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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 Caves Beach is $1.33m, with units at $1.30m. House values have moved 1.3% 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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Caves Beach has an estimated 3,905 residents, down from 4,016 at the 2021 Census — a change of 111 people, or 2.8%. The population has thinned by an average 0.7% a year over five years, slower than 98% of areas nationally. That puts 1,607 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
According to evaluations of updated ABS regional population figures and new postal addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Caves Beach has an estimated population of approximately 3,905 as of Aug 2026. Relative to the 2021 Census tally of 4,016 people, this represents a contraction of 111 people (2.8%). This variation is derived from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 3,903 following the release of ABS ERP data in June 2025 alongside 3 validated new addresses recorded post-Census. Consequently, the suburb of Caves Beach records a population density of 1,607 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical benchmark across areas evaluated nationwide by AreaSearch.
Inward migration from other states served as the principal demographic driver, generating roughly 64.0% of recent population additions. In developing regional forecasts, AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections published in 2024 using 2022 as their starting baseline, supplementing unlisted areas with NSW State Government SA2 modeling released in 2022 from a 2021 base year. Age-specific trajectory rates derived from these datasets are further projected across all geographies for 2032 to 2041. Over the longer term, the suburb of Caves Beach is slated to achieve population expansion outpacing the median for regional Australia, with aggregated SA2 figures projecting an addition of 733 persons by 2041, which constitutes an overall gain of 18.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals in Caves Beach remain exceptionally constrained, averaging 2 approvals per year and totaling 12 dwellings over the five-year period. Modest volumes of this scale frequently characterize rural localities where construction activity stays restricted due to local absorption limits, modest accommodation requirements, and existing infrastructure capacities. Because total volumes are so low, isolated residential building projects can substantially alter yearly comparisons and growth metrics. Volume of building activity in Caves Beach is considerably lower than the rate recorded across Rest of NSW, while also trailing countrywide figures. Furthermore, recent residential approvals have comprised standalone single dwellings exclusively, mirroring regional preferences for personal space and standalone properties.
Looking forward, demographic projections indicate Caves Beach will add 731 residents up to 2041 based on recent quarterly modeling from AreaSearch. If residential development continues at historical paces, new construction may fall short of housing needs, which could intensify buyer demand and place upward pressure on property prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Caves Beach
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Caves Beach, worth an estimated $15 million. A further 24 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $688 million. 7 are already under construction and 10 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and environmental & disaster management. 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
Community growth and local performance are heavily shaped by civil works, major construction projects, and planning frameworks. AreaSearch has outlined 4 specific initiatives expected to influence the locality, featuring the Caves Beach Ambulance Station, Swansea Channel Permanent Dredging Solution, South East Growth Area Plan, and the Pelican, Blacksmiths, Swansea, Swansea Heads and Caves Beach Local Adaptation Plan, which are listed below in order of local significance.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Caves Beach Ambulance Station
A new purpose-built ambulance station featuring internal parking for emergency vehicles, a dedicated wash bay, multipurpose paramedic areas, gym, and training rooms. It is part of the $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program designed to optimize response times for the Caves Beach, Swansea, and Nords Wharf communities. Artist impressions were officially unveiled in January 2026, with construction expected to commence later in the year following contractor appointment.
Swansea Channel Permanent Dredging Solution
A permanent dredging solution for Swansea Channel involving a Beaver 30 dredge vessel and a new sand transfer system to maintain safe navigation, pumping sand to Blacksmiths Beach. The project also includes upgrades to the Blacksmiths boat ramp.
42-44 Lake Road Residential Development
A 3-storey residential building comprising 20 apartments (3 one-bedroom and 17 two-bedroom), a 27 square metre commercial kiosk, 21 car parking spaces, and 1,012 square metres of landscaping. The development received approval from Lake Macquarie Council in April 2024 despite community concerns regarding traffic, drainage, and overshadowing. The building height of 12.22 metres exceeds the development standard by 2.2 metres to accommodate flood-level requirements for ground-floor apartments. The project includes communal open space and additional setbacks to southern boundaries to maintain solar access and privacy for neighbouring properties.
