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

Anna Bay's population is approximately 6,822 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 373 people, equivalent to a growth rate of 5.8%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,449. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,791 in June 2024 and an additional 137 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 100 persons per square kilometer. Anna Bay's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (5.5%), indicating it as a region leader in growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 76.3% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, Anna Bay is forecasted to experience significant population growth, with an expected increase of 2,346 persons by 2041. This reflects a total increase of 33.9% over the 17-year period, as per the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Anna Bay averaged approximately 25 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25126 homes were approved, with an additional 15 approved in FY-26 to date. This results in around five people moving to the area annually for each dwelling built over the past five financial years.

The demand significantly outpaces supply, which typically influences prices upwards and intensifies competition among buyers. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $390,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $14.3 million, indicating consistent commercial investment activity in the area. Compared to Rest of NSW, Anna Bay has roughly two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 51st percentile nationally when assessed against other areas.

New developments consist of approximately 59% detached houses and 41% attached dwellings, reflecting a growing mix of housing types offering diverse price options. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 87% houses) suggests decreasing developable sites availability and changing lifestyle needs for more affordable, varied housing choices. Anna Bay exhibits characteristics of a low-density area, with around 335 people per dwelling approval. By 2041, population forecasts estimate Anna Bay will gain approximately 2,315 residents (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially exacerbating buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Anna Bay has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that are expected to influence this area. Notable projects include Birubi Point Aboriginal Place Tourism Transport Interchange, The Bay Resort, 36 Port Stephens Drive Residential Development, and Anna Bay Strategy and Town Plan. The following list details those considered most relevant:.

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

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While Anna Bay retains a healthy unemployment rate of 2.7%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Anna Bay has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. Its unemployment rate is 2.7%, as of September 2025. There are 2,848 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 1.1% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation stands at 49.8%, significantly below Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 23.3% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction employment is particularly high at 1.6 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.3% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Anna Bay's labour force decreased by 2.4%, alongside a 2.1% employment decline, causing unemployment to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Anna Bay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

Anna Bay SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $47,004 and an average of $59,239 in financial year 2023, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data. These figures are lower than the national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). By September 2025, estimated incomes based on Wage Price Index growth would be approximately $51,169 (median) and $64,488 (average). The 2021 Census revealed that Anna Bay's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally. In Anna Bay, 26.7% of residents (1,821 people) earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, mirroring regional levels where 29.9% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, 85.0% of income remains, ranking at the 20th percentile nationally. Anna Bay's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Anna Bay's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.9% houses and 13.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Anna Bay stood at 53.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented ones at 16.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, exceeding Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Anna Bay was $400, higher than Non-Metro NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Anna Bay's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 72.1% of all households, including 25.0% couples with children, 36.8% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.9%, with lone person households at 25.4% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, matching the average for the Rest of NSW.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.8%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 47.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.3%) and certificates (34.7%). A total of 24.8% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, with 8.8% in primary, 7.4% in secondary, and 2.9% in tertiary education.

A substantial 24.8% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Anna Bay has 109 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 48 different routes that together offer 447 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 182 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from Anna Bay, and cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 94% of residents. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling in the area. According to the 2021 Census, 23.3% of residents work from home, which may be partly due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 63 trips per day across all routes, resulting in about 4 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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

Anna Bay residents show positive health outcomes, with mortality rates and health conditions largely aligning with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are relatively low among the general population but higher among older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is low at 48% of the total population (~3,301 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 51.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.2%) and mental health issues (8.5%), with 60.4% reporting no medical ailments, compared to Rest of NSW's 63.3%. Working-age residents have a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 36.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,460 people), higher than Rest of NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader 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, surveyed in June 2016, had a below-average cultural diversity index of 79.8%. Its population was predominantly born in Australia (84.9%), citizens (90.7%), and English-only speakers at home (97.0%). Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 55.5% of residents, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW average of 55.9%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.0%), Australian (28.3%), and Scottish (9.8%). Notable deviations included Welsh (0.7%, compared to regional 0.5%), Maltese (0.6% vs 0.4%), and Maori (0.6% vs 0.3%).

Anna Bay ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Anna Bay is 52 years, significantly higher than Rest of NSW's average of 43 and well above the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group is notably over-represented in Anna Bay at 19.1%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 6.5%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 10.9% to 13.6%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 1.9% to 3.3%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 12.7% to 10.5%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 16.2% to 14.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Anna Bay, with the 75 to 84 age cohort projected to grow by 58%, adding 536 residents to reach 1,466. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 52% of population growth, underscoring trends towards an aging demographic. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 age group is expected to grow by a modest 5%, with an increase of 53 people.