East Bunbury
At a median age of 47, East Bunbury sits 7 years above the national figure, and this aging profile shapes almost every other measure in the suburb. Household income falls in the 24.9th percentile nationally, and SEIFA ranks the suburb in decile 1 for education and occupation (IEO) and decile 2 on IRSAD, placing it among the most disadvantaged areas by those indexes. Yet ownership is strong: 37.9% of households own their home outright, above the pattern typical of low-income areas, reflecting long-tenure older residents rather than a transient population. The median house price of $376,000 makes entry more accessible than most of metro Perth.
Population
4,019
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,193/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$376K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $376,000 is well below the Perth metro median, making East Bunbury one of the more accessible owner-occupier markets in WA. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,470, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5%, below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many coastal WA suburbs. The stock is strongly detached, with 77.6% separate houses and only 1.7% apartments, and 54.6% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms while 28.3% have 4 or more. Outright owners at 37.9% outnumber mortgage holders at 31.4%, consistent with a settled, older population rather than first-home-buyer churn. Semi-detached dwellings at 20.8% provide an entry price point below the detached median.
For Buyers
The median house price of $376,000 is well below the Perth metro median, making East Bunbury one of the more accessible owner-occupier markets in WA. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,470, which produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5%, below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many coastal WA suburbs. The stock is strongly detached, with 77.6% separate houses and only 1.7% apartments, and 54.6% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms while 28.3% have 4 or more. Outright owners at 37.9% outnumber mortgage holders at 31.4%, consistent with a settled, older population rather than first-home-buyer churn. Semi-detached dwellings at 20.8% provide an entry price point below the detached median.
For Investors
A 30.7% renter share and median rent of $300 per week give landlords a steady tenant pool, but the 11.0% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention before committing to purchase. Against a $376,000 median, $300 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 4.1%, above what many metro Perth suburbs produce. Net migration averages 40 internal and 66 overseas arrivals per year, supporting underlying demand. Development activity reached 30 applications in the past 12 months, with recent approvals including a $318,000 new dwelling and a $200,000 alteration, signalling that owner-occupiers are investing in stock. The suburb is not gentrifying by SEIFA measures, so capital growth expectations should be moderate rather than speculative.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$202K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Bunbury iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cooinda Primary School
K-6 · 278 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national average, and the senior share has increased 5.6 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 0.6 points. Overseas-born residents account for 19.9% of the population, 1.7 percentage points below national. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,728 residents) leads, followed by Scottish (388), Italian (362) and Irish (352). University qualifications at 16.5% run 13.6 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the suburb's IEO decile 1 ranking, the lowest education-and-occupation tier nationally. Average household size is 2.1, compared to 2.5 nationally, reflecting the prevalence of older couples and smaller family units.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.6%
Houses
20.8%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure divides into outright owners (37.9%), mortgage holders (31.4%) and renters (30.7%), a split that distinguishes East Bunbury from many affordable suburbs where renting dominates. Outright ownership at 37.9% is high relative to the suburb's income level, explained by long-holding older residents. The stock is 77.6% separate houses, 20.8% semi-detached and only 1.7% apartments, which limits density but also limits price volatility. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 54.6% and 4-plus bedroom homes make up 28.3%, giving a family-sized stock at an affordable median of $376,000. Rent stress is absent at 25.1% rent-to-income, and mortgage stress is also below threshold at 28.5%, both more comfortable than national benchmarks.
