Bunbury vs South Bunbury

South Bunbury is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 49 in Bunbury. In both, most households own their home. In Bunbury, most households are people living alone. In South Bunbury, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Bunbury: a median of $860,000, against $748,000 in South Bunbury, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Bunbury tends to suit 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

South Bunbury

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 4)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 49%)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 94/100)

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

  • Bunbury has cheaper units ($500,000 vs $581,500)
  • South Bunbury has cheaper houses ($747,500 vs $860,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Bunbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $330/wk)

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

South Bunbury

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 94/100)
  • But Bunbury has more units and townhouses to downsize into (51% vs 26%)

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

Investors

South Bunbury

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.5% vs 3.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bunbury South Bunbury
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.

Bunbury South Bunbury
Walkability 73 / 66
Bunbury — Walkability: 73/100 South Bunbury — Walkability: 66/100
Safety 6 / 33
Bunbury — Safety: 6/100 South Bunbury — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bunbury — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Bunbury — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 78
Bunbury — Low flood risk: 100/100 South Bunbury — Low flood risk: 78/100

Demographics

South Bunbury has more residents (8,810 vs 3,948); Bunbury has higher household incomes ($83,928 vs $74,776).

Bunbury South Bunbury
Population 3,948 8,810
+123% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +4.6%
Median age 49 44
Median household income $83,928/yr
+11% vs other
 $74,776/yr
Median weekly rent $330/wk
+9% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bunbury South Bunbury
0-4 2.9% / 5.1%
Bunbury — 0-4: 2.9% South Bunbury — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 7.9% / 11.9%
Bunbury — 5-14: 7.9% South Bunbury — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 5.1% / 5.3%
Bunbury — 15-19: 5.1% South Bunbury — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.1% / 4.5%
Bunbury — 20-24: 4.1% South Bunbury — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 11.5% / 11.4%
Bunbury — 25-34: 11.5% South Bunbury — 25-34: 11.4%
35-44 11.6% / 11.9%
Bunbury — 35-44: 11.6% South Bunbury — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 14.2% / 13.3%
Bunbury — 45-54: 14.2% South Bunbury — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 15.9% / 12.9%
Bunbury — 55-64: 15.9% South Bunbury — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 14.6% / 12.2%
Bunbury — 65-74: 14.6% South Bunbury — 65-74: 12.2%
75-84 7.7% / 7.3%
Bunbury — 75-84: 7.7% South Bunbury — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 4.5% / 4.2%
Bunbury — 85+: 4.5% South Bunbury — 85+: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bunbury 56.7% lone person
Bunbury — Lone Person: 56.7% Bunbury — Couple Families: 24.9% Bunbury — One Parent Families: 11.1% Bunbury — Group Household: 6.1% Bunbury — Other Families: 1.2%
South Bunbury 48.7% lone person
South Bunbury — Lone Person: 48.7% South Bunbury — Couple Families: 31.2% South Bunbury — One Parent Families: 14.9% South Bunbury — Group Household: 4.3% South Bunbury — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bunbury 38.2% renting
Bunbury — Owned Outright: 36.8% Bunbury — Mortgage: 25.0% Bunbury — Renting: 38.2%
South Bunbury 31.6% renting
South Bunbury — Owned Outright: 36.3% South Bunbury — Mortgage: 32.1% South Bunbury — Renting: 31.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bunbury South Bunbury
Certificate III & IV 15.0% / 18.2%
Bunbury — Certificate III & IV: 15.0% South Bunbury — Certificate III & IV: 18.2%
Bachelor Degree 15.1% / 11.3%
Bunbury — Bachelor Degree: 15.1% South Bunbury — Bachelor Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 7.5%
Bunbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% South Bunbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 2.6%
Bunbury — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% South Bunbury — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.1%
Bunbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% South Bunbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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.

Bunbury South Bunbury
England 7.8% / 5.8%
Bunbury — England: 7.8% South Bunbury — England: 5.8%
New Zealand 2.6% / 2.3%
Bunbury — New Zealand: 2.6% South Bunbury — New Zealand: 2.3%
South Africa 1.6% / 1.0%
Bunbury — South Africa: 1.6% South Bunbury — South Africa: 1.0%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.8%
Bunbury — Scotland: 1.0% South Bunbury — Scotland: 0.8%
Philippines 1.1% / 0.6%
Bunbury — Philippines: 1.1% South Bunbury — Philippines: 0.6%
India 0.9% / 0.8%
Bunbury — India: 0.9% South Bunbury — India: 0.8%
Italy 0.7% / 0.9%
Bunbury — Italy: 0.7% South Bunbury — Italy: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bunbury 48.7% houses
Bunbury — Houses: 48.7% Bunbury — Townhouses: 32.4% Bunbury — Flats / Apartments: 18.9%
South Bunbury 73.8% houses
South Bunbury — Houses: 73.8% South Bunbury — Townhouses: 21.7% South Bunbury — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bunbury South Bunbury
Median house price $860,000 $747,500
Median unit price $500,000 $581,500
Median land price — $665,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 24 sales
 46 days
from 100 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bunbury South Bunbury
2 bed $468K / $500K
Bunbury — 2 bed: $468K (28 sales) South Bunbury — 2 bed: $500K (11 sales)

