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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Anna Bay's population is around 6,822 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 373 people (5.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,449 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,791 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 137 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 100 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Anna Bay's 5.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (5.5%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 76.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilizing the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas is forecast, with the area expected to expand by 2,346 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 33.9% in total over the 17 years.

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

Anna Bay has averaged around 25 new dwelling approvals per year, with 126 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 15 so far in FY-26. With an average of 5 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand is significantly outpacing supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers, while new homes are being built at an average construction cost of $390,000. Additionally, $14.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating steady commercial investment activity.

When measured against the Rest of NSW, Anna Bay has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 51st percentile of areas assessed nationally. New development consists of 59.0% detached houses and 41.0% attached dwellings, featuring an increasing blend of attached housing types that offer choices across price ranges, from spacious family homes to more accessible compact options. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 87.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 335 people per dwelling approval, Anna Bay shows characteristics of a low density area.

Population forecasts indicate Anna Bay will gain 2,315 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 8 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Birubi Point Aboriginal Place Tourism Transport Interchange, The Bay Resort, 36 Port Stephens Drive Residential Development, and the Anna Bay Strategy and Town Plan, with the below list detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

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The labour market in Anna Bay demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Anna Bay possesses a skilled workforce, with the construction sector a particular standout in terms of representation, and an unemployment rate of just 2.8%. As of December 2025, 2,857 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.1% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly (50.0% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 23.3% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in construction, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.3% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.7% alongside a 0.6% employment decline, causing unemployment to fall by 0.1 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW recorded an employment decline of 1.2%, a labour force decline of 0.8%, with unemployment rising 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Anna Bay. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Anna Bay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Anna Bay SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $47,004 and an average of $59,239 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is lower than average on a national basis, contrasting with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $51,169 (median) and $64,488 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Anna Bay all fall between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationally. The data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 26.7% of residents (1,821 people), mirroring regional levels where 29.9% occupy this bracket. After housing, 85.0% of income remains, though this ranks at only the 20th percentile nationally and the area'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

Dwelling structure within Anna Bay, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 86.9% houses and 13.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Anna Bay was well beyond that of Regional NSW, at 53.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (29.5%) or rented (16.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Regional NSW average at $1,842, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Anna Bay's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are exceeding the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 72.1% of all households, comprising 25.0% couples with children, 36.8% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.9%, with lone person households at 25.4% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people matches the Regional NSW average.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (16.8%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 47.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.3%) and certificates (34.7%).

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

Public transport analysis reveals 109 active transport stops operating within Anna Bay, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 48 individual routes, collectively providing 447 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 182 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. Some 23.3% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 63 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 4 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Anna Bay residents, with AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions showing results broadly in line with national benchmarks. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population, though higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~3,301 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 13.2 and 8.5% of residents, respectively, while 60.4% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 36.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,460 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though they 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 was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 84.9% of its population born in Australia, 90.7% being citizens, and 97.0% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Anna Bay is Christianity, which makes up 55.5% of the population. This compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Anna Bay are English, comprising 34.0% of the population, Australian, comprising 28.3% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 9.8% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Welsh is notably overrepresented at 0.7% of Anna Bay (vs 0.5% regionally), Maltese at 0.6% (vs 0.4%) and Maori at 0.6% (vs 0.3%).

Anna Bay ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The 52-year median age in Anna Bay is significantly above Regional NSW's average of 43 and similarly well above the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 65 - 74 cohort is notably over-represented (19.1% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (6.5%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. In the period since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 10.9% to 13.6% of the population, while the 85+ cohort increased from 1.9% to 3.3%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort 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 for Anna Bay. The 75 to 84 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 58%, adding 536 residents to reach 1,466. Senior residents (65+) will drive 52% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 cohort grows by a modest 5% (53 people).