QLD 4055 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Bunya

Household income at the 98.9th percentile nationally and an ownership rate of 96.8% signal that Bunya 4055 sits firmly among Brisbane's most established owner-occupier enclaves. The suburb's 1,968 residents skew older, with a median age of 43 that is 3 years above the national figure. Almost 89% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, compared to the national average where 4-plus bedroom homes are far less dominant, which reflects large family households averaging 3.3 people. With a turnover rate of just 14.5%, very few homes change hands, and residents who move in tend to stay.

Bunya urban fabric map

Population

1,968

Median Age

43.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$3,402/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

16

Median House

$769K

Estimated from rent (2025)

14.54 km²· 135.4 people/km²· Family income $3,409/wk

The median house price sits at approximately $769,000, derived from the $650 weekly rent and the 2025 estimation methodology. Every dwelling in Bunya is a separate house, so buyers face a single-product market without apartment or semi-detached alternatives. The 4-plus bedroom category accounts for 88.9% of stock, meaning compact homes are scarce and priced at a premium relative to their size. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, yielding a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many comparable Brisbane suburbs. Outright owners at 40.4% indicate a large cohort of long-settled, debt-free households, so turnover is thin and competition for any listing is typically firm.

For Buyers

The median house price sits at approximately $769,000, derived from the $650 weekly rent and the 2025 estimation methodology. Every dwelling in Bunya is a separate house, so buyers face a single-product market without apartment or semi-detached alternatives. The 4-plus bedroom category accounts for 88.9% of stock, meaning compact homes are scarce and priced at a premium relative to their size. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, yielding a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.0%, well below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many comparable Brisbane suburbs. Outright owners at 40.4% indicate a large cohort of long-settled, debt-free households, so turnover is thin and competition for any listing is typically firm.

For Investors

Bunya presents a low-yield profile that suits capital-hold strategies rather than income plays. Weekly rent of $650 against the $769,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, moderate by Brisbane outer-ring standards. The vacancy rate is 2.5%, which is broadly in line with a balanced rental market, but only 3.2% of households rent, compared to the national average of around 32%, leaving a very shallow tenant pool. Just 13 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, the lowest activity tier, which constrains new supply and supports price floors. Income stability is strong, with household income in the 98.9th percentile nationally and a mortgage stress rate of 17.0%, well below the 30% threshold.

Development Activity

Total DAs

26

Last 12 Months

16

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+100.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Change of Use
7
Renovation / Extension
4
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
3
Garage / Carport / Shed
3
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
2
Other
2
Driveway / Crossover
1
Tree Removal
1

Demographics

English (844 residents), Irish (296) and Scottish (269) ancestries dominate, making Bunya one of the more Anglo-Celtic suburbs in Brisbane's north. Overseas-born residents account for 15.1%, which is 6.5 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a population that has long-standing local roots. The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national median, and couples with children make up 808 of the 1,843 total families, pointing to an established family-formation suburb rather than a youthful or transient one. University qualifications reach 44.7%, which is 14.6 percentage points above the national average, and the average household size of 3.3 is 0.8 above national, reflecting multi-occupant family units.

Age Distribution

0-14
18.9%
15-24
16.0%
25-44
16.2%
45-64
37.2%
65+
11.6%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.5%
2 bed
0.5%
3 bed
10.1%
4+ bed
88.9%

Dwelling Structure

100.0%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 40.4% Mortgage 56.4% Rent 3.2%

Every recorded dwelling in Bunya is a separate house, giving the suburb a 100% detached rate that is well above the national average. The stock skews large: 88.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, and 3-bedroom homes account for only 10.1%, with 1-2 bedroom options essentially absent at 1.0% combined. Tenure is dominated by owners: 40.4% hold their home outright and 56.4% carry a mortgage, leaving renters at just 3.2%, far below the national rental share of roughly 32%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.0% and rent-to-income of 19.1% are both well under stress thresholds, reflecting the suburb's above-average household incomes at the 98.9th percentile nationally.

