Thornton vs Metford

Thornton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 35 in Metford. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Thornton, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Thornton tends to suit couples, while Metford suits people living alone.

Thornton is significantly larger than Metford with 10,690 residents compared to 4,707, and commands notably higher household incomes at $106,652 yearly versus $77,168. Property prices are also steeper in Thornton—median houses at $857,500 and units at $637,500, against Metford's $800,000 and $510,000 respectively. Thornton scores higher on liveability (47 versus 31) and has lower crime risk (72 versus 80), making it better suited to buyers seeking a more established, affluent community. Metford offers slightly better walkability (73 versus 68) and marginally higher rental yields on houses, appealing to those prioritising accessibility and investment returns in a quieter, smaller setting.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Thornton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 6)
  • is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 60%)
  • carries lower crime risk (72/100 vs 82/100)
  • But Metford has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)

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

  • Thornton leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 25%)
  • Metford has cheaper units ($480,000 vs $637,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Metford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Thornton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (155.7 km vs 159 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Thornton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (72/100 vs 82/100)

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

Investors

Thornton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (32.6% vs -1.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Thornton Metford
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.

Thornton Metford
Walkability 68 / 73
Thornton — Walkability: 68/100 Metford — Walkability: 73/100
Safety 28 / 18
Thornton — Safety: 28/100 Metford — Safety: 18/100
Low fire risk 80 / 80
Thornton — Low fire risk: 80/100 Metford — Low fire risk: 80/100

Demographics

Thornton has more residents (10,690 vs 4,707); Thornton has higher household incomes ($106,652 vs $77,168).

Thornton Metford
Population 10,690
+56% vs other
 4,707
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +32.6% -1.2%
Median age 32 35
Median household income $106,652/yr
+28% vs other
 $77,168/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+12% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Thornton Metford
0-4 7.7% / 5.9%
Thornton — 0-4: 7.7% Metford — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 13.9% / 14.2%
Thornton — 5-14: 13.9% Metford — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 6.3% / 5.8%
Thornton — 15-19: 6.3% Metford — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 8.0% / 7.5%
Thornton — 20-24: 8.0% Metford — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 17.7% / 15.7%
Thornton — 25-34: 17.7% Metford — 25-34: 15.7%
35-44 13.0% / 12.7%
Thornton — 35-44: 13.0% Metford — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 12.0% / 12.2%
Thornton — 45-54: 12.0% Metford — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 11.0% / 12.3%
Thornton — 55-64: 11.0% Metford — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 6.9% / 9.1%
Thornton — 65-74: 6.9% Metford — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 2.7% / 3.6%
Thornton — 75-84: 2.7% Metford — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 0.6% / 1.2%
Thornton — 85+: 0.6% Metford — 85+: 1.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Metford 36.9% couple families
Metford — Couple Families: 36.9% Metford — Lone Person: 32.4% Metford — One Parent Families: 23.0% Metford — Group Household: 5.6% Metford — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Thornton 34.7% renting
Thornton — Owned Outright: 24.0% Thornton — Mortgage: 41.3% Thornton — Renting: 34.7%
Metford 38.5% renting
Metford — Owned Outright: 24.3% Metford — Mortgage: 37.2% Metford — Renting: 38.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Thornton Metford
Certificate III & IV 21.2% / 20.2%
Thornton — Certificate III & IV: 21.2% Metford — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Bachelor Degree 8.5% / 5.8%
Thornton — Bachelor Degree: 8.5% Metford — Bachelor Degree: 5.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 6.1%
Thornton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Metford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.9% / 1.2%
Thornton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9% Metford — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 0.9%
Thornton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Metford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

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

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.

Thornton Metford
England 1.8% / 1.1%
Thornton — England: 1.8% Metford — England: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.3%
Thornton — New Zealand: 1.1% Metford — New Zealand: 1.3%
India 0.8% / 0.8%
Thornton — India: 0.8% Metford — India: 0.8%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.0%
Thornton — Philippines: 0.6% Metford — Philippines: 1.0%
China 0.3% / 0.5%
Thornton — China: 0.3% Metford — China: 0.5%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Thornton — South Africa: 0.6% Metford — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Thornton 92.8% houses
Thornton — Houses: 92.8% Thornton — Townhouses: 6.2% Thornton — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Metford 84.3% houses
Metford — Houses: 84.3% Metford — Townhouses: 12.7% Metford — Flats / Apartments: 2.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Thornton Metford
Median house price $860,000 $800,000
Median unit price $637,500 $480,000
Median land price $760,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 146 sales
 17 days
from 27 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.

Thornton Metford
3 bed $758K / $770K
Thornton — 3 bed: $758K (85 sales) Metford — 3 bed: $770K (51 sales)

85 vs 51 sales

4 bed $900K / $830K
Thornton — 4 bed: $900K (143 sales) Metford — 4 bed: $830K (33 sales)

143 vs 33 sales

5 bed $1.09M / $895K
Thornton — 5 bed: $1.09M (20 sales) Metford — 5 bed: $895K (7 sales)

20 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Thornton has more land zoned for conservation (37% vs 1%); Thornton has more rural and farming land (24% vs 0%).

Thornton Metford
Residential 25% 78%
Environmental 37% 1%
Rural and farming 24% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 13%
Industrial 9% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 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

Thornton Metford
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.

Thornton Metford
Houses 4.2%
$660/wk on $822K
 4.3%
$668/wk on $804K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Thornton Metford
House price Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Income Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 6% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW

Liveability

Thornton scores higher overall (47 vs 31).

Thornton Metford
Grade C
same for both
Score 47/100 31/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Metford carries more crime risk (82 vs 72).

Thornton Metford
Bushfire Low
20/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 High
82/100
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 5
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Thornton Metford
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 2

Schools in Thornton

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

Schools in Metford

  • Maitland Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Metford Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Arise Christian College Independent · Combined · Special school below peers
  • Hunter River Community School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Thornton Metford
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 3 4
Childcare 9 6
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 3
same for both
Waterways 9 6

Mobility

Metford sits further from the CBD (159 km vs 155.7 km).

Thornton Metford
Walkability score 68/100 73/100
Distance to Sydney 155.7 km 159 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min 117 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 121.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 73.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2322
 0.5%
postcode 2323
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 2322
 44
postcode 2323

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.

Thornton Metford
Car (driver) 72.6% / 77.3%
Thornton — Car (driver): 72.6% Metford — Car (driver): 77.3%
Worked from Home 20.6% / 15.2%
Thornton — Worked from Home: 20.6% Metford — Worked from Home: 15.2%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 4.3%
Thornton — Car (passenger): 4.6% Metford — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.3%
Thornton — Walked Only: 0.9% Metford — Walked Only: 1.3%
Train 0.9% / 1.2%
Thornton — Train: 0.9% Metford — Train: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.3%).

Setting

Thornton Metford
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.4 km 17.5 km

NBN connectivity

Thornton Metford
Connectivity score 84/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 70%
4,838 premises
 100%
1,967 premises

Climate

Thornton Metford
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)

Thornton Metford
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Thornton

Large Blocks Regional Centre

Metford

Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Thornton

Thornton vs East Maitland Thornton vs Ashtonfield Thornton vs Chisholm Thornton vs Beresfield Thornton vs Woodberry Thornton vs Black Hill

Other comparisons with Metford

Metford vs East Maitland Metford vs Ashtonfield
Full data on Thornton Full data on Metford
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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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