Anna Bay

Anna Bay lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to assessments conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Anna Bay stands at approximately 6,889 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 440 people (6.8%) relative to the 2021 Census, which counted 6,449 people. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population figure of 6,868 alongside 140 validated new addresses registered since the Census. With a population density of 101 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample space per inhabitant and opportunities for future expansion. The 6.8% rate of growth since the 2021 census positioned Anna Bay ahead of the Rest of NSW (4.9%) and its broader SA3 region, establishing it as a local growth frontrunner. The upward population trajectory was chiefly underpinned by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 64.0% of the overall population gains in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia projections based on 2022 data for each SA2 district. Where such information is unavailable, projections from the 2022 NSW State Government release using 2021 as a base year are applied. Demographic growth projections by age bracket from these files are also extended to all locations for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projected changes, the district is set to experience substantial population growth, placing it in the top quartile of regional areas nationwide. The community is anticipated to grow by 2,043 persons by 2041 when measured against the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a total increase of 29.4% over the 16-year timeframe.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Anna Bay when compared nationally

The locality of Anna Bay has maintained an average of approximately 25 new residential approvals annually, translating to 126 dwellings over the previous 5 financial years. For the current FY-26 period, 235 approvals have been documented. With an average of 4.8 new residents added for every completed dwelling between FY-21 and FY-25, demand continues to outpace new supply, which commonly exerts upward pressure on residential values and intensifies buyer competition, while the average construction cost of these new properties stands at $390,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals reached $14.3 million this financial year, pointing to ongoing commercial investment in the area.

Per capita building activity in Anna Bay is around 62% of the average recorded across the Rest of NSW, positioning it in the 50th percentile of analyzed areas across the country. Recent construction approvals consist of 59.0% standalone houses and 41.0% multi-unit developments or townhouses, indicating a growing selection of medium-density residential alternatives that span different price points, from standard family homes to compact, lower-cost options. This represents a distinct departure from the existing residential profile, which currently consists of 87.0% houses, reflecting a contraction in available development land alongside changing lifestyle and affordability preferences. The area currently records about 339 people for each residential approval, pointing to potential for further development.

Projecting forward, Anna Bay is anticipated to add 2,022 inhabitants by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Should the current pace of construction persist, the volume of new housing may fall short of population gains, which could elevate competition among prospective purchasers and underpin higher property values.

Anna Bay has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and urban planning policies are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 8 projects that are anticipated to influence the local area. The most significant developments include the Birubi Point Aboriginal Place Tourism Transport Interchange, The Bay Resort, the 36 Port Stephens Drive Residential Development, and the Anna Bay Strategy and Town Plan, with further details provided on those of primary importance.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Anna Bay ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Anna Bay is characterized by a skilled resident workforce, with the building and construction sector showing particularly strong representation. The local unemployment rate stands at a minimal 2.7%, with job growth estimated at 1.7% over the preceding year. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 2,883, while the unemployment rate was 1.4% below the 4.1% average for Regional NSW. However, labor force participation is notably lower, sitting at 49.8% compared to the 60.6% observed across Regional NSW. Census data indicates a moderate 23.3% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related lockdown measures.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The workforce is highly concentrated in construction, representing 1.6 times the proportion seen across the wider region. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing plays a minimal role, employing just 1.3% of workers compared to 5.3% regionally. The comparison between the local working population and the resident workforce suggests that the area provides few local employment opportunities.

According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS data, the area experienced a 1.7% rise in employment alongside a 1.5% expansion of the labor force over the 12-month period, leading to a 0.2 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment contract by 0.9% and the labor force shrink by 0.4%, while its unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points. Broader trends can be observed through Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment projections from May-25. These five- and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future employment paths. Locally, employment is projected to grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, reflecting national forecasts of 6.6% and 13.7% growth respectively, though individual industry growth rates vary. This calculation is a basic weighted projection for visualization and does not integrate localized demographic forecasts.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to the most recent postcode-level ATO statistics released by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Anna Bay SA2 recorded a median income of $47,004 and an average income of $59,239. These figures sit below the national averages, and compare to a median of $52,390 and average of $65,215 in Regional NSW. Adjusting for a 10.32% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of approximately $51,855 and an average of $65,352 as of March 2026. Census statistics place household, family, and personal incomes in Anna Bay in the 15th to 19th national percentiles. The largest income bracket contains 26.7% of residents (1,839 people) who fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which aligns with regional patterns where 29.9% of the population are in the same bracket. Residents retain 85.0% of their income after meeting housing costs, placing the area in the 20th percentile nationally, while the SEIFA index ranks the district's income in the 4th decile.

