Bonnie Doon vs Port Douglas

Bonnie Doon is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 44 in Port Douglas. In both, most households own their home. In Bonnie Doon, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Port Douglas, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Port Douglas: a median of $935,000, against $658,000 in Bonnie Doon, though rent is higher in Bonnie Doon. On these figures, Bonnie Doon tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Port Douglas suits young adults, people living alone, and share households.

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

  • Bonnie Doon has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 36%)
  • Port Douglas has more parks and reserves (9 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Bonnie Doon

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($285,000 vs $730,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($658,000 vs $935,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Port Douglas

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $405/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Port Douglas

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (1763 km vs 1768.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Port Douglas

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 14%)
  • But Bonnie Doon carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 69/100)

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 4.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bonnie Doon and Port Douglas 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 Port Douglas
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 Port Douglas
Walkability 4 / 0
Bonnie Doon — Walkability: 4/100 Port Douglas — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 73 / 31
Bonnie Doon — Safety: 73/100 Port Douglas — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bonnie Doon — Low fire risk: 100/100 Port Douglas — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Port Douglas has more residents (3,650 vs 563); Bonnie Doon has higher household incomes ($87,880 vs $71,240).

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Population 563 3,650
+548% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +51.3% +4.2%
Median age 39 44
Median household income $87,880/yr
+19% vs other
 $71,240/yr
Median weekly rent $405/wk
+14% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
0-4 7.5% / 2.7%
Bonnie Doon — 0-4: 7.5% Port Douglas — 0-4: 2.7%
5-14 17.6% / 5.8%
Bonnie Doon — 5-14: 17.6% Port Douglas — 5-14: 5.8%
15-19 3.6% / 2.8%
Bonnie Doon — 15-19: 3.6% Port Douglas — 15-19: 2.8%
20-24 2.8% / 4.9%
Bonnie Doon — 20-24: 2.8% Port Douglas — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 12.8% / 21.6%
Bonnie Doon — 25-34: 12.8% Port Douglas — 25-34: 21.6%
35-44 14.0% / 12.3%
Bonnie Doon — 35-44: 14.0% Port Douglas — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 14.7% / 12.6%
Bonnie Doon — 45-54: 14.7% Port Douglas — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 13.1% / 16.4%
Bonnie Doon — 55-64: 13.1% Port Douglas — 55-64: 16.4%
65-74 9.1% / 13.9%
Bonnie Doon — 65-74: 9.1% Port Douglas — 65-74: 13.9%
75-84 5.0% / 5.6%
Bonnie Doon — 75-84: 5.0% Port Douglas — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ — / 1.1%
Bonnie Doon — 85+: not among its largest Port Douglas — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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%
Port Douglas 23.5% couple families
Port Douglas — Couple Families: 23.5% Port Douglas — Lone Person: 51.3% Port Douglas — One Parent Families: 11.0% Port Douglas — Group Household: 13.6% Port Douglas — Other Families: 0.7%
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%
Port Douglas 43.8% renting
Port Douglas — Owned Outright: 29.1% Port Douglas — Mortgage: 27.2% Port Douglas — Renting: 43.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Certificate III & IV 19.9% / 15.0%
Bonnie Doon — Certificate III & IV: 19.9% Port Douglas — Certificate III & IV: 15.0%
Bachelor Degree 4.8% / 15.3%
Bonnie Doon — Bachelor Degree: 4.8% Port Douglas — Bachelor Degree: 15.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 9.7%
Bonnie Doon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Port Douglas — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 3.2%
Bonnie Doon — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Port Douglas — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.5%
Bonnie Doon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Port Douglas — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

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 Port Douglas
England 4.4% / 6.7%
Bonnie Doon — England: 4.4% Port Douglas — England: 6.7%
New Zealand 3.4% / 4.1%
Bonnie Doon — New Zealand: 3.4% Port Douglas — New Zealand: 4.1%
France 1.6% / 0.8%
Bonnie Doon — France: 1.6% Port Douglas — France: 0.8%
Scotland 2.0% / —
Bonnie Doon — Scotland: 2.0% Port Douglas — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines 1.1% / 0.8%
Bonnie Doon — Philippines: 1.1% Port Douglas — Philippines: 0.8%
Italy — / 1.0%
Bonnie Doon — Italy: not among its largest Port Douglas — Italy: 1.0%
Germany — / 1.0%
Bonnie Doon — Germany: not among its largest Port Douglas — Germany: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bonnie Doon 95.5% houses
Bonnie Doon — Houses: 95.5% Bonnie Doon — Townhouses: 3.5% Bonnie Doon — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Port Douglas 35.7% houses
Port Douglas — Houses: 35.7% Port Douglas — Townhouses: 32.9% Port Douglas — Flats / Apartments: 31.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Median house price $658,000 $935,000
Median unit price — $380,000
Median land price $285,000 $730,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 34 days
from 26 sales

Development activity

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
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 Port Douglas
Houses — 2.4%
$792/wk on $1.72M
Units — 6.9%
$600/wk on $449K

Ranking within QLD

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of QLD Higher than 38% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 67% of QLD Higher than 6% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 47% of QLD Higher than 79% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of QLD Higher than 70% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 3% of QLD
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 95% of QLD

Liveability

Bonnie Doon scores higher overall (53 vs 37).

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Grade B C
Score 53/100 37/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
same for both

Risk profile

Port Douglas carries more crime risk (69 vs 27).

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
27/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
35/100
 Moderate
54/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

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

Schools in Bonnie Doon

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

Schools in Port Douglas

  • Port Douglas State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Newman Catholic College - Port Douglas Campus Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 48
Parks & reserves 1 9
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Bonnie Doon sits further from the CBD (1768.7 km vs 1763 km).

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Walkability score 4/100 0/100
Distance to Brisbane 1768.7 km 1763 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1239 min 1237 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 4873
 0.9%
postcode 4877
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 63
postcode 4873
 53
postcode 4877

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 Port Douglas
Car (driver) 83.1% / 59.1%
Bonnie Doon — Car (driver): 83.1% Port Douglas — Car (driver): 59.1%
Worked from Home 8.2% / 13.3%
Bonnie Doon — Worked from Home: 8.2% Port Douglas — Worked from Home: 13.3%
Walked Only 2.9% / 13.6%
Bonnie Doon — Walked Only: 2.9% Port Douglas — Walked Only: 13.6%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 6.0%
Bonnie Doon — Car (passenger): 5.8% Port Douglas — Car (passenger): 6.0%
Bicycle — / 6.4%
Bonnie Doon — Bicycle: not among its largest Port Douglas — Bicycle: 6.4%

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

Setting

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 360 m
4.5 km to a named beach
 119 m
511 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
Connectivity score 72/100 52/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
273 premises
 13%
4,084 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Bonnie Doon Port Douglas
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

Port Douglas

Affordable Beach Coastal Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bonnie Doon

Bonnie Doon vs Mossman Bonnie Doon vs Cooya Beach Bonnie Doon vs Newell Bonnie Doon vs Shannonvale Bonnie Doon vs Killaloe Bonnie Doon vs Cassowary

Other comparisons with Port Douglas

Port Douglas vs Craiglie Port Douglas vs Killaloe Port Douglas vs Coral Sea
Full data on Bonnie Doon Full data on Port Douglas
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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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