Bonnells Bay vs Morisset

Bonnells Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 53 in Morisset. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Morisset, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Bonnells Bay tends to suit families with children, while Morisset suits people living alone and older residents.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Bonnells Bay is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 41%)
  • Morisset has more childcare (10 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Bonnells Bay leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 40%)
  • Morisset has cheaper units ($590,000 vs $783,495)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bonnells Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (27% vs 40%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bonnells Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (57/100 vs 20/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, 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 20/100)
  • Morisset has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 5%)

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

Investors

Morisset

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (26.9% vs 13.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Bonnells Bay and Morisset 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 Morisset
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 Morisset
Walkability 57 / 20
Bonnells Bay — Walkability: 57/100 Morisset — Walkability: 20/100
Safety 35 / 8
Bonnells Bay — Safety: 35/100 Morisset — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 48
Bonnells Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Morisset — Low fire risk: 48/100

Demographics

Bonnells Bay has higher household incomes ($75,920 vs $49,868); Morisset skews older (53 vs 42).

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Population 4,066 4,078
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.6% +26.9%
Median age 42 53
Median household income $75,920/yr
+34% vs other
 $49,868/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+5% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bonnells Bay Morisset
0-4 6.1% / 5.2%
Bonnells Bay — 0-4: 6.1% Morisset — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 12.5% / 8.9%
Bonnells Bay — 5-14: 12.5% Morisset — 5-14: 8.9%
15-19 5.7% / 4.3%
Bonnells Bay — 15-19: 5.7% Morisset — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 5.6% / 5.2%
Bonnells Bay — 20-24: 5.6% Morisset — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 11.4% / 10.0%
Bonnells Bay — 25-34: 11.4% Morisset — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 11.5% / 9.3%
Bonnells Bay — 35-44: 11.5% Morisset — 35-44: 9.3%
45-54 11.2% / 8.6%
Bonnells Bay — 45-54: 11.2% Morisset — 45-54: 8.6%
55-64 12.8% / 10.9%
Bonnells Bay — 55-64: 12.8% Morisset — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 12.8% / 13.4%
Bonnells Bay — 65-74: 12.8% Morisset — 65-74: 13.4%
75-84 8.5% / 14.9%
Bonnells Bay — 75-84: 8.5% Morisset — 75-84: 14.9%
85+ 2.1% / 9.1%
Bonnells Bay — 85+: 2.1% Morisset — 85+: 9.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bonnells Bay 32.3% lone person
Bonnells Bay — Lone Person: 32.3% Bonnells Bay — Couple Families: 40.8% Bonnells Bay — One Parent Families: 22.7% Bonnells Bay — Group Household: 3.3% Bonnells Bay — Other Families: 0.9%
Morisset 53.0% lone person
Morisset — Lone Person: 53.0% Morisset — Couple Families: 22.3% Morisset — One Parent Families: 18.4% Morisset — Group Household: 4.8% Morisset — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Morisset 36.2% renting
Morisset — Owned Outright: 46.8% Morisset — Mortgage: 17.0% Morisset — Renting: 36.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 18.0%
Bonnells Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Morisset — Certificate III & IV: 18.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 6.9%
Bonnells Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Morisset — Bachelor Degree: 6.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 6.4%
Bonnells Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Morisset — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 2.1%
Bonnells Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Morisset — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 0.9%
Bonnells Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Morisset — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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 Morisset
England 2.8% / 4.6%
Bonnells Bay — England: 2.8% Morisset — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.0%
Bonnells Bay — New Zealand: 2.0% Morisset — New Zealand: 2.0%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.5%
Bonnells Bay — Philippines: 0.5% Morisset — Philippines: 0.5%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.5%
Bonnells Bay — Scotland: 0.5% Morisset — Scotland: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.5%
Bonnells Bay — Netherlands: 0.5% Morisset — Netherlands: 0.5%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.4%
Bonnells Bay — South Africa: 0.5% Morisset — South Africa: 0.4%
India — / 0.5%
Bonnells Bay — India: not among its largest Morisset — India: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

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%
Morisset 74.5% houses
Morisset — Houses: 74.5% Morisset — Townhouses: 21.4% Morisset — Flats / Apartments: 4.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Median house price $912,500 $867,000
Median unit price $783,495 $590,000
Median land price — $1,385,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 64 sales
 24 days
from 31 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 Morisset
3 bed $800K / $775K
Bonnells Bay — 3 bed: $800K (42 sales) Morisset — 3 bed: $775K (34 sales)

42 vs 34 sales

4 bed $952K / $886K
Bonnells Bay — 4 bed: $952K (68 sales) Morisset — 4 bed: $886K (22 sales)

68 vs 22 sales

Zoning mix

Morisset has more land zoned for conservation (54% vs 26%).

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Environmental 26% 54%
Residential 51% 8%
Rural and farming 17% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 6% 5%
Industrial 0% 5%
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 Morisset
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 Morisset
Houses 4.0%
$720/wk on $940K
 4.3%
$680/wk on $815K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bonnells Bay Morisset
House price Higher than 41% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 51% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW

Liveability

Bonnells Bay is more walkable (57 vs 20); Bonnells Bay scores higher overall (52 vs 26).

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Grade B D
Score 52/100 26/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Morisset carries more bushfire risk (52 vs 0); Morisset carries more crime risk (92 vs 65).

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
52/100
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
92/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Bonnells Bay

  • Bonnells Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Morisset

  • Heritage College Lake Macquarie Independent · Combined above peers
  • Morisset High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St John Vianney Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Morisset Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 3 10
Childcare 1 10
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 0 6
Waterways 0 25

Mobility

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Walkability score 57/100 20/100
Distance to Sydney 117.3 km 117.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 93 min 95 min
Public transport score 68/100
Bus
 87/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 67.5
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 Morisset
Car (driver) 68.3% / 67.3%
Bonnells Bay — Car (driver): 68.3% Morisset — Car (driver): 67.3%
Worked from Home 26.3% / 21.9%
Bonnells Bay — Worked from Home: 26.3% Morisset — Worked from Home: 21.9%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 5.6%
Bonnells Bay — Car (passenger): 3.0% Morisset — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Walked Only 0.7% / 3.2%
Bonnells Bay — Walked Only: 0.7% Morisset — Walked Only: 3.2%
Train 1.2% / 1.9%
Bonnells Bay — Train: 1.2% Morisset — Train: 1.9%

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

Setting

Bonnells Bay Morisset
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 13.5 km

NBN connectivity

Bonnells Bay Morisset
Connectivity score 74/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
1,826 premises
 36%
3,049 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Bonnells Bay Morisset
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

Morisset

Retirees River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bonnells Bay

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

Other comparisons with Morisset

Morisset vs Cooranbong Morisset vs Wyee Morisset vs Dora Creek Morisset vs Wyee Point Morisset vs Morisset Park Morisset vs Mandalong
Full data on Bonnells Bay Full data on Morisset
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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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