Bell Park
Bell Park's most distinctive feature is its detached housing profile: 81.0% of dwellings are separate houses, while the median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure. Its 5,602 residents occupy 2.74 sq km at 2,042.7 people per sq km, creating an established and compact setting. Overseas-born residents make up 34.6%, or 13.0 percentage points above the national share, helping explain the Croatian and Italian language presence. Compared with nearby Hamlyn Heights and Bell Post Hill, Bell Park stands out for its compact footprint and settled family-market character, with household income at the 26.7th national percentile.
Population
5,602
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,224/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$701K
October to December 2025
The stock suits households seeking land: 81.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 54.0% have 3 bedrooms and 18.1% have 4 or more. A $1,500 monthly mortgage represents 28.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $340. That detached mix supports family-scale living, but the 31.8% rental share means buyers should compare owner-occupied streets with investment-heavy pockets.
For Buyers
The stock suits households seeking land: 81.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 54.0% have 3 bedrooms and 18.1% have 4 or more. A $1,500 monthly mortgage represents 28.3% of household income, while weekly rent is $340. That detached mix supports family-scale living, but the 31.8% rental share means buyers should compare owner-occupied streets with investment-heavy pockets.
For Investors
Bell Park's rental base is meaningful but not dominant: 31.8% of dwellings are rented, lower than the 41.6% owned-outright share. Weekly rent is $340 and vacancy is 6.4%, so investors should test whether advertised rents are sustainable rather than assume scarcity. Rents have grown 41.7%, strengthening the case for reviewing yield alongside capital growth. Thirteen development matters in 12 months, with recent examples including 2-lot and 3-lot subdivisions, point to incremental supply rather than a major project. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which can support rental demand because new arrivals often rent before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
27
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+250.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bell Park
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Bell Park North Primary School
Holy Family School
Nelson Park School
Demographics
Bell Park has a mature age profile, with a median age of 41, 1.0 year above the national figure. The average household contains 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national average, and couples without children account for 40.0% of households, compared with 38.0% for couples with children. Overseas-born residents represent 34.6%, 13.0 points above the national share, led in ancestry counts by English at 1,324 and Croatian at 810. Croatian is the most common listed non-English language, with 281 speakers, followed by Italian at 61. University attainment is 28.4%, 1.7 points below national, indicating a workforce shaped by both professional and trade pathways.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.0%
Houses
13.3%
Townhouse
4.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is relatively settled, with 41.6% owning outright, 25.2% paying a mortgage and 31.8% renting. Separate houses account for 81.0%, higher than the 4.8% apartment share, while 3-bedroom homes make up 54.0%. This mix supports demand from households wanting a conventional house rather than apartment living, although the 28.3% mortgage-to-income ratio still matters for new buyers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$340
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$638
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
165
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.0%
Couples with children
40.0%
Couples, no children
19.7%
Single parent
1,491
Total families
Economy & Employment
Bell Park's employment base leans toward essential and hands-on sectors. Healthcare accounts for 20.4% of industry employment, followed by construction at 11.4%, education at 10.9%, retail at 8.6% and manufacturing at 7.8%. The occupational mix reinforces that pattern, with 441 professionals, 417 trades workers, 326 labourers, 313 community and personal service workers and 281 clerical and administrative workers. Unemployment is 5.7% across a 2,663-person labour force, while participation is 56.2%. Household income of $1,224 weekly sits at the 26.7th percentile nationally. SEIFA sits below the midpoint: IER is decile 3, while IEO, IRSD and IRSAD are each decile 4. That pattern fits the income result despite the professional and healthcare presence.
Unemployment
5.7%
Labour Force
2,663
Unemployed
151
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
35.6%
Participation
56.2%
Employed
2,512
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.4%
Postgraduate
6.3%
Born Overseas
34.6%
Dwellings
2,390
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented: 74.1% drive, compared with 1.6% using public transport, 2.5% walking or cycling and 15.2% working from home. That makes car access important for commuting, errands and school runs. Three local schools provide a Catholic primary option, a government primary option and a government special school; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb lines. Safety planning should note 470 recorded offences and a rate of 83.9 per 1,000, led by 207 property and deception offences and 129 justice procedures offences, followed by 74 crimes against the person and 37 drug offences. With IRSAD at decile 4, below the midpoint, household budgets remain relevant when weighing transport and schooling choices.
Drive
74.1%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
15.2%
Population Forecast
+0.6%/yr
(+94 people/yr)
EstablishedBell Park's growth outlook is steady rather than rapid, with an annual trend of 0.6% and a Mixed trajectory. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 12.8% over 10 years. The shift profile also records rent growth of 41.7%, a 3.0-point increase in the senior share and a 0.5-point decline in the young share, consistent with an established suburb gradually ageing. Change signals are mixed: an Active gentrification stage with a score of 45 sits alongside a separate gentrification score of 0, labelled Not gentrifying. Affordability is labelled Improving, with values of 55.2 in 2011 and 49.1 in 2021, so buyers should track prices, rents and household change together.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+119
Net Internal / yr
-113
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -113/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
470
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
83.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bell Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bell Park a good suburb to live in?
Bell Park suits buyers who value established detached housing and access to local schools, with 81.0% of dwellings separate houses and 3 schools nearby. The median age is 41 and car use is high at 74.1%, so it may suit settled households more than people seeking a transit-led lifestyle. Compare the exact street, enrolment zone and evening conditions before deciding.
What schools are in Bell Park?
Bell Park has 3 nearby schools: a Catholic primary school, a government primary school and a government special school. School sectors and enrolment zones can differ even across short distances, so families should confirm the address-specific zone, transport arrangements and available places directly. No performance conclusion should be drawn from sector or location alone.
Is Bell Park safe?
Crime data records 470 offences, equivalent to 83.9 incidents per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences account for 207, justice procedures for 129, crimes against the person for 74 and drug offences for 37. That mix means safety can vary by street and time, so inspect the immediate area and check current local police information rather than relying on a suburb-wide average.
Is Bell Park good for property investment?
Bell Park can suit a long-term investor seeking detached housing, but the numbers call for selectivity. Weekly rent is $340, vacancy is 6.4% and 31.8% of dwellings are rented, while rents have grown 41.7%. Thirteen development matters in 12 months indicate some supply activity. Compare the likely yield, insurance, maintenance and resale appeal of each property.
How is Bell Park's population changing?
Bell Park's population is 5,602 today, and population change across the wider area runs at 12.8% over 10 years with an annual trend of 0.6%. Overseas migration is the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed, while the senior share is up 3.0 points and the young share is down 0.5 points, indicating gradual ageing rather than a sharp demographic reset.
What languages are spoken in Bell Park?
Croatian is the most common listed non-English language, with 281 speakers, followed by Italian at 61. Punjabi and Macedon each have 53 speakers, while Serbian has 42. The overseas-born share is 34.6%, 13.0 percentage points above the national figure, so language access may matter when choosing services and schools.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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