Dunbogan
The most distinctive feature of Dunbogan is its older, settled profile: the median age is 63, or 23 years above the national comparison, and 80.8% of residents stayed at the same address. The suburb has 1,020 residents across 6.81 sq km, with 93.6% separate houses and a 17.5% vacancy rate. Compared with nearby Laurieton and North Haven, Dunbogan reads as a quieter, low-density coastal option, where established ownership and an ageing base matter more than rapid household turnover. Its 68.4% outright ownership rate supports continuity, while the 10.3 household-income percentile points to tighter budgets than the national distribution.
Local council: Port Macquarie-Hastings
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
27
For buyers, Dunbogan suits households prioritising detached space, lower turnover and a coastal village setting over apartment convenience. Separate houses account for 93.6%, compared with 4.5% apartments; 38.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 32.2% have 4 or more. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,600 and weekly rent is $370, but mortgage stress reaches 39.0% of income, so borrowing capacity deserves close testing. Outright ownership at 68.4% is higher than mortgage tenure at 20.1%, reflecting an older owner base. Compared with a more mobile market, the 80.8% same-address rate may mean fewer listings, making drainage, insurance and access costs important checks.
For Buyers
For buyers, Dunbogan suits households prioritising detached space, lower turnover and a coastal village setting over apartment convenience. Separate houses account for 93.6%, compared with 4.5% apartments; 38.9% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 32.2% have 4 or more. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,600 and weekly rent is $370, but mortgage stress reaches 39.0% of income, so borrowing capacity deserves close testing. Outright ownership at 68.4% is higher than mortgage tenure at 20.1%, reflecting an older owner base. Compared with a more mobile market, the 80.8% same-address rate may mean fewer listings, making drainage, insurance and access costs important checks.
For Investors
Investment conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $370 and only 10.6% of households rent, while 68.4% own outright, so the tenant pool is smaller than in a conventional rental suburb. Vacancy is 17.5%, well above a tightly supplied market, which can lengthen letting periods and weaken negotiating power even when gross rent looks attractive. Development activity reached 26 applications over 12 months, including pools and new structures, signalling ongoing owner spending rather than a large apartment pipeline. Compared with inner or high-turnover locations, Dunbogan's 63 median age and 80.8% same-address rate favour stable, low-churn demand, but investors should stress-test vacancy, maintenance and insurance costs before relying on yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
216
Last 12 Months
27
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
Dunbogan's demographic profile is older and less university-oriented than the national pattern. Median age is 63, 23 years above the national comparison, while 20.4% hold a university qualification, 9.7 percentage points below national. Overseas-born residents comprise 13.4%, 8.2 points below national, and the average household has 2.0 people, 0.5 below the national comparison. English ancestry is reported by 554 people, followed by Scottish at 140 and Irish at 132; Christianity counts 567 and no religion 390. With 72.3% of couple families recorded as couples without children, housing and services are shaped more by older couples and independent adults than by large family households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.6%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
4.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly detached and owner-held. Separate houses make up 93.6% of dwellings, versus 4.5% apartments, while 68.4% are owned outright, 20.1% carry a mortgage and 10.6% are rented. The bedroom mix is weighted to established family stock: 38.9% have 3 bedrooms and 32.2% have 4 or more, compared with 21.3% with 2 bedrooms and 7.6% with 0 or 1. Vacancy at 17.5% is high compared with a tight market, which may reflect seasonal use or homes not actively offered to long-term tenants. Mortgage and rent stress are both close to 39%, so the lower-income profile, at the 10.3 household-income percentile, matters when comparing Dunbogan with Laurieton or North Haven.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $370.
