Wahroonga vs Thornleigh

Thornleigh is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 44 in Wahroonga. In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wahroonga: a median of $2.77 million, against $1.84 million in Thornleigh, and rent is higher there too. Wahroonga is closer to the city centre: 24.5 km, against 27.8 km. On these figures, Thornleigh tends to suit 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

Wahroonga

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (31 vs 9)
  • has more childcare (17 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

Thornleigh

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,845,000 vs $2,770,000)
  • has cheaper units ($789,000 vs $1,172,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Thornleigh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($530/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Wahroonga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (24.5 km vs 27.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Wahroonga

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 42/100)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 4)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 15%)

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

Investors

Thornleigh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.0% vs 5.0%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Wahroonga 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.

Wahroonga 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.

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Walkability 86 / 89
Wahroonga — Walkability: 86/100 Thornleigh — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 75 / 58
Wahroonga — Safety: 75/100 Thornleigh — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 44 / 34
Wahroonga — Low fire risk: 44/100 Thornleigh — Low fire risk: 34/100

Demographics

Wahroonga has more residents (17,853 vs 8,898); Wahroonga rents higher ($600/wk vs $530/wk).

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Population 17,853
+50% vs other
 8,898
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% +5.1%
Median age 44 40
Median household income $155,896/yr
+11% vs other
 $139,412/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+12% vs other
 $530/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wahroonga Thornleigh
0-4 4.5% / 5.5%
Wahroonga — 0-4: 4.5% Thornleigh — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 14.2% / 15.4%
Wahroonga — 5-14: 14.2% Thornleigh — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 7.6% / 6.6%
Wahroonga — 15-19: 7.6% Thornleigh — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.4% / 5.6%
Wahroonga — 20-24: 5.4% Thornleigh — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 6.6% / 9.4%
Wahroonga — 25-34: 6.6% Thornleigh — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 12.6% / 14.8%
Wahroonga — 35-44: 12.6% Thornleigh — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 15.1% / 16.3%
Wahroonga — 45-54: 15.1% Thornleigh — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 11.7% / 11.5%
Wahroonga — 55-64: 11.7% Thornleigh — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 9.3% / 8.0%
Wahroonga — 65-74: 9.3% Thornleigh — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 7.6% / 5.1%
Wahroonga — 75-84: 7.6% Thornleigh — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 5.3% / 1.8%
Wahroonga — 85+: 5.3% Thornleigh — 85+: 1.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wahroonga 62.6% couple families
Wahroonga — Couple Families: 62.6% Wahroonga — Lone Person: 22.7% Wahroonga — One Parent Families: 12.0% Wahroonga — Group Household: 1.8% Wahroonga — Other Families: 0.9%
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.

Wahroonga 18.6% renting
Wahroonga — Owned Outright: 40.1% Wahroonga — Mortgage: 41.3% Wahroonga — Renting: 18.6%
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.

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Bachelor Degree 25.1% / 22.4%
Wahroonga — Bachelor Degree: 25.1% Thornleigh — Bachelor Degree: 22.4%
Postgraduate Degree 12.7% / 11.3%
Wahroonga — Postgraduate Degree: 12.7% Thornleigh — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.2%
Wahroonga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Thornleigh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.5% / 7.1%
Wahroonga — Certificate III & IV: 4.5% Thornleigh — Certificate III & IV: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 2.7%
Wahroonga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Thornleigh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.1%).

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.

Wahroonga Thornleigh
China 8.2% / 6.4%
Wahroonga — China: 8.2% Thornleigh — China: 6.4%
England 4.9% / 3.5%
Wahroonga — England: 4.9% Thornleigh — England: 3.5%
India 2.9% / 3.7%
Wahroonga — India: 2.9% Thornleigh — India: 3.7%
South Africa 2.6% / 1.1%
Wahroonga — South Africa: 2.6% Thornleigh — South Africa: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.4%
Wahroonga — New Zealand: 1.7% Thornleigh — New Zealand: 1.4%
Philippines — / 1.9%
Wahroonga — Philippines: not among its largest Thornleigh — Philippines: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wahroonga 74.5% houses
Wahroonga — Houses: 74.5% Wahroonga — Flats / Apartments: 19.8% Wahroonga — Townhouses: 5.7%
Thornleigh 76.6% houses
Thornleigh — Houses: 76.6% Thornleigh — Flats / Apartments: 7.9% Thornleigh — Townhouses: 15.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Median house price $2,770,000 $1,845,000
Median unit price $1,172,500 $789,000
Median land price $1,457,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 201 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.

