South Bunbury
South Bunbury stands out for a 10.3% vacancy rate in a compact 6.46 sq km suburb of 8,810 people. Its median age of 44 is 4 years above the national comparison, while 73.9% of dwellings are separate houses and 31.1% are rented. That combination creates a settled, car-oriented market with meaningful rental choice. Compared with nearby Bunbury and East Bunbury, the suburb is more focused on detached and semi-detached housing, which suits households seeking space without leaving the wider regional centre. Growth is measured at 0.69% annually, while an aging trajectory and 6.0% senior-share increase point to gradually changing household demand.
Population
8,810
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,438/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
South Bunbury suits buyers prioritising conventional family housing over apartment living. Separate houses account for 73.9% of dwellings, semi-detached homes represent 21.7%, and apartments only 3.0%, making the apartment share much lower than the separate-house share. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.4%, followed by four-or-more-bedroom dwellings at 32.8%, so the stock can accommodate both smaller families and downsizers needing extra rooms. The recorded mortgage cost is $1,600 per month, with mortgage payments equal to 25.7% of household income and no mortgage-stress flag. Rent of $300 per week provides a useful comparison for buyers weighing ownership against leasing.
For Buyers
South Bunbury suits buyers prioritising conventional family housing over apartment living. Separate houses account for 73.9% of dwellings, semi-detached homes represent 21.7%, and apartments only 3.0%, making the apartment share much lower than the separate-house share. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.4%, followed by four-or-more-bedroom dwellings at 32.8%, so the stock can accommodate both smaller families and downsizers needing extra rooms. The recorded mortgage cost is $1,600 per month, with mortgage payments equal to 25.7% of household income and no mortgage-stress flag. Rent of $300 per week provides a useful comparison for buyers weighing ownership against leasing.
For Investors
South Bunbury has a sizeable tenant base, with 31.1% of occupied dwellings rented, and weekly rent is recorded at $300. The 10.3% vacancy rate is lower than the renter share but still high enough to make tenant appeal and property condition important to any acquisition decision. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Investors should compare street-level demand, maintenance costs and recent sale evidence rather than relying on rent alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
29
Last 12 Months
29
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$143K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in South Bunbury
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
SOUTH BUNBURY EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRE
COLLEGE ROW SCHOOL
ST MARY'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
ADAM ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL
SOUTH BUNBURY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
South Bunbury has a median age of 44, which is 4 years above the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.2 people, 0.3 below the national figure. This smaller-household pattern aligns with 46.3% of families being couples without children, compared with 35.6% couples with children, while one-parent families account for 17.0%. Overseas-born residents make up 20.5%, 1.1 percentage points below the national comparison, and university attendance or attainment at 26.6% is 3.5 points below national levels. English ancestry is recorded for 4,103 residents, followed by Irish at 993, Scottish at 970 and Italian at 650. The result is an older, Anglo-leaning profile with some established migrant groups.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.9%
Houses
21.7%
Townhouse
3.0%
Apartment
Tenure
South Bunbury's housing stock is strongly detached, with 73.9% separate houses compared with 21.7% semi-detached dwellings and 3.0% apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 48.4% of the stock, a much higher share than two-bedroom homes at 13.7% or zero-to-one-bedroom dwellings at 5.1%. Tenure is relatively evenly split between outright ownership at 35.6%, mortgaged ownership at 31.5% and renting at 31.1%, so the suburb supports both long-term owners and renters. The $1,600 monthly mortgage figure compares with $300 weekly rent, while mortgage-to-income at 25.7% and rent-to-income at 20.9% indicate that neither tenure is flagged for stress. Compared with apartment-focused searches near central Bunbury, South Bunbury provides a more conventional house-and-semi-detached mix.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$791
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.3%
Unoccupied
420
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.6%
Couples with children
46.3%
Couples, no children
17.0%
Single parent
2,306
