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

As of Nov 2025, Anna Bay's population is estimated at around 4,282, reflecting an increase of 61 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,221. This change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 4,265 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. The suburb's population density ratio is 192 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Anna Bay has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.7%, outpacing the SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 76.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, 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. By 2041, Anna Bay is forecasted to expand by 1,533 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 39.9% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Anna Bay according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows Anna Bay has received approximately 4 dwelling approvals per year over the past 5 financial years, totalling around 23 homes. As of FY-26, 1 approval has been recorded. This results in an average of about 18.9 new residents arriving per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25. The demand for housing significantly exceeds the supply, which typically leads to price growth and increased buyer competition.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $572,000, moderately above regional levels, indicating a focus on quality construction. This financial year, $3.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Anna Bay has significantly less development activity, with 83.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes usually strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. The area is also under the national average in terms of development activity, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations.

Recent construction comprises 75.0% detached dwellings and 25.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving Anna Bay's low density nature with a focus on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population count per dwelling approval is 1473 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Anna Bay is expected to grow by 1,708 residents through to 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified five 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 provides details on those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 2.9%, Anna Bay has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Anna Bay has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, notably in construction. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.9%.

The area's unemployment rate is 0.8% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%, but workforce participation lags at 47.8% compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Major employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction employment is particularly high, at 1.7 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.2% compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. Local employment opportunities appear limited, with a decrease in labour force by 4.2% and employment by 4.3% over one year, keeping unemployment relatively stable.

In contrast, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Anna Bay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 indicates that Anna Bay has a lower median income of $42,238 compared to the national average of $56,262. The average income in Anna Bay is $56,262, while Rest of NSW's median and average incomes are $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on a 12.61% Wage Price Index growth since financial year ending June 2022, estimated median and average incomes for Anna Bay as of September 2025 would be approximately $47,564 and $63,357 respectively. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Anna Bay fall between the 12th and 13th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 27.7% of Anna Bay's population (1,186 individuals) earning within the $400 - $799 range, differing from the regional norm where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Anna Bay, with only 84.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

Anna Bay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Anna Bay's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 85.0% houses and 15.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 81.1% houses and 18.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Anna Bay stood at 52.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.5% and rented ones at 19.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $390, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $360. Nationally, Anna Bay's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Anna Bay has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.5% of all households, including 22.7% couples with children, 36.2% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 27.0% and group households comprising 2.7%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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 13.9%, 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 10.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 47.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 12.5% and certificates at 35.4%.

A notable 24.4% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.8% in primary, 6.6% in secondary, and 2.4% in tertiary education. Anna Bay Public School serves the area with an enrollment of 316 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 968) and offering balanced educational opportunities. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. There are 7.4 school places per 100 residents in the area, below the regional average of 11.8, suggesting some students may attend schools outside Anna Bay.

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

Anna Bay has 52 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 45 different routes that together facilitate 440 weekly passenger trips. The transport system in Anna Bay is considered excellent due to its accessibility; residents typically live within 164 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 62 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Anna Bay faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering around 2,108 people, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in Anna Bay are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 13.9% and 8.9% of residents respectively. Conversely, 58.8% of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of NSW's 59.3%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 35.1%, with around 1,502 people falling into this age group, compared to Rest of NSW's 28.1%. Health outcomes among seniors in Anna Bay generally align with those of 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's population was found to be less diverse culturally, with 84.7% born in Australia, 90.8% being citizens, and 97.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 54.1%, compared to 57.4% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.9%), Australian (28.7%), and Scottish (9.4%).

Notably, Polish (0.8%) and Maori (0.7%) were overrepresented in Anna Bay compared to regional averages of 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively. Welsh representation was also notable at 0.6%.

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 75-84 age group is notably over-represented in Anna Bay at 14.1%, compared to the Rest of NSW average, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.3%. This concentration of the 75-84 age group is well above the national figure of 6.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 12.4% to 14.1%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 1.9% to 3.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 11.9% to 10.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Anna Bay. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 72%, adding 436 residents to reach 1,040. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 55% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 age group is projected to grow by a modest 5%, adding 33 people.