Living in Thorndon: rents, schools, census and property titles
The 2,215 live property titles in Thorndon, Wellington City are mostly unit title (53%), as recorded by LINZ on 30 September 2026. Cross-lease titles number 37 (1.7%), well below the national share of 8.7%.
- Cross-lease titles
- 37
- Share of live titles
- 1.7%
- Live titles in total
- 2,215
- Wellington City share
- 5.6%
- New Zealand share
- 8.7%
- Rank by share in Wellington City
- 31 of 32
- Rank by share in New Zealand
- joint 625 of 644
Thorndon at a glance
Where Thorndon differs most from suburbs across New Zealand: homes with a heat pump (lower than 99% of NZ suburbs); cross-lease share of titles (lower than 97% of NZ suburbs); titles first issued since 2020 (lower than 92% of NZ suburbs).
Higher or lower is not better or worse. Sources and limits
Start here
What the data tells you
Recorded facts
- Thorndon is listed under Wellington City.
- 2,215 live titles are recorded here, including 37 cross-lease titles (1.7%).
- The page includes 2023 Census context for the statistical area that represents this suburb.
- The page includes MBIE new-tenancy rent figures for April–June 2026.
Contextual observations
- Cross-lease titles make up 1.7% of the recorded title mix. That describes the suburb, not any particular home.
- Unit titles account for 53.1% of recorded titles, so title structure can vary within the suburb.
- Public-transport figures describe how recorded titles sit near mapped stops. They do not describe a service from a particular property.
- Coast distance is a suburb-level map measure, not a flood or hazard assessment.
Questions worth investigating
- For any cross-lease property you consider, do the current title, flats plan and lease match what is built today?
- What do the LIM, council property file and a suitable inspection add for the specific address?
No data held for this suburb
- The core title, Census, rent, transport and coast measures used by this page are available.
Title mix in Thorndon
| Title type | Live titles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 814 | 36.7% |
| Cross lease | 37 | 1.7% |
| Unit title | 1,177 | 53.1% |
| Leasehold | 57 | 2.6% |
| Other record types | 130 | 5.9% |
| Total | 2,215 | 100% |
Counts are titles, not homes; the register can lag conversions, so check the certificate of title. Sources and limits
How Thorndon compares
Nationally, 8.7% of live titles are cross-lease; Thorndon is well below the national share (8.7%).
Across Wellington City as a whole, the share is 5.6%; Thorndon is well below the overall Wellington City share (5.6%).
Its cross-lease share is 2nd lowest of 32 in Wellington City (among suburbs with an indexed page on this site).
How cross-leases in Thorndon are set up
Fewer schemes refer to more than one flats plan (7%, against 36% nationally), usually because a plan was redrawn.
Separate exclusive-use areas are more common (14% of schemes, against 5% nationally).
Less land per flat than is typical in New Zealand: about 194 m² per flat, against 408 m².
| Scheme structure | Thorndon | Wellington City | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-lease schemes (shared sections) | 14 | 2,130 | 87,651 |
| Two-flat schemes | 64.3% | 82.4% | 76.2% |
| Three-flat schemes | 14.3% | 6.7% | 12.2% |
| Four or more flats | 21.4% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| Typical section size (from the titles, not a survey) | 452 m² | 759 m² | 908 m² |
| Typical land per flat | 194 m² | 350 m² | 408 m² |
| Schemes with a garage written into a lease | 21.4% | 18.0% | 28.4% |
| Schemes with a carport in a lease | 14.3% | 8.1% | 13.3% |
| Schemes with a separate exclusive-use area | 14.3% | 4.3% | 4.5% |
| Schemes referring to more than one flats plan (usually redrawn; not by itself a problem) | 7.1% | 22.5% | 35.6% |
| Median year of earliest current title | 1988 | 1987 | 1988 |
| Two-flat schemes on 700 m² or more | 2 | 991 | 54,978 |
Unit titles and leasehold in Thorndon
Unit titles are 53% of Thorndon's titles, well above Wellington City (25%) and well above New Zealand (8%). They belong to 98 developments, each run by a body corporate; 5 have 50 or more units.
The unit-title share is 2nd highest of 32 in Wellington City.
57 titles (2.6%) are leasehold, well above the national share (1.2%).
Stated lease terms, as at 30 September 2026:
| Stated lease term | Titles |
|---|---|
| Stated term has ended | 0 |
| Under 10 years left | 0 |
| 10 to 50 years left | 0 |
| More than 50 years left | 4 |
| Term mentions renewal (including perpetually renewable) | 52 |
| Term not stated or not readable | 1 |
New titles in Thorndon since 2020
60 of Thorndon's current titles (3%) were first issued since 2020, well below Wellington City's suburbs with new-title figures taken together (8%) and well below New Zealand (12%).