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is South Bunbury's largest industry, employing 584 people or 20.3% of the industry workforce, followed by education at 367 or 12.8%, construction at 312 or 10.8%, mining at 215 or 7.5%, and manufacturing at 201 or 7.0%. This mix gives the local economy exposure to essential services as well as regional construction and resource activity. Professionals number 909, above trades at 709, while clerical and administrative workers total 519. The labour force is 4,338 people, with unemployment at 4.1% and participation at 59.3%; full-time employment is 58.7% compared with 1,456 part-time workers. SEIFA results are moderate: IEO and IRSAD sit at decile 5, IRSD at decile 5, while IER is lower at decile 4, pointing to slightly weaker income resources than the other measured dimensions.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
4,338
Unemployed
179
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
59.3%
Employed
4,159
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.6%
Postgraduate
5.0%
Born Overseas
20.5%
Dwellings
3,665
Transport to Work
South Bunbury is highly car dependent: 82.5% of residents travel as car drivers, far higher than the 1.4% using public transport. Only 3.2% walk or cycle to work and 6.1% work from home, so daily convenience depends heavily on access to a vehicle and the exact location of shops, services and employment. Six local schools provide a mix of five government schools and one non-government school, covering primary, senior high and education support settings. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across nearby streets. Social conditions are mid-range, with IRSAD and IRSD both at decile 5, IEO at decile 5 and IER lower at decile 4. That balance supports practical amenity, but transport access remains weaker than car use.
Drive
82.5%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
6.1%
Population Forecast
+0.69%/yr
(+94 people/yr)
EstablishedSouth Bunbury's forecast annual trend is 0.69%, lower than the 14.8% rent-growth rate, so population momentum appears measured while rental pricing has moved faster. Overseas migration is the primary driver, and the wider-area population change is 8.1% over 10 years. The shift is labelled Aging: the senior share has increased by 6.0%, the working share has fallen by 3.3%, and the young share has declined by 0.3%. That pattern is likely to favour accessible homes, health services and lower-maintenance housing over rapid family-led expansion. Gentrification is not currently identified, with a score of 4 and a stage of Not gentrifying. Real income growth of 3.3% and improving affordability also support gradual rather than speculative change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+154
Net Internal / yr
-4
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Bunbury compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Bunbury a good suburb to live in?
South Bunbury can suit buyers who value detached homes, established services and a settled household profile. It has 8,810 residents, a median age of 44, 73.9% separate houses and 82.5% car drivers. The trade-off is a 10.3% vacancy rate and limited public transport at 1.4%, so compare streets and daily routes before committing.
What is the median house price in South Bunbury?
A current median house price is not available to quote. South Bunbury records a $1,600 monthly mortgage and $300 weekly rent, but those figures are not sale-price measures. Buyers should compare recent settled sales by dwelling type and bedroom count, particularly because 73.9% of homes are separate houses.
What schools are in South Bunbury?
South Bunbury has 6 schools: 5 government schools and 1 non-government school. The local mix includes primary schools, a senior high school and education support settings. Families should check the enrolment zone for the exact address, because school boundaries can differ between nearby streets and may affect access to the preferred campus.
Is South Bunbury safe?
No suburb-level crime rate is available for a simple safety ranking. Review recent WA Police information and visit the exact streets at different times. The 10.3% vacancy rate may mean activity varies between pockets, so inspect lighting, parking, traffic and evening movement rather than relying on a suburb-wide label.
Is South Bunbury good for property investment?
South Bunbury may suit investors seeking an established rental market, with 31.1% of dwellings rented and weekly rent of $300. The 10.3% vacancy rate calls for careful tenant-demand checks, while 29 development approvals in 12 months indicate ongoing activity. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but sale-by-sale pricing is essential because no current median house price is quoted.
How is South Bunbury's population changing?
South Bunbury has 8,810 residents today, with a forecast annual growth trend of 0.69%. Population change across the wider area is 8.1% over 10 years and overseas migration is the primary driver. The trajectory is Aging, reflected in a 6.0% increase in the senior share and a 3.3% decline in the working share.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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