Swansea Seawall Stabilisation
Stabilisation and repair of a 50-metre section of seawall at Belmont Street, Swansea, near Swansea Wharf. The seawall has been closed since 2021 due to instability caused by over-steepening of the underwater slope in Swansea Channel, with water velocity scouring beneath the wall creating a safety risk. The wall was found to be cracked and slumping during wharf and pontoon replacement work. Lake Macquarie City Council has submitted a budget proposal to the NSW Government for the estimated 8 million dollar repair project.
South East Growth Area Plan
A strategic plan by Lake Macquarie City Council to manage and guide growth in the South East area of the LGA, including Swansea, Caves Beach, and Catherine Hill Bay. The plan focuses on leveraging the area's natural assets to become a tourism hub, while also accommodating population growth through appropriate development and infrastructure upgrades.
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.
Pelican, Blacksmiths, Swansea, Swansea Heads and Caves Beach Local Adaptation Plan
A comprehensive plan developed by Lake Macquarie City Council in collaboration with the community to address the long-term impacts of climate change, specifically sea level rise and flooding. The plan outlines a series of actions and strategies to adapt and build resilience in these coastal suburbs.
Swansea foreshore enhancement project
The construction of a new boardwalk, installation of public art, revegetation works, landscaping, new wayfinding and interpretive signage and an upgrade to the western car park.
1,731 residents of Caves Beach are employed, from a labour force of 1,818. Unemployment sits at 4.8%, with participation at 54.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,163, about 81% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local workforce figures compiled by AreaSearch for Caves Beach show a capable labour pool featuring robust participation in essential services and an overall jobless rate of 4.8%. As of March 2026, employed residents count 1,731, with the local unemployment rate standing 0.7% above the 4.1% mark seen in Regional NSW, alongside a participation rate of 54.9% that trails the regional benchmark of 60.6%. Census returns also indicated that 29.6% of workers carried out their duties remotely from home, though this figure was influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. The resident workforce is largely employed across health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.
Concentration is especially pronounced within education & training, representing 1.3 times the wider regional proportion. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.4% of local employment, well underneath the 5.3% regional benchmark. Comparing the Census count of local jobs to the resident workforce suggests the suburb remains mostly residential with limited commercial job opportunities on site. SALM and ABS metrics aggregated across broader statistical districts by AreaSearch show that over the twelve months to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 2.6% while total employment fell by 4.7%, lifting the unemployment rate by 2.1 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW registered a 0.9% drop in jobs and a 0.4% decrease in workforce numbers, resulting in a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. Looking ahead, nationwide employment modeling from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provides indications of future industry requirements. Mapping these national projections across local workforce concentrations projects total employment increases of 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years for Caves Beach, compared to nationwide expansions of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (calculated via weighted industry extrapolation without local demographic adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Caves Beach is $1,628 a week (about $85,000 a year), with median personal income at $711 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $51,201 a year against an average of $69,681. 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
ATO taxation data at postcode level aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates taxpayers in Caves Beach recorded a median income of $51,201 and an average income of $69,681, slightly outpacing nationwide figures and comparing to Regional NSW marks of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Factoring in the 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, modeled estimates as of March 2026 reach approximately $56,485 for median earnings and $76,872 for average earnings. Findings from the 2021 Census place household, family, and individual earnings in modest bands between the 30th and 43rd percentiles.
