Northcote vs Thornbury
The verdict
Thornbury is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.42M versus $1.65M in Northcote. Northcote is closer to the coast (9.6 km vs 11.2 km). On the separate residential safety score, Northcote rates higher (61 vs 48/100 in Thornbury).
Scores
| Northcote | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 96 |
| Transport | 100 | 100 |
| Education | 90 | 88 |
| Liveability | 98 | 98 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Northcote | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,276 | 19,005 |
| Median age | 37 | 37 |
| Median household income (wk) | $2,287 | $1,971 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 72.5% | 65.5% |
| Born in Australia | 72.3% | 70.5% |
| Avg household size | 2.3 | 2.3 |
Growth: Northcote High Growth · Thornbury High Growth
Property
| Northcote | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.65M | $1.42M |
| Median unit price | $609K | $639K |
| House price YoY | 3.7% | -5.9% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Rental yield (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
Median price history
Safety
| Northcote | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 61 | 48 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 471 | 579 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 629 | 842 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 131 | 200 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 6,271 | 7,451 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Northcote | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 6 | 10 |
| Government | 4 | 7 |
| Independent | 0 | 1 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,123 | 1,081 |
See the full school list on each profile: Northcote · Thornbury
Transport
| Northcote | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 100 | 100 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 74 | 63 |
| Light rail stops | 29 | 19 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 19 | 22 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 200 m | 450 m |
Liveability
| Northcote | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 25.8°C | 25.8°C |
| Winter max temp | 14.2°C | 14.2°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 600 | 600 |
| Supermarkets | 5 | 6 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 68 | 40 |
| Parks | 24 | 25 |
| Playgrounds | 16 | 11 |
| Swimming pools | 7 | 9 |
| Medical GPs | 10 | 5 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 9.6 km | 11.2 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 5.6 km | 7.2 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 9.6 km | Data not available |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 4.5 km | 4.7 km |
Population & growth
| Northcote | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 25,276 | 19,005 |
| Estimated 2025 | 26,504 | 20,078 |
| Projected 2041 | 34,095 | 25,636 |
| Annual growth rate | 1.19% | 1.38% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Northcote or Thornbury?
Northcote has the higher residential safety score (Northcote 61/100 vs Thornbury 48/100).
Which is more affordable, Northcote or Thornbury?
Thornbury is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.42M versus $1.65M.
Which has better schools, Northcote or Thornbury?
Northcote has a higher average school ICSEA (Northcote 1123 vs Thornbury 1081; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Northcote or Thornbury?
Northcote and Thornbury have similar transport scores.
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