Chisholm vs Thornton

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Chisholm, the large majority of households are couple families. In Thornton, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Chisholm: a median of $1.05 million, against $860,000 in Thornton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Chisholm tends to suit families with children and couples, while Thornton suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Chisholm

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 72/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (88% vs 73%)
  • But Thornton has more childcare (9 vs 4)

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

  • Chisholm has cheaper land ($597,500 vs $760,000)
  • Thornton has cheaper houses ($860,000 vs $1,050,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Thornton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Thornton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 52/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (155.7 km vs 159.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Chisholm carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 72/100)
  • Thornton is more walkable (68/100 vs 52/100)

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

Investors

Chisholm

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (213.3% vs 32.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Chisholm 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.

Chisholm 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.

Chisholm Thornton
Walkability 52 / 68
Chisholm — Walkability: 52/100 Thornton — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 50 / 28
Chisholm — Safety: 50/100 Thornton — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 61 / 80
Chisholm — Low fire risk: 61/100 Thornton — Low fire risk: 80/100

Demographics

Thornton has more residents (10,690 vs 4,577); Chisholm rents higher ($550/wk vs $400/wk).

Chisholm Thornton
Population 4,577 10,690
+134% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +213.3% +32.6%
Median age 32
same for both
Median household income $143,260/yr
+26% vs other
 $106,652/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+27% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chisholm Thornton
0-4 10.1% / 7.7%
Chisholm — 0-4: 10.1% Thornton — 0-4: 7.7%
5-14 19.0% / 13.9%
Chisholm — 5-14: 19.0% Thornton — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 5.5% / 6.3%
Chisholm — 15-19: 5.5% Thornton — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 3.5% / 8.0%
Chisholm — 20-24: 3.5% Thornton — 20-24: 8.0%
25-34 16.8% / 17.7%
Chisholm — 25-34: 16.8% Thornton — 25-34: 17.7%
35-44 19.4% / 13.0%
Chisholm — 35-44: 19.4% Thornton — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 10.5% / 12.0%
Chisholm — 45-54: 10.5% Thornton — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 8.1% / 11.0%
Chisholm — 55-64: 8.1% Thornton — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 5.0% / 6.9%
Chisholm — 65-74: 5.0% Thornton — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 1.6% / 2.7%
Chisholm — 75-84: 1.6% Thornton — 75-84: 2.7%
85+ 0.3% / 0.6%
Chisholm — 85+: 0.3% Thornton — 85+: 0.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chisholm 78.7% couple families
Chisholm — Couple Families: 78.7% Chisholm — Lone Person: 9.1% Chisholm — One Parent Families: 9.1% Chisholm — Group Household: 2.4% Chisholm — Other Families: 0.7%
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.

Chisholm 19.4% renting
Chisholm — Owned Outright: 18.7% Chisholm — Mortgage: 62.0% Chisholm — Renting: 19.4%
Thornton 34.7% renting
Thornton — Owned Outright: 24.0% Thornton — Mortgage: 41.3% Thornton — Renting: 34.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Chisholm Thornton
India 4.7% / 0.8%
Chisholm — India: 4.7% Thornton — India: 0.8%
England 2.0% / 1.8%
Chisholm — England: 2.0% Thornton — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Chisholm — New Zealand: 1.1% Thornton — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.6%
Chisholm — Philippines: 0.9% Thornton — Philippines: 0.6%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.6%
Chisholm — South Africa: 0.6% Thornton — South Africa: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

Qualifications

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

Chisholm Thornton
Certificate III & IV 17.2% / 21.2%
Chisholm — Certificate III & IV: 17.2% Thornton — Certificate III & IV: 21.2%
Bachelor Degree 12.9% / 8.5%
Chisholm — Bachelor Degree: 12.9% Thornton — Bachelor Degree: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 7.3%
Chisholm — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Thornton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 1.9%
Chisholm — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Thornton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.1%
Chisholm — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Thornton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chisholm 99.4% houses
Chisholm — Houses: 99.4% Chisholm — Townhouses: 0.4% Chisholm — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Thornton 92.8% houses
Thornton — Houses: 92.8% Thornton — Townhouses: 6.2% Thornton — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Chisholm Thornton
Median house price $1,050,500 $860,000
Median unit price — $637,500
Median land price $597,500 $760,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 111 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.

Chisholm Thornton
3 bed $766K / $758K
Chisholm — 3 bed: $766K (12 sales) Thornton — 3 bed: $758K (85 sales)

12 vs 85 sales

4 bed $1.05M / $900K
Chisholm — 4 bed: $1.05M (140 sales) Thornton — 4 bed: $900K (143 sales)

140 vs 143 sales

5 bed $1.19M / $1.09M
Chisholm — 5 bed: $1.19M (19 sales) Thornton — 5 bed: $1.09M (20 sales)

19 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Thornton has more land zoned for conservation (37% vs 20%).

Chisholm Thornton
Residential 62% 25%
Environmental 20% 37%
Rural and farming 16% 24%
Industrial 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
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

Chisholm Thornton
New dwellings approved 1,413
across Maitland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +20%
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.

Chisholm Thornton
Houses 3.8%
$820/wk on $1.13M
 4.2%
$660/wk on $822K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Chisholm Thornton
House price Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
Income Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Thornton is more walkable (68 vs 52); Chisholm scores higher overall (57 vs 47).

Chisholm Thornton
Grade B C
Score 57/100 47/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Chisholm carries more bushfire risk (39 vs 20); Thornton carries more crime risk (72 vs 50).

Chisholm Thornton
Bushfire Low
39/100
 Low
20/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 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

Chisholm Thornton
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Chisholm

  • St Aloysius Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Bede's Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers

Schools in Thornton

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

Amenities in the suburb

Chisholm Thornton
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Childcare 4 9
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 2 9

Mobility

Chisholm sits further from the CBD (159.8 km vs 155.7 km).

Chisholm Thornton
Walkability score 52/100 68/100
Distance to Sydney 159.8 km
+3% vs other
 155.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 119 min 115 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 49.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 121.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Chisholm Thornton
Car (driver) 68.3% / 72.6%
Chisholm — Car (driver): 68.3% Thornton — Car (driver): 72.6%
Worked from Home 27.1% / 20.6%
Chisholm — Worked from Home: 27.1% Thornton — Worked from Home: 20.6%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 4.6%
Chisholm — Car (passenger): 4.0% Thornton — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 0.6% / 0.9%
Chisholm — Walked Only: 0.6% Thornton — Walked Only: 0.9%
Train — / 0.9%
Chisholm — Train: not among its largest Thornton — Train: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.6%).

Setting

Chisholm Thornton
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.7 km 14.4 km

NBN connectivity

Chisholm Thornton
Connectivity score 95/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 91%
890 premises
 70%
4,838 premises

Climate

Chisholm Thornton
Annual rainfall 996 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Chisholm 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

Chisholm Thornton
Average residential rate $1,908/yr
same for both
Council Maitland
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Chisholm

Family Large Blocks Young Families

Thornton

Large Blocks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chisholm

Chisholm vs East Maitland Chisholm vs Tenambit Chisholm vs Morpeth Chisholm vs Berry Park

Other comparisons with Thornton

Thornton vs East Maitland Thornton vs Metford Thornton vs Ashtonfield Thornton vs Beresfield Thornton vs Woodberry Thornton vs Black Hill
Full data on Chisholm 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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