Bunbury
At a median age of 49, Bunbury sits 9 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest resident bases among WA city-centre suburbs. That aging profile shapes almost everything else: a low average household size of 2.0, a high 36.8% outright ownership rate, and a participation rate of just 54.5% because 1,238 residents are outside the labour force entirely. Household income sits at the 53.1st percentile nationally, broadly middle-ground, while the SEIFA IRSD decile of 5 confirms a midpoint on relative disadvantage. The 17.6% vacancy rate is the most striking outlier, pointing to structural oversupply in the rental segment rather than a temporary blip.
Population
3,948
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,614/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
82
Median House
$427K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $427,000 places Bunbury well below Sydney and Melbourne benchmarks, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 48.8% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings unusually high at 32.5% and apartments at 15.9%, giving buyers more mid-density options than a typical regional centre. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 43.2% and 4-plus bedrooms at 22.1%, so families have reasonable choice. The 36.8% outright ownership rate, higher than the national average, signals a long-standing owner base rather than a market driven by recent leveraged buyers. For first-home buyers, the 24.8% mortgage-to-income ratio means repayments remain manageable even at the median income level.
For Buyers
The median house price of $427,000 places Bunbury well below Sydney and Melbourne benchmarks, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 48.8% of stock, with semi-detached dwellings unusually high at 32.5% and apartments at 15.9%, giving buyers more mid-density options than a typical regional centre. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 43.2% and 4-plus bedrooms at 22.1%, so families have reasonable choice. The 36.8% outright ownership rate, higher than the national average, signals a long-standing owner base rather than a market driven by recent leveraged buyers. For first-home buyers, the 24.8% mortgage-to-income ratio means repayments remain manageable even at the median income level.
For Investors
The 38.2% renter share is above the national average and provides a deep tenant pool, though the 17.6% vacancy rate signals meaningful oversupply that caps rental pricing power. Weekly rent averages $330, and the rent-to-income ratio of 20.4% is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning tenants are financially stable. Development activity is active with 74 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including commercial fitouts and aged-care infrastructure works, pointing to ongoing economic activity rather than a stagnant market. Healthcare (22.8% of workers) and Education (13.8%) provide a stable employment base, which supports steady rental demand from service-sector workers. The trade-off is that high vacancy limits rent growth, so returns depend more on the $427,000 entry price than on yield escalation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
86
Last 12 Months
82
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1950.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$502K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bunbury iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 215 students
Bunbury Primary School
K-6 · 423 students
Bunbury Catholic College
7-12 · 954 students
St Joseph's Primary School
PP-6 · 418 students
Manea Senior College
11-12 · 547 students
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, the clearest signal that Bunbury attracts retirees and established households rather than young families. Average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, consistent with the couples-without-children profile: 42.8% of families fall into that category. Overseas-born residents reach 27.1%, which is 5.5 percentage points above the national average, with English, Irish and Scottish ancestry dominating at 1,759, 492 and 455 residents respectively. University qualifications reach 34.3%, which is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate, and the professional workforce (590 workers) is the largest single occupational category. Volunteering at 22.4% is notably high, another indicator of an older, community-oriented resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
48.8%
Houses
32.5%
Townhouse
15.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure structure reflects the aging profile: 36.8% own outright, 25.0% carry a mortgage and 38.2% rent, with outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders by a wide margin. That gap is wider than national averages and points to long-held, debt-free wealth. The stock mix skews toward medium-density, with semi-detached homes at 32.5% above what most comparable WA suburbs show, and separate houses at 48.8%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 43.2% and 2-bedroom for 30.5%, meaning the stock suits couples and small households rather than large families. The $427,000 median gives an accessible entry point compared to Perth metropolitan suburbs, and rent-to-income at 20.4% keeps the rental market affordable for tenants. The 17.6% vacancy rate, however, is elevated and suggests the apartment and rental segment carries excess supply.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$923
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.6%
Unoccupied
363
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.8%
Couples, no children
2,420
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 22.8% (320 workers), a proportion well above the national average for a suburb of this size, with Education at 13.8% (194 workers) and Construction at 10.3% (145 workers) rounding out the top three. Professional occupations (590) and Managers (260) dominate the workforce by category, consistent with the 34.3% university qualification rate, which is 4.2 percentage points above national. Unemployment sits at 4.6% and the full-time employment rate is 67.0%, with 1,225 residents employed full-time and 604 part-time. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 5 places Bunbury at the national midpoint on relative disadvantage, while the IRSAD decile of 5 confirms an average advantage profile. Participation at 54.5% is lower than average because 1,238 residents are outside the labour force, which the median age of 49 explains.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.0%
Part-time
28.4%
Participation
54.5%
Employed
1,829
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.3%
Postgraduate
9.0%
Born Overseas
27.1%
Dwellings
1,690
Transport to Work
Car reliance dominates at 79.8% of commuters using private vehicles, while public transport use is low at 2.2%, below national averages for a regional city. Walking and cycling account for 10.7%, above what most car-dependent suburbs show, reflecting the compact 4.79 km2 footprint at 824 residents per km2. No schools are recorded in the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in nearby areas. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Bunbury at the national average on the advantage-disadvantage spectrum. At 8.1% (298 people), the share needing daily assistance is above typical mid-range suburbs, consistent with the aged median of 49. Rent-to-income at 20.4% keeps tenants comfortable, and with 22.4% of residents volunteering, the suburb maintains a cohesive community fabric despite high vacancy in the rental stock.
Drive
79.8%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
10.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bunbury compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bunbury a good suburb to live in?
Bunbury suits established households and retirees well: 36.8% own their homes outright and volunteering reaches 22.4%. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. The median age of 49, which is 9 years above national, reflects a settled, community-oriented base. The 17.6% vacancy rate is the main concern for renters given oversupply.
What is the median house price in Bunbury?
The median house price is approximately $427,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and rent averages $330 per week. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8% is below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable relative to local incomes at the 53.1st percentile nationally.
What schools are in Bunbury?
No schools are recorded inside the Bunbury 6230 boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding suburbs. As an indicator of the local education level, 34.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 4.2 percentage points above the national average, reflecting a well-educated resident base.
Is Bunbury safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bunbury in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores decile 5 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it at the national midpoint. The 22.4% volunteering rate and 71.5% resident retention rate both suggest a stable, community-engaged population rather than a transient or high-turnover area.
Is Bunbury good for property investment?
Bunbury offers a $427,000 entry price below Perth's metropolitan median, with a 38.2% renter share providing a broad tenant base. However, the 17.6% vacancy rate signals oversupply that limits rent growth. Weekly rent of $330 and 74 development approvals in 12 months indicate an active but not overheating market, making it more suitable for long-term capital holds than high-yield strategies.
How is Bunbury's population changing?
Bunbury's 3,948 residents skew older, with a median age of 49 that is 9 years above the national figure. Annual resident turnover is 28.5%, with 71.5% staying year on year. The aging demographic, combined with 22.8% of workers in Healthcare and aged-care infrastructure investment, points to gradual demographic consolidation rather than fast-growing population.
How much development is happening in Bunbury?
There were 74 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a $1.25 million aged-care re-roof at Opal Bunbury Gardens, a $170,000 retail fitout and a $73,950 shed, indicating a mix of commercial, infrastructure and residential activity consistent with a mid-tier regional suburb at the 53.1st income percentile nationally.
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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