Bonogin
Spread across 39.37 km2 at just 124.4 residents per km2, Bonogin reads as a Gold Coast hinterland acreage market rather than a typical suburb. Separate houses make up 98.7% of all dwellings and 79.6% carry four or more bedrooms, the clearest sign of a family-oriented, large-block area. Household income sits in the 94.6th percentile nationally at $2,680 a week, yet the median house price of $741,000 stays well below the prices that income level usually commands closer to the coast. The population of 4,896 has grown 12.4% over the decade, and SEIFA places the area in decile 7 for advantage and decile 9 for economic resources, a high-resource profile.
Population
4,896
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,680/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$741K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $741,000 median, Bonogin sits below the income level its residents earn, since household income ranks in the 94.6th percentile yet the median is modest for that bracket. The appeal is space rather than convenience: 98.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 79.6% have four or more bedrooms, compared with just 16.4% three-bedroom and 2.3% two-bedroom homes, so buyers are paying for acreage and room, not a compact starter. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,392, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because incomes are high relative to the entry price. Mortgage holders dominate at 64.1% of households against 29.2% who own outright, which points to a market of established families still paying down larger homes rather than retirees sitting on debt-free property.
For Buyers
At a $741,000 median, Bonogin sits below the income level its residents earn, since household income ranks in the 94.6th percentile yet the median is modest for that bracket. The appeal is space rather than convenience: 98.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 79.6% have four or more bedrooms, compared with just 16.4% three-bedroom and 2.3% two-bedroom homes, so buyers are paying for acreage and room, not a compact starter. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,392, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold because incomes are high relative to the entry price. Mortgage holders dominate at 64.1% of households against 29.2% who own outright, which points to a market of established families still paying down larger homes rather than retirees sitting on debt-free property.
For Investors
Bonogin is a thin rental market: only 6.6% of households rent, far below the renter shares typical of coastal suburbs, so tenant supply and turnover are limited. Weekly rent of $630 against the $741,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, healthier than inner-city markets where yields run closer to 2%. The 2.5% vacancy rate is tight and signals steady demand, but with 64.1% of homes owner-occupied on a mortgage, investment stock is scarce. Population growth of 1.04% a year, driven by net overseas migration of 166 against an internal outflow of 38, and rent growth of 26.6% over the period support rental demand. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply is effectively nil, which protects existing landlords from competition but also caps the volume an investor can buy into.
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, but the average household size of 3.3 people runs 0.8 above national, consistent with the large-family, four-bedroom housing profile. Overseas-born residents reach 25.7%, which is 4.1 points above national, and university qualifications at 33.6% sit 3.5 points higher than national. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,263), Scottish (554) and Irish (526), with German (258) the largest continental European group. Among 4,430 families, couples with children number 2,294 against 857 couples without, a 19.3% childless-couple share that underscores the family weighting. The trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.3 points and the working-age share fell 2.4 points over the decade, so the family base is gradually maturing in place.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.7%
Houses
0.3%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by mortgage holders at 64.1%, with 29.2% owning outright and only 6.6% renting, a far heavier mortgage tilt than most established markets where outright ownership is larger. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 98.7% separate houses, leaving apartments at just 0.8% and semi-detached at 0.3%, so dwelling diversity is minimal. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 79.6% and three-bedroom 16.4%, confirming an acreage and large-block character. The median house price of $741,000 is moderate against household income in the 94.6th percentile, and that gap keeps the mortgage-to-income ratio at 20.6% and rent-to-income at 23.5%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The result is a low-stress ownership market where high earners buy generous homes without overextending.
Mortgage / mo
$2,392
Rent / wk
$630
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$844
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
2.5%
Unoccupied
37
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.3%
Couples, no children
4,430
Total families
Economy & Employment
The resident workforce concentrates in Healthcare at 17.4% (307 workers), Education at 15.2% (269) and Construction at 13.1% (231), with Professional/Tech at 9.5% and Retail at 7.6%, a service and trades mix rather than a finance or tech hub. By occupation, Professionals (619) and Managers (383) lead, which aligns with the IEO education-and-occupation score in decile 7 and the IER economic-resources score in decile 9. Unemployment is low at 4.2% and the full-time rate is 59.8%, though participation reads 63.8% because 1,012 residents are not in the labour force, partly reflecting the aging trajectory. Real incomes grew 10.0% over the decade. The IRSAD advantage score sits in decile 7 while IER reaches decile 9, a gap that reflects strong household resources outpacing the broader advantage measure.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
11,617
Unemployed
339
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.8%
Part-time
36.0%
Participation
63.8%
Employed
2,322
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.6%
Postgraduate
8.3%
Born Overseas
25.7%
Dwellings
1,429
Transport to Work
Bonogin is car-dependent by design: 93.2% of residents drive to work while only 0.9% use public transport and 0.9% walk or cycle, far below the national reliance on active and public transport, a direct consequence of the 39.37 km2 acreage layout at 124.4 people per km2. No schools are recorded inside the boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Gold Coast suburbs, a practical trade-off for the low-density rural setting. The area scores decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage and decile 7 on IRSAD, both high tiers, and only 3.8% of residents (178 people) need daily assistance. Volunteering runs at 16.6%, and with rent-to-income at 23.5% and mortgage-to-income at 20.6%, households carry housing costs comfortably below the stress threshold.
Drive
93.2%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.04%/yr
(+217 people/yr)
EstablishedBonogin is an established market growing steadily rather than explosively: the population rose 12.4% over the decade and is forecast to expand 1.04% a year, adding about 217 residents annually toward a medium projection of 22,073 across its SA2 by 2031. The primary driver is overseas migration at 166 net arrivals a year, which more than offsets an internal outflow of 38, so growth depends on international rather than interstate inflow. The gentrification stage reads early signs, scored 27, with signals including population up 15% since 2011 and growth accelerating from 5% to 10%. Affordability improved from 67.6% in 2011 to 63.3% in 2021, an easing trend, though the rate stays high. The aging trajectory, with the senior share up 4.3 points, suggests measured rather than rapid demographic change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+166
Net Internal / yr
-38
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +15% since 2011, Accelerating: 5% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bonogin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bonogin a good suburb to live in?
Bonogin scores decile 7 for advantage and decile 9 for economic resources on SEIFA, both high tiers, with household income in the 94.6th percentile nationally. It suits families seeking space, since 98.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 79.6% have four or more bedrooms. The main trade-off is car dependence, with 93.2% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Bonogin?
The median house price is $741,000, modest relative to household income in the 94.6th percentile. Weekly rent averages $630 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,392, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Bonogin?
No schools are recorded inside the Bonogin boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Gold Coast suburbs. The resident base is well educated, with university qualifications at 33.6%, which is 3.5 points above the national figure.
Is Bonogin safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bonogin in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the area scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a high tier, and only 3.8% of its residents, about 178 people, need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Bonogin good for property investment?
Rent of $630 a week against a $741,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.4%, stronger than inner-city markets. The 2.5% vacancy rate is tight, but only 6.6% of households rent, so investment stock is scarce. Population growth of 1.04% a year supports rental demand over time.
How is Bonogin's population changing?
The population of 4,896 grew 12.4% over the decade and is forecast to rise 1.04% a year, driven by net overseas migration of 166 against an internal outflow of 38. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.3 points and the working-age share down 2.4 points over the decade.
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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