Capalaba vs Thornlands

Thornlands is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 39 in Capalaba. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Thornlands, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Thornlands: a median of $1.2 million, against $1.05 million in Capalaba, and rent is higher there too. Capalaba is closer to the city centre: 22.8 km, against 32.9 km. On these figures, Capalaba tends to suit people living alone, while Thornlands suits 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

Thornlands

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 72/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (77% vs 62%)
  • But Capalaba has more parks and reserves (45 vs 24)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Capalaba has cheaper houses ($1,050,000 vs $1,200,000)
  • Thornlands has cheaper land ($1,317,500 vs $1,970,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Capalaba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($385/wk vs $470/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Capalaba

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (22.8 km vs 32.9 km)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 57/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (32 min vs 40 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Capalaba

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 57/100)
  • But Thornlands carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Thornlands

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (31.1% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Capalaba Thornlands
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.

Capalaba Thornlands
Walkability 80 / 57
Capalaba — Walkability: 80/100 Thornlands — Walkability: 57/100
Safety 28 / 69
Capalaba — Safety: 28/100 Thornlands — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Capalaba — Low fire risk: 100/100 Thornlands — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Thornlands has higher household incomes ($115,336 vs $90,844); Thornlands rents higher ($470/wk vs $385/wk).

Capalaba Thornlands
Population 18,002 19,263
+7% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +31.1%
Median age 39 36
Median household income $90,844/yr $115,336/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $385/wk $470/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Capalaba Thornlands
0-4 5.9% / 6.4%
Capalaba — 0-4: 5.9% Thornlands — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 12.5% / 15.0%
Capalaba — 5-14: 12.5% Thornlands — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 5.7% / 7.5%
Capalaba — 15-19: 5.7% Thornlands — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 5.6% / 6.4%
Capalaba — 20-24: 5.6% Thornlands — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 13.2% / 12.0%
Capalaba — 25-34: 13.2% Thornlands — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 13.8% / 13.6%
Capalaba — 35-44: 13.8% Thornlands — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 12.5% / 13.8%
Capalaba — 45-54: 12.5% Thornlands — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 13.2% / 11.2%
Capalaba — 55-64: 13.2% Thornlands — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 10.9% / 8.1%
Capalaba — 65-74: 10.9% Thornlands — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 5.0% / 4.2%
Capalaba — 75-84: 5.0% Thornlands — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 1.7% / 1.7%
Capalaba — 85+: 1.7% Thornlands — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Capalaba 43.7% couple families
Capalaba — Couple Families: 43.7% Capalaba — Lone Person: 32.2% Capalaba — One Parent Families: 18.8% Capalaba — Group Household: 4.0% Capalaba — Other Families: 1.3%
Thornlands 60.1% couple families
Thornlands — Couple Families: 60.1% Thornlands — Lone Person: 19.1% Thornlands — One Parent Families: 16.9% Thornlands — Group Household: 2.6% Thornlands — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Capalaba 26.4% renting
Capalaba — Owned Outright: 30.5% Capalaba — Mortgage: 43.1% Capalaba — Renting: 26.4%
Thornlands 26.7% renting
Thornlands — Owned Outright: 25.3% Thornlands — Mortgage: 48.0% Thornlands — Renting: 26.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Capalaba Thornlands
Certificate III & IV 19.4% / 17.7%
Capalaba — Certificate III & IV: 19.4% Thornlands — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 11.2%
Capalaba — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Thornlands — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 9.9%
Capalaba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Thornlands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 2.9%
Capalaba — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Thornlands — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.7%
Capalaba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Thornlands — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

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.

Capalaba Thornlands
England 4.2% / 7.3%
Capalaba — England: 4.2% Thornlands — England: 7.3%
New Zealand 5.6% / 5.1%
Capalaba — New Zealand: 5.6% Thornlands — New Zealand: 5.1%
South Africa 1.3% / 2.5%
Capalaba — South Africa: 1.3% Thornlands — South Africa: 2.5%
India 1.1% / 1.1%
Capalaba — India: 1.1% Thornlands — India: 1.1%
Philippines 1.2% / 0.9%
Capalaba — Philippines: 1.2% Thornlands — Philippines: 0.9%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.9%
Capalaba — Scotland: 0.5% Thornlands — Scotland: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Capalaba 77.7% houses
Capalaba — Houses: 77.7% Capalaba — Townhouses: 18.6% Capalaba — Flats / Apartments: 3.7%
Thornlands 87.3% houses
Thornlands — Houses: 87.3% Thornlands — Townhouses: 11.6% Thornlands — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Capalaba Thornlands
Median house price $1,050,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price $716,250 —
Median land price $1,970,000 $1,317,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 13 days
from 123 sales
 18 days
from 281 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.

