Donnybrook
An older, detached-home profile sets Donnybrook apart: 3,035 residents have a median age of 46, which is 6 years above the national comparison. Housing is heavily separate-house based at 95.3%, while 40.3% of homes are owned outright and 38.6% carry a mortgage. The town differs from nearby Bunbury's more urban setting through lower density, limited apartment stock and stronger car reliance, with 79.1% driving to work. Household income sits at the 29.3rd percentile nationally, so the appeal is tied to space and established roots more than premium price positioning. Population change is measured at 15.6% over 10 years across the wider area, but the trajectory is aging rather than sharply expansionary.
Local council: Donnybrook-Balingup
Population
3,035
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,279/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Donnybrook suits buyers prioritising detached space, with 95.3% of dwellings separate houses and 46.3% containing 4 or more bedrooms; another 42.8% are 3-bedroom homes. The ownership profile is relatively settled, with 40.3% owned outright versus 38.6% mortgaged, while renting accounts for 18.9%. Mortgage repayments average $1,486 monthly and mortgage costs equal 26.8% of household income. Rent is $300 a week and rent-to-income is 23.5%, so both figures are useful comparison points for budgeting. Compared with apartment-oriented Bunbury, the trade-off is less compact housing choice and greater reliance on a car, because only 1.1% use public transport.
For Buyers
Donnybrook suits buyers prioritising detached space, with 95.3% of dwellings separate houses and 46.3% containing 4 or more bedrooms; another 42.8% are 3-bedroom homes. The ownership profile is relatively settled, with 40.3% owned outright versus 38.6% mortgaged, while renting accounts for 18.9%. Mortgage repayments average $1,486 monthly and mortgage costs equal 26.8% of household income. Rent is $300 a week and rent-to-income is 23.5%, so both figures are useful comparison points for budgeting. Compared with apartment-oriented Bunbury, the trade-off is less compact housing choice and greater reliance on a car, because only 1.1% use public transport.
For Investors
Donnybrook presents a low-density rental proposition with 18.9% of occupied dwellings rented, weekly rent of $300 and a 9.3% vacancy rate. The vacancy figure is higher than the tight conditions seen in many regional markets, so landlords should allow for leasing time and test achievable rent rather than assume automatic tenant competition. Development activity is recorded at 0 projects in the past 12 months, which limits near-term new-supply pressure but also signals a small pipeline. Migration is labelled Balanced, and the wider growth trend is 1.25% annually, providing a steadier comparison with higher-growth corridors. The 95.3% separate-house share favours family-style stock, while 46.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
Schools in Donnybrook
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
DONNYBROOK DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL
ST MARY'S SCHOOL
Demographics
Donnybrook's median age of 46 is 6 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 17.3%, 12.8 percentage points below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 19.1%, 2.5 points below the national comparison, and the largest reported ancestries are English at 1,507 people, Scottish at 346, Irish at 313 and Italian at 195. No religion is the largest affiliation at 1,493 people, followed by Christianity at 1,243. Residential stability is pronounced: 76.4% stayed at the same address and turnover was 23.6%, helping explain the town's older, settled character. Couples without children make up 50.1% of families, compared with 33.6% for couples with children, while average household size is 2.4, or 0.1 below the national comparison.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.3%
Houses
3.3%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates Donnybrook more strongly than apartment-led areas, with 95.3% separate houses, 3.3% semi-detached dwellings and just 0.4% apartments. The bedroom profile reflects that form: 46.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, 42.8% have 3, and only 1.1% have 0 or 1 bedroom. Tenure is split between 40.3% owned outright, 38.6% mortgaged and 18.9% rented, with 2.2% in other arrangements. Mortgage repayments average $1,486 monthly and represent 26.8% of household income; rent is $300 weekly and equals 23.5% of income. Compared with nearby Bunbury, this is a less compact housing market, so buyers gain space but renters face fewer apartment-style alternatives.
