Buxton vs Thirlmere

Buxton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 38 in Thirlmere. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Buxton, most households are couple families. In Thirlmere, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Thirlmere: a median of $1 million, against $900,000 in Buxton. On these figures, Thirlmere tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Buxton carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 37/100)
  • Thirlmere has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Buxton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper houses ($900,000 vs $1,005,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Thirlmere

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (25% vs 14%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Buxton is more walkable (50/100 vs 34/100)
  • Thirlmere sits closer to the CBD (94.9 km vs 99.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Buxton carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 37/100)
  • Thirlmere has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Buxton returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.1%)
  • Thirlmere is growing faster (23.2% vs 2.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Buxton Thirlmere
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.

Buxton Thirlmere
Walkability 50 / 34
Buxton — Walkability: 50/100 Thirlmere — Walkability: 34/100
Safety 76 / 63
Buxton — Safety: 76/100 Thirlmere — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 3 / 6
Buxton — Low fire risk: 3/100 Thirlmere — Low fire risk: 6/100

Demographics

Thirlmere has more residents (4,986 vs 2,071); Thirlmere skews older (38 vs 33).

Buxton Thirlmere
Population 2,071 4,986
+141% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.1% +23.2%
Median age 33 38
Median household income $100,984/yr
+12% vs other
 $88,816/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk $420/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Buxton Thirlmere
0-4 7.4% / 7.0%
Buxton — 0-4: 7.4% Thirlmere — 0-4: 7.0%
5-14 14.0% / 12.4%
Buxton — 5-14: 14.0% Thirlmere — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 8.4% / 5.8%
Buxton — 15-19: 8.4% Thirlmere — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 6.8% / 6.6%
Buxton — 20-24: 6.8% Thirlmere — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 15.1% / 13.7%
Buxton — 25-34: 15.1% Thirlmere — 25-34: 13.7%
35-44 12.4% / 10.7%
Buxton — 35-44: 12.4% Thirlmere — 35-44: 10.7%
45-54 14.1% / 11.1%
Buxton — 45-54: 14.1% Thirlmere — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 12.7% / 11.4%
Buxton — 55-64: 12.7% Thirlmere — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 6.5% / 11.0%
Buxton — 65-74: 6.5% Thirlmere — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 2.2% / 6.7%
Buxton — 75-84: 2.2% Thirlmere — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 0.3% / 3.4%
Buxton — 85+: 0.3% Thirlmere — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Buxton 57.6% couple families
Buxton — Couple Families: 57.6% Buxton — Lone Person: 21.1% Buxton — One Parent Families: 18.2% Buxton — Group Household: 2.0% Buxton — Other Families: 1.0%
Thirlmere 47.7% couple families
Thirlmere — Couple Families: 47.7% Thirlmere — Lone Person: 32.3% Thirlmere — One Parent Families: 17.4% Thirlmere — Group Household: 1.8% Thirlmere — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Buxton 14.3% renting
Buxton — Owned Outright: 24.3% Buxton — Mortgage: 61.4% Buxton — Renting: 14.3%
Thirlmere 24.7% renting
Thirlmere — Owned Outright: 31.9% Thirlmere — Mortgage: 43.4% Thirlmere — Renting: 24.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Buxton Thirlmere
Certificate III & IV 22.9% / 20.7%
Buxton — Certificate III & IV: 22.9% Thirlmere — Certificate III & IV: 20.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 7.2%
Buxton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Thirlmere — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Bachelor Degree 4.9% / 6.9%
Buxton — Bachelor Degree: 4.9% Thirlmere — Bachelor Degree: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 2.0%
Buxton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Thirlmere — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.3%
Buxton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Thirlmere — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

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.

