Sheldon vs Thornlands

Thornlands is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 47 in Sheldon. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Sheldon: a median of $1.81 million, against $1.2 million in Thornlands. Sheldon is closer to the city centre: 27.7 km, against 32.9 km. On these figures, Sheldon tends to suit older residents, while Thornlands suits families with children and 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

Thornlands

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 3)
  • But Sheldon has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 87%)

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

First-home buyers

Thornlands

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,200,000 vs $1,811,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Thornlands

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 5%)

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

Commuting to the city

Sheldon

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (33 min vs 40 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (27.7 km vs 32.9 km)
  • But Thornlands is more walkable (57/100 vs 12/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Thornlands

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (13% vs 1%)
  • is more walkable (57/100 vs 12/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • But Sheldon has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 14%)

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 3.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Sheldon 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.

Sheldon 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.

Sheldon Thornlands
Walkability 12 / 57
Sheldon — Walkability: 12/100 Thornlands — Walkability: 57/100
Safety 65 / 69
Sheldon — Safety: 65/100 Thornlands — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sheldon — Low fire risk: 100/100 Thornlands — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Thornlands has more residents (19,263 vs 1,762); Sheldon skews older (47 vs 36).

Sheldon Thornlands
Population 1,762 19,263
+993% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +31.1%
Median age 47 36
Median household income $133,016/yr
+13% vs other
 $115,336/yr
Median weekly rent $473/wk $470/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sheldon Thornlands
0-4 4.0% / 6.4%
Sheldon — 0-4: 4.0% Thornlands — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 11.5% / 15.0%
Sheldon — 5-14: 11.5% Thornlands — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 8.3% / 7.5%
Sheldon — 15-19: 8.3% Thornlands — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 5.9% / 6.4%
Sheldon — 20-24: 5.9% Thornlands — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 6.9% / 12.0%
Sheldon — 25-34: 6.9% Thornlands — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 9.6% / 13.6%
Sheldon — 35-44: 9.6% Thornlands — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 16.5% / 13.8%
Sheldon — 45-54: 16.5% Thornlands — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 15.4% / 11.2%
Sheldon — 55-64: 15.4% Thornlands — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 13.3% / 8.1%
Sheldon — 65-74: 13.3% Thornlands — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 7.8% / 4.2%
Sheldon — 75-84: 7.8% Thornlands — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 1.6% / 1.7%
Sheldon — 85+: 1.6% Thornlands — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sheldon 68.9% couple families
Sheldon — Couple Families: 68.9% Sheldon — Lone Person: 14.3% Sheldon — One Parent Families: 12.7% Sheldon — Group Household: 3.0% Sheldon — Other Families: 1.1%
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.

Sheldon 5.1% renting
Sheldon — Owned Outright: 49.3% Sheldon — Mortgage: 45.5% Sheldon — Renting: 5.1%
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.

Sheldon Thornlands
Certificate III & IV 17.4% / 17.7%
Sheldon — Certificate III & IV: 17.4% Thornlands — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 14.4% / 11.2%
Sheldon — Bachelor Degree: 14.4% Thornlands — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 9.9%
Sheldon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Thornlands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 2.9%
Sheldon — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Thornlands — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.7%
Sheldon — 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.

Sheldon Thornlands
England 4.8% / 7.3%
Sheldon — England: 4.8% Thornlands — England: 7.3%
New Zealand 3.0% / 5.1%
Sheldon — New Zealand: 3.0% Thornlands — New Zealand: 5.1%
South Africa 2.3% / 2.5%
Sheldon — South Africa: 2.3% Thornlands — South Africa: 2.5%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.9%
Sheldon — Scotland: 0.6% Thornlands — Scotland: 0.9%
China 1.0% / 0.4%
Sheldon — China: 1.0% Thornlands — China: 0.4%
Ireland 0.9% / 0.4%
Sheldon — Ireland: 0.9% Thornlands — Ireland: 0.4%
India — / 1.1%
Sheldon — India: not among its largest Thornlands — India: 1.1%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sheldon 99.1% houses
Sheldon — Houses: 99.1% Sheldon — Townhouses: 0.0% Sheldon — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Thornlands 87.3% houses
Thornlands — Houses: 87.3% Thornlands — Townhouses: 11.6% Thornlands — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sheldon Thornlands
Median house price $1,811,500 $1,200,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,317,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 64 days
from 6 sales
 18 days
from 281 sales

Development activity

Sheldon 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.

Sheldon Thornlands
Houses — 3.6%
$790/wk on $1.15M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Sheldon Thornlands
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 56% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 73% 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 71% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 27% of QLD

Liveability

Thornlands is more walkable (57 vs 12).

Sheldon Thornlands
Grade A
same for both
Score 75/100 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Sheldon Thornlands
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
35/100
 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 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Sheldon Thornlands
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Sheldon

  • Sheldon College Independent · Combined at 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

Sheldon Thornlands
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 5 24
Childcare 3 8
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 32 12

Mobility

Thornlands sits further from the CBD (32.9 km vs 27.7 km).

Sheldon Thornlands
Walkability score 12/100 57/100
Distance to Brisbane 27.7 km 32.9 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 40 min
Public transport score 43/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 13.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 171.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Sheldon Thornlands
Car (driver) 68.9% / 74.4%
Sheldon — Car (driver): 68.9% Thornlands — Car (driver): 74.4%
Worked from Home 23.6% / 17.8%
Sheldon — Worked from Home: 23.6% Thornlands — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 4.3%
Sheldon — Car (passenger): 4.4% Thornlands — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Bus 1.4% / 1.1%
Sheldon — Bus: 1.4% Thornlands — Bus: 1.1%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.8%
Sheldon — Walked Only: 1.3% Thornlands — Walked Only: 0.8%
Train — / 1.4%
Sheldon — Train: not among its largest Thornlands — Train: 1.4%

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

Setting

Sheldon Thornlands
Elevation 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.9 km 2.7 km

NBN connectivity

Sheldon Thornlands
Connectivity score 56/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 22%
588 premises
 65%
7,492 premises

Climate

Sheldon 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)

Sheldon 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

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

Federal electorate

Sheldon 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

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

Tags

Sheldon

Acreage Outer Premium

Thornlands

Coastal Large Blocks Outer Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sheldon

Sheldon vs Capalaba Sheldon vs Alexandra Hills Sheldon vs Mount Cotton Sheldon vs Burbank Sheldon vs Priestdale

Other comparisons with Thornlands

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