Bonython
At 40% university-qualified residents, Bonython sits 9.9 points above the national average, yet the suburb carries a median house price of around $588,000, well below what that education profile would typically command in Sydney or Melbourne. Household income ranks in the 84.4th percentile nationally, and SEIFA scores place the suburb in decile 8 on both IRSAD and IRSD, reflecting real material advantage. The population of 3,839 is slowly declining, down from 3,820 in 2023, shaped by an aging trajectory where the senior share has grown 7.3 points over the decade. Public sector employment dominates at 33.8%, the clear signature of a Canberra suburb built around government careers.
Population
3,839
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,223/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$588K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of around $588,000 is moderate relative to ACT and national benchmarks, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock skews toward larger family homes: 49.3% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 40.3% have 4 or more, meaning 3-bedroom and larger homes account for nearly 90% of the suburb. Separate houses make up 59.2% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 29.6% and apartments at 11.2%. Ownership rates are high, with 31.4% owning outright and 40.5% under mortgage, compared to the 28.1% renting. Rent-to-income sits at 20.0%, below the stress line. The combination of larger homes, low housing stress, and above-average incomes makes Bonython an accessible entry point for families compared to inner ACT.
For Buyers
The median house price of around $588,000 is moderate relative to ACT and national benchmarks, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock skews toward larger family homes: 49.3% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 40.3% have 4 or more, meaning 3-bedroom and larger homes account for nearly 90% of the suburb. Separate houses make up 59.2% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 29.6% and apartments at 11.2%. Ownership rates are high, with 31.4% owning outright and 40.5% under mortgage, compared to the 28.1% renting. Rent-to-income sits at 20.0%, below the stress line. The combination of larger homes, low housing stress, and above-average incomes makes Bonython an accessible entry point for families compared to inner ACT.
For Investors
The rental market in Bonython is modest but stable. Weekly rents average $445 against a median house price near $588,000, implying a gross yield around 3.9%, reasonable for the ACT market. The vacancy rate is 4.6%, slightly elevated and worth monitoring, suggesting tenants have some choice in the area. Renters account for 28.1% of households, a steady demand base. Net overseas migration averages 44 per year, providing thin but positive demand support, while net internal migration is a drain of 86 per year, consistent with the aging population profile. Development activity is minimal at just 1 application in the past 12 months, so no near-term supply pressure is expected. The suburb does not show gentrification signals, so capital growth will likely track broad ACT market movements rather than outperform.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bonython iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bonython Primary School
K-6 · 341 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, though the trajectory is aging: the senior share has grown 7.3 points and the working-age share has fallen 1.9 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 40.0%, which is 9.9 points above national, reflecting the Canberra public sector professional base. Overseas-born residents are 25.3%, which is 3.7 points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,242), Irish (434) and Scottish (408), with Indian ancestry (164) the leading non-European group. The top non-English languages are Arabic (35 speakers), Bengali (22) and Malayalam (20). Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national, consistent with a family-oriented suburb dominated by couples with children (1,299 families) relative to couples without children (678 families).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
59.2%
Houses
29.6%
Townhouse
11.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into three clear segments: 31.4% own outright, 40.5% carry a mortgage, and 28.1% rent, a profile more weighted toward ownership than many comparable suburbs. The stock is built around family living, with 3-bedroom dwellings at 49.3% and 4-plus bedrooms at 40.3%, so smaller apartments and studios are rare at just 1.2%. Separate houses dominate at 59.2%, with semi-detached adding another 29.6%. The median house price is approximately $588,000, moderate relative to the ACT average, and affordability has improved from 41.9% in 2011 to 39.2% in 2021. Mortgage stress at 20.3% of income and rent stress at 20.0% both sit below threshold, meaning current residents are not financially strained by housing costs despite the above-average income profile at the 84.4th household income percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$445
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,135
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
69
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.7%
Couples, no children
3,129