Mortgage / mo
$1,486
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$627
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.3%
Unoccupied
117
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.6%
Couples with children
50.1%
Couples, no children
15.0%
Single parent
819
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Donnybrook's recorded industries with 109 workers, or 14.9%, followed by mining at 90 and 12.3%, education at 71 and 9.7%, public administration at 59 and 8.0%, and construction at 58 and 7.9%. Occupations reinforce a practical regional base: trades number 211, labourers 207 and machinery or drivers 163, ahead of professionals at 152 and managers at 147. Unemployment is 4.6% with participation at 53.3%, while the full-time employment rate is 56.9%. Household income is $1,279 weekly and sits at the 29.3rd percentile, below stronger-income locations. SEIFA is mixed: IEO decile 3 is low, IER decile 7 is higher, while IRSD and IRSAD both sit at decile 4. The gap suggests resources are stronger than education and occupation outcomes, because industry and trade employment support earnings without lifting formal qualification measures.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
1,320
Unemployed
61
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.9%
Part-time
35.6%
Participation
53.3%
Employed
1,259
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.3%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
19.1%
Dwellings
1,138
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 79.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.1% using public transport and 4.9% walking or cycling, while 6.2% work from home. That makes access to a private vehicle more important than in transit-rich suburbs, particularly for errands and regional connections. Families have 2 local schools spanning government district-high-school and non-government sectors, so choice exists but enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Donnybrook records a volunteering rate of 21.4%, which supports local participation, and 7.3% of residents report needing assistance, a factor relevant to accessible housing and services. IRSAD is at decile 4, below the upper half of the national scale, while the median age is 46, 6 years above the national comparison.
Drive
79.1%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
6.2%
Growth Outlook
Donnybrook's established growth pattern is steady rather than explosive: the annual trend is 1.25%, and migration is classified as Balanced. Across the wider area, population change is 15.6% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 9.3%, the young share down 3.0% and the working-age share down 6.1%. That combination points to demand from established households and older residents because population momentum is not being matched by a larger younger base. Gentrification signals are restrained in the headline forecast, with a score of 14 and a stage of Not gentrifying, although the longer shift measure records 42 and Early signs. Compared with faster-expanding corridors, Donnybrook is more likely to change through gradual turnover than rapid redevelopment; development activity was 0 projects in the past 12 months.
Population trend: Donnybrook-Balingup council area
Donnybrook sits in the Donnybrook-Balingup council area. These are the council area's residents, not Donnybrook's.
Residents 2025
6,698
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.4%
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 Donnybrook compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Donnybrook a good suburb to live in?
Donnybrook can suit buyers seeking a quieter, detached-home setting: 95.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 79.1% of commuters drive. Its median age is 46, which is 6 years above the national comparison, so the social profile is older than many metropolitan suburbs.
What is the median house price in Donnybrook?
A current median house price cannot be stated for Donnybrook. Buyers can frame affordability using the $1,486 average monthly mortgage figure, the 26.8% mortgage-to-income share and the 40.3% outright ownership rate, then compare recent settled sales by street, land size and bedroom count.
What schools are in Donnybrook?
Donnybrook has 2 local schools: 1 government district high school and 1 non-government school. Families should check the catchment and enrolment rules for the exact address, as sector availability and year-level entry can differ even within the same postcode.
Is Donnybrook safe?
No current suburb-level crime rate is available for Donnybrook, so a firm safety comparison would be inappropriate. Visit at different times, check lighting and nearby activity, and speak with local authorities or residents; 79.1% car use also makes street and parking conditions relevant.
Is Donnybrook good for property investment?
Donnybrook may suit investors targeting detached family housing, with 95.3% separate houses and 46.3% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms. Weekly rent is $300, but vacancy is 9.3%, higher than tight rental markets. Rented households are 18.9% and development activity was 0 projects over the past 12 months.
How is Donnybrook's population changing?
Donnybrook has 3,035 residents today and an older trajectory. The annual growth trend is 1.25%, migration is Balanced, and population change across the wider area is 15.6% over 10 years. The senior share has risen 9.3% while the young share has fallen 3.0%, so change is more likely to come through gradual ageing and household turnover.
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).
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