Mortgage / mo
$1,470
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$679
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.0%
Unoccupied
218
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.8%
Couples, no children
2,841
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 19.3% of workers (225 people), followed by Education at 12.6% (147) and Construction at 11.3% (132), with Manufacturing at 8.4% and Mining at 6.2%. This public-sector-heavy mix is consistent with the broader Bunbury region serving as a regional hub for health and education services. By occupation, Labourers (259), Professionals (254) and Community/Personal (249) are nearly equal in size, an unusual split that reflects both the healthcare workforce and the blue-collar construction base. Unemployment is 4.9% and the full-time employment rate is 61.9%. Participation at 53.0% is low compared to national averages, because the aging population leaves 1,319 residents outside the labour force. Real income growth was 2.4% over the decade, below inflation.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
4,381
Unemployed
187
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.9%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
53.0%
Employed
1,731
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.5%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
19.9%
Dwellings
1,752
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 86.9% of residents driving to work, and public transport use at 1.6% is below the national average, reflecting the limited transit network typical of regional WA cities. Walking and cycling accounts for 4.4% of commutes, modest but above many comparable regional suburbs. No schools are recorded within the East Bunbury boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Bunbury institutions. SEIFA ranks the suburb in decile 3 on IRSD, meaning it falls in the lower third nationally for relative advantage. Volunteering runs at 15.3% of residents, above average for a low-income area, and 7.0% of the population (265 people) require daily assistance, linked to the older median age of 47. Rent-to-income at 25.1% keeps housing costs manageable for tenants.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.93%/yr
(+74 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 4.4% over the past decade, below the national rate, and the current annual pace is 0.93%, adding roughly 37 residents per year to the suburb's 4,019 people. Medium forecasts for the broader SA2 (which includes East Bunbury) project growth from 7,909 in 2026 to 8,278 by 2031, a continuation of steady but unspectacular expansion. Net overseas migration of 66 per year is the primary driver, with internal migration contributing a net 40, a balanced mix compared to coastal WA suburbs that rely almost entirely on overseas arrivals. The gentrification score is low at 19 and the suburb is classified as not gentrifying, meaning SEIFA advantage metrics are unlikely to shift materially. Affordability improved from 47.0% in 2011 to 41.5% in 2021, a genuine improvement that positions the suburb better than a decade ago.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+66
Net Internal / yr
+40
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011, Accelerating: -1% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Bunbury compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Bunbury a good suburb to live in?
East Bunbury suits buyers and retirees looking for affordable detached housing. The median house price is $376,000, mortgage-to-income is a comfortable 28.5%, and 37.9% of residents own their home outright. The suburb ranks in SEIFA decile 3 on IRSD, placing it in the lower third nationally for socioeconomic advantage, so buyers should weigh services and amenity access carefully.
What is the median house price in East Bunbury?
The median house price is $376,000 (estimated from 2025 rental data). Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,470, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.5%. This is below the 30% stress threshold and more affordable than most Perth metro areas.
What schools are in East Bunbury?
No schools are recorded inside the East Bunbury suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb is part of the broader Bunbury area, which has a range of primary and secondary schools accessible within a short drive. University qualifications among residents are at 16.5%, which is 13.6 percentage points below the national figure.
Is East Bunbury safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for East Bunbury in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 3 on IRSD (relative disadvantage) nationally, which is in the lower tier of socioeconomic advantage. The volunteering rate of 15.3% and a settled population (74.3% of residents stayed over 5 years) suggest a stable community.
Is East Bunbury good for property investment?
At a $376,000 median and $300 weekly rent, the gross yield is approximately 4.1%, higher than most Perth metro suburbs. The 11.0% vacancy rate is elevated and represents the main risk. Annual population growth is 0.93% and net migration adds around 106 people per year, providing underlying demand. The suburb is not gentrifying, so growth expectations should be income-focused rather than speculative.
How is East Bunbury's population changing?
The suburb's population is 4,019, up 4.4% over the past decade at roughly 0.93% per year. Net overseas migration averages 66 per year and internal migration adds a net 40, a balanced growth mix. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.6 points and median age at 47, which is 7 years above the national figure. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 8,278 by 2031.
How much development is happening in East Bunbury?
There were 30 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent approvals include a $318,000 new dwelling and a $200,000 dwelling alteration, indicating active investment in the existing detached housing stock. The 30 applications over 12 months is above what would be expected for a suburb of 4,019 people, suggesting ongoing owner-occupier improvement activity.
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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