637,500
Median land price $855,000 $760,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 23 sales
 22 days
from 146 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Beresfield Thornton
2 bed $720K / $660K
Beresfield — 2 bed: $720K (13 sales) Thornton — 2 bed: $660K (6 sales)

13 vs 6 sales

3 bed $775K / $758K
Beresfield — 3 bed: $775K (60 sales) Thornton — 3 bed: $758K (85 sales)

60 vs 85 sales

4 bed $813K / $900K
Beresfield — 4 bed: $813K (14 sales) Thornton — 4 bed: $900K (143 sales)

14 vs 143 sales

Zoning mix

Beresfield has more industrially zoned land (46% vs 9%); Thornton has more rural and farming land (24% vs 0%).

Beresfield Thornton
Industrial 46% 9%
Environmental 13% 37%
Residential 18% 25%
Rural and farming 0% 24%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 2%
Parks and recreation 8% 2%
Commercial 1% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Beresfield Thornton
New dwellings approved 912
across Newcastle
 1,413
across Maitland
Approvals change year on year +77% +20%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Beresfield Thornton
Houses 3.9%
$635/wk on $844K
 4.2%
$660/wk on $822K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Beresfield Thornton
House price Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Thornton is more walkable (68 vs 41); Thornton scores higher overall (47 vs 32).

Beresfield Thornton
Grade C
same for both
Score 32/100 47/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Thornton carries more bushfire risk (20 vs 0); Beresfield carries more crime risk (90 vs 72).

Beresfield Thornton
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
20/100
Crime High
90/100
 High
72/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Beresfield Thornton
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Beresfield

  • Beresfield Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Thornton

  • Thornton Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Aspect Hunter School Independent · Combined · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Beresfield Thornton
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 5 3
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 6 9
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 4 3
Waterways 7 9

Mobility

Beresfield sits further from the CBD (158.3 km vs 155.7 km).

Beresfield Thornton
Walkability score 41/100 68/100
Distance to Sydney 158.3 km
+2% vs other
 155.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 59.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 121.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2322
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 2322
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Beresfield Thornton
Car (driver) 76.6% / 72.6%
Beresfield — Car (driver): 76.6% Thornton — Car (driver): 72.6%
Worked from Home 12.9% / 20.6%
Beresfield — Worked from Home: 12.9% Thornton — Worked from Home: 20.6%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 4.6%
Beresfield — Car (passenger): 5.6% Thornton — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 3.0% / 0.9%
Beresfield — Walked Only: 3.0% Thornton — Walked Only: 0.9%
Train 0.5% / 0.9%
Beresfield — Train: 0.5% Thornton — Train: 0.9%
Bicycle 0.8% / 0.1%
Beresfield — Bicycle: 0.8% Thornton — Bicycle: 0.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.6%).

Setting

Beresfield Thornton
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.4 km 14.4 km

NBN connectivity

Beresfield Thornton
Connectivity score 66/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
2,175 premises
 70%
4,838 premises

Climate

Beresfield Thornton
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm 996 mm
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C 30.0°C
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C 7.1°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Beresfield Thornton
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Beresfield Thornton
Average residential rate $1,783/yr $1,908/yr
Council Newcastle Maitland

Federal electorate

Beresfield Thornton
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Beresfield Thornton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Beresfield

Large Blocks River

Thornton

Large Blocks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Beresfield

Beresfield vs Woodberry Beresfield vs Tarro Beresfield vs Black Hill

Other comparisons with Thornton

Thornton vs East Maitland Thornton vs Metford Thornton vs Ashtonfield Thornton vs Chisholm Thornton vs Woodberry Thornton vs Black Hill
Full data on Beresfield Full data on Thornton
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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