That rate is in the lowest quarter of 31 in Wellington City.
| Title type | Since 2020 | Since 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 35 | 5 |
| Unit title | 2 | 0 |
| Cross-lease | 1 | 1 |
| Leasehold | 6 | 4 |
| Other | 16 | 6 |
New titles include cross-leases converted to freehold and titles re-issued; they are not a count of new homes. Sources and limits
The lie of the land in Thorndon
The typical building in Thorndon stands on ground sloping 6.8° (read on an 8 m grid, so short steep banks may be understated).
About 16% of its 1,027 measured buildings stand on ground of 15° or more.
The land rises from about 2 m to 256 m, and 55% of all of it, including reserves and gullies, is 15° or steeper.
Little of the sloping land faces north: 10%, where about a quarter would if slopes faced every way equally.
Slope is not a measure of ground stability. Sources and limits
Distance to the coast from Thorndon
0% of Thorndon's titles are within 200 m of the sea or harbour edge, 18% within 500 m and 93% within 1 km. The typical title is 740 m away.
Measured in a straight line from the centre of each title's land to the coastline on LINZ's 1:50k topographic map, which follows harbours and estuaries as well as the open coast; lakes and rivers are not included. Distance says nothing about beach access, views or exposure to coastal hazards; council hazard maps and the LIM describe those.
Who lives around Thorndon: 2023 Census
Thorndon's titles fall in 3 census areas (Stats NZ statistical areas). The 2 shown below hold 98% of its titles; their figures are shown side by side and are not added together.
Fewer homes are stand-alone houses in Thorndon South than across Wellington City: 20.6% against 59.7%.
More workers walk or cycle to work in Thorndon South than across Wellington City: 56.2% against 19.8%.
More households have no car in Thorndon South than across Wellington City: 36.0% against 15.2%.
| Measure | Thorndon South 59% of titles | Thorndon North 40% of titles | Wellington City whole council |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residents | 1,701 | 2,211 | 202,689 |
| Change since 2018 | +0.4% | −4.9% | −0.0% |
| Change since 2013 | +5.8% | +6.2% | +6.1% |
| Median age | 34.2 | 33.6 | 34.9 |
| Households | 831 | 1,041 | 77,004 |
| Own or part-own their home (including family trusts) | 39.4% | 43.8% | 58.6% |
| Not owned and not in a family trust (mostly renting) | 61.0% | 56.2% | 41.4% |
| Median household income | $129,400 | $124,400 | $134,500 |
| Median weekly rent, renting households | $575 | $590 | $560 |
| Dwellings unoccupied on census night | 14.6% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| Ages | |||
| Under 15 | 7.9% | 6.6% | 14.4% |
| 15 to 29 | 30.9% | 34.6% | 27.2% |
| 30 to 64 | 48.9% | 46.7% | 46.8% |
| 65 and over | 12.3% | 12.1% | 11.7% |
| Where people came from | |||
| Born overseas | 39.7% | 35.4% | 34.6% |
| Of those born overseas, arrived in the last 5 years | 36.3% | 30.2% | 23.2% |
| Lived elsewhere in New Zealand 5 years ago (of all residents, including children born since) | 61.7% | 59.5% | 44.2% |
| Lived overseas 5 years ago (of all residents) | 8.8% | 7.9% | 5.4% |
| Moved here in the last year (of all residents) | 35.4% | 33.5% | 24.0% |
| Work and study (people 15 and over) | |||
| Bachelor degree or higher | 64.1% | 61.5% | 48.6% |
| Employed full-time | 68.2% | 67.5% | 59.0% |
| Unemployed (share of everyone 15 and over, not the unemployment rate) | 2.1% | 2.3% | 3.0% |
| Managers and professionals (of those employed) | 70.7% | 65.8% | 59.5% |
| Median personal income | $68,000 | $64,400 | $55,500 |
| Getting to work (of those employed) | |||
| Work from home | 18.6% | 16.5% | 18.7% |
| Car, truck or van | 15.2% | 20.0% | 39.0% |
| Bus, train or ferry | 8.6% | 10.1% | 20.0% |
| Walk or cycle | 56.2% | 50.4% | 19.8% |
| Households and families | |||
| One-person households | 41.4% | 37.5% | 24.1% |
| Average people per household | 2 | 2.1 | 2.6 |
| Households with no motor vehicle | 36.0% | 23.8% | 15.2% |
| Crowded households (need one or more extra bedrooms) | 4.5% | 4.8% | 5.0% |
| Couples with children (of families) | 24.8% | 25.2% | 43.0% |
| Couples without children | 62.4% | 64.2% | 44.8% |
| One-parent families | 11.2% | 10.7% | 12.2% |
| Homes | |||
| Separate (stand-alone) houses | 20.6% | 34.1% | 59.7% |
| Average bedrooms | 2 | 2.3 | 2.8 |
| Heated with a heat pump | 25.7% | 44.1% | 53.6% |
| Damp, always or sometimes | 14.2% | 27.0% | 22.9% |
| Mould over A4 size, always or sometimes | 8.3% | 17.3% | 16.1% |
Rents around Thorndon
New tenancies in Thorndon in the April–June 2026 quarter had a median rent of $590 a week (up 7.3% on a year earlier). That is close to the typical suburb in Wellington City ($625), and close to the national median ($600).
