Batemans Bay

Population growth drivers in Batemans Bay are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Batemans Bay's population was around 8,707 as of November 2025, reflecting an increase of 126 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 1.5% growth from the census figure of 8,581 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,670 in June 2024 and an additional 98 validated new addresses since the Census date. Batemans Bay's population density was approximately 136 persons per square kilometer as of November 2025. Over the past decade, Batemans Bay has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outpacing its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed around 68.7% 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, AreaSearch utilises 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. By 2041, Batemans Bay is projected to have an above median population growth of Australian non-metropolitan areas, increasing by 1,654 persons, reflecting an 18.4% increase in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Batemans Bay recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Batemans Bay has received around 44 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 224 homes. As of FY-26, 28 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.6 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were registered between FY-21 and FY-25. However, this figure has decreased to 0.1 people per dwelling over the past two financial years. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $294,000.

This financial year has seen $85.2 million in commercial approvals, indicating high local commercial activity. Batemans Bay's building activity is comparable to that of the rest of NSW, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. Detached dwellings make up 70% and attached dwellings 30% of new developments, preserving the area's low-density nature.

There are approximately 337 people per dwelling approval in Batemans Bay. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 1,600 residents by 2041 (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Development pace is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Batemans Bay has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects that could impact the area. Notable ones are Batemans Bay Community Health Facility, 24 Beach Road Residential Development, Batemans Bay Dredging, and The Sebel Hotel. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Batemans Bay face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Batemans Bay has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent tourism and hospitality sectors, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. As of September 2025, there are 3,277 employed residents, with an unemployment rate 2.3% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is lower at 44.8%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries include retail trade, health care & social assistance, and construction. Retail trade is particularly specialized with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.6% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. From September 2024 to September 2025, Batemans Bay's labour force decreased by 5.5%, with employment down by 5.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment contract by 0.5% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Statewide in NSW, from September 2024 to November 2025, employment contracted by 0.03%, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Batemans Bay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Batemans Bay SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $40,638 and an average level of $50,461 in financial year 2022. This was lower than the national averages of $49,459 and $62,998 for Rest of NSW respectively. By September 2025, current estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $45,762 and the average $56,824, based on a 12.61% growth in Wage Price Index since financial year 2022. Census 2021 data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Batemans Bay fall between the 8th and 11th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 30.1% of residents earning $800-$1,499 weekly, differing from broader areas where the $1,500-$2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Batemans Bay, with only 83.2% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Batemans Bay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Batemans Bay, as evaluated at the Census conducted 2016, comprised 75.6% houses and 24.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Batemans Bay was at 44.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.2% and rented dwellings at 31.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,519, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Batemans Bay was $330, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $320. Nationally, Batemans Bay's median monthly mortgage repayment is lower at $1,863 and median weekly rent is substantially lower at $375.

Batemans Bay features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 64.4% of all households, including 18.0% couples with children, 33.4% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.6%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, aligning with the Rest of NSW average.

Batemans Bay faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 14.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (32.2%).

A total of 24.7% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 9.7% in primary, 7.1% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

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

Batemans Bay has 169 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 41 different routes that together facilitate 599 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 170 meters to the nearest stop.

On average, there are 85 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately three weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Batemans Bay is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Batemans Bay faces significant health challenges with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low at approximately 46%, covering about 4,022 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.5%) and mental health issues (9.8%), while 58.1% report no medical ailments, slightly lower than Rest of NSW's 59.6%. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 29.7%, equating to approximately 2,588 people, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 31.7%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Batemans Bay are generally better than those of the general population.

Batemans Bay ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Batemans Bay had a cultural diversity level below average, with 84.1% of its population born in Australia, 89.7% being citizens, and 94.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 54.7% of Batemans Bay's population, compared to 49.0% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (32.2%), Australian (28.1%), and Irish (9.2%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 5.9%, compared to the regional average of 3.6%. Maltese and Polish representations were also notably higher at 0.5% and 0.7% respectively, compared to regional averages of 0.4% and 0.5%.

Batemans Bay ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Batemans Bay's median age is 51 years, significantly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 43 and considerably older than the Australian median of 38. The 65-74 age group is notably over-represented in Batemans Bay at 16.1%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 8.9%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35-44 age group has grown from 9.2% to 10.3% of Batemans Bay's population, while the 65-74 cohort has declined from 17.3% to 16.1%. By 2041, Batemans Bay is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 35-44 group is projected to grow by 31%, reaching 1,174 people from the current 895. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort grows by a modest 2% (16 people).