Bondi Junction
Over half the residents (54.6%) were born overseas and 55.4% rent, making Bondi Junction one of Sydney's most transient, renter-majority suburbs. At 9,600 persons per square kilometre packed into just 1.08 square kilometres, it is among the densest suburbs in Australia outside high-rise precincts. SEIFA reads IRSAD decile 10 and IEO decile 10, but the IER decile 5 reveals an unusual split: high education credentials sit alongside average economic resources, because the 48.2% affordability ratio means housing costs consume a large share of the 90.3 percentile income. The latest median of $1,720,000 dropped 8.8% from $1,810,000 to $1,650,000, the sharpest recent decline among Eastern Suburbs markets, driven partly by the 65.1% apartment stock where unit values have been softer than houses.
Population
10,361
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,379/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
138
Median House
$1.7M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,720,000 median moved from $1,810,000 to $1,650,000, an 8.8% drop, a notable correction for the Eastern Suburbs. Apartments dominate at 65.1%, with semi-detached at 23.8% and detached houses at just 5.2%, making Bondi Junction essentially an apartment market. Two-bedroom units account for 38.2%, studio/one-bedroom for 26.4%, three-bedroom for 25.3% and four-plus for 10.0%. Monthly mortgage of $3,100 at 30.1% mortgage-to-income sits right at the stress threshold. Only 25.3% own outright and 19.3% hold mortgages, with the 55.4% renter majority reflecting a suburb where buying is the exception. The 41.3% couples-without-children share, well above national, confirms the target buyer is a professional couple or single, not a family. Walking/cycling at 22.7% and public transport at 26.1% give a combined non-car mode share of 48.8%, the highest in the Eastern Suburbs.
For Buyers
The $1,720,000 median moved from $1,810,000 to $1,650,000, an 8.8% drop, a notable correction for the Eastern Suburbs. Apartments dominate at 65.1%, with semi-detached at 23.8% and detached houses at just 5.2%, making Bondi Junction essentially an apartment market. Two-bedroom units account for 38.2%, studio/one-bedroom for 26.4%, three-bedroom for 25.3% and four-plus for 10.0%. Monthly mortgage of $3,100 at 30.1% mortgage-to-income sits right at the stress threshold. Only 25.3% own outright and 19.3% hold mortgages, with the 55.4% renter majority reflecting a suburb where buying is the exception. The 41.3% couples-without-children share, well above national, confirms the target buyer is a professional couple or single, not a family. Walking/cycling at 22.7% and public transport at 26.1% give a combined non-car mode share of 48.8%, the highest in the Eastern Suburbs.
For Investors
The 55.4% renter share is among Sydney's highest, providing a very deep tenant pool of young professionals and international workers. Median weekly rent of $660 against the $1,720,000 median produces a gross yield of roughly 2.0%, better than many Eastern Suburbs suburbs but still below national benchmarks. The 13.3% vacancy rate is notably elevated, the highest in the Eastern Suburbs, likely reflecting turnover in short-term and corporate rental stock. Development activity is active at 129 DAs in 12 months, including restaurant/cafe and dwelling alterations. Population grows at 0.73% per year (139 persons), driven by overseas migration at +542 net per year against internal outflow of -284. The suburb fully recovered from its 2.6% COVID dip, now above pre-pandemic levels. Real income grew 21.9% over the decade, one of the stronger rates, supporting rental growth of 30.4%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
779
Last 12 Months
138
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-10.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bondi Junction iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Moriah College
K-12 · 1339 students
Demographics
English (2,755) leads ancestry but the large unspecified category (2,290), Chinese (806) and Irish (1,283) create a cosmopolitan mix. The 54.6% overseas-born share, 33.0 percentage points above national, is one of the highest in Sydney. Portuguese (195), Mandarin (155), Russian (106), Italian (92) and French (83) lead non-English languages, reflecting Brazilian, Chinese, Russian and European migration streams. University qualifications at 58.9%, 28.8 percentage points above national, and the Professional/Manager workforce share of 64.8% confirm a highly educated workforce. The median age of 35, five years below national, and 41.3% couples-without-children share reflect young professionals choosing inner-city rental living. Average household size of 2.1, below the national 2.5, is consistent with the apartment-dominated housing stock. Judaism (1,163) is the second-largest religion after Christianity (3,461).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
5.2%
Houses
23.8%
Townhouse
65.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is renter-dominated: 55.4% rent, 25.3% own outright and 19.3% hold mortgages. The 55.4% renter share is more than double the national average and reflects both the apartment stock profile and the young, transient demographic. Apartments account for 65.1%, semi-detached 23.8% and detached houses just 5.2%. Two-bedroom units at 38.2% and studio/one-bedroom at 26.4% together make up nearly two-thirds of stock, suited to the couples-without-children and single-occupant households that dominate. The 8.8% price drop from $1,810,000 to $1,650,000 may reflect apartment market softness rather than a broader downturn, given the low house transaction volumes. Mortgage stress at 30.1% and rent stress at 27.7% both sit near their respective thresholds, indicating the suburb is at the affordability limit for both tenants and buyers.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,100
Rent / wk
$660
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,307
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.3%
Unoccupied
676
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.3%
Couples, no children
6,472