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

At the time of the latest Census, the residential landscape of Anna Bay consisted of 86.9% detached houses and 13.1% alternative housing types, such as townhouses, apartments, and other dwellings. By comparison, Regional NSW comprised 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwelling types. Home ownership rates in Anna Bay were notably higher than the regional average, reaching 53.7%, while the remaining residential properties were either mortgaged (29.5%) or rented (16.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,842 sat above the Regional NSW average of $1,733, and the median weekly rent was $400, compared to the regional figure of $330. On a national level, mortgage outlays in Anna Bay are below the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents exceed the national benchmark of $375.

Anna Bay has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Families constitute the vast majority of households at 72.1%, consisting of couples with children (25.0%), couples without children (36.8%), and single-parent homes (9.7%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 27.9% of households, dominated by single-person households at 25.4% and group shared homes at 2.5%. The median household occupancy is 2.4 individuals, matching the average across Regional NSW.

Educational outcomes in Anna Bay fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational statistics for the area highlight some opportunities for improvement, with university graduation rates of 16.8% sitting well below the state average of 32.2%. This creates a clear opening for targeted educational development programs. Bachelor degrees represent the primary higher education qualification at 11.9%, with postgraduate degrees at 3.2% and graduate diplomas at 1.7%. Vocational and technical expertise is highly prevalent, with 47.0% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade qualifications, comprising advanced diplomas (12.3%) and certificates (34.7%).

A significant portion of the local population, amounting to 24.8%, is currently enrolled in formal studies. This group is distributed across primary education (8.8%), secondary schools (7.4%), and higher education institutions (2.9%).

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

An analysis of local transit options shows 109 active public transport stops operating in Anna Bay, consisting of bus services. These stops accommodate 48 different routes, which provide a total of 447 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is highly rated, with residents living an average of 182 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the community, most commuters travel outside the area, with private vehicles serving as the primary mode of transit for 94% of workers. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.5 cars per residence. Additionally, 23.3% of workers worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era arrangements.

Transit schedules show an average of 63 daily trips across all routes, which translates to roughly 4 weekly trips for each transport stop. The accompanying map illustrates the locations of the 100 closest transit stops to the center of the area.

Anna Bay's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Public health metrics present a generally positive outlook for Anna Bay, with AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and medical conditions showing results that align with national averages. The incidence of common medical issues is low across the general public, though it rises above national baselines among older, higher-risk groups. Private health insurance coverage is relatively low, held by approximately 48% of the population (~3,334 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and mental health concerns represent the most widespread medical conditions locally, affecting 13.2% and 8.5% of inhabitants respectively. Meanwhile, 60.4% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Residents of working age display higher-than-average rates of chronic illnesses. Inhabitants aged 65 and over represent 36.7% of the population (2,528 people), which is significantly higher than the 23.4% average for Regional NSW. Senior health metrics present some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the statistics for the general population.

Anna Bay is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Anna Bay displays lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with 84.9% of residents born within Australia, 90.7% holding citizenship, and 97.0% speaking only English in their households. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, practiced by 55.5% of the local population, which is comparable to the 55.9% average across Regional NSW.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Anna Bay are English (34.0%), Australian (28.3%), and Scottish (9.8%). There are also specific demographic concentrations where local representation exceeds regional averages: Welsh ancestry stands at 0.7% of the local population (compared to 0.5% regionally), Maltese at 0.6% (compared to 0.4%), and Maori at 0.6% (compared to 0.3%).

Anna Bay ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 52 years in Anna Bay is substantially higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 19.0% of the local population, compared to the regional average, and stands well above the national benchmark of 9.4%, while the 25 - 34 cohort is underrepresented at 5.8%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 demographic has expanded from 10.9% to 13.9%, and the 85+ bracket has risen from 1.9% to 3.8%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.7% to 10.4%, and the 55 to 64 group declined from 16.2% to 14.4%. Population projections for 2041 indicate notable demographic shifts for Anna Bay, with the 75 to 84 cohort expected to grow by 52%, adding 496 residents to total 1,455. Inhabitants aged 65 and over are projected to account for 56% of overall population growth, highlighting the aging trend of the community, while the 55 to 64 group is expected to grow by only 1% (13 people).