Bonville vs Sawtell

Bonville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 47 in Sawtell. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Bonville, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Sawtell: a median of $1.24 million, against $1.04 million in Bonville, though rent is higher in Bonville. On these figures, Bonville tends to suit couples and buyers on a tighter budget, while Sawtell suits people living alone.

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

Bonville

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 73/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 49%)
  • But Sawtell has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Bonville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,042,000 vs $1,240,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sawtell

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $465/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

  • Bonville sits closer to the CBD (518.6 km vs 521.7 km)
  • Sawtell is more walkable (56/100 vs 14/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sawtell

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% vs 8%)
  • is more walkable (56/100 vs 14/100)
  • But Bonville carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 73/100)

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

Investors

Bonville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.1% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bonville Sawtell
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.

Bonville Sawtell
Walkability 14 / 56
Bonville — Walkability: 14/100 Sawtell — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 60 / 27
Bonville — Safety: 60/100 Sawtell — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 45 / 50
Bonville — Low fire risk: 45/100 Sawtell — Low fire risk: 50/100

Demographics

Bonville has higher household incomes ($95,108 vs $73,060); Sawtell has more residents (3,788 vs 2,939).

Bonville Sawtell
Population 2,939 3,788
+29% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.1% +2.9%
Median age 44 47
Median household income $95,108/yr
+23% vs other
 $73,060/yr
Median weekly rent $465/wk
+18% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bonville Sawtell
0-4 4.8% / 4.7%
Bonville — 0-4: 4.8% Sawtell — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 14.3% / 11.6%
Bonville — 5-14: 14.3% Sawtell — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 6.5% / 5.4%
Bonville — 15-19: 6.5% Sawtell — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 4.7% / 3.4%
Bonville — 20-24: 4.7% Sawtell — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 9.5% / 9.5%
Bonville — 25-34: 9.5% Sawtell — 25-34: 9.5%
35-44 11.2% / 11.5%
Bonville — 35-44: 11.2% Sawtell — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 13.3% / 14.1%
Bonville — 45-54: 13.3% Sawtell — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 14.5% / 14.6%
Bonville — 55-64: 14.5% Sawtell — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 12.7% / 15.1%
Bonville — 65-74: 12.7% Sawtell — 65-74: 15.1%
75-84 6.7% / 7.6%
Bonville — 75-84: 6.7% Sawtell — 75-84: 7.6%
85+ 1.6% / 2.6%
Bonville — 85+: 1.6% Sawtell — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bonville 57.0% couple families
Bonville — Couple Families: 57.0% Bonville — Lone Person: 24.7% Bonville — One Parent Families: 15.3% Bonville — Group Household: 3.0% Bonville — Other Families: 0.0%
Sawtell 32.9% couple families
Sawtell — Couple Families: 32.9% Sawtell — Lone Person: 44.9% Sawtell — One Parent Families: 16.4% Sawtell — Group Household: 4.7% Sawtell — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bonville 14.6% renting
Bonville — Owned Outright: 45.8% Bonville — Mortgage: 39.6% Bonville — Renting: 14.6%
Sawtell 33.3% renting
Sawtell — Owned Outright: 43.2% Sawtell — Mortgage: 23.6% Sawtell — Renting: 33.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bonville Sawtell
Certificate III & IV 18.8% / 15.0%
Bonville — Certificate III & IV: 18.8% Sawtell — Certificate III & IV: 15.0%
Bachelor Degree 11.0% / 14.6%
Bonville — Bachelor Degree: 11.0% Sawtell — Bachelor Degree: 14.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 9.1%
Bonville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Sawtell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 4.9%
Bonville — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Sawtell — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 2.7%
Bonville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Sawtell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

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.

