Bonython
With 3,839 residents, Bonython has a strong public-sector employment signature: Public Administration accounts for 33.8% of jobs, while household income ranks at the 84.4th percentile. Its 2.9 square kilometres support a density of 1,321.7 people per square kilometre, creating a compact, established setting rather than a fringe growth story. The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, yet the area is moving older as the senior share has risen 7.3 percentage points. A 40.2% mortgage rate versus 31.2% owned outright points to a mortgage-heavy profile, while 74.7% drive to work. Buyers comparing Bonython with nearby Isabella Plains can focus on established housing and car-based access, because only 3.4% use public transport. Growth is subdued, with an annual trend of -0.05%.
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
Bonython suits buyers seeking established, family-oriented housing, although a current median house price is not available to quote. The tenure mix shows 40.2% of homes are owned with a mortgage, higher than the 31.2% owned outright and 27.9% rented. Housing is weighted toward separate houses at 59.2%, with semi-detached homes at 29.6% and apartments at 11.2%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 49.3% and four-plus-bedroom homes for 40.3%, so larger households have more choice than buyers seeking compact apartments. Mortgage repayments average $1,950 per month, while mortgage-to-income is 20.3% and rent-to-income is 20.0%, both without a recorded stress flag. Compared with nearby Isabella Plains, buyers should assess recent comparable sales and exact street conditions rather than rely on a missing price median.
For Buyers
Bonython suits buyers seeking established, family-oriented housing, although a current median house price is not available to quote. The tenure mix shows 40.2% of homes are owned with a mortgage, higher than the 31.2% owned outright and 27.9% rented. Housing is weighted toward separate houses at 59.2%, with semi-detached homes at 29.6% and apartments at 11.2%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 49.3% and four-plus-bedroom homes for 40.3%, so larger households have more choice than buyers seeking compact apartments. Mortgage repayments average $1,950 per month, while mortgage-to-income is 20.3% and rent-to-income is 20.0%, both without a recorded stress flag. Compared with nearby Isabella Plains, buyers should assess recent comparable sales and exact street conditions rather than rely on a missing price median.
For Investors
Bonython presents a steady rental proposition, but the growth case is more restrained than in an expanding development corridor. Weekly rent is $445, and 27.9% of households rent, a smaller group than the 31.2% owned outright and 40.2% paying a mortgage. Vacancy is 4.6%, which suggests tenants have some choice, while rent-to-income is 20.0%, below the 20.3% mortgage figure. Only 1 development application was recorded over 12 months, and it concerned a shed rather than a clear addition to dwelling supply. Overseas migration is the primary migration driver, which may support rental demand as household composition changes. However, the gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so investors should prioritise rental quality, maintenance and tenant appeal over assumptions of rapid capital uplift. Rent growth of 12.7% is a stronger signal than the suburb's -0.05% annual population trend.
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
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Bonython Primary School
Demographics
Bonython has a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national figure, but its trajectory is aging as the senior share has increased by 7.3 percentage points. The 40.0% university-educated share is 9.9 percentage points above national levels, while the overseas-born share of 25.3% is 3.7 points higher. Average household size is 2.6 people, 0.1 above the national comparison. Couples with children account for 45.1% of families, compared with 31.8% couples without children, and one-parent families represent 20.4%. English ancestry is recorded for 1,242 residents, followed by Irish at 434, Scottish at 408 and Indian at 164. Christianity counts 1,698 people versus 1,536 reporting no religion. With 77.8% staying at the same address and 22.2% turnover, households comparing Bonython with nearby Banks or Isabella Plains should expect a relatively settled population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
59.2%
Houses
29.6%
Townhouse
11.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Bonython's housing profile is more suburban than apartment-led, with 59.2% separate houses, 29.6% semi-detached dwellings and 11.2% apartments. Larger homes dominate: 49.3% have 3 bedrooms and 40.3% have 4 or more, compared with 9.2% with 2 bedrooms and 1.2% with 0 or 1 bedroom. Mortgage ownership at 40.2% is higher than outright ownership at 31.2%, while renting accounts for 27.9%, indicating a substantial owner-occupier base. The typical mortgage payment is $1,950 per month and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 20.3%, close to the 20.0% rent-to-income ratio. A current house price median and price-to-income ratio cannot be quoted, so buyers should compare recent sales directly. Across 2.9 square kilometres, density reaches 1,321.7 people per square kilometre, making block, parking and dwelling condition important when comparing Bonython with Isabella Plains.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$445
Census 2021
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
45.1%
Couples with children
