Bow Bowing
At 2,104 residents per square kilometre across just 0.76 km2, Bow Bowing packs 1,606 people into one of the most compact footprints in south-west Sydney. Household income sits in the 79.8th percentile nationally, well above average, yet the suburb remains almost entirely detached housing at 98.2%, with a median house price of $900,000. The overseas-born share of 38.7% runs 17.1 percentage points above the national figure, and the median age of 36 is 4 years younger than the national median, signalling a community built around families in the mortgage belt.
Population
1,606
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,108/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$900K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $900,000 in 2025 rose 10.1% from $830,000 in 2024, a strong one-year gain. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 98.2%, so buyers are not choosing between dwelling types but competing for the same product. Bedroom mix skews large: 47.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 51.8% have 3, which suits the average household size of 3.1 people, above the national average of 2.5. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. At 53.7%, the majority of residents carry a mortgage, reflecting the suburb's position as a mortgage-belt enclave for working families.
For Buyers
The median house price of $900,000 in 2025 rose 10.1% from $830,000 in 2024, a strong one-year gain. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 98.2%, so buyers are not choosing between dwelling types but competing for the same product. Bedroom mix skews large: 47.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 51.8% have 3, which suits the average household size of 3.1 people, above the national average of 2.5. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. At 53.7%, the majority of residents carry a mortgage, reflecting the suburb's position as a mortgage-belt enclave for working families.
For Investors
The rental market in Bow Bowing is thin but manageable. Renters make up 17.8% of households, below the national average, and weekly rent sits at $420. The vacancy rate of 3.1% is moderate, indicating reasonable tenant demand without significant oversupply. Only 5 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, pointing to very low new supply in this compact 0.76 km2 suburb. The 10.1% price growth from $830,000 to $913,500 between 2024 and 2025 gives investors a capital growth case, though the low renter share means the landlord market is narrow and yield sits relatively low against the $900,000 median.
Development Activity
Total DAs
26
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+40.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure, giving the suburb a notably younger profile than average. Overseas-born residents account for 38.7% of the population, which is 17.1 percentage points above the national benchmark, reflecting strong migration into south-west Sydney. The top ancestries are English (298), Indian (131) and Filipino (128), and active non-English languages include Hindi (45 speakers), Arabic (44) and Bengali (29). University qualifications reach 36.0%, which is 5.9 percentage points above the national rate. Average household size is 3.1, higher than the national average of 2.5, and 670 families are couples with children, making family formation the dominant household type.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.2%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Bow Bowing is one of the most uniform housing markets in the region: 98.2% of dwellings are separate houses, with semi-detached at just 1.2% and apartments at 0.6%. Bedroom sizes are substantial, with 47.2% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms and 51.8% having 3 bedrooms. Ownership rates are strong: 28.5% own outright and 53.7% carry a mortgage, compared to the national mortgage rate of around 35%. Only 17.8% rent, well below national averages. Price history shows a clear upward move, from $830,000 in 2024 to $913,500 in 2025, a 10.1% increase over one year. Mortgage repayments average $2,000 per month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9% keeps households clear of financial stress territory.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$807
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.1%
Unoccupied
16
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
15.4%
Couples, no children
1,446
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (12.2%) and Education (11.1%) are the two largest employing industries, together accounting for nearly a quarter of the local workforce. Construction (10.7%) and Transport (10.5%) follow closely, reflecting the blue-collar and trades employment base common to south-west Sydney. By occupation, Clerical and Admin roles lead at 146 workers, with Professionals at 124 and Community/Personal service at 90. Full-time employment runs at 64.9%, above the participation rate of 54.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%, higher than the national average, which partially explains why 417 residents are not in the labour force despite a working-age population. Weekly personal income of $807 sits above the national median, consistent with the household income ranking in the 79.8th percentile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
28.4%
Participation
54.7%
Employed
659
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.0%
Postgraduate
7.5%
Born Overseas
38.7%
Dwellings
505
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced: 89.5% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average of around 63%, and only 4.3% use public transport. Walking or cycling accounts for 0.7% of commutes, reflecting limited active transport infrastructure in this low-density enclave. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby Campbelltown-area schools. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 21.9% and rent-to-income at 19.9%, both below the 30% stress threshold. The volunteering rate of 8.3% and 5.8% of residents needing daily assistance are near national norms. The density of 2,104 residents per km2 is higher than most detached-house suburbs, reflecting the compact parcel layout of this south-west corridor estate.
Drive
89.5%
Public Transport
4.3%
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bow Bowing compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bow Bowing a good suburb to live in?
Bow Bowing suits families in the mortgage belt. Household income sits in the 79.8th percentile nationally, the median age of 36 is 4 years below national, and housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 21.9%. The trade-off is high car dependence at 89.5% and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Bow Bowing?
The median house price is $900,000 as of 2025, up 10.1% from $830,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and 98.2% of dwellings are separate houses, so buyers are competing for essentially one dwelling type.
What schools are in Bow Bowing?
No schools are recorded inside the Bow Bowing suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the surrounding Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields area. The local population is reasonably educated, with 36.0% holding university qualifications, 5.9 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Bow Bowing safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Bow Bowing in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 21.9% and rent-to-income at 19.9%, both well below the 30% stress threshold. Household income sits in the 79.8th percentile nationally, consistent with a financially stable community.
Is Bow Bowing good for property investment?
The 10.1% price growth from $830,000 to $913,500 between 2024 and 2025 supports a capital growth case. The rental market is small at 17.8% renters and weekly rent is $420, giving a moderate gross yield against the $900,000 median. Only 5 development applications in 12 months limits new supply in this 0.76 km2 suburb.
How is Bow Bowing's population changing?
Bow Bowing has a population of 1,606 across 0.76 km2, giving a density of 2,104 residents per km2. The overseas-born share of 38.7% is 17.1 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting ongoing migration into south-west Sydney. Residential stability is high, with 85.6% of households remaining in place over the reference year.
What languages are spoken in Bow Bowing?
About 38.7% of residents were born overseas, 17.1 points above the national average. The most spoken non-English languages are Hindi (45 speakers), Arabic (44) and Bengali (29), alongside Samoan (13) and Nepali (11), reflecting south-west Sydney's multicultural migration patterns.
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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