Wahroonga Thornleigh
3 bed $2.31M / $1.72M
Wahroonga — 3 bed: $2.31M (48 sales) Thornleigh — 3 bed: $1.72M (36 sales)

48 vs 36 sales

4 bed $2.5M / $1.85M
Wahroonga — 4 bed: $2.5M (100 sales) Thornleigh — 4 bed: $1.85M (38 sales)

100 vs 38 sales

5 bed $3.51M / $2.34M
Wahroonga — 5 bed: $3.51M (64 sales) Thornleigh — 5 bed: $2.34M (19 sales)

64 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Wahroonga has more land zoned for conservation (27% vs 5%).

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Residential 63% 70%
Environmental 27% 5%
Parks and recreation 2% 11%
Industrial 0% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 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

Wahroonga Thornleigh
New dwellings approved 908
across Ku-ring-gai
 260
across Hornsby
Approvals change year on year +0% -79%

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.

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Houses 2.6%
$1,395/wk on $2.77M
 —
Units 5.0%
$728/wk on $755K
 6.0%
$680/wk on $590K

Ranking within NSW

Wahroonga Thornleigh
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Schools Higher than 60% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 9% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Wahroonga scores higher overall (74 vs 69).

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Grade A B
Score 74/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Thornleigh carries more crime risk (42 vs 25); Thornleigh carries more bushfire risk (66 vs 56).

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 Moderate
66/100
Crime Low
25/100
 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

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Inside the suburb 15 2
Rated above peers 4 0
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 6.6 km
 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 7.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.4% 3.3%

Schools in Wahroonga

  • Abbotsleigh Independent · Combined above peers
  • Knox Grammar Preparatory School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Wahroonga Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Waitara Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Wahroonga Adventist School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Broken Bay Cross Campus Course Centre Catholic · Secondary below peers

Schools in Thornleigh

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

Amenities in the suburb

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 13 7
Parks & reserves 31 9
Childcare 17 8
GPs 6 4
Pharmacies 5 2
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 7
Waterways 28 4

Mobility

Thornleigh sits further from the CBD (27.8 km vs 24.5 km).

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Walkability score 86/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 24.5 km 27.8 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 31 min 32 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 323.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 164.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Worked from Home 60.5% / 56.2%
Wahroonga — Worked from Home: 60.5% Thornleigh — Worked from Home: 56.2%
Car (driver) 30.1% / 34.6%
Wahroonga — Car (driver): 30.1% Thornleigh — Car (driver): 34.6%
Train 3.6% / 4.9%
Wahroonga — Train: 3.6% Thornleigh — Train: 4.9%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.0%
Wahroonga — Car (passenger): 2.8% Thornleigh — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 2.5% / 1.7%
Wahroonga — Walked Only: 2.5% Thornleigh — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.5%).

Setting

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Elevation 185 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 179 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.7 km 18.0 km

NBN connectivity

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Connectivity score 74/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
7,074 premises
 6%
3,598 premises

Climate

Wahroonga 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)

Wahroonga 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

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Average residential rate $1,626/yr $1,488/yr
Council Ku-ring-gai Hornsby

Federal electorate

Wahroonga Thornleigh
Division Bradfield Berowra
Member Nicolette Boele Julian Leeser
Party Independent Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Wahroonga

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub

Thornleigh

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wahroonga

Wahroonga vs Hornsby Wahroonga vs Turramurra Wahroonga vs Waitara Wahroonga vs Pennant Hills Wahroonga vs Normanhurst Wahroonga vs North Turramurra

Other comparisons with Thornleigh

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