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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
Sales Activity
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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Sales Detail
Population
An assessment of population growth drivers in Caves Beach reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends
As of May 2026, the population of the suburb of Caves Beach is estimated at around 3,906. This reflects a decrease of 110 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,016. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025. This level of population results in a density ratio of 1,607 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Interstate migration contributed approximately 64.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch adopts 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 the years 2032 to 2041. With projected demographic trends, an above median population growth is anticipated for regional areas across the nation. The suburb of Caves Beach is expected to increase by 742 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 19.0% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Caves Beach is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch
Caves Beach had minimal construction activity from 2013 to 2017, with fewer than one new dwelling approved annually. This amounts to four dwellings over the five-year period. Such low development levels are typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.
However, it's important to note that the small sample size can be significantly influenced by individual development projects. In comparison, Caves Beach had much lower development activity than the Rest of NSW during this period. Nationally, development levels were also below average. All new constructions in Caves Beach were detached houses, reflecting rural living preferences for space and privacy. With approximately 2627 people per approval, Caves Beach indicates a mature, established area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Caves Beach
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Caves Beach has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects that may affect this region: Caves Beach Ambulance Station, Swansea Channel Permanent Dredging Solution, South East Growth Area Plan, and Pelican, Blacksmiths, Swansea, Swansea Heads and Caves Beach Local Adaptation Plan. The following details those most likely to be relevant.
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Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone
The Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is a critical network infrastructure project upgrading approximately 85km of existing 132kV sub-transmission lines between Kurri Kurri and Muswellbrook, and constructing two new substations at Sandy Creek (Muswellbrook) and Antiene (Singleton). The project delivers an additional 1GW of network transfer capacity, enabling connection of approximately 1.8GW of new renewable generation and storage. Ausgrid, as appointed network operator, is responsible for design, financing, construction and operation. The Project Deed with EnergyCo was signed in December 2025 following Australian Energy Regulator determination, and construction officially commenced on 27 February 2026. The REZ is the first in Australia to upgrade existing distribution poles and wires rather than build new transmission infrastructure. It will create 590 jobs during construction and 220 ongoing local positions, with full capacity expected by 2028.
High Speed Rail - Newcastle to Sydney (Line 1)
High Speed Rail Line 1 will connect Newcastle to Sydney on a new dedicated 194km rail line with trains capable of speeds up to 320 km/h on surface sections and 200 km/h in tunnels. Around 115km of the route will run through tunnels. The line will reduce travel time between Newcastle and Sydney to around one hour, with Central Coast trips of about 30 minutes. Six stations are proposed at central Newcastle (Broadmeadow), Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast (Gosford), Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International Airport. Following release of the business case in early 2026, the project moved into a two-year Development Phase, with the Australian Government investing a further $230 million for design refinement, environmental and planning approvals, and corridor preservation. The first two major contract packages went to tender in 2026: Area Package 1 (around 35km of twin TBM tunnels, an underground station and associated civil works) and Trains, Systems and Systems Integration (supply of trains, design of all systems, rail depot and operations control centre). The Newcastle to Sydney section is estimated to cost around $61.2 billion by 2039, with a further $32 billion to extend to Western Sydney International Airport by 2042. The project is forecast to support up to 15,000 construction jobs annually at peak and add around $250 billion to the Australian economy over a 50-year appraisal period.
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
Comprehensive NSW state planning reforms designed to increase housing density in well-located areas. The policy mandates mid-rise apartment buildings (3-6 storeys) and low-rise multi-dwelling housing (terraces, townhouses, and dual occupancies) within 800m of 171 high-frequency transport hubs and town centres. As of May 2026, the policy is fully operational following the phased rollout of dual occupancy provisions in July 2024 and mid-rise apartment provisions in early 2025. Recent updates include refined floor space ratios (FSR) and non-refusal standards to streamline local council assessments.
Caves Beach Ambulance Station
A new purpose-built ambulance station to boost frontline emergency care and improve emergency response times across Lake Macquarie, servicing Caves Beach, Swansea, and surrounding communities including Nords Wharf, Catherine Hill Bay, Murray's Beach, and Cams Wharf. The site at Kayuga Close has been secured, and the project is proceeding with design development and planning approval. It is part of the NSW Government's $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.
Swansea Channel Permanent Dredging Solution
A permanent dredging solution for Swansea Channel, the entrance to Lake Macquarie, involving a Beaver 30 dredge vessel and sand transfer system to maintain safe navigation for vessels, with sand pumped to Blacksmiths Beach. The project includes upgrades to the Blacksmiths boat ramp and aims to address ongoing sand accumulation issues.
