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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Byron Bay is $2.50m, with units at $1.40m. House values have moved -2.8% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Byron Bay has an estimated 6,884 residents, up from 6,330 at the 2021 Census — a change of 554 people, or 8.8%. Growth has averaged 1.6% a year over five years. 249 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 92.0% of that increase. That puts 360 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
In the suburb of Byron Bay, the population stands at approximately 6,884 as of Aug 2026, according to AreaSearch assessments that incorporate ABS regional updates and post-Census validated address counts. This total represents an expansion of 554 people (8.8%) compared to the 6,330 people documented in the 2021 Census. AreaSearch arrived at this estimate by examining the ABS Estimated Resident Population release from June 2025 (which indicated 6,869 residents) alongside 249 validated new addresses recorded after the Census date. With a density ratio measuring 359 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample room per resident as well as capacity for upcoming expansion.
The 8.8% growth rate recorded in the suburb of Byron Bay outpaced both the SA4 region (3.8%) and the Rest of NSW, establishing the community as a regional frontrunner in population expansion. Inbound overseas migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 92.0% of recent population additions. Projections published by the ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024 using 2022 baseline figures have been utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 boundaries, supplemented by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 forecasts (based on 2021) wherever gaps exist. Age-specific trajectory rates from these datasets are applied to every location for the timeframe spanning 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2 modelling, the suburb of Byron Bay is anticipated to experience demographic expansion slightly underneath the national regional median, adding 665 persons by 2041 to register an overall 9.4% rise over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
316 new dwellings have been approved in Byron Bay over the past five years, an average of 63 a year. That places the area in the 78th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 9 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 52 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 52% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 62, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
ABS residential building approvals mapped across statistical divisions show Byron Bay averaging roughly 63 new home permits annually, accumulating to an estimated 316 homes throughout the prior 5 financial years. Within FY-25 to date, 62 approvals have been documented. Between FY-21 and FY-25, new dwellings accommodated an average of 2 new residents per year per dwelling constructed, pointing toward balanced market conditions with aligned supply and demand metrics. New residential builds carry an average construction cost value of $1,222,000, underscoring builder emphasis on high-end, premium developments. Commercial planning approvals have reached $49.4 million during this financial year, reflecting substantial local capital investment.
Per capita development intensity in Byron Bay exceeds the Rest of NSW by 57.0%, generating a wide selection of prospective properties. Approvals are distributed between 52.0% standalone homes and 48.0% townhouses or apartments, delivering a diverse range of built forms that span larger detached residences to accessible medium-density options. With approximately 90 people per approval, the area demonstrates steady urban expansion. Longer-term projections from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly release anticipate an addition of 650 residents in Byron Bay by 2041. Sustaining current construction volumes should enable local dwelling supply to comfortably absorb incoming demand, creating favorable buyer conditions and potentially facilitating growth exceeding current baseline estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Byron Bay
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 17 current infrastructure and development projects inside Byron Bay, worth an estimated $484 million. A further 53 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $2.32 billion. 16 are already under construction and 23 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Planning initiatives, substantial development projects, and civic infrastructure works significantly shape the growth and performance of the area. AreaSearch has pinpointed 20 local projects anticipated to exert notable influence, led by key undertakings including Byron Bay Drainage Upgrade, Bohemian Byron Bay, MARE Apartments, and 29 Shirley Street Apartments.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Byron Bay Drainage Upgrade
Stage 1 works to upgrade town centre drainage to reduce flooding impacts across Byron Bay. Scope includes new trunk drainage in Byron Street and parts of Jonson Street, works in the Lawson Street South car park and rail corridor, plus associated road and footpath upgrades, tree planting, and seating.
Eade Byron Bay
EADE Byron Bay is a luxury beachfront development featuring 25 beachside residences by Vitale Property Group. Amenities include private pools, a wellness center, and shared work zones. Designed by Hayball and Alexander & Co, the project aims for an 8-star NatHERS rating and operates entirely without gas.
Bohemian Byron Bay
Mixed-use redevelopment of the former Byron Plaza site by Luxcon Group comprising 44 two and three bedroom apartments designed by PBD Architects with interiors by Coco Republic. The project includes a rooftop pool club with a 25m heated pool, gym, spa and sauna, plus ground-floor retail and a hawker-style food lane (Spice Lane) inspired by Sydney's Spice Alley. Consent was issued by the Northern Regional Planning Panel with a later modification reducing dwellings to 44.Luxcon lists an indicative completion of 2026 and sales remain active as at mid-2025.