$530
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $623
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
16.8%
Couples with children
72.3%
Couples, no children
11.6%
Single parent
328
Total families
Economy & Employment
Dunbogan's employment base is led by healthcare at 24.4% with 52 workers, followed by education at 14.6% and 31, construction at 11.7% and 25, professional and technical work at 8.9% and 19, and retail at 7.0% and 15. Household income sits at the 10.3 percentile, below the national distribution, helping explain why mortgage and rent stress are both about 39%. The labour-force participation rate is 36.4%, unemployment is 6.2%, and 553 people are not in the labour force, consistent with a median age of 63. Professionals number 68, community and personal service workers 55, and trades 44, so the economy combines care demand with practical local services rather than a large corporate base.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
339
Unemployed
21
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
45.9%
Part-time
45.6%
Participation
36.4%
Employed
318
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.4%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
13.4%
Dwellings
466
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for residents who value space, quiet and work or retirement flexibility. Dunbogan covers 6.81 sq km with 1,020 residents, a density of 149.7 people per sq km, lower than an urban setting. Transport is car-oriented, with 72.3% driving, while 21.8% work from home and only 2.2% walk or cycle, so daily access should be tested if a household has limited vehicle use. The average household size is 2.0 and volunteering is 19.8%, supporting a small-community pattern. Families should check exact school enrolment zones and nearby Camden Haven options, while all buyers should review current local safety information, flood exposure and emergency access rather than assuming conditions are identical across the 6.81 sq km.
Drive
72.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.2%
Work from Home
21.8%
Growth Outlook
Dunbogan's growth story is better read through settlement and development signals than through a rapid population churn narrative. The suburb has 1,020 residents, a 63 median age and an 80.8% same-address rate, compared with 19.2% turnover, indicating a strongly established base. At the same time, 26 development applications in 12 months include pools and new structures, showing continuing reinvestment in existing properties. This combination can support gradual renewal without implying a large influx: demand is likely to be shaped by retirees, existing owners and lifestyle buyers. Compared with more expansion-oriented coastal markets, Dunbogan's main growth question is whether improvements add amenity and resilience while preserving affordability.
Population trend: Port Macquarie-Hastings council area
Dunbogan sits in the Port Macquarie-Hastings council area. These are the council area's residents, not Dunbogan's.
Residents 2025
92,432
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.5%
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 Dunbogan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dunbogan a good suburb to live in?
Dunbogan may suit residents seeking a quiet coastal setting, detached housing and a settled neighbourhood. Its population is 1,020, median age is 63 and 80.8% stayed at the same address. Compared with busier centres, the trade-off is fewer urban services and stronger reliance on cars for daily travel.
What is the median house price in Dunbogan?
Check recent settled sales rather than relying on a generic estimate. Dunbogan is 93.6% separate houses and 4.5% apartments, so a suburb-wide median can shift with the small apartment segment and the mix of 2-bedroom homes at 21.3%, 3-bedroom homes at 38.9% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 32.2%.
What schools are in Dunbogan?
School access should be checked across the Camden Haven area and against the exact address, because enrolment zones can cross locality boundaries. Dunbogan covers 6.81 sq km and has an average household size of 2.0, so families should confirm travel times, sector options and current intake rules before purchasing or renting.
Is Dunbogan safe?
Review current NSW Police information and visit the intended street at different times before making a decision. Dunbogan has 1,020 residents and a density of 149.7 people per sq km, creating a lower-density setting than an urban centre, but safety can vary by street, lighting, flood access and seasonal occupancy.
Is Dunbogan good for property investment?
Dunbogan has a $370 weekly rent and 10.6% renting households, but the 17.5% vacancy rate is above a tightly supplied market. The 26 development applications recorded over 12 months show ongoing reinvestment, while the 63 median age and 68.4% outright ownership point to stable but relatively low-churn demand.
How is Dunbogan's population changing?
Dunbogan has 1,020 residents, a median age of 63 and an 80.8% same-address rate against 19.2% turnover. Those figures point to a settled, ageing population with gradual change rather than rapid churn. Development activity at 26 applications over 12 months suggests property renewal is occurring even as the resident base remains established.
What development is happening in Dunbogan?
There were 26 development applications over 12 months, with examples including swimming pools and new structures. This points more to additions and improvements to existing properties than a large new housing estate. Buyers should check approvals, flood constraints, building costs and insurance before assuming development activity will change local supply.
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 Dunbogan on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map