Bonnells Bay vs Windermere Park

Windermere Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in Bonnells Bay. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Bonnells Bay: a median of $912,000, against $829,000 in Windermere Park.

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 has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • Windermere Park carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 65/100)

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

First-home buyers

Windermere Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($828,750 vs $912,500)

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 18%)
  • Windermere Park carries lower crime risk (54/100 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 3.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bonnells Bay and Windermere Park 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 Windermere Park
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 Windermere Park
Walkability 57 / 61
Bonnells Bay — Walkability: 57/100 Windermere Park — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 35 / 46
Bonnells Bay — Safety: 35/100 Windermere Park — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bonnells Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Windermere Park — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bonnells Bay has more residents (4,066 vs 722); Bonnells Bay skews older (42 vs 38).

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Population 4,066
+82% vs other
 722
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.6% +3.7%
Median age 42 38
Median household income $75,920/yr $75,192/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+5% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
0-4 6.1% / 7.5%
Bonnells Bay — 0-4: 6.1% Windermere Park — 0-4: 7.5%
5-14 12.5% / 10.7%
Bonnells Bay — 5-14: 12.5% Windermere Park — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 5.7% / 7.1%
Bonnells Bay — 15-19: 5.7% Windermere Park — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 5.6% / 7.5%
Bonnells Bay — 20-24: 5.6% Windermere Park — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 11.4% / 13.6%
Bonnells Bay — 25-34: 11.4% Windermere Park — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 11.5% / 11.6%
Bonnells Bay — 35-44: 11.5% Windermere Park — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 11.2% / 11.4%
Bonnells Bay — 45-54: 11.2% Windermere Park — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 12.8% / 14.3%
Bonnells Bay — 55-64: 12.8% Windermere Park — 55-64: 14.3%
65-74 12.8% / 9.7%
Bonnells Bay — 65-74: 12.8% Windermere Park — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 8.5% / 6.5%
Bonnells Bay — 75-84: 8.5% Windermere Park — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 2.1% / 2.1%
Bonnells Bay — 85+: 2.1% Windermere Park — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

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%
Windermere Park 35.0% couple families
Windermere Park — Couple Families: 35.0% Windermere Park — Lone Person: 36.4% Windermere Park — One Parent Families: 23.8% Windermere Park — Group Household: 4.9% Windermere Park — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Windermere Park 27.2% renting
Windermere Park — Owned Outright: 34.1% Windermere Park — Mortgage: 38.8% Windermere Park — Renting: 27.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 21.9%
Bonnells Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Windermere Park — Certificate III & IV: 21.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 7.5%
Bonnells Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Windermere Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 6.8%
Bonnells Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Windermere Park — Bachelor Degree: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 1.5%
Bonnells Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Windermere Park — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.9%
Bonnells Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Windermere Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

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 Windermere Park
England 2.8% / 4.4%
Bonnells Bay — England: 2.8% Windermere Park — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.1%
Bonnells Bay — New Zealand: 2.0% Windermere Park — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.5% / 1.0%
Bonnells Bay — Philippines: 0.5% Windermere Park — Philippines: 1.0%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.6%
Bonnells Bay — Scotland: 0.5% Windermere Park — Scotland: 0.6%
Italy — / 0.8%
Bonnells Bay — Italy: not among its largest Windermere Park — Italy: 0.8%
South Africa 0.5% / —
Bonnells Bay — South Africa: 0.5% Windermere Park — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

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%
Windermere Park 98.2% houses
Windermere Park — Houses: 98.2% Windermere Park — Townhouses: 1.1% Windermere Park — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Median house price $912,500 $828,750
Median unit price $783,495 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 64 sales
 34 days
from 8 sales

Zoning mix

Bonnells Bay has more rural and farming land (17% vs 2%).

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Residential 51% 71%
Environmental 26% 25%
Rural and farming 17% 2%
Parks and recreation 6% 1%
Commercial 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Bonnells Bay and 99% of Windermere Park. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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 Windermere Park
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 Windermere Park
Houses 4.0%
$720/wk on $940K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of NSW —

Liveability

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 50/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Bonnells Bay carries more crime risk (65 vs 54).

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
54/100
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 Windermere Park
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bonnells Bay

  • Bonnells Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Windermere Park

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Walkability score 57/100 61/100
Distance to Sydney 117.3 km 118.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 93 min
same for both
Public transport score 68/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 6.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Windermere Park
Car (driver) 68.3% / 81.3%
Bonnells Bay — Car (driver): 68.3% Windermere Park — Car (driver): 81.3%
Worked from Home 26.3% / 12.8%
Bonnells Bay — Worked from Home: 26.3% Windermere Park — Worked from Home: 12.8%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.3%
Bonnells Bay — Car (passenger): 3.0% Windermere Park — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Train 1.2% / 1.5%
Bonnells Bay — Train: 1.2% Windermere Park — Train: 1.5%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.1%
Bonnells Bay — Walked Only: 0.7% Windermere Park — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.3%).

Setting

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.0 km 10.1 km

NBN connectivity

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
Connectivity score 74/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
1,826 premises
 56%
302 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Bonnells Bay Windermere Park
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

Windermere Park

Large Blocks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bonnells Bay

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

Other comparisons with Windermere Park

Windermere Park vs Morisset Park Windermere Park vs Brightwaters
Full data on Bonnells Bay Full data on Windermere Park
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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