Thomastown vs Bundoora

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Bundoora: a median of $875,000, against $760,000 in Thomastown, and rent is higher there too.

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

Bundoora

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (75 vs 25)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Thomastown

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($794,000 vs $980,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($760,000 vs $875,000)
  • But Bundoora has cheaper units ($432,750 vs $530,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Thomastown has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $381/wk)
  • Bundoora leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bundoora

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 86/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Bundoora

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 6)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 86/100)

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

Investors

Bundoora

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 4.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Thomastown Bundoora
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.

Thomastown Bundoora
Walkability 86 / 95
Thomastown — Walkability: 86/100 Bundoora — Walkability: 95/100
Safety 17 / 23
Thomastown — Safety: 17/100 Bundoora — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 63 / 44
Thomastown — Low fire risk: 63/100 Bundoora — Low fire risk: 44/100
Low flood risk 53 / 58
Thomastown — Low flood risk: 53/100 Bundoora — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

Bundoora has more residents (28,068 vs 20,234); Bundoora has higher household incomes ($86,736 vs $63,700).

Thomastown Bundoora
Population 20,234 28,068
+39% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.4% -2.0%
Median age 39 38
Median household income $63,700/yr $86,736/yr
+36% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $381/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Thomastown Bundoora
0-4 5.5% / 4.8%
Thomastown — 0-4: 5.5% Bundoora — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 10.1% / 9.6%
Thomastown — 5-14: 10.1% Bundoora — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 4.9% / 6.2%
Thomastown — 15-19: 4.9% Bundoora — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 6.6% / 9.7%
Thomastown — 20-24: 6.6% Bundoora — 20-24: 9.7%
25-34 15.9% / 15.7%
Thomastown — 25-34: 15.9% Bundoora — 25-34: 15.7%
35-44 13.2% / 12.1%
Thomastown — 35-44: 13.2% Bundoora — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 11.0% / 12.9%
Thomastown — 45-54: 11.0% Bundoora — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 11.0% / 11.3%
Thomastown — 55-64: 11.0% Bundoora — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 11.2% / 9.0%
Thomastown — 65-74: 11.2% Bundoora — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 7.9% / 6.1%
Thomastown — 75-84: 7.9% Bundoora — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 2.7% / 2.6%
Thomastown — 85+: 2.7% Bundoora — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Thomastown 41.8% couple families
Thomastown — Couple Families: 41.8% Thomastown — Lone Person: 31.7% Thomastown — One Parent Families: 19.9% Thomastown — Group Household: 4.1% Thomastown — Other Families: 2.5%
Bundoora 44.2% couple families
Bundoora — Couple Families: 44.2% Bundoora — Lone Person: 30.3% Bundoora — One Parent Families: 15.1% Bundoora — Group Household: 8.3% Bundoora — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Thomastown 29.7% renting
Thomastown — Owned Outright: 44.3% Thomastown — Mortgage: 26.0% Thomastown — Renting: 29.7%
Bundoora 28.6% renting
Bundoora — Owned Outright: 37.9% Bundoora — Mortgage: 33.5% Bundoora — Renting: 28.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Thomastown Bundoora
Bachelor Degree 9.2% / 15.6%
Thomastown — Bachelor Degree: 9.2% Bundoora — Bachelor Degree: 15.6%
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 10.2%
Thomastown — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% Bundoora — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 8.2%
Thomastown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Bundoora — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 6.9%
Thomastown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Bundoora — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 2.0%
Thomastown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Bundoora — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

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

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.

Thomastown Bundoora
India 6.2% / 4.0%
Thomastown — India: 6.2% Bundoora — India: 4.0%
China 2.0% / 7.6%
Thomastown — China: 2.0% Bundoora — China: 7.6%
Italy 5.9% / 2.2%
Thomastown — Italy: 5.9% Bundoora — Italy: 2.2%
Vietnam 5.2% / 1.4%
Thomastown — Vietnam: 5.2% Bundoora — Vietnam: 1.4%
Greece 4.1% / 2.0%
Thomastown — Greece: 4.1% Bundoora — Greece: 2.0%
Sri Lanka — / 2.2%
Thomastown — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Bundoora — Sri Lanka: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Thomastown 84.3% houses
Thomastown — Houses: 84.3% Thomastown — Townhouses: 9.5% Thomastown — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Bundoora 76.1% houses
Bundoora — Houses: 76.1% Bundoora — Townhouses: 14.8% Bundoora — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Thomastown Bundoora
Median house price $760,000 $875,000
Median unit price $530,000 $432,750
Median land price $794,000 $980,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 309 sales
 24 days
from 316 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Thomastown Bundoora
2 bed $480K / $450K
Thomastown — 2 bed: $480K (63 sales) Bundoora — 2 bed: $450K (132 sales)

63 vs 132 sales

3 bed $615K / $640K
Thomastown — 3 bed: $615K (25 sales) Bundoora — 3 bed: $640K (15 sales)

25 vs 15 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.

