Bundamba
A $371,000 median house price and a household income in the 39.3rd percentile nationally tell the same story at Bundamba: this is one of the more affordable, working-income pockets of greater Ipswich. The suburb scores decile 1 on the SEIFA education and occupation index and decile 2 on the other three indexes, placing it well below the national average on relative advantage. The median age of 35 runs 5.0 years below the national figure, and the housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 83.8% of dwellings separate houses against just 1.8% apartments. Renters make up 42.2% of households, a high share that reflects the low entry price rather than premium demand.
Population
6,542
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,383/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$371K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $371,000 median, Bundamba sits far below typical metropolitan house prices, which is the main reason it draws first-home buyers and young families. The stock suits that buyer: 83.8% of dwellings are separate houses, three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.0% and four-plus-bedroom homes add another 28.5%, so detached family living is the norm rather than the exception. Average monthly mortgage repayments of about $1,300 keep the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most capital-city markets. Only 24.4% of households own outright while 33.4% carry a mortgage, a tilt toward active buyers that fits a younger median age of 35, five years below national.
For Buyers
At a $371,000 median, Bundamba sits far below typical metropolitan house prices, which is the main reason it draws first-home buyers and young families. The stock suits that buyer: 83.8% of dwellings are separate houses, three-bedroom homes dominate at 56.0% and four-plus-bedroom homes add another 28.5%, so detached family living is the norm rather than the exception. Average monthly mortgage repayments of about $1,300 keep the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most capital-city markets. Only 24.4% of households own outright while 33.4% carry a mortgage, a tilt toward active buyers that fits a younger median age of 35, five years below national.
For Investors
Renters occupy 42.2% of Bundamba households, well above the national share, giving landlords a deep tenant pool anchored by the low $371,000 entry price. Weekly rent of $300 against that median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, far healthier than the sub-2% yields common in premium suburbs. The vacancy rate of 6.9% is the main caution, higher than a balanced market, so tenant demand is real but not tight. Demand support comes from balanced migration, with net internal inflow of 74 residents and net overseas inflow of 67 a year, plus a forecast 1.34% annual population growth. Rent grew 20.0% over the measured period, so the case rests on yield and steady population gains rather than rapid capital appreciation.
Schools in Bundamba iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bundamba State School
Prep-6 · 374 students
Bundamba State Secondary College
7-12 · 794 students
Demographics
Bundamba skews young and Australian-born. The median age of 35 is 5.0 years below the national figure, and only 16.7% of residents were born overseas, 4.9 points below national, marking it as a more locally rooted population than most metro suburbs. Ancestry is Anglo-leaning, led by English (2,488), Scottish (664) and Irish (648), while the largest non-English languages are Samoan (48 speakers) and Mandarin (15), a small but distinctive Pacific presence. University qualifications reach just 17.4%, which is 12.7 points below national, consistent with a workforce weighted toward trades and service roles. Average household size is 2.5, in line with national, and families with children (1,793) outnumber couples without children (1,251), reinforcing the young-family profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.8%
Houses
14.4%
Townhouse
1.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans toward renters and mortgage holders rather than outright owners: 42.2% rent, 33.4% hold a mortgage and only 24.4% own outright. That mix, unusual for an established area, reflects the low $371,000 median that keeps entry accessible and turnover active, with a mobility turnover rate of 28.7%. The stock is heavily detached, 83.8% separate houses versus 1.8% apartments and 14.4% semi-detached, and three-bedroom homes make up 56.0% of dwellings. Rent-to-income at 21.7% and mortgage-to-income at 21.7% both sit below the 30% stress line, so housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes despite a household income in the 39.3rd percentile nationally. The 6.9% vacancy rate points to adequate, not scarce, rental supply.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$702
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
180
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.0%
Couples, no children
5,008
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 19.8% (328 workers), followed by Education at 11.1% (183), Manufacturing at 9.0% (149), Retail at 8.9% (148) and Public Administration at 8.5% (140). By occupation the workforce is weighted toward Labourers (415), Community and Personal Service workers (401) and Clerical staff (375), with Professionals (355) a smaller share, which explains why university attainment sits 12.7 points below national. Unemployment is elevated at 8.5%, above typical metro rates, and the participation rate of 53.2% is held down by 1,802 residents not in the labour force. The full-time employment rate is 65.7%. These labour-market features align with the suburb's low SEIFA scores: decile 1 on education and occupation and decile 2 on economic resources.
Unemployment
6.7%
Labour Force
5,407
Unemployed
363
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
25.8%
Participation
53.2%
Employed
2,538
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.4%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
16.7%
Dwellings
2,430
Transport to Work
Bundamba is a car-dependent suburb: 87.2% of residents drive to work while only 4.2% use public transport and 1.3% walk or cycle, a heavier car reliance than the national pattern. Costs stay manageable, with rent-to-income at 21.7%, below the 30% stress line, which suits the younger median age of 35. The suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, below the national midpoint, and 8.7% of residents (530 people) report needing daily assistance, slightly above what a young median age alone would suggest. Volunteering runs at 11.1%. No schools are recorded inside the 10.96 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in surrounding Ipswich suburbs, a practical trade-off in a low-density area at 597 residents per km2.
Drive
87.2%
Public Transport
4.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.34%/yr
(+139 people/yr)
EstablishedBundamba is an established suburb still expanding steadily. The forecast points to 1.34% annual growth, roughly 139 extra residents a year, and the medium projection lifts the SA2 population from about 10,405 in 2025 to 11,065 by 2031. Over the past decade the population rose 18.9%, well above the flat trajectory of mature inner suburbs, driven by balanced migration of 74 net internal and 67 net overseas arrivals a year. Gentrification reads as early signs at a score of 36 on one measure, though the broader signal stays not gentrifying at 19, so change is gradual. Affordability improved from 48.9% in 2011 to 42.7% in 2021, easing the cost burden even as rents climbed 20.0%, a sign that incomes kept pace with housing costs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+67
Net Internal / yr
+74
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +29% since 2011, Net internal migration +74/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bundamba compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bundamba a good suburb to live in?
Bundamba suits affordability-focused buyers and young families: the median house price is $371,000 and the median age is 35, five years below national. It scores decile 1 to 2 on SEIFA, below the national average, and unemployment is elevated at 8.5%, so it trades premium amenity for low housing costs.
What is the median house price in Bundamba?
The median house price is $371,000, well below typical metropolitan markets. Weekly rent averages $300, giving a gross yield near 4.2%, and average monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300, keeping the mortgage-to-income ratio at a manageable 21.7%.
What schools are in Bundamba?
No schools are recorded inside the 10.96 km2 Bundamba boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Ipswich suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 17.4%, which is 12.7 points below the national figure, reflecting a trades and service oriented workforce.
Is Bundamba safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bundamba in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, below the national midpoint, and 8.7% of its residents (530 people) report needing daily assistance.
Is Bundamba good for property investment?
Renters make up 42.2% of households, above the national share, and rent of $300 a week against a $371,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.2%, far above premium suburbs. The 6.9% vacancy rate is the main caution, while 1.34% forecast population growth supports steady demand.
How is Bundamba's population changing?
The population grew 18.9% over the past decade, well above the flat trend of mature suburbs, and is forecast to rise about 1.34% a year, roughly 139 residents. Growth is driven by balanced migration, with 74 net internal and 67 net overseas arrivals a year.
What is the rental market like in Bundamba?
About 42.2% of households rent, a high share above national, with weekly rent averaging $300. The vacancy rate is 6.9%, looser than a tight market, and rent-to-income sits at 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, so tenancy costs stay affordable relative to local incomes.
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.
Explore Bundamba on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map