Bundoora
A 39.5% overseas-born share and 43.8% university-educated share give Bundoora a more internationally connected and tertiary-educated profile than the national picture, while its median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure. The suburb has 28,068 residents across 17.23 square kilometres, with 76.1% of dwellings detached. That family-oriented structure contrasts with nearby Reservoir's more urban form, while Greensborough provides a useful comparison for established northern suburban living. Household income sits at the 58th percentile nationally, and 37.0% own their homes outright, supporting stability because outright ownership reduces exposure to repayments. The trade-off is car dependence, with 63.3% driving to work and only 3.8% using public transport.
Population
28,068
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,668/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
54
Median House
$950K
October to December 2025
Separate houses account for 76.1% of homes, compared with 14.8% semi-detached and 9.1% apartments, so the market remains detached-led. 3-bedroom homes represent 44.7% and 4-bedroom homes 36.9%, making family layouts central. A $2,000 monthly mortgage equals 27.7% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged; weekly rent is $381. Outright ownership is 37.0%, while mortgages cover 32.8%, supporting established owner-occupier demand. Compared with Reservoir, Bundoora better suits buyers prioritising house-and-land stock.
For Buyers
Separate houses account for 76.1% of homes, compared with 14.8% semi-detached and 9.1% apartments, so the market remains detached-led. 3-bedroom homes represent 44.7% and 4-bedroom homes 36.9%, making family layouts central. A $2,000 monthly mortgage equals 27.7% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged; weekly rent is $381. Outright ownership is 37.0%, while mortgages cover 32.8%, supporting established owner-occupier demand. Compared with Reservoir, Bundoora better suits buyers prioritising house-and-land stock.
For Investors
Rental demand has a measurable base: 28.0% of households rent, compared with 37.0% owning outright and 32.8% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $381 and vacancy is 9.7%, giving tenants a larger buffer and potentially moderating short-term pricing power. The 52 development applications over 12 months point to active change, including a proposal for 2 rooming-house dwellings. That combination favours investors with longer holding periods rather than assumptions of rapid yield growth. Overseas migration is the primary driver and the annual trend is 1.96%, but vacancy and acquisition cost should be tested together.
Development Activity
Total DAs
243
Last 12 Months
54
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+45.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bundoora
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Northside Christian College
Bundoora Primary School
Norris Bank Primary School
St Damian's School
Bundoora Secondary College
Demographics
Bundoora's median age is 38, 2.0 years below the national level, but the trajectory is ageing: the senior share has increased 3.1 points and the young share has fallen 4.4. Overseas-born residents make up 39.5%, 17.9 points above the national comparison, while 43.8% have university qualifications, 13.7 points higher than nationally. English, Chinese and Italian ancestry counts are 5,312, 3,864 and 3,491; Mandarin is spoken by 1,406 residents, followed by Greek at 516. Couples with children form 46.2% of families and couples without children 35.9%, consistent with an average household size of 2.6. Compared with nearby Reservoir, Bundoora reads as more family-oriented in its detached housing context. A 23.4% turnover rate and 76.6% staying rate suggest continuity alongside migration.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.1%
Houses
14.8%
Townhouse
9.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between 37.0% owning outright, 32.8% with a mortgage and 28.0% renting, giving Bundoora a more owner-occupied base than rental-led suburbs. Detached houses account for 76.1%, with 44.7% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 36.9% containing 4 or more. A $2,000 monthly mortgage represents 27.7% of household income and stress is not flagged, while rent is $381 per week. Compared with Reservoir, Bundoora's larger detached share points buyers toward land-and-house stock.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $381.
$560
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $570 · units $490
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$690
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.7%
Unoccupied
1,074
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.2%
Couples with children
35.9%
Couples, no children
15.7%
Single parent
7,290
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Bundoora's largest industry at 19.4%, followed by education at 12.0%, professional/technical services at 9.5%, construction at 9.4% and retail at 7.9%. The occupational mix reinforces that structure: professionals number 3,224, clerical and administrative workers 1,895, trades 1,811 and managers 1,644. Labour-force participation is 60.9%, full-time employment 55.8% and unemployment 6.6%, while 8,236 people are outside the labour force. SEIFA results are uneven: IEO is decile 7, above the midpoint, IER and IRSD are decile 5, and IRSAD is decile 6. That spread suggests educational and occupational capacity is stronger than broad resource and disadvantage measures because health, education and professional jobs are prominent. Household income ranks at the 58th percentile nationally, above the midpoint but below high-income areas.
