Dunbogan
A median age of 63 makes Dunbogan one of the oldest-skewing communities on the mid-North Coast, sitting 23 years above the national median. That single fact shapes nearly everything else: household income lands in just the 10.3rd percentile nationally, yet 69% of residents own their homes outright rather than carrying a mortgage, because wealth here is stored in real estate rather than wages. The vacancy rate of 17.5% signals a large holiday or seasonal component in the 1,020-person population, and with 93.6% of dwellings being separate houses the suburb has an almost entirely detached housing profile. Development activity continues at 28 applications in 12 months, indicating ongoing interest in the area despite its small size.
Population
1,020
Median Age
63.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$947/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
Median House
$799K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $822,000 in 2025, up from $799,000 in 2024, a 2.9% annual gain. Separate houses dominate at 93.6% of dwellings, with apartments covering only 4.5%, so buyers have limited stock choice. The bedroom profile spreads across 3-bedroom (38.9%) and 4-plus bedroom (32.2%) homes, with smaller 2-bedroom dwellings at 21.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, but mortgage-to-income runs at 39% because household income is in the bottom 10.3rd percentile nationally. Only 20.3% of households carry a mortgage compared to 69% who own outright, suggesting the resident base largely completed purchases years ago. Buyers entering at current prices face real affordability pressure relative to local incomes.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $822,000 in 2025, up from $799,000 in 2024, a 2.9% annual gain. Separate houses dominate at 93.6% of dwellings, with apartments covering only 4.5%, so buyers have limited stock choice. The bedroom profile spreads across 3-bedroom (38.9%) and 4-plus bedroom (32.2%) homes, with smaller 2-bedroom dwellings at 21.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, but mortgage-to-income runs at 39% because household income is in the bottom 10.3rd percentile nationally. Only 20.3% of households carry a mortgage compared to 69% who own outright, suggesting the resident base largely completed purchases years ago. Buyers entering at current prices face real affordability pressure relative to local incomes.
For Investors
Renters make up just 10.7% of households, a thin tenant pool that limits rental demand, and the vacancy rate of 17.5% is well above the typical 3-5% threshold that signals healthy rental conditions. Weekly rent averages $370, which against an $822,000 median house price implies a gross yield below 2.4%. Development activity ran to 28 applications in 12 months, including a dual occupancy and subdivision modification, showing some owner-driven activity. The high proportion of outright owners (69%) means most dwellings are held long-term and rarely trade, which compresses available supply. Price growth of 2.9% from 2024 to 2025 is modest compared to stronger coastal markets, and the low renter share combined with high vacancy makes this a capital-growth rather than yield play.
Development Activity
Total DAs
212
Last 12 Months
29
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
With a median age of 63, Dunbogan sits 23 years above the national median, placing it firmly in the retired-resident category. Only 33.5% of the population participates in the labour force, compared to national rates above 65%, because the majority of adults are outside working age. Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below the national average, consistent with the dominant pattern of couples without children, who account for 59.7% of families. Overseas-born residents reach 13.4%, which is 8.2 points below national. Ancestry is overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic: English (554), Scottish (140) and Irish (132) are the top three groups. University qualifications at 20.4% are 9.7 points below the national rate, reflecting the older age profile rather than a skills gap in a working population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.6%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
4.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Dunbogan's tenure structure is unusual: 69% of dwellings are owned outright against a national norm closer to 30%, which happens because residents have aged past their mortgage years. Only 20.3% carry a mortgage and 10.7% rent, the inverse of most growth suburbs. Separate houses make up 93.6% of the stock, with apartments at 4.5%, confirming a detached coastal village character. The 3-bedroom (38.9%) and 4-plus bedroom (32.2%) segments dominate, leaving 2-bedroom at 21.3%. Price moved from $799,000 in 2024 to $822,000 in 2025, a gain of 2.9%. Housing stress affects mortgage holders and renters alike, with both mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income at 39%, elevated because household income sits in the 10.3rd percentile nationally. The 17.5% vacancy rate points to a secondary or holiday home component in the dwelling stock.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$529
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.5%
Unoccupied
99
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
39.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
39.0% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
59.7%
Couples, no children
765
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry base at 24.4% of employed residents, followed by Education at 14.6% and Construction at 11.7%. Professional/Technical services account for 8.9% and Retail for 7.0%. By occupation, Professionals (68 workers) lead, then Community and Personal services (55) and Clerical/Admin (38). Total employment among residents is low because the participation rate of 33.5% reflects a largely retired population, leaving 553 people not in the labour force out of a total of 1,020 residents. Weekly household income of $947 places the suburb in the 10.3rd percentile nationally, lower than the state average, yet outright ownership is high because long-term residents accumulated equity over decades. Unemployment among active participants is 6.7%, above average, though the small absolute number of 21 unemployed persons limits statistical weight.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.2%
Part-time
43.1%
Participation
33.5%
Employed
291
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.4%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
13.4%
Dwellings
466
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme in Dunbogan: 92.5% of workers drive to work, well above the national average, because the suburb has no recorded public transport usage and is a small coastal community at 6.81 km2. Walking and cycling account for 2.8% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children depend on facilities in nearby Camden Haven and Laurieton. The volunteering rate of 19.8% is a notable indicator of community participation, particularly given the retired demographic. Need for daily assistance reaches 11.3% (110 residents), above the national rate, which is consistent with the 63-year median age. Household weekly income of $947 sits in just the 10.3rd percentile nationally, meaning most residents rely on superannuation or investment income rather than wages to support their lifestyle in this low-density coastal setting.
Drive
92.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dunbogan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dunbogan a good suburb to live in?
Dunbogan suits retirees and those seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle. The median age is 63, which is 23 years above the national figure, and 69% of residents own their homes outright. The 17.5% vacancy rate suggests significant holiday-home activity, so the permanent community is smaller than dwellings alone imply. Car ownership is essential as 92.5% of residents drive to work and public transport is not recorded.
What is the median house price in Dunbogan?
The median house price reached $822,000 in 2025, up from $799,000 in 2024, a 2.9% annual increase. Weekly rent averages $370, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600. Against local incomes in the 10.3rd percentile nationally, both mortgage and rent-to-income ratios sit at 39%.
What schools are in Dunbogan?
No schools are recorded within the Dunbogan suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children rely on schools in the nearby Camden Haven area, including facilities in Laurieton. The suburb's resident base is heavily skewed toward retirees, with a median age of 63 and only 20.3% of households having children.
Is Dunbogan safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Dunbogan in this dataset. As context, the suburb has a population of 1,020 with a median age of 63 and a resident stability rate of 80.8%, meaning most residents stayed in the same location over the past year. The volunteering rate of 19.8% also suggests an engaged, settled community.
Is Dunbogan good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. The vacancy rate of 17.5% is well above the healthy 3-5% range, and only 10.7% of households rent, limiting tenant demand. Gross rental yield is below 2.4% based on $370 weekly rent against an $822,000 median. Price growth of 2.9% from 2024 to 2025 is modest. Long-term holds may benefit from coastal scarcity, but income yields are thin.
How is Dunbogan's population changing?
Dunbogan's population stands at 1,020 residents across 6.81 km2. Resident stability is high at 80.8%, with only 19.2% turnover recorded. The suburb's demographic skew toward residents aged 63 and above, combined with a participation rate of just 33.5%, suggests slow organic growth, with the community largely composed of long-term, settled residents.
How much development is happening in Dunbogan?
There were 28 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. These include a dual occupancy subdivision, new pool construction and building modifications such as deck and balcony works. The activity level suggests existing owners are investing in their properties, though the overall dwelling count remains small relative to neighbouring coastal towns.
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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