Byron Bay
Statistical Area - sa2

Byron 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

Byron Bay's population was 10,914 in the 2021 Census. As of Aug 2025, it is around 11,375, an increase of 461 people (4.2%). This growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 11,227 as of June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is 285 persons per square kilometer. Byron Bay's growth exceeded the SA4 region's 3.2% between 2021 and Aug 2025, making it a growth leader in the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.7% of overall population gains during this period.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on latest population numbers, Byron Bay is expected to increase by 1,144 persons to 2041, recording an 8.7% total gain over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Byron Bay among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Byron Bay has recorded approximately 75 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data, produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, shows 375 homes over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with 33 approvals so far in FY26. On average, 1.3 new residents have arrived per new home annually over these five years, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions. The average construction value of new properties is $1,600,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

Commercial approvals totalled $54.9 million in FY26, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Byron Bay shows moderately higher development activity, being 15.0% above the regional average per person over this five-year period, while preserving reasonable buyer options and sustaining existing property demand. Recent construction comprises 52.0% detached dwellings and 48.0% attached dwellings, offering an expanding range of medium-density options across various price brackets.

The location has approximately 138 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts project Byron Bay to gain 993 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Byron Bay has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include 29 Shirley Street Apartments, Byron Bay Drainage Upgrade, Bohemian Byron Bay, and Tennyson Street Upgrade, with the following list detailing those most likely to be relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions Byron Bay ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Byron Bay has a highly educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 is 2.5%.

In this period, 6,046 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.2% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Byron Bay is 61.1%, similar to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Notably, the concentration in accommodation & food is high, with employment levels at 2.8 times the regional average.

Conversely, public administration & safety has a lower representation, with only 2.3% of Byron Bay's workforce compared to Rest of NSW's 7.5%. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicates ample local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.8% and employment decreased by 4.5%, leading to a fall in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a rise in unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41% (losing 19,270 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lags behind national employment growth of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest a potential increase in Byron Bay's employment by approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2022 shows median income in Byron Bay at $40,571 and average income at $84,268. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures of median income at $49,459 and average income at $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year ended June 2022, estimated median income as of March 2025 would be approximately $44,872 and average income around $93,200. Census 2021 data shows Byron Bay's household, family, and personal incomes cluster around the 53rd percentile nationally. Income distribution indicates that 30.6% of locals (3,480 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the broader area where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 44th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Byron Bay displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Byron Bay, as per the latest Census, 62.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 37.7% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differs from Non-Metro NSW's figures of 75.1% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Byron Bay stood at 36.3%, with mortgaged properties at 25.6% and rented dwellings at 38.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,340, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,980. Weekly rent in Byron Bay was $620, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $450. Nationally, Byron Bay's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,340 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Byron Bay features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 58.4% of all households, consisting of 21.4% couples with children, 26.7% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 41.6%, with lone person households at 29.1% and group households making up 12.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches the average for the Rest of NSW.

Byron Bay shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Byron Bay's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. As of 2021, 40.1% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 21.3% in the rest of NSW and 24.3% in the SA4 region. This high level of educational attainment positions Byron Bay strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 29.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 32.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding them – advanced diplomas comprise 13.3% and certificates account for 19.6%. Educational participation is notably high in Byron Bay, with 28.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest data. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 6.3% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education. As of 2021, Byron Bay's four schools have a combined enrollment reaching 1,675 students. Byron Bay demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1074. Education provision is balanced with three primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

Byron Bay has 85 active public transport stops. These include train and bus services. There are 46 different routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes provide 741 passenger trips combined. The average distance from a resident's location to the nearest transport stop is 234 meters. On average, there are 105 trips per day across all routes. This results in approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Byron Bay's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Byron Bay shows excellent health outcomes with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (7098 people), compared to 52.3% across Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues are the most common condition, impacting 7.1% of residents, followed by arthritis at 6.2%.

A total of 75.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.0% across Rest of NSW. Byron Bay has 17.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1967 people), lower than the 23.6% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Byron Bay was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Byron Bay has a higher level of cultural diversity than most local areas, with 15.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 30.4% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Byron Bay, making up 28.4% of its population. However, Judaism is more prevalent in Byron Bay compared to the rest of NSW, comprising 1.1% versus 0.6%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (29.2%), Australian (20.3%), and Irish (11.0%). Notably, French (1.8%) Spanish (1.6%), and Russian (0.5%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Byron Bay compared to regional averages of 0.9%, 0.5%, and 0.3% respectively.

Byron Bay's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Byron Bay has a median age of 38, which is lower than the Rest of NSW's figure of 43 but matches the national norm also at 38. The age group of 25-34 years old shows strong representation in Byron Bay at 20.8%, compared to the Rest of NSW figure and is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. However, the 5-14 age group is less prevalent in Byron Bay at 8.7%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 19.4% to 20.8%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has risen from 15.7% to 17.0%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has decreased from 12.6% to 10.5%. By 2041, Byron Bay's age profile is projected to change significantly, with the 35 to 44 cohort expected to grow by 25%, reaching 2,417 people from its current figure of 1,932. Meanwhile, population declines are forecast for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 age groups.