Bowen Mountain
With 95.8% of workers commuting by car and 100% of dwellings being separate houses, Bowen Mountain is a low-density acreage community sitting above the Hawkesbury plains west of Sydney. The population of 1,609 sits in the 84.6th income percentile nationally, yet SEIFA scores land at decile 1 to 2 on education-occupation and disadvantage indexes, a divergence explained by the trade and construction workforce profile rather than professional knowledge work. Only 9% of residents rent, well below state averages, and the $852,500 median house price reflects large lot values on the rural fringe more than the deep employment catchment typical of higher-SEIFA suburbs.
Population
1,609
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,235/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$852K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $852,500, with price history showing movement from $850,500 in 2024 to $860,000 in 2025, a 1.1% gain over the year. Every dwelling recorded here is a separate house, eliminating apartment or townhouse options entirely. Bedroom distribution skews large: 51% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 41.7% have 3, making this a family and acreage buyer market. At 65.1% of households carrying a mortgage, the suburb sits firmly in mortgage-belt territory. Monthly repayments average $2,158, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, which gives buyers reasonable serviceability headroom compared to many Sydney fringe markets. Outright ownership at 25.9% reflects a segment of longer-term residents who have paid down debt.
For Buyers
The median house price is $852,500, with price history showing movement from $850,500 in 2024 to $860,000 in 2025, a 1.1% gain over the year. Every dwelling recorded here is a separate house, eliminating apartment or townhouse options entirely. Bedroom distribution skews large: 51% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 41.7% have 3, making this a family and acreage buyer market. At 65.1% of households carrying a mortgage, the suburb sits firmly in mortgage-belt territory. Monthly repayments average $2,158, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, which gives buyers reasonable serviceability headroom compared to many Sydney fringe markets. Outright ownership at 25.9% reflects a segment of longer-term residents who have paid down debt.
For Investors
Rental demand in Bowen Mountain is limited, with only 9% of households renting, far lower than national averages. Weekly rents average $400 and the vacancy rate sits at 4.7%, higher than the typical 2-3% comfort zone that landlords prefer. Development activity is minimal at 2 applications in the past 12 months, both for swimming pools via complying development, indicating no significant new supply entering the market. Net internal migration runs at 132 persons a year and overseas migration adds 175 annually, giving the broader Hawkesbury area a balanced inflow. Rent-to-income at 17.9% keeps tenants below stress levels, which supports tenancy stability. The investment case here is driven by land value appreciation on large lots rather than yield, given the thin rental pool and 1.1% recent price growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
34
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-78.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age is 35, which is 5 years below the national figure, pointing toward a younger family-stage population rather than a retiree or empty-nester community. Overseas-born residents make up 14.1% of the population, 7.5 points below the national figure, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (654 residents), Irish (202) and Scottish (180) are the leading ancestries recorded. University qualifications stand at 29.5%, essentially in line with the national average at 0.6 points below. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure, consistent with the 4-plus bedroom housing stock and the couples-with-children profile, which represents 620 of 1,411 total family units at 43.9%. Volunteering is active at 16.3% of the resident population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every dwelling in Bowen Mountain is a separate house, a uniformity that removes any density trade-off and makes large-lot living the sole product on offer. Price history shows $850,500 in 2024 rising to $860,000 in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.1% over the period, modest by Sydney fringe standards. The 65.1% mortgage rate is the dominant tenure, followed by outright ownership at 25.9% and renting at just 9%. Bedroom sizes are large across the board: 51% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, and only 7.3% have 2 or fewer. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,158, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, this ranks more affordable in debt-service terms than many comparable semi-rural Sydney markets where ratios exceed 28%. Only 2 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, signalling a stable, low-turnover stock.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,158
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$945
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.7%
Unoccupied
26
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.4%
Couples, no children
1,411
Total families
Economy & Employment
