Bona Vista vs Warragul

Warragul is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 47 in Bona Vista. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bona Vista, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Bona Vista tends to suit people living alone and couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Warragul

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (33 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (17 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 1)
  • But Bona Vista carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 84/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Bona Vista

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($285/wk vs $321/wk)
  • But Warragul has a bigger rental market to choose from (23% vs 12%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Warragul

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 17/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (104.3 km vs 112.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (81 min vs 87 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Warragul

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 17/100)
  • But Bona Vista carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 84/100)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Warragul

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (26.0% vs -1.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bona Vista and Warragul drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bona Vista Warragul
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bona Vista Warragul
Walkability 17 / 84
Bona Vista — Walkability: 17/100 Warragul — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 73 / 16
Bona Vista — Safety: 73/100 Warragul — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 100 / 71
Bona Vista — Low fire risk: 100/100 Warragul — Low fire risk: 71/100
Low flood risk 52 / 59
Bona Vista — Low flood risk: 52/100 Warragul — Low flood risk: 59/100

Demographics

Warragul has more residents (19,856 vs 107); Bona Vista has higher household incomes ($96,200 vs $81,276).

Bona Vista Warragul
Population 107 19,856
+18457% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.8% +26.0%
Median age 47 40
Median household income $96,200/yr
+16% vs other
 $81,276/yr
Median weekly rent $285/wk $321/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bona Vista Warragul
0-4 3.7% / 6.2%
Bona Vista — 0-4: 3.7% Warragul — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 14.0% / 12.1%
Bona Vista — 5-14: 14.0% Warragul — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 6.5% / 5.6%
Bona Vista — 15-19: 6.5% Warragul — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 4.7% / 5.4%
Bona Vista — 20-24: 4.7% Warragul — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 14.0% / 13.5%
Bona Vista — 25-34: 14.0% Warragul — 25-34: 13.5%
35-44 8.4% / 11.6%
Bona Vista — 35-44: 8.4% Warragul — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 15.9% / 12.0%
Bona Vista — 45-54: 15.9% Warragul — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 17.8% / 12.0%
Bona Vista — 55-64: 17.8% Warragul — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 9.3% / 11.4%
Bona Vista — 65-74: 9.3% Warragul — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 11.2% / 7.3%
Bona Vista — 75-84: 11.2% Warragul — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ — / 2.9%
Bona Vista — 85+: not among its largest Warragul — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bona Vista 52.6% couple families
Bona Vista — Couple Families: 52.6% Bona Vista — Lone Person: 47.4% Bona Vista — One Parent Families: 0.0% Bona Vista — Group Household: 0.0% Bona Vista — Other Families: 0.0%
Warragul 41.4% couple families
Warragul — Couple Families: 41.4% Warragul — Lone Person: 37.9% Warragul — One Parent Families: 16.1% Warragul — Group Household: 3.3% Warragul — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bona Vista 12.5% renting
Bona Vista — Owned Outright: 66.7% Bona Vista — Mortgage: 20.8% Bona Vista — Renting: 12.5%
Warragul 23.1% renting
Warragul — Owned Outright: 38.4% Warragul — Mortgage: 38.5% Warragul — Renting: 23.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bona Vista 100.0% houses
Bona Vista — Houses: 100.0% Bona Vista — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Bona Vista — Townhouses: 0.0%
Warragul 87.9% houses
Warragul — Houses: 87.9% Warragul — Flats / Apartments: 6.9% Warragul — Townhouses: 5.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bona Vista Warragul
Certificate III & IV 22.4% / 16.6%
Bona Vista — Certificate III & IV: 22.4% Warragul — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 10.9%
Bona Vista — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Warragul — Bachelor Degree: 10.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 2.8% / 8.4%
Bona Vista — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 2.8% Warragul — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 2.5%
Bona Vista — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Warragul — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%
Postgraduate Degree — / 3.2%
Bona Vista — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Warragul — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

Property market

Bona Vista Warragul
Median house price — $652,000
Median unit price — $434,500
Median land price — $630,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 48 days
from 337 sales

Zoning mix

Bona Vista has more rural and farming land (96% vs 39%).

Bona Vista Warragul
Rural and farming 96% 39%
Residential 0% 50%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 5%
Parks and recreation 4% 3%
Industrial 0% 2%
Commercial 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bona Vista Warragul
New dwellings approved 619
across Baw Baw
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bona Vista Warragul
Houses — 4.3%
$600/wk on $729K
Units — 5.4%
$510/wk on $489K

Ranking within VIC

Bona Vista Warragul
House price — Higher than 32% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 31% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 70% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 66% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 80% of VIC

Liveability

Warragul is more walkable (84 vs 17).

Bona Vista Warragul
Grade — C
Score — 38/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Warragul carries more bushfire risk (29 vs 0); Warragul carries more crime risk (84 vs 27).

Bona Vista Warragul
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
29/100
Crime Low
27/100
 High
84/100
Flood Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
41/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Bona Vista Warragul
Inside the suburb 1 10
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 4
Rated below peers 1 3

Schools in Bona Vista

  • Bona Vista Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Warragul

  • St Angela of the Cross Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Warragul Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Warragul Regional College Government · Secondary at peers
  • ECG Secondary College Independent · Secondary · Special school at peers
  • Marist-Sion College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bona Vista Warragul
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 28
Parks & reserves 0 33
Childcare 0 17
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 0 6
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 0 8
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 6 7

Mobility

Bona Vista sits further from the CBD (112.1 km vs 104.3 km).

Bona Vista Warragul
Walkability score 17/100 84/100
Distance to Melbourne 112.1 km
+7% vs other
 104.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 87 min 81 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3820
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 3820
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bona Vista Warragul
Car (driver) 63.0% / 74.1%
Bona Vista — Car (driver): 63.0% Warragul — Car (driver): 74.1%
Worked from Home 24.1% / 16.7%
Bona Vista — Worked from Home: 24.1% Warragul — Worked from Home: 16.7%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 5.5%
Bona Vista — Car (passenger): 5.6% Warragul — Car (passenger): 5.5%
Walked Only 7.4% / 2.2%
Bona Vista — Walked Only: 7.4% Warragul — Walked Only: 2.2%
Train — / 0.8%
Bona Vista — Train: not among its largest Warragul — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.1%).

Setting

Bona Vista Warragul
Elevation 149 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 131 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 39.5 km 39.0 km

NBN connectivity

Bona Vista Warragul
Connectivity score 30/100 73/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
44 premises
 52%
9,499 premises

Climate

Bona Vista Warragul
Annual rainfall 1,090 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Bona Vista Warragul
Average residential rate $2,138/yr
same for both
Council Baw Baw
same for both

Federal electorate

Bona Vista Warragul
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bona Vista Warragul
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bona Vista

Rural

Warragul

Parks Regional Centre River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bona Vista

Bona Vista vs Darnum Bona Vista vs Nilma Bona Vista vs Warragul South Bona Vista vs Ellinbank Bona Vista vs Cloverlea Bona Vista vs Gainsborough

Other comparisons with Warragul

Warragul vs Drouin Warragul vs Buln Buln Warragul vs Nilma Warragul vs Nilma North Warragul vs Warragul South Warragul vs Drouin East
Full data on Bona Vista Full data on Warragul
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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