Unemployment
6.6%
Labour Force
14,629
Unemployed
972
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.8%
Part-time
37.3%
Participation
60.9%
Employed
13,657
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.8%
Postgraduate
13.4%
Born Overseas
39.5%
Dwellings
10,014
Transport to Work
Day-to-day mobility is car-led: 63.3% drive to work, compared with 3.8% using public transport, 1.8% walking or cycling and 26.5% working from home. This makes the exact street and destination important because convenience varies more for households without a car. There are 8 nearby schools across government, Catholic and independent sectors, covering primary, secondary, special and combined Pri/Sec options. Check enrolment zones against the exact address. Recorded crime is 85.1 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 1,558 property and deception offences, 310 crimes against the person and 269 justice-procedure offences, so property security deserves attention. An IRSAD decile of 6 places Bundoora above the middle decile nationally, while a 7.2% need-assistance rate supports attention to accessible services. Compared with a highly transit-oriented suburb, Bundoora is more practical for drivers than non-car commuters.
Drive
63.3%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
26.5%
Population Forecast
+1.96%/yr
(+157 people/yr)
EstablishedBundoora is an established area with an annual growth trend of 1.96%, and overseas migration is the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 35.2% over 10 years, while the local trajectory is labelled Aging: the young share has declined 4.4 percentage points and the senior share has risen 3.1 points. This means demand can keep expanding without a purely youth-led profile, because established housing and family stock can also suit older households. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 34, and 52 development applications in 12 months point to visible local change. House rents have grown 8.9%, while the COVID dip of 5.7% was followed by a 7.3% recovery, indicating resilience after disruption. Compared with a stagnant market, the 1.96% trend and overseas-migration base support steady attention to infrastructure, services and housing choice.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+252
Net Internal / yr
-132
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +42% since 2011, Net internal outflow -132/yr, Strong overseas inflow +252/yr, COVID recovered (-6% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,388
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
85.1
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bundoora compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bundoora a good suburb to live in?
Bundoora can suit households wanting detached housing, school access and an established setting. It has 28,068 residents, a median age of 38 and 76.1% separate houses. Car use is high at 63.3%, while public transport accounts for 3.8%, so it compares better for drivers than for households seeking a transit-led lifestyle.
What schools are in Bundoora?
There are 8 schools across primary, secondary, special and combined Pri/Sec settings, spanning government, Catholic and independent sectors. They include Bundoora Primary School, Bundoora Secondary College, St Damian's School, Parade College, Norris Bank Primary School, Concord School, Mastery Schools Victoria and Northside Christian College. Check the exact enrolment zone before buying.
Is Bundoora safe?
Safety varies by street and time, so buyers should inspect the exact address and review local incident patterns. The recorded crime rate is 85.1 per 1,000 residents, with 2,388 total offences. Property and deception offences account for 1,558, compared with 310 crimes against the person. Secure parking, lighting and alarms are sensible checks.
How is Bundoora's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 35.2% over 10 years, with annual growth trending at 1.96%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is labelled Aging: the young share fell 4.4 percentage points and the senior share rose 3.1 points. That combination points to continued demand with a changing age mix rather than a purely youth-led market.
What languages are spoken in Bundoora?
English ancestry is the largest listed ancestry at 5,312 people, followed by Chinese at 3,864 and Italian at 3,491. Mandarin is the most common listed non-English language at 1,406 speakers, with Greek, Italian, Macedon and Arabic also represented at 516, 446, 446 and 381. The overseas-born share is 39.5%, higher than the national comparison.
What development is happening in Bundoora?
Development activity is visible, with 52 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include alterations and an extension to a house, a proposal for 2 rooming-house dwellings and a new illuminated sign. These point to a mix of residential and commercial change rather than one project type, so buyers should check planning history and future impacts around a target property.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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