State Electorate · Area profile
Thornlie (East Metropolitan)
28 km²
A significant proportion of people born overseas live in Thornlie, making it much more culturally diverse than most similar areas. The community is younger than the national average, with a high number of children under 15. It is a place where large family homes are common, though typical incomes are much lower than in the rest of the state. This combination of a young, multicultural population and affordable housing creates a distinct residential character in the east of Perth.
Thornlie (East Metropolitan) has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
Families are well catered for: 14 schools serve Thornlie (East Metropolitan).
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The typical resident is 37, a little younger than the national figure. Children under 15 make up 19.9% of the population, which is higher than most areas, while the proportion of seniors has risen to 16.8% since 2011.
Born overseas, 41.8% of residents come from outside Australia, a figure far above the national average. This has risen 12 points since 2011, with the most common ancestries being English, Australian, Scottish, Chinese and Irish.
Language diversity is very high, with 32.6% of people using a language other than English at home, far above the state average. The number of people who speak little or no English is also much higher than in most areas.
Religious affiliation is more common here than elsewhere, as the 32.8% of people with no religion is well below the national figure. Islam is a notable faith in the area, accounting for 11.8% of the population.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 16.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While the number of people who completed Year 12 has risen since 2011, it remains well below the state average.
Typical incomes are much lower than in most areas, with typical weekly household earnings at $1,414. Very few households earn $3,000 or more a week, a figure that is far below the state and national averages.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 27.6% of residents, which is about the same as the national figure. The proportion of people needing help with daily activities has risen to 5.8% since 2011.
Volunteer rates are much lower than most areas at 11.7%. However, unpaid childcare is more common here than in most areas, with 27.6% of people providing this support.
Homes are often larger and more crowded, with 2.6 people per home. One-parent families make up 16.0% of households, which is higher than the state and national averages.
The area is dominated by large homes, with 87.7% of dwellings having three or more bedrooms. While the proportion of renters has risen since 2011, typical weekly rents at $300 are well below the national average.
Most people drive to work, but 4.2% use public transport, which is higher than most areas. Only 4.0% of the workforce works from home, a figure far below the national average.
The population is relatively stable, as the 34.6% of people who moved in the last five years is much lower than in most areas. Recent overseas arrivals make up 11.0% of the community.
Unemployment is a significant issue at 7.7%, which is a little above the state and national figures. Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most similar areas.
Thornlie is very walkable, with 88.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of local amenities. Most residents live within a short walk of public transport, parks and health services, far exceeding state averages.