Bonnells Bay vs Brightwaters

Bonnells Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 50 in Brightwaters. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses.

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

Brightwaters

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 65/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Bonnells Bay

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (57/100 vs 41/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (93 min vs 98 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (117.3 km vs 120.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bonnells Bay is more walkable (57/100 vs 41/100)
  • Brightwaters carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 65/100)

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

Investors

Bonnells Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.6% vs -3.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
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.

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Walkability 57 / 41
Bonnells Bay — Walkability: 57/100 Brightwaters — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 35 / 79
Bonnells Bay — Safety: 35/100 Brightwaters — Safety: 79/100
Low fire risk 100 / 58
Bonnells Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brightwaters — Low fire risk: 58/100

Demographics

Bonnells Bay has more residents (4,066 vs 875); Brightwaters skews older (50 vs 42).

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Population 4,066
+78% vs other
 875
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.6% -3.1%
Median age 42 50
Median household income $75,920/yr
+3% vs other
 $73,788/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+2% vs other
 $390/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
0-4 6.1% / 4.6%
Bonnells Bay — 0-4: 6.1% Brightwaters — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 12.5% / 10.3%
Bonnells Bay — 5-14: 12.5% Brightwaters — 5-14: 10.3%
15-19 5.7% / 4.2%
Bonnells Bay — 15-19: 5.7% Brightwaters — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 5.6% / 5.3%
Bonnells Bay — 20-24: 5.6% Brightwaters — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 11.4% / 8.1%
Bonnells Bay — 25-34: 11.4% Brightwaters — 25-34: 8.1%
35-44 11.5% / 9.1%
Bonnells Bay — 35-44: 11.5% Brightwaters — 35-44: 9.1%
45-54 11.2% / 13.9%
Bonnells Bay — 45-54: 11.2% Brightwaters — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 12.8% / 16.2%
Bonnells Bay — 55-64: 12.8% Brightwaters — 55-64: 16.2%
65-74 12.8% / 16.0%
Bonnells Bay — 65-74: 12.8% Brightwaters — 65-74: 16.0%
75-84 8.5% / 8.8%
Bonnells Bay — 75-84: 8.5% Brightwaters — 75-84: 8.8%
85+ 2.1% / 2.1%
Bonnells Bay — 85+: 2.1% Brightwaters — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bonnells Bay 40.8% couple families
Bonnells Bay — Couple Families: 40.8% Bonnells Bay — Lone Person: 32.3% Bonnells Bay — One Parent Families: 22.7% Bonnells Bay — Group Household: 3.3% Bonnells Bay — Other Families: 0.9%
Brightwaters 42.8% couple families
Brightwaters — Couple Families: 42.8% Brightwaters — Lone Person: 35.6% Brightwaters — One Parent Families: 17.3% Brightwaters — Group Household: 2.9% Brightwaters — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bonnells Bay 26.5% renting
Bonnells Bay — Owned Outright: 40.7% Bonnells Bay — Mortgage: 32.8% Bonnells Bay — Renting: 26.5%
Brightwaters 20.2% renting
Brightwaters — Owned Outright: 48.6% Brightwaters — Mortgage: 31.2% Brightwaters — Renting: 20.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 21.5%
Bonnells Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Brightwaters — Certificate III & IV: 21.5%
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 10.2%
Bonnells Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Brightwaters — Bachelor Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 9.8%
Bonnells Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Brightwaters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 2.9%
Bonnells Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Brightwaters — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.5%
Bonnells Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Brightwaters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
England 2.8% / 3.2%
Bonnells Bay — England: 2.8% Brightwaters — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.5%
Bonnells Bay — New Zealand: 2.0% Brightwaters — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa 0.5% / 1.4%
Bonnells Bay — South Africa: 0.5% Brightwaters — South Africa: 1.4%
Germany 0.4% / 0.8%
Bonnells Bay — Germany: 0.4% Brightwaters — Germany: 0.8%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.3%
Bonnells Bay — Philippines: 0.5% Brightwaters — Philippines: 0.3%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Bonnells Bay — Scotland: 0.5% Brightwaters — Scotland: not among its largest
China — / 0.5%
Bonnells Bay — China: not among its largest Brightwaters — China: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bonnells Bay 94.8% houses
Bonnells Bay — Houses: 94.8% Bonnells Bay — Townhouses: 5.1% Bonnells Bay — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Brightwaters 97.7% houses
Brightwaters — Houses: 97.7% Brightwaters — Townhouses: 1.4% Brightwaters — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Median house price $912,500 $975,000
Median unit price $783,495 —
Median land price — $665,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 64 sales
 20 days
from 6 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
3 bed $800K / $880K
Bonnells Bay — 3 bed: $800K (42 sales) Brightwaters — 3 bed: $880K (15 sales)

42 vs 15 sales

4 bed $952K / $1.22M
Bonnells Bay — 4 bed: $952K (68 sales) Brightwaters — 4 bed: $1.22M (10 sales)

68 vs 10 sales

5 bed $1.02M / $2.25M
Bonnells Bay — 5 bed: $1.02M (12 sales) Brightwaters — 5 bed: $2.25M (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Brightwaters has more land zoned for conservation (64% vs 26%); Bonnells Bay has more rural and farming land (17% vs 0%).

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Environmental 26% 64%
Residential 51% 32%
Rural and farming 17% 0%
Parks and recreation 6% 3%
Commercial 2% 0%
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

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Houses 4.0%
$720/wk on $940K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of NSW —

Liveability

Bonnells Bay is more walkable (57 vs 41).

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 53/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Brightwaters carries more bushfire risk (42 vs 0); Bonnells Bay carries more crime risk (65 vs 21).

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
42/100
Crime Moderate
65/100
 Low
21/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Bonnells Bay

  • Bonnells Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Brightwaters

  • Brightwaters Christian College Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Supermarkets 1 0
Parks & reserves 3 1
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0

Mobility

Brightwaters sits further from the CBD (120.2 km vs 117.3 km).

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Walkability score 57/100 41/100
Distance to Sydney 117.3 km 120.2 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 93 min 98 min
Public transport score 68/100
Bus
 34/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 8.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2264
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 2264
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.

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Car (driver) 68.3% / 61.2%
Bonnells Bay — Car (driver): 68.3% Brightwaters — Car (driver): 61.2%
Worked from Home 26.3% / 32.4%
Bonnells Bay — Worked from Home: 26.3% Brightwaters — Worked from Home: 32.4%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 4.5%
Bonnells Bay — Car (passenger): 3.0% Brightwaters — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.9%
Bonnells Bay — Walked Only: 0.7% Brightwaters — Walked Only: 1.9%
Train 1.2% / —
Bonnells Bay — Train: 1.2% Brightwaters — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.3%).

Setting

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.0 km 9.1 km

NBN connectivity

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Connectivity score 74/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
1,826 premises
 64%
432 premises

Climate

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.27 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Division Hunter
same for both
Member Dan Repacholi
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bonnells Bay Brightwaters
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bonnells Bay

Large Blocks Quiet

Brightwaters

Large Blocks Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bonnells Bay

Bonnells Bay vs Morisset Bonnells Bay vs Morisset Park Bonnells Bay vs Windermere Park Bonnells Bay vs Yarrawonga Park

Other comparisons with Brightwaters

Brightwaters vs Morisset Park Brightwaters vs Mirrabooka Brightwaters vs Windermere Park Brightwaters vs Yarrawonga Park Brightwaters vs Silverwater
Full data on Bonnells Bay Full data on Brightwaters
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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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