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 9,061 as of February 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 480 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,581 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,653 in June 2024 and an additional 115 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 142 persons per square kilometer. Batemans Bay's growth rate of 5.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA3 area (3.5%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 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. Future population dynamics project an above median growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with Batemans Bay expected to increase by 1,654 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 13.8% 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 seen approximately 44 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 224 homes were approved, with an additional 28 approved in FY26 so far. On average, about 1.6 new residents arrived per year for each new home over these five years. However, this has eased recently to 0.1 people per dwelling over the past two financial years.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $294,000. This year alone, $85.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating high local commercial activity. Batemans Bay's development levels per person are similar to those of the Rest of NSW, maintaining market balance with the broader area.

Recent construction comprises 70% detached dwellings and 30% medium and high-density housing, preserving the area's traditional low density character. The location has approximately 337 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts suggest Batemans Bay will gain around 1,246 residents by 2041. Existing development levels appear aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Batemans Bay has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified eight projects likely impacting the region. Key projects are Batemans Bay Community Health Facility, 24 Beach Road Residential Development, Batemans Bay Dredging, and The Sebel Hotel. Below is a list detailing 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, with tourism and hospitality prominent. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.1%. In this month, 3,277 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.3% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Batemans Bay lags behind Rest of NSW at 47.7%, compared to 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 9.8% of residents work from home. The key industries for employment among residents are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and construction. Retail trade is particularly notable with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.6%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. In a 12-month period ending in September 2025, labour force decreased by 5.5% and employment declined by 5.1%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.5%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Batemans Bay's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, although this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The Batemans Bay SA2's income level is below the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Batemans Bay SA2 is $43,434 and the average income stands at $53,438. These figures compare to those of Rest of NSW which are $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Batemans Bay SA2 would be approximately $47,282 (median) and $58,173 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Batemans Bay fall between the 8th and 11th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The largest income segment comprises 30.1% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly (2,727 residents), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads 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 above-average rates of outright home ownership

Batemans Bay's dwelling structure, as per the most recent Census, consisted of 75.6% houses and 24.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Batemans Bay was at 44.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.2% and rented ones at 31.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,519, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Batemans Bay was $330, matching the Non-Metro NSW figure. Nationally, Batemans Bay's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,519 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Batemans Bay features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 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 make up 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, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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 NSW's average of 32.2%. This 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 pursuing formal education, including 9.7% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, 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 180 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 41 different routes that collectively facilitate 606 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living within 170 meters of the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from Batemans Bay, with car being the dominant mode of transport at 93%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 9.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

There are an average of 86 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 3 weekly trips per stop. A map accompanies this analysis, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Batemans Bay is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Batemans Bay faces substantial health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 47% of the total population (~4,222 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (12.5%) and mental health issues (9.8%). 58.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 29.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,669 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.1% of its population born in Australia, 89.7% being citizens, and 94.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Batemans Bay, comprising 54.7% of people, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (32.2%), Australian (28.1%), and Irish (9.2%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 5.9% in Batemans Bay versus 4.6% regionally, Maltese at 0.5% versus 0.4%, and Polish at 0.7% versus 0.5%.

Batemans Bay ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Batemans Bay has a median age of 50, which is higher than Rest of NSW's figure of 43 and also above the national average of 38. The population aged 65-74 makes up 16.1% in Batemans Bay compared to Rest of NSW, while those aged 25-34 are less prevalent at 8.9%. This concentration of people aged 65-74 is higher than the national figure of 9.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 35-44 has grown from 9.2% to 10.7%, while those aged 65-74 have declined from 17.3% to 16.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Batemans Bay's age profile. The population aged 35-44 is projected to grow by 206 people (21%), from 967 to 1,174. Conversely, the number of people aged 15-24 is expected to decrease by 26.