Capalaba Thornlands
2 bed $700K / $840K
Capalaba — 2 bed: $700K (7 sales) Thornlands — 2 bed: $840K (7 sales)

7 vs 7 sales

3 bed $972K / $945K
Capalaba — 3 bed: $972K (95 sales) Thornlands — 3 bed: $945K (51 sales)

95 vs 51 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $1.16M
Capalaba — 4 bed: $1.11M (97 sales) Thornlands — 4 bed: $1.16M (234 sales)

97 vs 234 sales

5 bed $1.45M / $1.42M
Capalaba — 5 bed: $1.45M (22 sales) Thornlands — 5 bed: $1.42M (100 sales)

22 vs 100 sales

6 bed $1.3M / $1.73M
Capalaba — 6 bed: $1.3M (5 sales) Thornlands — 6 bed: $1.73M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Capalaba Thornlands
New dwellings approved 1,598
across Redland
same for both
Approvals change year on year -26%
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.

Capalaba Thornlands
Houses 3.9%
$750/wk on $990K
 3.6%
$790/wk on $1.15M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Capalaba Thornlands
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 64% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Schools Higher than 1% of QLD Higher than 56% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of QLD Higher than 27% of QLD

Liveability

Thornlands scores higher overall (73 vs 52); Capalaba is more walkable (80 vs 57).

Capalaba Thornlands
Grade B A
Score 52/100 73/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Capalaba carries more crime risk (72 vs 31).

Capalaba Thornlands
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
83/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Capalaba Thornlands
Inside the suburb 3 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 2 1

Schools in Capalaba

  • St Luke's Catholic Parish School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Capalaba State College Government · Combined below peers
  • Coolnwynpin State School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Thornlands

  • Thornlands State School Government · Primary above peers
  • Carmel College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Bay View State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Faith Lutheran College - Redlands - Beveridge Road Campus Independent · Combined
  • Redland District Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Capalaba Thornlands
Supermarkets 9 2
Cafes & restaurants 32 5
Parks & reserves 45 24
Childcare 13 8
GPs 10 3
Pharmacies 9 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 0
Fuel stations 6 1
Waterways 44 12

Mobility

Thornlands sits further from the CBD (32.9 km vs 22.8 km).

Capalaba Thornlands
Walkability score 80/100 57/100
Distance to Brisbane 22.8 km 32.9 km
+44% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 40 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 223.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 171.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 4157
 1.5%
postcode 4164
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 74
postcode 4157
 76
postcode 4164

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.

Capalaba Thornlands
Car (driver) 75.1% / 74.4%
Capalaba — Car (driver): 75.1% Thornlands — Car (driver): 74.4%
Worked from Home 15.4% / 17.8%
Capalaba — Worked from Home: 15.4% Thornlands — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.3%
Capalaba — Car (passenger): 4.5% Thornlands — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Bus 2.6% / 1.1%
Capalaba — Bus: 2.6% Thornlands — Bus: 1.1%
Train 0.8% / 1.4%
Capalaba — Train: 0.8% Thornlands — Train: 1.4%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.8%
Capalaba — Walked Only: 1.3% Thornlands — Walked Only: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.1%).

Setting

Capalaba Thornlands
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 2.7 km

NBN connectivity

Capalaba Thornlands
Connectivity score 74/100 90/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
8,970 premises
 65%
7,492 premises

Climate

Capalaba Thornlands
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Capalaba Thornlands
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.48 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Capalaba Thornlands
Average residential rate $1,879/yr
same for both
Council Redland
same for both

Federal electorate

Capalaba Thornlands
Division Bowman
same for both
Member Henry Pike
same for both
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Capalaba Thornlands
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Capalaba

Middle-Ring Parks River

Thornlands

Coastal Large Blocks Outer Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Capalaba

Capalaba vs Alexandra Hills Capalaba vs Birkdale Capalaba vs Sheldon Capalaba vs Chandler Capalaba vs Burbank

Other comparisons with Thornlands

Thornlands vs Alexandra Hills Thornlands vs Cleveland Thornlands vs Victoria Point Thornlands vs Mount Cotton Thornlands vs Sheldon
Full data on Capalaba Full data on Thornlands
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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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