MARE Apartments
Mixed-use project with eight 3-bedroom residences, private balconies, secure basement parking, lift access, rooftop pool and landscaped public laneway linking Marvell Street to Fletcher Lane. Ground-floor retail tenancies complement the residences. Architecture and interiors by HGA Studio; sales by Byron Bay Sothebys International Realty.
Mercato on Byron
Completed lifestyle retail and entertainment precinct anchored by Woolworths and a nine-screen Palace Cinemas, with sustainable features including a 5 Star Green Star rating, rooftop solar, and water harvesting.
Tennyson Street Upgrade
Council has extended Tennyson Street to connect with Gilmore Crescent near the Byron Bay Skate Park to support a future NSW emergency services precinct. Road construction finished in July 2025, with opening pending completion of lighting, line marking and signage. The upgrade improves pedestrian and cycle links through the Sandhills precinct and adds 33 new parking spaces.
46-50 Jonson Street Mixed-Use Development
Demolition of an existing building and construction of three storey mixed use development comprising retail premises, office premises, restaurant and ancillary works.
Lusso
Melbourne-based developer CADRE's LUSSO project in Byron Bay includes six luxury town homes with private pools.
3,888 residents of Byron Bay are employed, from a labour force of 4,028. Unemployment sits at 3.5%, with participation at 65.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Byron Bay features a highly qualified labor force with considerable concentrations in hospitality and tourism, an unemployment rate of 3.5%, and annual job growth estimated at 4.1% via AreaSearch statistical area aggregations. As of March 2026, 3,888 residents participate in employment, holding the local jobless rate 0.7% under the 4.1% recorded across Regional NSW, while labor force participation sits at 65.4% against 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census figures indicated that 30.0% of workers operated from home, though period Covid-19 restrictions must be acknowledged. Resident employment centers predominantly on accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, alongside professional & technical services.
Specialization in accommodation & food is pronounced, capturing a workforce share 3.3 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for 11.8% of the local workforce compared to 16.9% across Regional NSW. Census records indicate a ratio of 0.7 workers for each resident, reflecting above-average employment concentration within the local boundary. Evaluating SALM and ABS figures across broader areas indicates that the preceding 12-month period generated a 4.1% lift in employment alongside a 4.8% expansion in the labor pool, leading to a 0.6 percentage points rise in unemployment. By contrast, Regional NSW registered a 0.9% contraction in employment, a 0.4% decline in the workforce, and a 0.5 percentage point increase in joblessness. Jobs and Skills Australia projections released in Mar-26 outline national employment expansions of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely across industries. Applying these weighted national trajectories to Byron Bay's industry distribution indicates potential local job increases of 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (representing a direct illustrative weighting that omits localized demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Byron Bay is $1,561 a week (about $81,000 a year), with median personal income at $805 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $39,019 a year against an average of $81,046. The average runs 108% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to financial year 2023 ATO postcode statistics compiled by AreaSearch, median taxpayer income in the suburb of Byron Bay stands at $39,019, alongside an average of $81,046. This average sits at an elevated level nationally, contrasting with Regional NSW benchmarks of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Accounting for a 10.32% Wage Price Index increase recorded since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $43,046 for median earnings and $89,410 on average as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, local household, family, and personal income percentiles registered moderately between the 39th and 50th percentiles.