The resident workforce of roughly 761 employed persons divides across Education (16.1%, 100 workers), Healthcare (15.3%, 95), Construction (12.2%, 76), Manufacturing (8.7%, 54) and Public Administration (7.6%, 47), a distribution more typical of a regional commuter suburb than a professional enclave. By occupation, Professionals lead at 178 workers, followed by Clerical/Admin (111), Managers (106), Community/Personal services (103) and Labourers (70). Unemployment is low at 1.6%, well below the national rate, and the full-time employment rate is 65.6%. Household income sits in the 84.6th percentile nationally despite the SEIFA IEO decile 1 score, a gap that reflects skilled tradespeople and dual-income households generating above-average earnings without the formal qualifications that drive education-occupation indexes.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
5,732
Unemployed
279
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.6%
Part-time
32.8%
Participation
61.5%
Employed
761
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.5%
Postgraduate
8.8%
Born Overseas
14.1%
Dwellings
528
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near absolute at 95.8% of workers commuting by vehicle, with only 0.8% walking or cycling, reflecting the 20 square kilometre spread and low-density layout typical of acreage zones. No schools are recorded within the Bowen Mountain boundary, so families rely on schools in adjacent Hawkesbury area towns. Crime data is not available for this suburb in the dataset, but as an indirect measure, the IRSD disadvantage decile is 2, in the lower tier nationally, and 4.6% of residents (71 people) require daily assistance. Housing stress is low: mortgage-to-income at 22.3% and rent-to-income at 17.9% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, making the suburb more financially accessible than many Sydney commuter belt comparisons despite the $852,500 median. Population density is 80.4 persons per square kilometre, among the lowest in the greater Sydney statistical division.
Drive
95.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.29%/yr
(+145 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has grown 11.6% over the decade, ahead of many comparable Hawkesbury localities, and forecasts under the medium scenario project the broader area reaching 11,772 by 2031 from 11,266 in 2025, adding roughly 145 persons per year at a 1.29% annual rate. Net internal migration contributes 132 arrivals annually while overseas migration adds 175, giving a balanced rather than single-driver demand profile. The gentrification score sits at 39 with an early-signs classification, supported by signals including 23% population growth since 2011 and accelerating share of new arrivals. The workforce-age cohort has declined 2.3 points over the decade while the senior share has increased 5.3 points, a structural shift toward aging, though the current median age of 35 remains well below national. Rent growth has run at 8% over the recent period, outpacing the 1.1% house price movement.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+175
Net Internal / yr
+132
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +23% since 2011, Net internal migration +132/yr, Accelerating: 1% → 22%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bowen Mountain compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowen Mountain a good suburb to live in?
Bowen Mountain suits buyers seeking large-lot, acreage-style living on Sydney's western fringe. Household income sits in the 84.6th percentile nationally, housing stress is low with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, and the population of 1,609 lives at a density of only 80.4 persons per square kilometre. The main trade-off is near-total car dependence at 95.8% and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Bowen Mountain?
The median house price is $852,500, based on price data showing $850,500 in 2024 and $860,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,158, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%. All dwellings are separate houses, so there are no apartment or townhouse options at lower price points.
What schools are in Bowen Mountain?
No schools are recorded within the Bowen Mountain suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Hawkesbury towns. University qualifications among residents stand at 29.5%, marginally below the national average, and the suburb population of 1,609 includes 620 couples-with-children households.
Is Bowen Mountain safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Bowen Mountain in this dataset. The IRSD relative disadvantage score places the suburb at decile 2, below the national median, and 4.6% of residents (71 people) require daily assistance. Low unemployment at 1.6% and the stable, low-turnover owner-occupier base of 91% are indirect positive indicators.
Is Bowen Mountain good for property investment?
Investment fundamentals are modest. Weekly rent of $400 against an $852,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.4%, and the 4.7% vacancy rate is above the 2-3% comfort range. Only 9% of households rent, limiting the tenant pool. Recent price growth is 1.1% over one year. Long-term returns depend more on land value appreciation than rental income.
How is Bowen Mountain's population changing?
Population grew 11.6% over the past decade and the broader area is forecast to add roughly 145 persons per year at 1.29% annually through 2031. Net internal migration runs at 132 arrivals a year and overseas migration adds 175. The senior share has risen 5.3 points over the decade while the working-age share declined 2.3 points, a gradual aging trend from the current median age of 35.
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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