Question 1

Is Thirlmere a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Thirlmere is a small semi-rural village on the fringe of the Southern Highlands. Home to about 5,000 people with a median age of 38 and a median household income of $1,708 a week, the community is weighted towards couples and families and most homes are owner-occupied. Housing mixes weatherboard cottages and older homes with hobby farms and larger lots, so it tends to suit people looking for a quieter, rural-edge lifestyle while keeping easy road access to larger regional centres.

Daily life is shaped by the town’s rail heritage and outdoor setting: the NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere Lakes and nearby bushland, plus a modest shopping strip, a pub and community facilities. Council and state projects are improving local amenities, including upgrades at the sportsground and park, a hall refurbishment, new parks and a program to restore the Picton–Mittagong loop for expanded heritage train services. Whether that mix suits you depends on how much you value heritage, outdoor pursuits and a slower pace.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Thirlmere?

Accepted Answer

On the figures, buying a house in Thirlmere sits well above local incomes as recorded at the last Census. The median house price of $1,228,750 is about 13.8 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census (weekly income $1,708, or $88,816 a year). Renting is less stretched: a house rent of $650 a week would take about 38.1% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a sizeable share, while a unit rent of $450 a week would take about 26.3%, a moderate share. Whether that feels expensive depends on your own circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Thirlmere a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months Thirlmere's housing market showed solid movement: median house values rose 9.0% while house rents climbed 8.3%. For someone weighing Thirlmere as an investment, the house figures point to both capital growth (the value change) and rising rental income (the rent change) moving up at similar, notable rates over the year. Unit rents increased 2.3% over the same period, a more modest rise, so the rent a house earns has been the stronger performer on the rental side. Which of those outcomes matters most comes down to whether your priority is capital growth or rental income.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$1.23M	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	9.0%	N/A
Sold Past 3 months	18	2
Median days on market Past 12 months	34	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$650	$450
Change in rent Past 12 months	8.3%	2.3%

Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Thirlmere

Thirlmere suburb profile

Thirlmere property market performance

5 year median price trend for houses and units

Thirlmere demographics

Suburbs near Thirlmere

How does Thirlmere compare to nearby suburbs?

Choose the right real estate agents in Thirlmere

Get a head start and compare top local agents in Thirlmere

Not quite ready to sell?

Suburb and property report

Digital estimate for your property

Navigate the market