The primary wage bracket encompasses 28.1% of residents (1,934 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the metropolitan proportion of 29.9%. Affordability challenges remain significant, with retained income at 77.0% (placing at the 31st percentile), while the area sits within the 7th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Byron Bay had 2,364 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 56% detached houses and 13% apartments. 21% are owned with a mortgage, 42% rented and 37% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $600 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month, a total housing cost higher than 84% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 38.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 32.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate Byron Bay's residential landscape is divided into 56.4% houses and 43.6% other dwellings (incorporating semi-detached homes, units, and alternative formats), contrasting with Regional NSW where houses comprise 82.6% and other dwellings represent 17.4%. Outright home ownership stands at 36.7%, trailing regional benchmarks, while remaining homes are split between mortgaged properties (21.3%) and rental accommodation (42.0%). Monthly mortgage repayments carry a median of $2,167 compared to $1,733 regionally, while median weekly rent reaches $600 compared to $330 in Regional NSW. Nationally, local repayments substantially exceed the Australian median of $1,863 per month, and rental rates surpass the national benchmark of $375 per week.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Byron Bay counted 2,364 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,571 today, averaging 2.3 people each. 17% are couples with children, fewer than in 92% of areas nationally, against 27% couples without children. 34% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families comprise 53.3% of local households, encompassing 27.2% couples without children, 17.2% couples with children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 46.7%, structured as 33.9% lone person households and 12.8% group households. The median household occupancy is 2.3 people, remaining below the Regional NSW standard of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
39.8% of adults in Byron Bay hold a university qualification, including 29.2% with a bachelor degree and 7.8% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 82% of areas nationally. A further 19.0% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 1,675 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,074 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational qualifications in Byron Bay outpace broader standards, with 39.8% of residents aged 15+ possessing tertiary degrees compared to 21.3% in Rest of NSW and 24.3% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees represent 29.2% of attainment, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials account for 33.0% of the population aged 15+, comprising advanced diplomas (14.0%) and certificates (19.0%). Formal study participation is elevated throughout the locality, with 27.6% of residents attending an educational institution. This incorporates 7.2% enrolled in primary education, 6.1% in secondary education, and 4.9% undertaking tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Byron Bay reaches 74 stops on 47 routes, timetabled for about 740 services a week. The typical home sits about 250 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity within Byron Bay includes 74 operational transit stops spanning train and bus services. These facilities accommodate 47 separate routes that deliver 739 weekly passenger trips, providing accessible network coverage situated an average of 253 meters from resident dwellings. Outbound commuting is customary, with private vehicles accounting for 74% of travel, while 13% of trips occur by walking and 8% by cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below regional norms, and 30.0% of workers performed their duties from home according to 2021 Census records during COVID-19 conditions.
Transit service schedules deliver an average of 105 daily trips across the collective network, translating to roughly 9 weekly departures at each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.7% of residents in Byron Bay report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 88% of areas nationally. 4.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 58.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic condition incidence show positive community health benchmarks across Byron Bay, paired with minimal prevalence of common ailments across all age demographics. Private health insurance coverage is notably strong, covering roughly 59% of the population (4,056 people) in contrast to 51.9% throughout Regional NSW. Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, documented among 7.4 and 6.2% of residents respectively, whereas 74.7% of the population reported no medical ailments, outperforming the Regional NSW rate of 63.3%. Working-age cohorts exhibit high health standards with minimal chronic illness.
Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 18.8% of the community (1,294 people), below the Regional NSW share of 23.3%, and maintain health outcomes generally on par with national population measures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
33.0% of Byron Bay residents were born overseas and 16.3% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (28.9%) and Australian (19.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Byron Bay exceeds most regional locations, with 33.0% of inhabitants born overseas and 16.3% using a non-English language at home. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation, encompassing 28.5% of residents. Judaism registers a notable local concentration at 1.4% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Regional NSW. Regarding ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the primary ancestries in Byron Bay are English at 28.9%, Australian at 19.5% (trailing the 30.0% regional benchmark), and Irish at 10.9%. Other distinct representations include German at 4.7% (compared to 3.1% regionally), alongside Spanish at 1.8% (versus 0.3%) and French at 1.8% (versus 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Byron Bay is 38. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 30.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Demographic composition in Byron Bay is weighted toward cohorts preceding family formation stages. Updated estimates to August 2026 indicate that 39.1% of residents fall into the 25 - 44 age category, compared to 23.5% across Regional NSW, while the 0 - 24 age bracket represents 19.9% versus 29.3% regionally. The median age is estimated at 38, decreasing from 39 at the 2021 Census and sitting 5 years below the Regional NSW Census median of 43. Young to middle aged adults expanded from 36.9% at the Census to an estimated 39.1% currently, and are forecast to generate the largest expansion by 2041 with an increase of 508 residents (19%) to reach 3,200.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Byron Bay
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 3 months ago all 17 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 249 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (6,330 at the 2021 Census → 6,884 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL10731). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.