Bronte
A $3,275,000 median house price and a household income at the 98.8th national percentile place Bronte among Sydney's most exclusive coastal addresses, yet the housing stock tells a more nuanced story. Apartments make up 49.5% of dwellings against just 30.8% separate houses, a density of 5,382 people per km2 packed into 1.33 km2. SEIFA confirms the wealth: IEO, IRSAD and IRSD all sit in decile 10, the top national tier, while university qualifications at 63.1% run 33 points above the national average. The recent price series is volatile, with the median falling 19% from $3,862,500 in 2024 to $3,130,000 in 2025, suggesting the 2024 print captured a thin run of trophy-home sales rather than a sustained level.
Population
7,166
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,365/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
108
Median House
$5.0M
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
The $3,275,000 median reflects a market split between scarce freestanding beachside homes and a deeper apartment layer that dominates at 49.5% of stock versus 30.8% separate houses. Pricing has been choppy, dropping 19% from $3,862,500 in 2024 to $3,130,000 in 2025, which points to a small number of high quarters rather than a stable benchmark. Bedroom mix skews to two-bedroom dwellings at 38.5%, with larger 4-plus homes at 28.5%, so buyers chasing a family house compete for a minority of the supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,975 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3% stays just under the 30% stress line, manageable only because personal incomes of $1,562 a week are well above the national average. Owner-occupiers hold 60.5% of dwellings, split between 32.9% outright and 27.6% with a mortgage.
For Buyers
The $3,275,000 median reflects a market split between scarce freestanding beachside homes and a deeper apartment layer that dominates at 49.5% of stock versus 30.8% separate houses. Pricing has been choppy, dropping 19% from $3,862,500 in 2024 to $3,130,000 in 2025, which points to a small number of high quarters rather than a stable benchmark. Bedroom mix skews to two-bedroom dwellings at 38.5%, with larger 4-plus homes at 28.5%, so buyers chasing a family house compete for a minority of the supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,975 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3% stays just under the 30% stress line, manageable only because personal incomes of $1,562 a week are well above the national average. Owner-occupiers hold 60.5% of dwellings, split between 32.9% outright and 27.6% with a mortgage.
For Investors
Renters occupy 39.5% of Bronte dwellings, a meaningful but minority tenant pool given owner-occupiers hold 60.5%. Weekly rent of $675 against the $3,275,000 median produces a gross yield near 1.1%, low even by inner-Sydney standards, so the case here is capital growth rather than income. The 8.9% vacancy rate is elevated and signals softer rental absorption, partly explained by coastal short-stay demand pulling stock off the long-term market. Rent has grown 35% over the decade, ahead of incomes, while development activity of 98 applications in 12 months shows steady reinvestment in an apartment-heavy fabric. Net overseas migration of 568 a year supports demand, though internal outflow of 539 a year offsets much of it, leaving population growth modest.
Development Activity
Total DAs
579
Last 12 Months
108
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+12.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bronte iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bronte Public School
K-6 · 257 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 sits 2 years below the national median, a younger profile than most premium coastal pockets. Overseas-born residents at 32.0% run 10.4 points above the national average, yet ancestry stays strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English at 2,798, Irish at 1,138 and Scottish at 734. The top non-English languages are French (58), Italian (42) and Greek (41), small absolute counts consistent with a Western-migrant rather than Asian-migrant pattern. University qualifications reach 63.1%, fully 33 points higher than the national figure, and the average household size of 2.5 matches the national average exactly. Couples with children (2,533) outnumber couples without (1,437), so despite the apartment-heavy stock the area retains a family base alongside its professional cohort.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
30.8%
Houses
18.6%
Townhouse
49.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is balanced toward ownership, with 32.9% owned outright, 27.6% mortgaged and 39.5% rented, a higher outright-ownership share than most high-density suburbs. The built form is apartment-led at 49.5%, ahead of separate houses at 30.8% and semi-detached at 18.6%, reflecting a density of 5,382 per km2. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 38.5%, while 4-plus bedroom homes account for 28.5%. The price record is short and unstable, moving from $3,862,500 in 2024 to $3,130,000 in 2025, a 19% fall that reads as sales-mix noise rather than a structural decline. Affordability has improved slightly, from 49.7% in 2011 to 45.9% in 2021, because real incomes grew 19% over the period. Both rent-to-income at 20.1% and mortgage-to-income at 27.3% stay below the 30% stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$3,975
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (January to March 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $675.