Thomastown Bundoora
2 bed $646K / $535K
Thomastown — 2 bed: $646K (24 sales) Bundoora — 2 bed: $535K (23 sales)

24 vs 23 sales

3 bed $755K / $850K
Thomastown — 3 bed: $755K (292 sales) Bundoora — 3 bed: $850K (314 sales)

292 vs 314 sales

4 bed $856K / $1M
Thomastown — 4 bed: $856K (56 sales) Bundoora — 4 bed: $1M (136 sales)

56 vs 136 sales

5 bed $938K / $1.02M
Thomastown — 5 bed: $938K (12 sales) Bundoora — 5 bed: $1.02M (28 sales)

12 vs 28 sales

Zoning mix

Thomastown has more industrially zoned land (30% vs 3%).

Thomastown Bundoora
Residential 39% 43%
Industrial 30% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 22% 23%
Parks and recreation 3% 23%
Other and special use 2% 7%
Commercial 3% 1%
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

Thomastown Bundoora
New dwellings approved 2,632
across Whittlesea
 722
across Banyule
Approvals change year on year -28% -75%

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.

Thomastown Bundoora
Houses 3.8%
$550/wk on $750K
 3.8%
$600/wk on $820K
Units 4.7%
$460/wk on $504K
 5.3%
$460/wk on $450K

Ranking within VIC

Thomastown Bundoora
House price Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Income Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Schools Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 54% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC

Liveability

Bundoora scores higher overall (57 vs 39); Bundoora is more walkable (95 vs 86).

Thomastown Bundoora
Grade C B
Score 39/100 57/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Bundoora carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 37).

Thomastown Bundoora
Bushfire Low
37/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime High
83/100
 High
77/100
Flood Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 26
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Thomastown Bundoora
Inside the suburb 8 7
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 6 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.8 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 5.4%

Schools in Thomastown

  • Thomastown East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St John XXIII Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Lalor East Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Clare's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Thomastown Meadows Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Thomastown Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Bundoora

  • Northside Christian College Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Damian's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Bundoora Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Norris Bank Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Parade College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Bundoora Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Thomastown Bundoora
Supermarkets 3 8
Cafes & restaurants 22 46
Parks & reserves 25 75
Childcare 15 17
GPs 6 11
Pharmacies 2 6
Hospitals 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 9 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 10 7

Mobility

Thomastown Bundoora
Walkability score 86/100 95/100
Distance to Melbourne 16.4 km 17.2 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 33 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 377.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 638.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3074
 1.0%
postcode 3083
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3074
 27
postcode 3083

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.

Thomastown Bundoora
Car (driver) 68.5% / 62.1%
Thomastown — Car (driver): 68.5% Bundoora — Car (driver): 62.1%
Worked from Home 16.7% / 26.0%
Thomastown — Worked from Home: 16.7% Bundoora — Worked from Home: 26.0%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 4.6%
Thomastown — Car (passenger): 5.7% Bundoora — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Train 6.5% / 2.7%
Thomastown — Train: 6.5% Bundoora — Train: 2.7%
Bus 1.0% / 1.6%
Thomastown — Bus: 1.0% Bundoora — Bus: 1.6%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.4%
Thomastown — Walked Only: 1.2% Bundoora — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.5%).

Setting

Thomastown Bundoora
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.7 km 19.3 km

NBN connectivity

Thomastown Bundoora
Connectivity score 89/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
11,579 premises
 56%
12,524 premises

Climate

Thomastown Bundoora
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Thomastown Bundoora
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Thomastown Bundoora
Average residential rate $1,899/yr $1,787/yr
Council Whittlesea Banyule

Federal electorate

Thomastown Bundoora
Division Scullin Jagajaga
Member Andrew Giles Kate Thwaites
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Thomastown Bundoora
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Thomastown

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Transport Hub

Bundoora

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Thomastown

Thomastown vs Reservoir Thomastown vs Lalor Thomastown vs Fawkner Thomastown vs Campbellfield

Other comparisons with Bundoora

Bundoora vs Reservoir Bundoora vs Mill Park Bundoora vs Lalor Bundoora vs Greensborough Bundoora vs Macleod Bundoora vs Watsonia
Full data on Thomastown Full data on Bundoora
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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