| April–June 2026 | Thorndon 98% of titles | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Median weekly rent, new tenancies | $590 | $600 |
| Middle half of rents | $460–$660 | $490–$700 |
| Change in median on a year earlier | +7.3% | +0.2% |
| Bonds lodged in the quarter | 87 | 40,827 |
Schools and hospitals near Thorndon
LINZ maps 5 school sites inside Thorndon, among them Queen Margaret College (Composite) and Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Full Primary).
- Queen Margaret College (Composite)
- Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Full Primary)
- St Mary's College (Wellington) (Secondary (Year 9-15))
- Thorndon School (Full Primary)
- Wellington Girls' College (Secondary (Year 9-15))
- Nearest school: St Mary's College (Wellington) (0.3 km)
- Nearest secondary school: St Mary's College (Wellington) (0.3 km)
- Nearest public general hospital: Wellington Hospital (4.1 km)
School enrolment zones in Thorndon: a guide
Five secondary schools have a home zone covering most of Thorndon's titles, among them Hutt International Boys School, St Oran's College and Wellington College.
- Thorndon School (primary, Years 1–8): all or nearly all titles
- Hutt International Boys School (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- St Oran's College (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Wellington College (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Wellington Girls' College (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Wellington High School & Com Ed Centre (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Onslow College (secondary): about 40% of titles
A guide only: check the school's own zone map for any address. Zones as at 14 July 2026. Sources and limits
Public transport in Thorndon
98% of Thorndon's titles are within 400 m of a stop with a scheduled weekday service, close to Wellington City as a whole (96%).
98% are that close to a frequent stop (60 or more departures that day), above the council (69%).
64% are within 800 m of a train station or ferry wharf.
The typical title is 121 m in a straight line from its nearest stop.
Timetable of Wednesday 30 September 2026, Metlink (Greater Wellington Regional Council). Sources and limits
Places of worship near Thorndon
OpenStreetMap maps 5 places of worship inside Thorndon (5 Christian).
Nearest mapped place of each tradition within 10 km:
- Christian: Lady Chapel, under 1 km away
- Hindu: ISKCON Wellington Newlands Temple, 6.0 km away
- Buddhist: Mountains and Rivers Order Zen, under 1 km away
- Muslim: Muslims Students Association Prayer Rooms, 1.8 km away
- Jewish: Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation, 2.2 km away
Listed as facilities for access; not an indicator of who lives here. Sources and limits
Other suburbs in Wellington City with many cross-leases
- Johnsonville: 616 cross-lease titles (13.1%)
- Karori: 469 cross-lease titles (7.9%)
- Tawa: 380 cross-lease titles (6.8%)
- Miramar: 335 cross-lease titles (8.8%)
- Newlands: 328 cross-lease titles (10.5%)
- Churton Park: 271 cross-lease titles (9.2%)
- Khandallah: 230 cross-lease titles (6.6%)
- Woodridge: 186 cross-lease titles (25.4%)
All suburbs in Wellington City
Suburbs like Thorndon
The closest match on the measures on this site is Mount Victoria in Wellington City, nearest on distance to the coast, near a frequent stop, cross-lease share. Closeness is arithmetic, not a rating. Sources and limits
| Suburb | Council | Cross-lease share of titles | Median weekly rent, new tenancies | Median age | Closest on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Victoria | Wellington City | 2.0% | $600 | 32.7 | distance to the coast, near a frequent stop, cross-lease share |
| Mount Cook | Wellington City | 1.2% | $350 | 25.6 | population change, distance to the coast, near a frequent stop |
| Freemans Bay, Auckland | Auckland | 6.8% | $783 | 41 | new titles, distance to the coast, land per flat |
| Parnell | Auckland | 11.7% | $720 | 32.2 | distance to the coast, household income, stand-alone houses |
| Grey Lynn | Auckland | 6.7% | $650 | 32.8 | distance to the coast, children, near a stop |
Questions
What is the rent in Thorndon?
New tenancies in the Thorndon rent area had a median rent of $590 a week in the April–June 2026 quarter (MBIE bond data, all dwelling types). These are rents agreed for new tenancies, not asking rents. The middle half of those rents ran from $460 to $660.
What schools are in Thorndon?
LINZ maps 5 school sites inside Thorndon, including Queen Margaret College, Sacred Heart Cathedral School and St Mary's College (Wellington). The nearest secondary school to its centre is St Mary's College (Wellington) (0.3 km in a straight line). Secondary-school home zones covering most of its titles include Hutt International Boys School, St Oran's College and Wellington College; check the school's own zone map for any address.