Buxton Thirlmere
England 3.0% / 3.8%
Buxton — England: 3.0% Thirlmere — England: 3.8%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.9%
Buxton — New Zealand: 0.8% Thirlmere — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.4%
Buxton — Philippines: 0.4% Thirlmere — Philippines: 0.4%
Scotland 0.2% / 0.5%
Buxton — Scotland: 0.2% Thirlmere — Scotland: 0.5%
Germany 0.3% / 0.2%
Buxton — Germany: 0.3% Thirlmere — Germany: 0.2%
Lebanon — / 0.5%
Buxton — Lebanon: not among its largest Thirlmere — Lebanon: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Buxton 99.0% houses
Buxton — Houses: 99.0% Buxton — Townhouses: 0.0% Buxton — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Thirlmere 90.1% houses
Thirlmere — Houses: 90.1% Thirlmere — Townhouses: 9.1% Thirlmere — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Buxton Thirlmere
Median house price $900,000 $1,005,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $788,300 $901,250
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 10 sales
 28 days
from 95 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.

Buxton Thirlmere
3 bed $845K / $905K
Buxton — 3 bed: $845K (16 sales) Thirlmere — 3 bed: $905K (37 sales)

16 vs 37 sales

4 bed $970K / $1.01M
Buxton — 4 bed: $970K (14 sales) Thirlmere — 4 bed: $1.01M (100 sales)

14 vs 100 sales

Zoning mix

Buxton Thirlmere
Rural and farming 61% 53%
Environmental 30%
same for both
Residential 7% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 5%
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

Buxton Thirlmere
New dwellings approved 1,338
across Wollondilly
same for both
Approvals change year on year +92%
same for both

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.

Buxton Thirlmere
Houses 4.2%
$750/wk on $925K
 3.1%
$650/wk on $1.1M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Buxton Thirlmere
House price Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW

Liveability

Buxton is more walkable (50 vs 34).

Buxton Thirlmere
Grade C
same for both
Score 36/100 33/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Thirlmere carries more crime risk (37 vs 24).

Buxton Thirlmere
Bushfire High
97/100
 High
94/100
Crime Low
24/100
 Low
37/100
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 3
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Buxton Thirlmere
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Buxton

  • Buxton Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Thirlmere

  • Thirlmere Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Buxton Thirlmere
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 1 5
Childcare 2 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 5 14

Mobility

Buxton sits further from the CBD (99.7 km vs 94.9 km).

Buxton Thirlmere
Walkability score 50/100 34/100
Distance to Sydney 99.7 km
+5% vs other
 94.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 82 min 80 min
Public transport score 40/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 16.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 38.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2571
 0.6%
postcode 2572
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 75
postcode 2571
 50
postcode 2572

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.

Buxton Thirlmere
Car (driver) 76.6% / 66.8%
Buxton — Car (driver): 76.6% Thirlmere — Car (driver): 66.8%
Worked from Home 18.5% / 26.6%
Buxton — Worked from Home: 18.5% Thirlmere — Worked from Home: 26.6%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 4.6%
Buxton — Car (passenger): 4.2% Thirlmere — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.4%
Buxton — Walked Only: 0.7% Thirlmere — Walked Only: 1.4%
Train — / 0.6%
Buxton — Train: not among its largest Thirlmere — Train: 0.6%

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

Setting

Buxton Thirlmere
Elevation 399 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 325 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 36.7 km 36.5 km

NBN connectivity

Buxton Thirlmere
Connectivity score 68/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
759 premises
 54%
2,610 premises

Climate

Buxton Thirlmere
Annual rainfall 974 mm 817 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 29.4°C
Winter min (Jul) — 4.2°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Buxton Thirlmere
PM2.5 4.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.11 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Buxton Thirlmere
Average residential rate $2,099/yr
same for both
Council Wollondilly
same for both

Federal electorate

Buxton Thirlmere
Division Hume
same for both
Member Angus Taylor
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Buxton Thirlmere
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Buxton

Acreage River

Thirlmere

Acreage River

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Thirlmere

Thirlmere vs Tahmoor Thirlmere vs Picton Thirlmere vs Lakesland Thirlmere vs Couridjah Thirlmere vs Mowbray Park
Full data on Buxton Full data on Thirlmere
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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