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Technical services lead at 19.5% (907 workers), followed by Finance at 13.0% (605), Healthcare at 11.9% (550), Construction at 7.9% (365) and Education at 6.7% (310). The combined Professional/Finance share of 32.5% is well above the national average, reflecting Bondi Junction's role as a commercial node and CBD satellite. Professionals (2,242) and Managers (1,130) together account for 64.8% of the workforce. Full-time employment at 72.0% is above the national average, and unemployment at 4.8% is near median. SEIFA shows a distinctive split: IEO decile 10 (top-tier education) with IER decile 5 (average economic resources), producing IRSAD decile 10. The IER figure is depressed because high housing costs consume a large share of income, reducing net economic resources even when gross income is at the 90.3 percentile.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
12,462
Unemployed
405
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.0%
Part-time
23.2%
Participation
60.0%
Employed
5,198
Occupations
Top Industries
University
58.9%
Postgraduate
16.3%
Born Overseas
54.6%
Dwellings
4,395
Transport to Work
One school serves the suburb: Moriah College (ICSEA 1,141, Independent, 1,339 students), a Jewish day school consistent with the 1,163 Judaism adherents in the area. The ICSEA of 1,141 sits well above the national 1,000 benchmark. Bondi Junction station is the eastern terminus of the T4 line, giving the suburb 26.1% public transport usage, the highest in the Eastern Suburbs. Walking/cycling at 22.7% brings total non-car commuting to 48.8%. Car driver share at 47.3% is the lowest in the broader Bondi area. Crime data is not available, but IRSD decile 9 and 3.7% need-for-assistance rate indicate low disadvantage. The 13.4% volunteering rate is near the national average.
Drive
47.3%
Public Transport
26.1%
Walk / Cycle
22.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.73%/yr
(+139 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 0.73% per year (139 persons), with medium projections reaching 19,770 by 2031. The suburb fully recovered from its 2.6% COVID dip, with population now 5.9% above the pandemic low. Overseas migration at +542 net per year is the primary driver, one of the highest rates in Sydney, while internal outflow of -284 per year reflects the typical pattern of young renters eventually leaving for family-sized housing in middle-ring suburbs. Population grew 11.8% over the past decade. The stable trajectory label means the age structure is holding steady: young share unchanged, senior share barely moved (+0.2 points), working-age share growing slightly (+0.5). Real income grew 21.9% over the decade, and rent grew 30.4%. Gentrification score of 41 (early signs) reflects the continuing upward credential filtering.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+542
Net Internal / yr
-284
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +13% since 2011, Net internal outflow -284/yr, Strong overseas inflow +542/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bondi Junction compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bondi Junction a good suburb to live in?
Bondi Junction suits renters and apartment buyers wanting Eastern Suburbs location with train access (26.1% public transport, T4 terminus). IRSAD decile 10 and 58.9% university rate reflect a high-credential community. Trade-offs: 55.4% renter-majority suburb, 13.3% vacancy, mortgage stress at 30.1%, and 65.1% apartment stock with limited house options.
What is the median house price in Bondi Junction?
The median is $1,720,000 (PSI derived), but the latest data shows an 8.8% drop from $1,810,000 to $1,650,000, likely reflecting apartment market composition. Monthly mortgage of $3,100 produces 30.1% mortgage-to-income, at the stress threshold. Median rent is $660/week with 13.3% vacancy. Gross yield is roughly 2.0%.
What schools are in Bondi Junction?
One school operates in Bondi Junction: Moriah College (ICSEA 1,141, Independent, 1,339 students), a Jewish day school. The ICSEA of 1,141 sits well above the 1,000 benchmark. The IEO decile 10 reflects the 58.9% university qualification rate, 28.8 percentage points above the national average.
Is Bondi Junction safe?
Crime data is not available. IRSD decile 9 (low disadvantage) and 3.7% need-for-assistance rate are positive proxies. Unemployment at 4.8% is near the national average. The 54.6% overseas-born share and 55.4% renter majority create higher population turnover than owner-occupied suburbs. The 13.4% volunteering rate is near the national average.
Is Bondi Junction good for property investment?
The 55.4% renter share provides one of Sydney's deepest tenant pools. Gross yield of roughly 2.0% ($660 rent on $1,720,000) is better than neighbouring suburbs. Overseas inflow of +542 net/year sustains tenant demand. Risks: 13.3% vacancy rate (highest in Eastern Suburbs), 8.8% price drop in latest data, and apartment-dominated stock that faces strata and maintenance costs. Real income grew 21.9% over the decade.
How is Bondi Junction's population changing?
Population grows at 0.73% per year (139 persons), driven by overseas migration (+542 net/year), one of the highest in Sydney. Internal outflow of -284/year reflects renters leaving for family housing. The suburb fully recovered from its 2.6% COVID dip. With 54.6% born overseas (33.0 points above national), Bondi Junction functions as a landing suburb for international arrivals. Medium projection: 19,770 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Bondi Junction?
Portuguese (195 speakers), Mandarin (155), Russian (106), Italian (92) and French (83) lead non-English languages. The 54.6% overseas-born share is 33.0 percentage points above the national average. The Portuguese-speaking community likely reflects Brazilian migration, while Russian speakers are consistent with the broader Eastern Suburbs Jewish-Russian community. Judaism (1,163 adherents) is the second-largest religion.
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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