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration employs 33.8% of local workers (485 residents), the defining economic feature and well above the national share. Healthcare is second at 14.4% (206 workers), followed by Professional and Technical services at 11.0% (158), Education at 10.3% (147) and Construction at 6.6% (95). By occupation, Professionals lead at 539 workers, Clerical and Admin at 418, and Managers at 312, a profile consistent with a decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation advantage. Unemployment sits at 3.1% with a full-time employment rate of 69.9% and labour force participation at 65.1%. Personal weekly income averages $1,135 and household weekly income $2,223, positioning Bonython in the 84.4th income percentile nationally. Real income growth was negative at minus 2.1% over the decade, a slight erosion in purchasing power despite stable employment.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
2,167
Unemployed
118
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.9%
Part-time
27.0%
Participation
65.1%
Employed
1,964
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.0%
Postgraduate
10.8%
Born Overseas
25.3%
Dwellings
1,446
Transport to Work
Transport in Bonython is car-dependent, with 83.6% of residents driving to work, above the national average, and only 3.8% using public transport. Walking and cycling account for 5.2%, a reasonable active travel share for a suburban ACT setting. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the upper advantage tier. Volunteering is active at 15.2% of residents, above typical suburban rates. Housing stress is low on both fronts: mortgage costs are 20.3% of income and rent is 20.0%, both comfortably below the 30% stress benchmark. About 5.0% of residents, or 184 people, need daily assistance, consistent with the aging profile but not an outlier. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring areas of the Tuggeranong district.
Drive
83.6%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.05%/yr
(-2 people/yr)
EstablishedBonython is a slow-declining, established suburb. The population fell from 3,820 in 2023 to 3,740 in 2025, and the medium forecast holds it near 3,787 by 2031, a gentle drift downward of roughly 2 residents per year. The 10-year population change was virtually flat at minus 0.1%. No COVID dip was recorded, suggesting steady demand underpinned by public sector employment. The primary demographic pressure is aging: the senior share rose 7.3 points over the decade, while rent growth of 12.7% over the period shows landlords have captured some income growth. Net internal migration removes around 86 people per year, partly offset by overseas arrivals of 44 annually. The gentrification score is 0, classified as not gentrifying, and affordability improved modestly from 41.9% in 2011 to 39.2% in 2021, suggesting incremental price gains rather than rapid appreciation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+44
Net Internal / yr
-86
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bonython compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bonython a good suburb to live in?
Bonython ranks in decile 8 on IRSAD and IRSD nationally, the upper advantage tier, with household income in the 84.4th percentile. University qualifications reach 40.0%, which is 9.9 points above the national figure. Housing stress is low at 20.3% mortgage-to-income. The main trade-off is strong car dependence at 83.6% of commuters and limited public transport at just 3.8%.
What is the median house price in Bonython?
The median house price is approximately $588,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $445 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,950. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% is well below the 30% stress threshold, making Bonython comparatively affordable within the ACT.
What schools are in Bonython?
No schools are recorded inside the Bonython boundary in this dataset, so families use schools in neighbouring Tuggeranong suburbs. Despite this, 40.0% of Bonython residents hold university qualifications, which is 9.9 points above the national average, reflecting the professional public-sector household base.
Is Bonython safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bonython in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, a high-advantage rating, and only 5.0% of residents (184 people) need daily assistance. Housing stress levels are low, with rent-to-income at 20.0% and mortgage-to-income at 20.3%.
Is Bonython good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $445 against a median price near $588,000 implies a gross yield around 3.9%, reasonable for ACT. The vacancy rate is 4.6%, slightly elevated, worth monitoring. The population is declining at roughly 2 persons per year, and internal migration removes 86 residents annually. Development activity is minimal at 1 application in 12 months, so no new supply pressure exists in the near term.
How is Bonython's population changing?
Population fell from 3,820 in 2023 to around 3,740 in 2025, and the medium forecast projects roughly 3,787 residents by 2031. The annual decline is approximately minus 0.05% or 2 persons per year. The suburb is aging: the senior share has risen 7.3 points over the decade while net internal migration runs at minus 86 per year.
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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