Cleveland vs Thornlands

Thornlands is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 51 in Cleveland. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Thornlands, most households are couple families. On these figures, Cleveland tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Thornlands 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

Thornlands

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 74/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (77% vs 51%)

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

First-home buyers

Thornlands

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Cleveland has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $470/wk)
  • Thornlands leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Cleveland

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 57/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (29.8 km vs 32.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Cleveland

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (40% vs 13%)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 3)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 14%)
  • But Thornlands carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 74/100)

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 7.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Cleveland 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.

Cleveland 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.

Cleveland Thornlands
Walkability 91 / 57
Cleveland — Walkability: 91/100 Thornlands — Walkability: 57/100
Safety 26 / 69
Cleveland — Safety: 26/100 Thornlands — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Cleveland — Low fire risk: 100/100 Thornlands — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Thornlands has higher household incomes ($115,336 vs $74,360); Cleveland skews older (51 vs 36).

Cleveland Thornlands
Population 15,850 19,263
+22% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.1% +31.1%
Median age 51 36
Median household income $74,360/yr $115,336/yr
+55% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $470/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cleveland Thornlands
0-4 3.1% / 6.4%
Cleveland — 0-4: 3.1% Thornlands — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 10.2% / 15.0%
Cleveland — 5-14: 10.2% Thornlands — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 6.0% / 7.5%
Cleveland — 15-19: 6.0% Thornlands — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 4.5% / 6.4%
Cleveland — 20-24: 4.5% Thornlands — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 7.4% / 12.0%
Cleveland — 25-34: 7.4% Thornlands — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 9.7% / 13.6%
Cleveland — 35-44: 9.7% Thornlands — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 13.5% / 13.8%
Cleveland — 45-54: 13.5% Thornlands — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 15.5% / 11.2%
Cleveland — 55-64: 15.5% Thornlands — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 15.6% / 8.1%
Cleveland — 65-74: 15.6% Thornlands — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 10.3% / 4.2%
Cleveland — 75-84: 10.3% Thornlands — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 4.4% / 1.7%
Cleveland — 85+: 4.4% Thornlands — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cleveland 34.1% couple families
Cleveland — Couple Families: 34.1% Cleveland — Lone Person: 44.7% Cleveland — One Parent Families: 16.8% Cleveland — Group Household: 3.1% Cleveland — Other Families: 1.4%
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.

Cleveland 30.6% renting
Cleveland — Owned Outright: 40.5% Cleveland — Mortgage: 28.9% Cleveland — Renting: 30.6%
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.

Cleveland Thornlands
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 17.7%
Cleveland — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Thornlands — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 11.8% / 11.2%
Cleveland — Bachelor Degree: 11.8% Thornlands — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 9.9%
Cleveland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Thornlands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 2.9%
Cleveland — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Thornlands — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.7%
Cleveland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Thornlands — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

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

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.

Cleveland Thornlands
England 8.9% / 7.3%
Cleveland — England: 8.9% Thornlands — England: 7.3%
New Zealand 5.4% / 5.1%
Cleveland — New Zealand: 5.4% Thornlands — New Zealand: 5.1%
South Africa 2.2% / 2.5%
Cleveland — South Africa: 2.2% Thornlands — South Africa: 2.5%
Scotland 1.2% / 0.9%
Cleveland — Scotland: 1.2% Thornlands — Scotland: 0.9%
India 0.6% / 1.1%
Cleveland — India: 0.6% Thornlands — India: 1.1%
China 0.8% / 0.4%
Cleveland — China: 0.8% Thornlands — China: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cleveland 60.4% houses
Cleveland — Houses: 60.4% Cleveland — Townhouses: 19.9% Cleveland — Flats / Apartments: 19.6%
Thornlands 87.3% houses
Thornlands — Houses: 87.3% Thornlands — Townhouses: 11.6% Thornlands — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cleveland Thornlands
Median house price $1,200,000
same for both
Median unit price $760,000 —
Median land price $1,372,500 $1,317,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 168 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.

Cleveland Thornlands
2 bed $720K / $840K
Cleveland — 2 bed: $720K (7 sales) Thornlands — 2 bed: $840K (7 sales)

7 vs 7 sales

3 bed $1.02M / $945K
Cleveland — 3 bed: $1.02M (90 sales) Thornlands — 3 bed: $945K (51 sales)

90 vs 51 sales

4 bed $1.22M / $1.16M
Cleveland — 4 bed: $1.22M (118 sales) Thornlands — 4 bed: $1.16M (234 sales)

118 vs 234 sales

5 bed $1.37M / $1.42M
Cleveland — 5 bed: $1.37M (51 sales) Thornlands — 5 bed: $1.42M (100 sales)

51 vs 100 sales

Development activity

Cleveland 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.

Cleveland Thornlands
Houses 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.2M
 3.6%
$790/wk on $1.15M
Units 2.6%
$600/wk on $1.22M
 —

Ranking within QLD

Cleveland Thornlands
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 44% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Schools Higher than 23% of QLD Higher than 56% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 99% of QLD Higher than 89% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 92% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of QLD Higher than 27% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 2% of QLD —

Liveability

Cleveland is more walkable (91 vs 57); Thornlands scores higher overall (73 vs 55).

Cleveland Thornlands
Grade B A
Score 55/100 73/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Cleveland carries more crime risk (74 vs 31).

Cleveland Thornlands
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
55/100
 High
83/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Cleveland Thornlands
Inside the suburb 6 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Cleveland

  • Cleveland District State High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Cleveland State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Star of the Sea Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • The BUSY School - Cleveland Campus Independent · Secondary
  • The Industry School - Redlands Independent · Secondary
  • The Industry School - Redlands (Cleveland) Independent · Secondary

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

Cleveland Thornlands
Supermarkets 3 2
Cafes & restaurants 13 5
Parks & reserves 23 24
Childcare 9 8
GPs 7 3
Pharmacies 4 2
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 5 1
Waterways 34 12

Mobility

Thornlands sits further from the CBD (32.9 km vs 29.8 km).

Cleveland Thornlands
Walkability score 91/100 57/100
Distance to Brisbane 29.8 km 32.9 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 41 min 40 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 173.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 171.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 4163
 1.5%
postcode 4164
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 55
postcode 4163
 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.

Cleveland Thornlands
Car (driver) 70.1% / 74.4%
Cleveland — Car (driver): 70.1% Thornlands — Car (driver): 74.4%
Worked from Home 18.5% / 17.8%
Cleveland — Worked from Home: 18.5% Thornlands — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 4.3%
Cleveland — Car (passenger): 5.0% Thornlands — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Train 2.7% / 1.4%
Cleveland — Train: 2.7% Thornlands — Train: 1.4%
Walked Only 2.3% / 0.8%
Cleveland — Walked Only: 2.3% Thornlands — Walked Only: 0.8%
Bus 0.9% / 1.1%
Cleveland — Bus: 0.9% Thornlands — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.4%).

Setting

Cleveland Thornlands
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km 2.7 km

NBN connectivity

Cleveland Thornlands
Connectivity score 80/100 90/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
9,068 premises
 65%
7,492 premises

Climate

Cleveland 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)

Cleveland Thornlands
PM2.5 3.1 µg/m³ 5.3 µg/m³
PM10 14.5 µg/m³ 14.6 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.48 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Cleveland 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

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

Tags

Cleveland

Coastal Outer Parks Retirees River

Thornlands

Coastal Large Blocks Outer Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cleveland

Cleveland vs Alexandra Hills Cleveland vs Ormiston

Other comparisons with Thornlands

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