$1,100
Bond data Mar 2026 · houses $1,900 · units $1,000
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,562
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.9%
Unoccupied
257
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.2%
Couples, no children
5,282
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional and technical services lead employment at 23.0% (728 workers), with Finance second at 13.3% (419) and Healthcare third at 11.7% (370), a knowledge and finance concentration consistent with the IEO decile 10 ranking. Education (8.5%) and Construction (7.1%) round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals dominate at 1,752, more than double the 867 Managers in second place. The labour market is tight, with unemployment at 2.9%, below the national average, and full-time work at 69.8%. Participation of 63.0% is moderate, held down by an older and partly retired ownership base rather than weak demand. Real incomes grew 19% over the decade, reinforcing the suburb's position near the top of the household income distribution at the 98.8th percentile.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
13,739
Unemployed
393
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.8%
Part-time
27.3%
Participation
63.0%
Employed
3,572
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.1%
Postgraduate
18.8%
Born Overseas
32.0%
Dwellings
2,640
Transport to Work
Active transport is a defining trait, with 14.7% of residents walking or cycling, above the national average and well above the 5.7% who use public transport, reflecting the compact 1.33 km2 coastal layout. Car driving remains the majority mode at 74.4%, consistent with limited rail access to this beachside pocket. SEIFA confirms top-tier advantage, with IRSAD, IRSD and IEO all in decile 10, the highest national band, while the IER sits lower at decile 6 because a 39.5% renter share depresses measured household asset wealth. Volunteering runs at 20.0% and only 2.7% of residents report needing assistance with core activities, both indicators of a healthy, engaged population. Resident stability is moderate, with a turnover rate of 27.1% meaning 72.9% stayed put over the period.
Drive
74.4%
Public Transport
5.7%
Walk / Cycle
14.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.34%/yr
(+69 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow at 0.34% a year, equal to roughly 69 additional persons, well below the rates seen in Sydney's outer growth corridors. The 10-year change of 6.5% confirms an established, supply-constrained area where the 1.33 km2 footprint leaves little room for expansion. Migration patterns are split: net overseas migration of 568 a year is the primary growth driver, but internal migration runs at minus 539 a year as locals are priced out or trade up elsewhere. Affordability improved from 49.7% in 2011 to 45.9% in 2021 on the back of 19% real income growth, while rents climbed 35%. The gentrification score of 38 places Bronte at the early-signs stage, and the senior share rose 1.4 points as the working-age share edged down 0.9 points, pointing to gradual aging.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+568
Net Internal / yr
-539
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -539/yr, Strong overseas inflow +568/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bronte compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bronte a good suburb to live in?
Bronte ranks in SEIFA decile 10 for advantage, the top national tier, with household income at the 98.8th percentile. University qualifications at 63.1% are 33 points above the national average, and 14.7% walk or cycle. The trade-off is cost, with a $3,275,000 median house price and an 8.9% vacancy rate signalling a soft rental market.
What is the median house price in Bronte?
The median house price is $3,275,000. The recent series is volatile, falling 19% from $3,862,500 in 2024 to $3,130,000 in 2025, which suggests the higher figure reflected a thin run of trophy sales. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,975 and weekly rent is $675.
What schools are in Bronte?
Families in the area typically rely on schools in neighbouring Waverley, Charing Cross and Bondi, a common pattern for small, high-density coastal suburbs.
Is Bronte safe?
Verified crime statistics for Bronte are not available in the current data brief, so a precise rate cannot be quoted. As context, the suburb sits in SEIFA decile 10 for advantage with only 2.7% of its 7,166 residents reporting a need for assistance, indicators that typically correlate with lower social disadvantage.
Is Bronte good for property investment?
The 39.5% renter share gives a moderate tenant pool, but $675 weekly rent against a $3,275,000 median yields roughly 1.1% gross, low even for inner Sydney. The 8.9% vacancy rate signals softness, so returns depend on capital growth. Rent has risen 35% over the decade and 98 development applications were lodged in 12 months.
How is Bronte's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 0.34% a year, about 69 people, with a 6.5% rise over 10 years, below outer Sydney growth corridors. Net overseas migration of 568 a year is the main driver, offset by internal outflow of 539. The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national median and the senior share rose 1.4 points.
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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