Mortgage / mo

$2,500

Rent / wk

$650

HH Size

3.3

Personal Income / wk

$1,112

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

2.5%

Unoccupied

15

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

17.0%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
844
Irish
296
Scottish
269
German
147
Other
131
Italian
62

Household Composition

22.6%

Couples, no children

1,843

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads employment at 17.3% of workers (141 people), followed by Education at 13.7% (112) and Professional/Technical services at 13.0% (106), a top-three mix that skews strongly toward credentialed, service-sector roles. Construction at 11.8% (96) and Public Administration at 8.7% (71) round out the five dominant sectors. By occupation, Professionals account for 352 workers and Managers for 201, collectively the two largest groups, consistent with the 44.7% university qualification rate that sits 14.6 points above national. The full-time employment rate is 60.9% with participation at 67.8% and unemployment at 4.4%. Weekly household income of $3,402 places Bunya in the 98.9th percentile nationally, meaning virtually no suburb in Australia records higher household earnings.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

60.9%

Part-time

34.7%

Participation

67.8%

Employed

1,036

Occupations

Professionals 352
Managers 201
Clerical/Admin 145
Community/Personal 95
Sales 89
Labourers 55
Machinery/Drivers 44

Top Industries

Healthcare 17.3%
Education 13.7%
Professional/Tech 13.0%
Construction 11.8%
Public Admin 8.7%

University

44.7%

Postgraduate

10.2%

Born Overseas

15.1%

Dwellings

595

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high in Bunya, with 90.5% of workers driving to their jobs, compared to the national average where car use is lower and public transport accounts for a larger share. Only 2.7% use public transport, consistent with a suburb that lacks dense transit connections and relies on private vehicle access to Brisbane employment centres. No schools are recorded inside the Bunya boundary in this dataset, so families draw on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. The volunteering rate of 23.3% is notably high relative to most suburbs, indicating strong community participation. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 17.0% and rent-to-income at 19.1% are both well below the 30% stress threshold, and only 3.2% of residents (62 people) require daily assistance.

Drive

90.5%

Public Transport

2.7%

Walk / Cycle

1.4%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Bunya compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 22%
Household Income
Top 1%
Rent Level
Top 1%
Renters
Bottom 0%
Uni Educated
Top 13%
Public Transport
Bottom 43%
Born Overseas
Top 46%
Density
Top 25%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bunya a good suburb to live in?

Bunya suits established family households well. Household income sits at the 98.9th percentile nationally, and 96.8% of dwellings are owner-occupied. The median age of 43 is 3 years above national, the turnover rate is just 14.5%, and 23.3% of residents volunteer, all pointing to a settled, stable community. The main trade-off is car dependency, with 90.5% of workers commuting by car and limited public transport at 2.7%.

What is the median house price in Bunya?

The estimated median house price in Bunya is $769,000, based on the 2025 rent-derived methodology. Weekly rent averages $650 and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.0% is well below the 30% stress threshold, reflecting the suburb's high household incomes in the 98.9th percentile nationally.

What schools are in Bunya?

No schools are recorded inside the Bunya boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Ferny Hills and Keperra. The suburb is highly educated, with 44.7% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 14.6 percentage points above the national average.

Is Bunya safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bunya in the current dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb records household income at the 98.9th percentile nationally, a very low rental share of 3.2% well below national averages, and a stable resident base where 85.5% of the population stayed in place over the reference period, factors generally associated with lower crime rates.

Is Bunya good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $650 against an estimated median of $769,000 gives a gross yield near 4.4%. The vacancy rate of 2.5% is in balanced territory, but only 3.2% of dwellings are rented, compared to national averages of around 32%, so the investor tenant pool is very thin. Capital preservation is the stronger case here, backed by income stability at the 98.9th percentile and low development activity of just 13 DAs in 12 months.

How is Bunya's population changing?

Detailed population forecasts are not available for Bunya in the current dataset. Structurally, the suburb shows low mobility with a turnover rate of just 14.5%, 13 development applications in the past 12 months indicating minimal new supply, and an aging resident profile with a median age of 43 that is 3 years above national. These signals are consistent with a slow-growth, owner-dominated suburb.

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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