Bundeena
One of Bundeena's clearest signals is its work-from-home pattern: 47.2% of residents worked from home, while only 0.4% used public transport. Within 1.18 sq km, 2,103 people live at a density of 1,784.3 residents per sq km, yet the suburb remains strongly detached, with 96.8% separate houses. The median age is 50, which is 10 years above the national figure, and the 15.0% vacancy rate adds a seasonal or flexible-use feel. Compared with nearby Maianbar and the busier, more urban setting of Cronulla, Bundeena reads as a compact, established coastal community with stronger home-based work and an older resident base. Its household income percentile of 66.1 supports that established-wealth profile, although housing costs still matter.
Local council: Sutherland
Population
2,103
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,832/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Buyers are choosing from a highly detached housing market: 96.8% of homes are separate houses, compared with 1.6% apartments and 0.5% semi-detached dwellings. Larger properties are common, with 40.6% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 39.4% containing 4 or more. Ownership is relatively strong, with 44.2% owned outright and 36.7% financed by a mortgage, while 17.6% are rented. The $2,600 monthly mortgage cost and 32.8% mortgage-to-income ratio point to meaningful budget pressure because established homes can require substantial borrowing. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Bundeena suits buyers prioritising land, privacy and larger floorplans over compact stock.
For Buyers
Buyers are choosing from a highly detached housing market: 96.8% of homes are separate houses, compared with 1.6% apartments and 0.5% semi-detached dwellings. Larger properties are common, with 40.6% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 39.4% containing 4 or more. Ownership is relatively strong, with 44.2% owned outright and 36.7% financed by a mortgage, while 17.6% are rented. The $2,600 monthly mortgage cost and 32.8% mortgage-to-income ratio point to meaningful budget pressure because established homes can require substantial borrowing. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, Bundeena suits buyers prioritising land, privacy and larger floorplans over compact stock.
For Investors
Bundeena's rental profile is shaped by limited rental supply and a high 15.0% vacancy rate. Only 17.6% of households rent, compared with 44.2% owning outright, so investors are competing for a smaller tenant pool and should test demand carefully across seasons. Weekly rent is $554, while rent growth in the wider shift profile reached 35.1%, supporting income potential but also raising affordability questions. There were 22 development applications in 12 months, mostly involving dwelling houses and alterations, which suggests ongoing property improvement rather than a large apartment pipeline. Compared with owner-occupied housing, the rental segment is smaller, so investment performance depends on location, property quality and tenant consistency.
Development Activity
Total DAs
139
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+10.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bundeena
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Bundeena has an older resident profile, with a median age of 50, or 10 years above the national figure. University attainment is also elevated at 39.9%, which is 9.8 percentage points above the national comparison, while 23.2% of residents were born overseas, only 1.6 percentage points above the national level. English ancestry is most common at 900 people, followed by Irish at 363 and Scottish at 265. No religion accounts for 1,016 residents, compared with 876 identifying with Christianity. Household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison, and 85.3% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period. Compared with younger parts of the Sutherland Shire, Bundeena's age profile is more mature and settled.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.8%
Houses
0.5%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 96.8% of Bundeena's housing, a share higher than the 1.6% apartment proportion and the 0.5% semi-detached proportion. The dwelling mix leans towards family-sized homes, with 40.6% containing 3 bedrooms and 39.4% containing 4 or more, while only 4.8% have 0 or 1 bedroom. Tenure is split between 44.2% owned outright, 36.7% mortgaged and 17.6% rented. Affordability is a consideration because mortgage costs are $2,600 per month and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 32.8%; rent-to-income is 30.2%. Compared with smaller-unit markets, Bundeena provides more detached space, but that land-heavy format can increase entry and holding costs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $554.
$750
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,250 · units $745
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$812
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.0%
Unoccupied
140
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.2% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.8% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.2%
Couples with children
47.9%
Couples, no children
13.5%
Single parent
608
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Bundeena's largest industry at 17.0%, representing 115 workers, followed by Education at 14.9% and 101 workers, Construction at 12.1% and 82, Professional and Technical services at 12.0% and 81, and Public Administration at 9.2% and 62. The occupational mix includes 264 Professionals, 153 Managers and 125 Trades workers. The labour force numbers 954 people, with unemployment at 4.4% and participation at 54.9%. Socioeconomic scores are above the middle range, with IEO and IER at decile 8 and IRSD and IRSAD at decile 9. The lower participation rate is consistent with a median age of 50 and 709 people outside the labour force, rather than indicating a weak professional base.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
954
Unemployed
42
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.3%
Part-time
36.8%
Participation
54.9%
Employed
912
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.9%
Postgraduate
13.0%
Born Overseas
23.2%
Dwellings
790
Transport to Work
Bundeena is strongly car-oriented and home-based: 46.0% of residents drove to work, compared with 0.4% using public transport, while 47.2% worked from home and 4.1% walked or cycled. The suburb has 1 local government primary school, Bundeena Public School. Families should check enrolment zones and secondary-school travel options against the exact address, since practical access can vary across the peninsula. Socioeconomic conditions are favourable relative to the middle range, with an IRSAD decile of 9 and an IER decile of 8. Compared with public transport use, car dependence is much higher, so households without a vehicle should assess daily connections before moving. Current street-level incident information should also be reviewed when evaluating safety.
Drive
46.0%
Public Transport
0.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
47.2%
Growth Outlook
Bundeena's growth outlook is steady rather than rapid, with a forecast annual trend of 0.6% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area runs at 12.5% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 5.2 percentage point increase in the senior share and a 3.7 percentage point decline in the working share. Gentrification signals are mixed: one forecast measure gives a score of 14 and labels the suburb Not gentrifying, while the shift profile records a score of 30 and Early signs. Compared with a high-growth development corridor, Bundeena is more likely to experience gradual change through renovations, with 22 development applications recorded over 12 months.
Population trend: Sutherland council area
Bundeena sits in the Sutherland council area. These are the council area's residents, not Bundeena's.
Residents 2025
241,327
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bundeena compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bundeena a good suburb to live in?
Bundeena suits residents seeking detached housing, quieter surroundings and a strong work-from-home pattern. The median age is 50, 96.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 47.2% of residents work from home. Car access matters because only 0.4% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Bundeena?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales for the exact period and property type. This is a 96.8% separate-house market, with 40.6% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 39.4% having 4 or more, so the local median can be influenced by a small number of larger transactions.
What schools are in Bundeena?
Bundeena has 1 local government primary school, Bundeena Public School. Families seeking secondary schooling should confirm enrolment zones, available year levels and travel arrangements for the exact address, as school access can extend beyond the suburb boundary.
Is Bundeena safe?
Safety should be assessed using current street-level incident information, visits at different times and conversations with local residents. Bundeena covers 1.18 sq km and has 2,103 residents, so conditions may vary between streets, visitor areas and quieter residential sections.
Is Bundeena good for property investment?
Bundeena may suit investors seeking detached housing and a limited rental pool, but vacancy risk needs close attention. Rents average $554 per week, 17.6% of households rent and the vacancy rate is 15.0%. There were also 22 development applications in 12 months, mostly involving houses and alterations.
How is Bundeena's population changing?
Bundeena has 2,103 residents today, while the wider area's forecast trend is 0.6% annual growth and 12.5% population change over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 5.2 percentage points and the working share down 3.7 percentage points.
What development is occurring in Bundeena?
There were 22 development applications over 12 months. The examples are primarily dwelling-house works, including alterations, additions and new structures, indicating renovation and incremental housing activity rather than a large multi-unit development pipeline.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
Explore Bundeena on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map