The primary earnings bracket comprises 27.9% of residents (1,089 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the 29.9% share in the broader region. Residents retain 86.0% of earnings after meeting shelter costs, with SEIFA economic advantage indices situating the suburb in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Caves Beach had 1,496 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 86% detached houses and 4% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 19% rented and 51% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $420 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,090 a month. Rent absorbs 25.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 29.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Data from the latest Census shows housing stock in Caves Beach consisted of 85.6% standalone houses alongside 14.4% other dwelling types such as apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Regional NSW recorded 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stood at 50.5%, significantly above regional averages, while 30.8% of residences were being purchased under a mortgage and 18.7% were occupied by tenants. Median monthly mortgage obligations of $2,090 and median weekly rent costs of $420 were both well above Regional NSW benchmarks of $1,733 and $330 respectively. On a national level, housing repayments in Caves Beach noticeably outstrip Australian medians of $1,863 for mortgages and $375 for weekly rents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Caves Beach counted 1,496 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 30% are couples with children, against 34% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 77.2% of all households, made up of couples with children at 30.3%, couples without children at 34.1%, and single parent arrangements at 12.1%. Non-family living situations represent the remaining 22.8%, split between single-person households at 21.1% and group living arrangements at 1.8%. Typical household occupancy is 2.6 people, which is higher than the Regional NSW standard of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
23.0% of adults in Caves Beach hold a university qualification, including 16.3% with a bachelor degree and 4.0% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 27.8% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,077 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,001 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 attainment levels in Caves Beach sit underneath state averages, with 23.0% of citizens aged 15+ possessing university qualifications versus 32.2% across NSW. Undergraduate qualifications represent the largest proportion at 16.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Meanwhile, technical and vocational training is widely held, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding certificates or diplomas, specifically 11.5% with advanced diplomas and 27.8% with vocational certificates. Current student enrollment is elevated, with 26.3% of the community undertaking formal study. Broken down by tier, 9.0% attend primary education, 8.0% participate in secondary schooling, and 4.2% are enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Caves Beach reaches 41 stops on 18 routes, timetabled for about 390 services a week. The typical home sits about 170 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.6 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
Transit options within Caves Beach include 41 active public transport stops providing bus connections across 18 separate routes, generating 394 weekly passenger trips. Overall public transport access is strong, with typical residential properties located 171 meters from their closest transit facility. As an established residential area, most workers commute elsewhere, with private motor vehicles accounting for 94% of trips. Households possess an average of 1.6 vehicles per dwelling. In addition, 29.6% of workers conducted their roles from home according to the 2021 Census, reflecting conditions during COVID-19. Public bus frequencies provide an average of 56 trips per day throughout the network, which equates to roughly 9 weekly trips for each designated bus stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
61.2% of residents in Caves Beach report no long-term health condition. 6.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 54.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments by AreaSearch evaluating long-term illnesses and mortality patterns position Caves Beach closely aligned with national norms, though chronic ailment rates are elevated among senior age brackets, while private health insurance uptake is robust at roughly 54% of the population (~2,127 people), compared to 51.9% throughout Regional NSW. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent reported health issues, affecting 12.0 and 8.3% of residents respectively, while 61.2% reported being free from long-term medical conditions compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age adults display above-average rates of chronic illnesses.
The suburb has 29.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,155 people), exceeding the 23.3% benchmark in Regional NSW, and while senior health metrics face distinct challenges, they rank below broader national population comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Caves Beach is largely Australian-born, at 88.1% of residents, with 4.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (31.7%) and English (30.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Measures of cultural diversity in Caves Beach are below broader averages, with 88.1% of residents born domestically in Australia, 94.3% holding Australian citizenship, and 95.9% speaking only English in domestic settings. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation, identified by 56.8% of the local community, relative to 55.9% recorded across Regional NSW. Regarding reported ancestry based on parental birthplace, the primary backgrounds in Caves Beach are Australian at 31.7%, English at 30.9%, and Irish at 8.9%. Variations in other ancestries are also evident, with Welsh lineage accounting for 1.2% (against 0.5% regionally), Maltese lineage at 0.9% (against 0.4%), and Scottish heritage at 8.9% (against 8.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Caves Beach is 49, older than 90% of areas nationally. 19.4% 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 patterns in Caves Beach reflect an older age profile, where senior and retiree brackets (65+) comprise 29.6% of the population as at August 2026, compared to 23.3% across Regional NSW, whereas young and middle-aged adults (25 - 44) account for 16.2% compared to 23.5% regionally. The estimated median age is 49, unchanged from the 2021 Census, which is 6 years older than the Regional NSW median of 43 at that Census and above the nationwide Census median of 38. The share of retirees and seniors has expanded from 27.4% at the Census to an estimated 29.6%.
Looking toward 2041, the retiree and elderly segment will experience the most substantial expansion, adding 349 residents (30%) to reach 1,505.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Caves Beach
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 | May 2026 5 months ago all 1 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 May 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 — 3 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,016 at the 2021 Census → 3,905 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 (SAL10861). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.