Bokarina
Household income in the 91.2nd percentile nationally tells the Bokarina story in a single figure: this 1.74 km2 coastal suburb on the Sunshine Coast houses 1,935 people at a density of 1,110 per km2, almost entirely in detached homes. A striking 98.7% of dwellings are separate houses, which is well above the national average for suburban Australia, and 58.7% have four or more bedrooms, signalling families with space rather than apartment-dwellers. The workforce leans heavily toward Healthcare (23.6%) and Professionals make up the largest occupation group, consistent with incomes ranking near the top decile nationally.
Population
1,935
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,429/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$668K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits around $668,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. With a monthly mortgage repayment of approximately $2,400, the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.8%, below the 30% stress threshold despite prices being in a higher range than most QLD outer suburbs. Stock is almost uniformly detached: 98.7% separate houses, with 58.7% of those having four or more bedrooms and 38.7% being three-bedroom homes. The 42.6% of households carrying a mortgage and 31.2% who own outright together exceed the rental share of 26.3%, suggesting an owner-occupier-dominant market. Buyers here are typically families choosing space over proximity, because the suburb's density of 1,110 per km2 reflects low-rise suburban form rather than urban consolidation.
For Buyers
The median house price sits around $668,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. With a monthly mortgage repayment of approximately $2,400, the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.8%, below the 30% stress threshold despite prices being in a higher range than most QLD outer suburbs. Stock is almost uniformly detached: 98.7% separate houses, with 58.7% of those having four or more bedrooms and 38.7% being three-bedroom homes. The 42.6% of households carrying a mortgage and 31.2% who own outright together exceed the rental share of 26.3%, suggesting an owner-occupier-dominant market. Buyers here are typically families choosing space over proximity, because the suburb's density of 1,110 per km2 reflects low-rise suburban form rather than urban consolidation.
For Investors
Weekly rent averages $530, and with only 26.3% of dwellings renting, the tenant pool is thinner than inner-suburban markets. The vacancy rate at 7.3% is notably high, above typical Australian rental market norms, and warrants attention from investors expecting low vacancy. Seven development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, all building or operational works rather than new dwelling supply. The turnover rate of 37.7% means nearly two in five residents moved within five years, providing landlord opportunities when households cycle. Household income at the 91.2nd percentile nationally implies that renters here can sustain higher rents, but the elevated vacancy rate signals current supply is ahead of demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
14
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+133.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bokarina iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kawana Waters State College
Prep-12 · 2495 students
Demographics
The median age is 37, which is 3.0 years younger than the national median, suggesting a family formation skew rather than a retirement population. University qualifications reach 36.2% of residents, which is 6.1 percentage points above the national figure, consistent with the high-income, professional household profile. The overseas-born share is 18.0%, which is 3.6 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (880 residents), Irish (225) and Scottish (191) are the top three. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure, matching the large-home, family-dwelling pattern. Couples with children make up the largest family type (776 families) compared to couples without children at 412.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.7%
Houses
1.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits with owners dominant: 31.2% own outright, 42.6% carry a mortgage, and just 26.3% rent, pointing to a settled owner base rather than transient renters. The dwelling mix is almost singular: 98.7% separate houses with only 1.3% semi-detached and virtually no apartments, which is far above the national share of separate houses. Bedroom size leans large, with 58.7% of homes having four or more bedrooms and 38.7% having three, because the 2.9 average household size and family demographic drive demand for space. The median house price is approximately $668,000. Rent-to-income at 21.8% and mortgage-to-income at 22.8% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes at the 91.2nd percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$2,400
Rent / wk
$530
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$967
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
49
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.7%
Couples, no children
1,606
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is by far the dominant sector at 23.6% of employed residents (163 workers), more than double the share of Construction at 12.9% (89 workers) and Education at 10.9% (75 workers). Professional/Tech accounts for 8.2% (57 workers) and Retail for 6.2% (43 workers), pointing to a service-sector economy rather than trade or manufacturing. By occupation, Professionals lead with 246 workers, followed by Managers (152) and Clerical/Admin (123). The unemployment rate of 4.6% sits slightly above the participation rate context of 63.0%, and 386 residents are not in the labour force. Weekly personal income averages $967 and family income $2,625, with household income at $2,429 per week ranking at the 91.2nd percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.3%
Part-time
34.1%
Participation
63.0%
Employed
890
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.2%
Postgraduate
10.0%
Born Overseas
18.0%
Dwellings
626
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high: 88.2% of residents drive to work, which is well above the national average, while only 1.2% use public transport and 3.8% walk or cycle. This pattern is typical of low-density coastal suburbs where distances to services make transit impractical. No schools are recorded within the Bokarina boundary, so families depend on nearby Sunshine Coast schools. Crime statistics are not available for Bokarina in this dataset. Rent stress (21.8% rent-to-income) and mortgage stress (22.8% mortgage-to-income) both remain below the 30% threshold, and only 3.9% of residents (72 people) need daily assistance, which is a low rate compared to the national average. Volunteering runs at 15.6%, above casual-renter norms.
Drive
88.2%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bokarina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bokarina a good suburb to live in?
Bokarina suits families seeking large detached homes with strong income capacity. Household income ranks at the 91.2nd percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is just 22.8%, and 98.7% of dwellings are separate houses with 58.7% having 4-plus bedrooms. The main trade-off is near-total car dependence, with only 1.2% of residents using public transport.
What is the median house price in Bokarina?
The median house price is approximately $668,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $2,400, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.8%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $530 for the 26.3% of households that rent.
What schools are in Bokarina?
No schools are recorded inside the Bokarina boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Sunshine Coast suburbs. Locally, 36.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 6.1 percentage points above the national figure, indicating a highly educated resident base.
Is Bokarina safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bokarina in this dataset. As an indirect measure, only 3.9% of residents (72 people) need daily assistance, and household income sits at the 91.2nd percentile nationally. These indicators are consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable residential area on the Sunshine Coast.
Is Bokarina good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $530 against a median price of around $668,000 implies a gross yield near 4.1%. However, the vacancy rate of 7.3% is elevated, suggesting current rental supply exceeds demand. Only 26.3% of dwellings are rented, limiting the tenant pool. The 37.7% five-year turnover rate creates regular re-letting opportunities.
How is Bokarina's population changing?
Bokarina currently has 1,935 residents across 1.74 km2. No long-term population forecast data is available, but 62.3% of residents stayed at the same address over five years, pointing to a stable owner-occupier base. Development activity is low at 7 applications in 12 months, consistent with a largely built-out suburb.
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), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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