Bonny Hills

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bonny Hills reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The suburb of Bonny Hills' population is estimated at around 3,279 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 234 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,045 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,142 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 38 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 158 persons per square kilometer. Bonny Hills' growth since the 2021 census at 7.7% exceeded the Rest of NSW's 5.9%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 85.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is projected to expand by 607 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 14.3% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Bonny Hills when compared nationally

Bonny Hills averaged approximately 21 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 109 homes. As of FY-26, four approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.9 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand dynamic. The average construction value of new properties was $431,000, slightly above the regional average.

In FY-26, Bonny Hills has seen $2.0 million in commercial approvals, predominantly focused on residential development. Compared to Rest of NSW, Bonny Hills exhibited 11.0% lower construction activity per person while ranking among the 82nd percentile nationally. The area's new building activity comprised 91.0% detached houses and 9.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting its traditional low-density character favoring family homes.

Bonny Hills had approximately 127 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects the location to gain 470 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Bonny Hills has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects that may impact this region. Key projects include Beach to Beach Shared Path, Whitewater Terrace Development, Lake Cathie, Lake Cathie Public School upgrade, and Glen Eden Estate. The following details those likely most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Bonny Hills demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Bonny Hills has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 1.6% as of December 2025, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In this month, 1,520 residents were in work while the unemployment rate was 2.3 percentage points lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 57.2%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. A moderate 13.5% of residents worked from home, based on Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area shows strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 1.9% versus the regional average of 5.3%. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.0%, and employment declined by 1.2%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2% and labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Bonny Hills. These projections estimate local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific growth rates applied to Bonny Hills' employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released on 30 June 2023, Bonny Hills had a median income among taxpayers of $48,456 and an average income of $60,287. Both figures are below the national averages of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively across Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income would be approximately $52,749 and average income $65,628. From the Census conducted in August 2021, incomes in Bonny Hills rank modestly, between the 24th and 30th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. The predominant income cohort spans 28.3% of locals (927 people) earning $1,500 - 2,999 annually, consistent with broader regional trends showing 29.9% in the same category. After housing expenses, 85.5% of income remains for other expenses. Bonny Hills' SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Bonny Hills is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bonny Hills' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.8% houses and 1.2% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). This contrasts with Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bonny Hills stood at 51.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.0% and rented ones at 17.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, surpassing Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Bonny Hills averaged $445, higher than Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Bonny Hills' mortgage repayments were lower ($1,820 vs $1,863), while rents were significantly higher ($445 vs $375).

Bonny Hills has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 75.8% of all households, including 27.2% couples with children, 39.1% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.2%, with lone person households at 20.9% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is greater than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational achievement in Bonny Hills places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

The area's university qualification rate is 21.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (30.3%). Educational participation is high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 8.6% in primary, 7.4% in secondary, and 3.2% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Bonny Hills has 27 operational public transport stops serving a variety of bus routes. These stops are connected by 29 different routes that collectively facilitate 246 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is deemed good, with residents living an average of 223 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most commuters travel outward, predominantly using cars (95%). On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding regional averages. According to the 2021 Census, 13.5% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes is approximately 35 trips daily, translating to around 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Bonny Hills's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Bonny Hills residents show positive health outcomes according to health data.

Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks. Common health conditions affect both young and old age groups similarly. Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population (~1,665 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.0%) and mental health issues (8.1%). 62.6% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age residents face higher chronic condition rates. Seniors make up 29.8% of the population (977 people), above Regional NSW's 23.4%. Senior health outcomes rank above average nationally.

The latest Census data sees Bonny Hills placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bonny Hills had a cultural diversity index below average, with 90.0% of its residents born in Australia, 94.8% being citizens, and 97.2% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, practiced by 60.0% of Bonny Hills' population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.8%), Australian (32.1%), and Irish (9.3%).

Notably, Scottish ancestry was overrepresented at 9.2%, compared to 8.0% regionally; Welsh ancestry was also slightly higher at 0.6%, versus 0.5%; South Australian ancestry was present at 0.5%, higher than the regional average of 0.2%.

Bonny Hills ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Bonny Hills has a median age of 51 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 and considerably older than Australia's median of 38. The 75-84 age cohort is notably over-represented in Bonny Hills at 11.9%, compared to the regional average of 6.3% and the national average of 6.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has increased from 10.2% to 11.9% of Bonny Hills' population. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 14.5% to 12.6%. By 2041, Bonny Hills is expected to experience notable changes in its age composition. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 25%, adding 102 people and reaching a total of 516 from the current 413. Meanwhile, the number of individuals in the 55-64 age range is expected to decrease by 13%.