Median house price
$1.19M
+16% change
NSW · Port Stephens Council
Nelson Bay, 2315
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,228
Growth (1 yr)
+0.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.0%
Median age
51
Median income
$1,305/wk
Employment rate
47.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,190,000
Languages at home
8.7%non-English
Most common: Nepali, Croatian, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Nelson Bay is a coastal mid-sized suburb a long way from Sydney, where beach life and a quieter rhythm set the tone. Day-to-day life leans on nearby towns and local hubs rather than the metro area. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus safety compared with similar coastal suburbs, though growth momentum remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Nelson Bay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$650/wk
Houses $740 · Units $560
Population (ERP)
6,228
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
37.3%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#41
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
52nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
46th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
64th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 42.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 48% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3377th in Australia
- State rank
- 1030th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #41 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #100 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $560
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $740
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 126
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,190,000
- Median price change
- +16.1%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
6,228(June 2025)
+0.4% annual · +1.0% over 5 years · 46th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.4%
- 5-year growth
- +1.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +23
- Change in 5 years
- +64
- Growth rank in NSW
- 46th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~6,400), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 6,141
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,305
- Dwelling vacancy
- 37.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 1,532 of 4,109
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,842
- Employment rate
- 47.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,525 / 536 / 497 (+ 5 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 436
- Against the person
- 111
- Against property
- 135
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 70
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 55 residents
- State safety percentile
- 52th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +3.8%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions95
- Domestic Violence Related Assault88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment86
- Malicious Damage To Property99
- Other Offences185
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,040
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 64th
School list
- St Michael's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1040 · 64th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 269 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
122 public transport stops in this suburb
- Gan Gan Army Camp, Nelson Bay Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Lily Hill Rd
- St Michael's Primary School, Wahgunyah Rd
- St Michael's Primary School, Wahgunyah Rd
- Tomaree Community Hospital, Trevally St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
51 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 2 places of worship · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 20 parks mapped in suburb
- Well connected by public transport — 122 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.16
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.26
Food & drink(1)
- Nelson Bay Golf ClubRestaurant
Community(1)
- St Michael's Primary SchoolSchool
12 Wahgunyah Road
Health & services(2)
- Ramsay Health CareHospital
- Nelson Bay VetVeterinary
Yacaaba Street
Sport & outdoors(7)
- Nelson Bay Golf ClubGolf course
Dowling Street, Nelson Bay
- Park (4)
- Sports field
- Tomaree No. 1 FieldSports field
Entertainment(3)
- Gan Gan Hill lookoutViewpoint
Lily Hill Road
- Kurrara LookoutViewpoint
- Viewpoint
Transport(16)
16 bus stops
Other(14)
- Stitches and Art GalleryArtwork
- Attraction
- Nelson bayAttraction
- VinniesCharity
Yacaaba Street
- Feet First DiveDive Centre
- Fountain
- Mantra chipHotel
1A Tomaree Street
- Parking (8)
- Coles ExpressPetrol station
- All SaintsPlace of worship
- Saint Michael'sPlace of worship
- The LandmarkResort
- Workskil AustraliaTraining
Yacaaba Street
- Waste Basket
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Tom Odwyer Memorial OvalPark
- Tomaree Sports ComplexPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 36
- Parks (OSM)
- 20
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- All Saints
- Saint Michael's
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Hospital (1.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- HospitalHospital
- Tomaree Community HospitalHospital
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 168
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 27.0
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 69 proposals
August 2026
- Subdivision4/-/DP1310147Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 WALLAWA ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Garage, carport or carparking space; Hot water systems; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool25B TAREEBIN ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)14 MOOROOBA CRESCENT NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
July 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah137 SHOAL BAY ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space34 BAY STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 GALOOLA DRIVE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)10 CATALINA CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Subdivision29A GOVERNMENT ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
June 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 MOOROOBA CRESCENT NELSON BAY 2315Additional Information Requested
- Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4/1162606Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 CATALINA CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)45 WOLLOMI AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 AJAX AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support54 GALOOLA DRIVE NELSON BAY 2315Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space34 BAY STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure54 GALOOLA DRIVE NELSON BAY 2315Rejected
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure4/-/DP1255684Determined
May 2026
- Subdivision13 CHRISTMAS BUSH AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences122 GOVERNMENT ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 CHRISTMAS BUSH AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure1 YACAABA STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 MOOROOBA CRESCENT NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition61 PARKES STREET NELSON BAY 2315Withdrawn
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support6 PIRRALEA PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation5 BURBONG STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure115 TALLEAN ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)23 ACHILLES STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)3 KURRAWA CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)2 BEENONG CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 SHIMMER STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support8A TINGARA ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure77 WALLAWA ROAD NELSON BAY 2315Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport11 MOOROOBA CRESCENT NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 MONTEVIDEO PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport11 MONTEVIDEO PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support6 PIRRALEA PARADE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Supporting Development46 THURLOW AVENUE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 CATALINA CLOSE NELSON BAY 2315Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation90 MAGNUS STREET NELSON BAY 2315Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Paterson
- Member of Parliament
- Meryl SWANSON (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,926
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.3 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 43.1%Labor 56.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 7.3 km away).
Coalition 49.7%Labor 50.3%
6.6 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Nelson BayLabor 46.3% · Coalition 53.7% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- SalamanderLabor 54.3% · Coalition 45.7% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Nelson Bay CentralLabor 53.3% · Coalition 46.7% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
- CorletteLabor 45.9% · Coalition 54.1% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
- Shoal BayLabor 56.3% · Coalition 43.7% TPP (2025)3.7 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Port Stephens Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.