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 was approximately 6,822 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents an increase of 373 people, a 5.8% rise since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 6,449. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,791 in June 2024 and an additional 138 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 (5.4%) and the Rest of NSW, indicating it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 76.3% of 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, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are utilised, 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. By 2041, the area is projected to increase by 2,346 persons, reflecting a total increase of 33.9% over the 17-year period.

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

Anna Bay has averaged approximately 25 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 126 homes. As of FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. On average, each home built between FY-21 and FY-25 accommodates about 5 new residents annually, indicating a significant gap between demand and supply which can lead to upward pressure on prices and increased competition among buyers. The average construction cost of new properties is around $390,000.

This financial year has seen approximately $14.3 million in commercial approvals, reflecting steady commercial investment activity in the area. Compared to the rest of NSW, Anna Bay records about 62% of the building activity per person and ranks among the 51st percentile nationally when considering areas assessed. The new building activity consists of 59.0% detached dwellings and 41.0% townhouses or apartments, showing a shift towards medium-density options to cater to varying price brackets and lifestyle demands. This change is notable given that currently 87.0% of housing in Anna Bay are houses.

The location has approximately 335 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Anna Bay is projected to grow by 2,315 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, there may not be sufficient housing supply to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are 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 projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment landscape in Anna Bay presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 2.7%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Anna Bay has an unemployment rate of 2.7% as of September 2025. It has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. The area had 2,848 residents employed at this time, with an unemployment rate 1.1% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was at 50.0%, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, 23.3% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 1.3%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparison of working population vs resident population. Between May-24 and Apr-25, labour force decreased by 2.4% and employment by 2.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Anna Bay's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Anna Bay SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $47,004. The average income stood at $59,239. This is below the national average. Across Rest of NSW, median and average incomes were $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $51,169 (median) and $64,488 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Anna Bay all fall between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally. Income distribution data shows that 26.7% of locals (1,821 people) have incomes in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. 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 structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.9% houses and 13.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared 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, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Anna Bay was $400, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $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 constitute 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, which aligns with the Rest of NSW average.

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 the 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 facilitate 447 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents' average distance to the nearest stop being 182 meters. Most residents commute outward from Anna Bay, and cars remain the dominant mode of transportation at 94%. 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, equating to approximately four weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this report, 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's health data shows positive outcomes overall. Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are low among the general population but higher in older, at-risk groups.

Private health cover is low, at 48% (3,301 people), compared to Rest of NSW's 51.9%. Nationally, it's 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.2%) and mental health issues (8.5%). 60.4% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of NSW's 63.3%. Working-age residents have a higher chronic health condition prevalence. Anna Bay has 34.6% seniors (2,363 people), higher than Rest of NSW's 23.0%. Senior health outcomes 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 had a cultural diversity level below average, with 84.9% of its population born in Australia, 90.7% being citizens, and 97.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Anna Bay, comprising 55.5%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.0%), Australian (28.3%), and Scottish (9.8%).

Notably, Welsh (0.7%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.5%, as were 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, which is 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 18.5%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 6.6%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 10.9% to 13.0%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 1.9% to 3.1%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.7% to 10.9%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 16.2% to 15.1%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Anna Bay. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to grow by 66%, adding 580 residents to reach 1,466. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 56% of population growth, underscoring trends towards an aging demographic. Meanwhile, the 55-64 cohort grows by a modest 2%, with an increase of 17 people.