Bonnie Doon vs Mossman

Bonnie Doon is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Mossman. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bonnie Doon, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Bonnie Doon: a median of $658,000, against $515,000 in Mossman, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Bonnie Doon tends to suit families with children and couples, while Mossman suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Bonnie Doon

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 93/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 52%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 82%)
  • But Mossman has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Mossman

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($515,000 vs $658,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mossman

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $405/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Bonnie Doon sits closer to the CBD (1768.7 km vs 1773.9 km)
  • Mossman is more walkable (50/100 vs 4/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mossman

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (50/100 vs 4/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Bonnie Doon carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Bonnie Doon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (51.3% vs -0.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bonnie Doon Mossman
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.

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Walkability 4 / 50
Bonnie Doon — Walkability: 4/100 Mossman — Walkability: 50/100
Safety 73 / 7
Bonnie Doon — Safety: 73/100 Mossman — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bonnie Doon — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mossman — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mossman has more residents (1,935 vs 563); Bonnie Doon rents higher ($405/wk vs $250/wk).

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Population 563 1,935
+244% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +51.3% -0.1%
Median age 39 43
Median household income $87,880/yr
+29% vs other
 $62,244/yr
Median weekly rent $405/wk
+38% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bonnie Doon Mossman
0-4 7.5% / 5.3%
Bonnie Doon — 0-4: 7.5% Mossman — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 17.6% / 15.8%
Bonnie Doon — 5-14: 17.6% Mossman — 5-14: 15.8%
15-19 3.6% / 5.9%
Bonnie Doon — 15-19: 3.6% Mossman — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 2.8% / 4.9%
Bonnie Doon — 20-24: 2.8% Mossman — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 12.8% / 10.1%
Bonnie Doon — 25-34: 12.8% Mossman — 25-34: 10.1%
35-44 14.0% / 10.5%
Bonnie Doon — 35-44: 14.0% Mossman — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 14.7% / 13.1%
Bonnie Doon — 45-54: 14.7% Mossman — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 13.1% / 13.1%
Bonnie Doon — 55-64: 13.1% Mossman — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 9.1% / 11.9%
Bonnie Doon — 65-74: 9.1% Mossman — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 5.0% / 6.4%
Bonnie Doon — 75-84: 5.0% Mossman — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ — / 2.8%
Bonnie Doon — 85+: not among its largest Mossman — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bonnie Doon 62.0% couple families
Bonnie Doon — Couple Families: 62.0% Bonnie Doon — Lone Person: 23.3% Bonnie Doon — One Parent Families: 12.4% Bonnie Doon — Group Household: 2.3% Bonnie Doon — Other Families: 0.0%
Mossman 31.3% couple families
Mossman — Couple Families: 31.3% Mossman — Lone Person: 41.8% Mossman — One Parent Families: 20.3% Mossman — Group Household: 4.3% Mossman — Other Families: 2.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bonnie Doon 17.1% renting
Bonnie Doon — Owned Outright: 29.8% Bonnie Doon — Mortgage: 53.2% Bonnie Doon — Renting: 17.1%
Mossman 41.0% renting
Mossman — Owned Outright: 32.9% Mossman — Mortgage: 26.0% Mossman — Renting: 41.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Certificate III & IV 19.9% / 19.7%
Bonnie Doon — Certificate III & IV: 19.9% Mossman — Certificate III & IV: 19.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 4.9%
Bonnie Doon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Mossman — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Bachelor Degree 4.8% / 5.6%
Bonnie Doon — Bachelor Degree: 4.8% Mossman — Bachelor Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.1%
Bonnie Doon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Mossman — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 1.2%
Bonnie Doon — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Mossman — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

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.

Bonnie Doon Mossman
England 4.4% / 3.1%
Bonnie Doon — England: 4.4% Mossman — England: 3.1%
New Zealand 3.4% / 2.6%
Bonnie Doon — New Zealand: 3.4% Mossman — New Zealand: 2.6%
Scotland 2.0% / 0.5%
Bonnie Doon — Scotland: 2.0% Mossman — Scotland: 0.5%
Philippines 1.1% / 0.9%
Bonnie Doon — Philippines: 1.1% Mossman — Philippines: 0.9%
France 1.6% / —
Bonnie Doon — France: 1.6% Mossman — France: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.6%
Bonnie Doon — Italy: not among its largest Mossman — Italy: 0.6%
India — / 0.5%
Bonnie Doon — India: not among its largest Mossman — India: 0.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bonnie Doon 95.5% houses
Bonnie Doon — Houses: 95.5% Bonnie Doon — Flats / Apartments: 1.0% Bonnie Doon — Townhouses: 3.5%
Mossman 82.3% houses
Mossman — Houses: 82.3% Mossman — Flats / Apartments: 11.4% Mossman — Townhouses: 6.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Median house price $658,000 $515,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $285,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) — 48 days
from 16 sales

Development activity

Bonnie Doon Mossman
New dwellings approved 48
across Douglas
same for both
Approvals change year on year -18%
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.

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Houses — 4.7%
$450/wk on $499K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Bonnie Doon Mossman
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 28% of QLD
Schools — Higher than 94% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 67% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 47% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 76% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 83% of QLD

Liveability

Mossman is more walkable (50 vs 4); Bonnie Doon scores higher overall (53 vs 41).

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Grade B C
Score 53/100 41/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Mossman carries more crime risk (93 vs 27).

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
27/100
 High
93/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
35/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Bonnie Doon

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

Schools in Mossman

  • Mossman State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Mossman State School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Augustine's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 0 6

Mobility

Mossman sits further from the CBD (1773.9 km vs 1768.7 km).

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Walkability score 4/100 50/100
Distance to Brisbane 1768.7 km 1773.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1239 min 1243 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4873
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 63
postcode 4873
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.

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Car (driver) 83.1% / 72.1%
Bonnie Doon — Car (driver): 83.1% Mossman — Car (driver): 72.1%
Worked from Home 8.2% / 7.2%
Bonnie Doon — Worked from Home: 8.2% Mossman — Worked from Home: 7.2%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 8.7%
Bonnie Doon — Car (passenger): 5.8% Mossman — Car (passenger): 8.7%
Walked Only 2.9% / 10.3%
Bonnie Doon — Walked Only: 2.9% Mossman — Walked Only: 10.3%
Bicycle — / 1.8%
Bonnie Doon — Bicycle: not among its largest Mossman — Bicycle: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.1%).

Setting

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 360 m
4.5 km to a named beach
 3.7 km
4.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Connectivity score 72/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
273 premises
 39%
1,156 premises

Climate

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Annual rainfall 2,155 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Average residential rate $1,417/yr
same for both
Council Douglas
same for both

Federal electorate

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Division Leichhardt
same for both
Member Matt Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bonnie Doon Mossman
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bonnie Doon

Acreage Affordable Coastal Family

Mossman

Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bonnie Doon

Bonnie Doon vs Port Douglas Bonnie Doon vs Cooya Beach Bonnie Doon vs Newell Bonnie Doon vs Shannonvale Bonnie Doon vs Killaloe Bonnie Doon vs Cassowary

Other comparisons with Mossman

Mossman vs Miallo Mossman vs Newell Mossman vs Mossman Gorge Mossman vs Shannonvale
Full data on Bonnie Doon Full data on Mossman
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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