28 vs 11 sales

3 bed $652K / $600K
Bunbury — 3 bed: $652K (14 sales) South Bunbury — 3 bed: $600K (33 sales)

14 vs 33 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.

Bunbury South Bunbury
2 bed $525K / $510K
Bunbury — 2 bed: $525K (7 sales) South Bunbury — 2 bed: $510K (16 sales)

7 vs 16 sales

3 bed $792K / $695K
Bunbury — 3 bed: $792K (28 sales) South Bunbury — 3 bed: $695K (109 sales)

28 vs 109 sales

4 bed $1.14M / $850K
Bunbury — 4 bed: $1.14M (12 sales) South Bunbury — 4 bed: $850K (69 sales)

12 vs 69 sales

Development activity

Bunbury South Bunbury
New dwellings approved 128
across Bunbury
same for both
Approvals change year on year -17%
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.

Bunbury South Bunbury
Houses 3.1%
$695/wk on $1.15M
 4.5%
$690/wk on $799K
Units 4.1%
$550/wk on $699K
 5.1%
$650/wk on $659K

Ranking within WA

Bunbury South Bunbury
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 46% of WA Higher than 37% of WA
Schools Higher than 32% of WA Higher than 27% of WA
Walkability Higher than 91% of WA Higher than 88% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 54% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of WA Higher than 73% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of WA Higher than 57% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 8% of WA Higher than 36% of WA

Liveability

Bunbury scores higher overall (49 vs 44).

Bunbury South Bunbury
Grade B C
Score 49/100 44/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

South Bunbury carries more flood risk (22 vs 0); Bunbury carries more crime risk (94 vs 67).

Bunbury South Bunbury
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
94/100
 Moderate
67/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
22/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
58/100
 Low
13/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Bunbury South Bunbury
Inside the suburb 4 8
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Bunbury

  • Bunbury Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Bunbury Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • South West Community College - Blair Street Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school
  • South West Community College - Bunbury Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in South Bunbury

  • Newton Moore Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Adam Road Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • South Bunbury Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • SEDA College WA (Withers McKenna Plc.) Independent · Secondary
  • College Row School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Bunbury South Bunbury
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 39 3
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 1 3
GPs 3 5
Pharmacies 2 5
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 2 0
Beaches 1
same for both
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Bunbury South Bunbury
Walkability score 73/100 66/100
Distance to Perth 172.7 km 172.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 119 min 120 min
Public transport score 75/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 71.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 87.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 6230
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 6230
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.

Bunbury South Bunbury
Car (driver) 73.2% / 81.8%
Bunbury — Car (driver): 73.2% South Bunbury — Car (driver): 81.8%
Car (passenger) 6.7% / 6.7%
Bunbury — Car (passenger): 6.7% South Bunbury — Car (passenger): 6.7%
Worked from Home 7.2% / 6.0%
Bunbury — Worked from Home: 7.2% South Bunbury — Worked from Home: 6.0%
Walked Only 8.6% / 2.4%
Bunbury — Walked Only: 8.6% South Bunbury — Walked Only: 2.4%
Bus 2.7% / 2.1%
Bunbury — Bus: 2.7% South Bunbury — Bus: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.8%).

Setting

Bunbury South Bunbury
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 674 m
943 m to a named beach
 1.1 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bunbury South Bunbury
Connectivity score 56/100 57/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
4,137 premises
 21%
4,732 premises

Climate

Bunbury South Bunbury
Annual rainfall 774 mm 851 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 30.9°C
Winter min (Jul) — 6.7°C

Council rates

Bunbury South Bunbury
Average residential rate $3,076/yr
same for both
Council Bunbury
same for both

Federal electorate

Bunbury South Bunbury
Division Forrest
same for both
Member Ben Small
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bunbury South Bunbury
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bunbury

Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Parks Professionals Retirees Townhouses

South Bunbury

Coastal Parks Regional Centre Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bunbury

Bunbury vs East Bunbury

Other comparisons with South Bunbury

South Bunbury vs Carey Park South Bunbury vs East Bunbury South Bunbury vs Withers
Full data on Bunbury Full data on South Bunbury
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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