Normanhurst vs Thornleigh

Comparing Normanhurst and Thornleigh, NSW: Thornleigh carries more bushfire risk (66 vs 0); Thornleigh has more residents (8,898 vs 5,387); and Normanhurst scores higher overall (86 vs 69).

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

  • Normanhurst has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)
  • Thornleigh has more childcare (8 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Thornleigh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($789,000 vs $1,630,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Thornleigh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 77/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Thornleigh

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 77/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Normanhurst Thornleigh
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.

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Walkability 77 / 89
Normanhurst — Walkability: 77/100 Thornleigh — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 53 / 58
Normanhurst — Safety: 53/100 Thornleigh — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 34
Normanhurst — Low fire risk: 100/100 Thornleigh — Low fire risk: 34/100

Demographics

Thornleigh has more residents (8,898 vs 5,387).

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Population 5,387 8,898
+65% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.8% +5.1%
Median age 41 40
Median household income $134,680/yr $139,412/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+4% vs other
 $530/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Normanhurst Thornleigh
0-4 5.2% / 5.5%
Normanhurst — 0-4: 5.2% Thornleigh — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 14.9% / 15.4%
Normanhurst — 5-14: 14.9% Thornleigh — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 7.5% / 6.6%
Normanhurst — 15-19: 7.5% Thornleigh — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.5% / 5.6%
Normanhurst — 20-24: 5.5% Thornleigh — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 7.3% / 9.4%
Normanhurst — 25-34: 7.3% Thornleigh — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 14.3% / 14.8%
Normanhurst — 35-44: 14.3% Thornleigh — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 14.5% / 16.3%
Normanhurst — 45-54: 14.5% Thornleigh — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 12.3% / 11.5%
Normanhurst — 55-64: 12.3% Thornleigh — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 8.7% / 8.0%
Normanhurst — 65-74: 8.7% Thornleigh — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 6.4% / 5.1%
Normanhurst — 75-84: 6.4% Thornleigh — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 3.5% / 1.8%
Normanhurst — 85+: 3.5% Thornleigh — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Normanhurst 63.1% couple families
Normanhurst — Couple Families: 63.1% Normanhurst — Lone Person: 22.4% Normanhurst — One Parent Families: 12.1% Normanhurst — Group Household: 2.1% Normanhurst — Other Families: 0.2%
Thornleigh 60.3% couple families
Thornleigh — Couple Families: 60.3% Thornleigh — Lone Person: 20.8% Thornleigh — One Parent Families: 15.2% Thornleigh — Group Household: 2.7% Thornleigh — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Normanhurst 19.5% renting
Normanhurst — Owned Outright: 35.2% Normanhurst — Mortgage: 45.2% Normanhurst — Renting: 19.5%
Thornleigh 23.8% renting
Thornleigh — Owned Outright: 32.2% Thornleigh — Mortgage: 44.0% Thornleigh — Renting: 23.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Bachelor Degree 21.7% / 22.4%
Normanhurst — Bachelor Degree: 21.7% Thornleigh — Bachelor Degree: 22.4%
Postgraduate Degree 11.4% / 11.3%
Normanhurst — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4% Thornleigh — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.2%
Normanhurst — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Thornleigh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 6.6% / 7.1%
Normanhurst — Certificate III & IV: 6.6% Thornleigh — Certificate III & IV: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 2.7%
Normanhurst — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Thornleigh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

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.

Normanhurst Thornleigh
China 7.1% / 6.4%
Normanhurst — China: 7.1% Thornleigh — China: 6.4%
India 4.4% / 3.7%
Normanhurst — India: 4.4% Thornleigh — India: 3.7%
England 4.3% / 3.5%
Normanhurst — England: 4.3% Thornleigh — England: 3.5%
Philippines 1.4% / 1.9%
Normanhurst — Philippines: 1.4% Thornleigh — Philippines: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.4%
Normanhurst — New Zealand: 1.5% Thornleigh — New Zealand: 1.4%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.1%
Normanhurst — South Africa: 1.4% Thornleigh — South Africa: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Normanhurst 78.8% houses
Normanhurst — Houses: 78.8% Normanhurst — Townhouses: 14.9% Normanhurst — Flats / Apartments: 6.3%
Thornleigh 76.6% houses
Thornleigh — Houses: 76.6% Thornleigh — Townhouses: 15.6% Thornleigh — Flats / Apartments: 7.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Median house price $1,925,000 $1,845,000
Median unit price $1,630,000 $789,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 40 sales
 24 days
from 60 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.

Normanhurst Thornleigh
3 bed $1.81M / $1.72M
Normanhurst — 3 bed: $1.81M (24 sales) Thornleigh — 3 bed: $1.72M (36 sales)

24 vs 36 sales

4 bed $2M / $1.85M
Normanhurst — 4 bed: $2M (22 sales) Thornleigh — 4 bed: $1.85M (38 sales)

22 vs 38 sales

Zoning mix

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Residential 86% 70%
Parks and recreation 9% 11%
Industrial 0% 9%
Environmental 1% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 4%
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

Normanhurst Thornleigh
New dwellings approved 260
across Hornsby
same for both
Approvals change year on year -79%
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.

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Houses —
same for both
Units — 6.0%
$680/wk on $590K

Ranking within NSW

Normanhurst Thornleigh
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Schools Higher than 100% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Normanhurst scores higher overall (86 vs 69); Thornleigh is more walkable (89 vs 77).

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Grade A B
Score 86/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Thornleigh carries more bushfire risk (66 vs 0).

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
66/100
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
42/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 6.9 km
 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 7.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6% 3.3%

Schools in Normanhurst

  • Loreto Normanhurst Independent · Combined above peers
  • Normanhurst Boys High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Normanhurst Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Thornleigh

  • Normanhurst West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Thornleigh West Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 7 9
Childcare 4 8
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 7
Waterways 7 4

Mobility

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Walkability score 77/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 26.4 km 27.8 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 32 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 82.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 164.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.3%
postcode 2076
 2.8%
postcode 2120
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 2076
 33
postcode 2120

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.

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Worked from Home 59.1% / 56.2%
Normanhurst — Worked from Home: 59.1% Thornleigh — Worked from Home: 56.2%
Car (driver) 31.0% / 34.6%
Normanhurst — Car (driver): 31.0% Thornleigh — Car (driver): 34.6%
Train 4.9% / 4.9%
Normanhurst — Train: 4.9% Thornleigh — Train: 4.9%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.0%
Normanhurst — Car (passenger): 2.7% Thornleigh — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.7%
Normanhurst — Walked Only: 1.7% Thornleigh — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.1%).

Setting

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Elevation 183 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 179 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.9 km 18.0 km

NBN connectivity

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Connectivity score 76/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
2,146 premises
 6%
3,598 premises

Climate

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Normanhurst Thornleigh
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Average residential rate $1,488/yr
same for both
Council Hornsby
same for both

Federal electorate

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Division Berowra
same for both
Member Julian Leeser
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Normanhurst Thornleigh
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Normanhurst

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

Thornleigh

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Normanhurst

Normanhurst vs Hornsby Normanhurst vs Wahroonga

Other comparisons with Thornleigh

Thornleigh vs Hornsby Thornleigh vs Wahroonga Thornleigh vs Pennant Hills Thornleigh vs Westleigh
Full data on Normanhurst Full data on Thornleigh
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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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