Preston vs Thornbury
The verdict
Preston is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.21M versus $1.42M in Thornbury. Thornbury is closer to the coast (11.2 km vs 12.8 km). On the separate residential safety score, Thornbury rates higher (48 vs 29/100 in Preston).
Scores
| Preston | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 96 |
| Transport | 100 | 100 |
| Education | 84 | 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
| Preston | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,790 | 19,005 |
| Median age | 37 | 37 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,844 | $1,971 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 58.6% | 65.5% |
| Born in Australia | 63.8% | 70.5% |
| Avg household size | 2.4 | 2.3 |
Growth: Preston High Growth · Thornbury High Growth
Property
| Preston | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.21M | $1.42M |
| Median unit price | $585K | $639K |
| House price YoY | 8.9% | -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
| Preston | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 29 | 48 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 1,000 | 579 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 917 | 842 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 275 | 200 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 15,750 | 7,451 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Preston | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 16 | 10 |
| Government | 10 | 7 |
| Independent | 3 | 1 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,079 | 1,081 |
See the full school list on each profile: Preston · Thornbury
Transport
| Preston | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 100 | 100 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 164 | 63 |
| Light rail stops | 40 | 19 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 26 | 22 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 130 m | 450 m |
Liveability
| Preston | 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 | 13 | 6 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 107 | 40 |
| Parks | 32 | 25 |
| Playgrounds | 22 | 11 |
| Swimming pools | 41 | 9 |
| Medical GPs | 5 | 5 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 12.8 km | 11.2 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 8.9 km | 7.2 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 4.8 km | 4.7 km |
Population & growth
| Preston | Thornbury | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 33,790 | 19,005 |
| Estimated 2025 | 37,662 | 20,078 |
| Projected 2041 | 45,580 | 25,636 |
| Annual growth rate | 2.75% | 1.38% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Preston or Thornbury?
Thornbury has the higher residential safety score (Preston 29/100 vs Thornbury 48/100).
Which is more affordable, Preston or Thornbury?
Preston is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.21M versus $1.42M.
Which has better schools, Preston or Thornbury?
Thornbury has a higher average school ICSEA (Preston 1079 vs Thornbury 1081; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Preston or Thornbury?
Preston and Thornbury have similar transport scores.
Try another comparison
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