Swansea Channel Dredging and Sand Transfer System
Multi-stage program to maintain safe navigation in Swansea Channel and deliver a permanent dredge and sand transfer system. Stage 3 maintenance dredging occurred in mid-2025 focusing on the Dog Leg, while Council has awarded a $7.4m tender to supply a Beaver 30 dredge and associated sand transfer system. Installation is scheduled from late 2025 to mid-2026, with commissioning targeted for mid-2026. Transport for NSW will operate the system for at least five years, with dredged sand to nourish Blacksmiths Beach.
Salts Bay Littoral Rainforest Protection and Enhancement Works
Rehabilitation of endangered littoral rainforest ecosystem at Swansea Heads through targeted weed control, erosion management, and revegetation. The project addressed invasion of transformer weeds, urbanization impacts including rubbish dumping, and track erosion from unauthorized public access. Works included planting over 1,000 native species, installation of fencing to formalize access points, and comprehensive bush regeneration to protect this rare coastal ecological community. The project was supported by the NSW Coast and Estuary Grant Program and involved collaboration with OzFish Unlimited, Landcare NSW, and Bahtabah Local Aboriginal Land Council. Supporting infrastructure improvements included sealing of Salts Bay Road and construction of a car park to improve controlled access while protecting the sensitive ecosystem.
Newcastle Offshore Wind Project
The Newcastle Offshore Wind project proposes a floating wind farm off Newcastle, NSW, with an expected capacity of up to 10 gigawatts, pending a Scoping Study's results.
Employment
Caves Beach shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia
Caves Beach has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 4.3%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 1,755 residents in work, and the unemployment rate is 0.3% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.
Workforce participation lags at 55.3%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses show that 29.6% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area has a high specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.
Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.4% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.8%, alongside a 2.4% employment decline, resulting in an unemployment rate rise of 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced employment and labour force declines of 1.2% and 0.8%, respectively, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caves Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Caves Beach had a median income of $51,201 and an average of $69,681. This is slightly above national averages. Regional NSW's median was $52,390 with an average of $65,215. Using Wage Price Index growth of 10.32%, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $56,485 (median) and $76,872 (average). Census data ranks Caves Beach's household, family, and personal incomes modestly between the 30th and 43rd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 27.9% of locals earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually, reflecting regional patterns where 29.9% fall within this range. After housing costs, 86.0% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Caves Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Dwelling structure in Caves Beach, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 85.6% houses and 14.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caves Beach was 50.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.8% and rented dwellings at 18.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,090, compared to Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Caves Beach was $420, while Regional NSW's average was $330. Nationally, Caves Beach's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Caves Beach features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 77.2% of all households, including 30.3% couples with children, 34.1% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.8%, with lone person households at 21.1% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational attainment in Caves Beach aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics
In Caves Beach trail, as of 2021, 23.0% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university degrees, compared to the New South Wales (NSW) average of 32.2%. The most common educational qualification is a bachelor degree, held by 16.3% of residents in this age group, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.0%, and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 39.3% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas held by 11.5% and certificates by 27.8%.
Educational participation is high, with 26.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (9.0%), secondary education (8.0%), and tertiary education (4.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Caves Beach has 41 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 18 different routes that together facilitate 285 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 171 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to the area's residential nature, with cars being the dominant mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in Caves Beach. According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, specifically 29.6%, work from home, which could potentially be due to COVID-19 conditions.
The service frequency across all routes averages at 40 trips per day, resulting in approximately 6 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Caves Beach's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts
Caves Beach's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the nation's average among older cohorts.
Private health cover is found to be fairly high at approximately 54% of the total population (~2,127 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 12.0 and 8.3% of residents respectively, while 61.2% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 29.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,136 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Caves Beach is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Caves Beach showed lower cultural diversity, with 88.1% born in Australia, 94.3% citizens, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the prevalent religion at 56.8%, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top ancestral groups were Australian (31.7%), English (30.9%), and Irish (8.9%).
Notably, Welsh (1.2%) and Maltese (0.9%) were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Scottish ancestry was also slightly higher at 8.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Caves Beach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide
The median age in Caves Beach is 49, which is higher than Regional NSW's figure of 43 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The proportion of individuals aged 65-74 is notably higher at 15.7% locally compared to the Regional NSW average, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 6.1%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is significantly higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and now, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 24 has increased from 11.5% to 13.1%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.8% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Caves Beach's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 36%, adding 133 people to reach a total of 501 individuals. Conversely, the 15 to 24 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 1%, an increase of just 3 people.