31.8%
Couples, no children
20.4%
Single parent
1,062
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration is Bonython's largest industry at 33.8%, well above Healthcare at 14.4%, Professional and Technical services at 11.0%, Education at 10.3% and Construction at 6.6%. This concentration helps explain the suburb's relatively high household income, at the 84.4th percentile. Professionals are the largest occupation group with 539 workers, followed by Clerical and Administrative workers at 418, Managers at 312, Trades at 247 and Community and Personal Service workers at 202. Labour-force participation is 68.7%, with 2.9% unemployment and a 66.2% full-time employment rate. Socioeconomic measures sit above the national midpoint: IEO is decile 8, IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 8, while IER is slightly lower at decile 7. That one-decile gap suggests educational and occupational advantage is stronger than economic-resource advantage, despite the high income percentile. Employment is therefore supported by government, health and knowledge-sector work rather than a single private industry.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
2,138
Unemployed
63
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.2%
Part-time
28.5%
Participation
68.7%
Employed
2,075
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.0%
Postgraduate
10.8%
Born Overseas
25.3%
Dwellings
1,446
Transport to Work
Bonython is suited to residents who rely on cars, with 74.7% driving to work compared with 3.4% using public transport and 4.7% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 10.7%, so commuting flexibility exists but the transport pattern remains strongly road-based. The suburb has 1 government primary school, Bonython Primary School. Families should check enrolment zones and secondary pathways against the exact address because local school access does not define the full Tuggeranong catchment. Safety should be checked using current ACT Police incident information, as no suburb-level crime rate is available to quote. Socioeconomic conditions are relatively favourable, with IRSAD in decile 8 and household income at the 84.4th percentile, both above the national midpoint. The compact 2.9 square kilometre footprint and density of 1,321.7 people per square kilometre make proximity to shops, bus routes, parks and parking arrangements important in day-to-day livability decisions.
Drive
74.7%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.7%
Work from Home
10.7%
Population Forecast
-0.05%/yr
(-2 people/yr)
EstablishedBonython's growth outlook is below a flat 0% baseline, with an annual trend of -0.05% and population change across the wider area of -0.1% over 10 years. The trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 7.3 percentage-point rise in the senior share, a 1.1-point fall in the young share and a 1.9-point decline in the working share. Overseas migration is the primary migration driver, so demographic change can continue even while total growth remains subdued. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, indicating no current redevelopment-led transformation. Rent growth of 12.7% is more positive than the population trend, while affordability is labelled Improving, moving from 41.9% in 2011 to 39.2% in 2021. Because Bonython is already established, future change is more likely to come through household turnover, ageing and tenure shifts than through major new construction.
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 can suit households wanting established Canberra housing, a car-oriented commute and relatively strong socioeconomic conditions. Household income is at the 84.4th percentile, 74.7% drive to work and IRSAD is in decile 8. The trade-off is slow growth at -0.05% annually and 1 local primary school.
What is the median house price in Bonython?
Bonython does not have a current median house price figure to quote. Housing context includes $445 weekly rent, a 59.2% separate-house share and a $1,950 monthly mortgage benchmark. Buyers should compare recent sales in Bonython and nearby Isabella Plains or Banks before setting a budget.
What schools are in Bonython?
Bonython has 1 government primary school, Bonython Primary School. Families should check enrolment zones and secondary pathways for the exact address, since local school access does not represent the full Tuggeranong catchment. School sector and eligibility should be confirmed before committing to a property.
Is Bonython safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available to quote, so safety should be checked using recent ACT Police incident information and the exact street. Bonython has 3,839 residents, and socioeconomic status in IRSAD decile 8 should not be treated as a substitute for current crime information.
Is Bonython good for property investment?
Bonython may suit investors seeking established rental demand rather than rapid growth. Weekly rent is $445, vacancy is 4.6% and rent growth is 12.7%, but the gentrification score is 0 and only 1 development application was recorded over 12 months. Assess yield, maintenance and tenant appeal carefully.
How is Bonython's population changing?
Bonython's trajectory is aging rather than expanding: annual growth is -0.05%, while population change across the wider area is -0.1% over 10 years. The senior share rose 7.3 percentage points and the young share fell 1.1 points. Overseas migration remains the primary migration driver.
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 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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