Bonville Sawtell
England 3.3% / 3.6%
Bonville — England: 3.3% Sawtell — England: 3.6%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.5%
Bonville — New Zealand: 1.4% Sawtell — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.7%
Bonville — South Africa: 0.6% Sawtell — South Africa: 0.7%
Germany 0.8% / 0.3%
Bonville — Germany: 0.8% Sawtell — Germany: 0.3%
India 0.5% / —
Bonville — India: 0.5% Sawtell — India: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.4%
Bonville — Scotland: not among its largest Sawtell — Scotland: 0.4%
Thailand — / 0.3%
Bonville — Thailand: not among its largest Sawtell — Thailand: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bonville 92.3% houses
Bonville — Houses: 92.3% Bonville — Flats / Apartments: 7.1% Bonville — Townhouses: 0.6%
Sawtell 68.6% houses
Sawtell — Houses: 68.6% Sawtell — Flats / Apartments: 18.9% Sawtell — Townhouses: 12.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bonville Sawtell
Median house price $1,042,000 $1,240,000
Median unit price — $675,000
Median land price $1,200,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 55 days
from 20 sales
 74 days
from 35 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.

Bonville Sawtell
3 bed $945K / $1.14M
Bonville — 3 bed: $945K (12 sales) Sawtell — 3 bed: $1.14M (34 sales)

12 vs 34 sales

4 bed $1.1M / $1.39M
Bonville — 4 bed: $1.1M (19 sales) Sawtell — 4 bed: $1.39M (32 sales)

19 vs 32 sales

Zoning mix

Bonville has more rural and farming land (51% vs 0%); Bonville has more land zoned for conservation (32% vs 14%).

Bonville Sawtell
Rural and farming 51% 0%
Residential 12% 42%
Parks and recreation 3% 41%
Environmental 32% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 1%
Planning zones cover 100% of Bonville and 99% of Sawtell. 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

Bonville Sawtell
New dwellings approved 356
across Coffs Harbour
same for both
Approvals change year on year +61%
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.

Bonville Sawtell
Houses 2.6%
$800/wk on $1.59M
 3.0%
$695/wk on $1.23M
Units — 4.5%
$575/wk on $660K

Ranking within NSW

Bonville Sawtell
House price Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Income Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Schools Higher than 66% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 45% of NSW

Liveability

Sawtell is more walkable (56 vs 14); Bonville scores higher overall (45 vs 36).

Bonville Sawtell
Grade C
same for both
Score 45/100 36/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Sawtell carries more crime risk (73 vs 40).

Bonville Sawtell
Bushfire Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
50/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 High
73/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
67/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bonville Sawtell
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Bonville

  • Coffs Harbour Christian Community School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Bonville Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Crossmaglen Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Sawtell

  • Sawtell Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bonville Sawtell
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 1 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 19 1

Mobility

Sawtell sits further from the CBD (521.7 km vs 518.6 km).

Bonville Sawtell
Walkability score 14/100 56/100
Distance to Sydney 518.6 km 521.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 338 min 340 min
Public transport score 63/100
Bus
 71/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 26.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 25.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2450
 0.4%
postcode 2452
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 2450
 49
postcode 2452

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.

Bonville Sawtell
Car (driver) 75.7% / 72.8%
Bonville — Car (driver): 75.7% Sawtell — Car (driver): 72.8%
Worked from Home 15.8% / 17.0%
Bonville — Worked from Home: 15.8% Sawtell — Worked from Home: 17.0%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.2%
Bonville — Car (passenger): 5.3% Sawtell — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 2.4% / 3.3%
Bonville — Walked Only: 2.4% Sawtell — Walked Only: 3.3%
Bicycle 0.3% / 1.4%
Bonville — Bicycle: 0.3% Sawtell — Bicycle: 1.4%
Train 0.4% / —
Bonville — Train: 0.4% Sawtell — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.7%).

Setting

Bonville Sawtell
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.8 km 736 m
801 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bonville Sawtell
Connectivity score 50/100 100/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
1,098 premises
 100%
2,149 premises

Climate

Bonville Sawtell
Annual rainfall 1,827 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bonville Sawtell
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 10.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.22 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bonville Sawtell
Average residential rate $1,437/yr
same for both
Council Coffs Harbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Bonville Sawtell
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bonville Sawtell
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bonville

Acreage

Sawtell

Beach Coastal Parks Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bonville

Bonville vs Toormina Bonville vs Boambee East Bonville vs Boambee Bonville vs Upper Orara Bonville vs Bundagen Bonville vs Valery

Other comparisons with Sawtell

Sawtell vs Coffs Harbour Sawtell vs Toormina Sawtell vs Bundagen
Full data on Bonville Full data on Sawtell
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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