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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 Fingal Bay is $1.30m, with units at $875k. House values have moved 4.1% 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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Fingal Bay has an estimated 1,587 residents, down from 1,635 at the 2021 Census — a change of 48 people, or 2.9%. The population has thinned by an average 0.8% a year over five years, slower than 98% of areas nationally. That puts 165 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 investigations of ABS population estimates for the wider region, alongside recent address validation conducted by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Fingal Bay has a residency count projected at approximately 1,587 in May 2026. This represents a contraction of 48 people (2.9%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 1,635 people. The adjustment is calculated from a resident base of 1,583, determined by AreaSearch after examining the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) and incorporating 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of residency yields a density of 165 persons per square kilometer, indicating substantial personal space and possibilities for future construction.
Growth in the local populace was almost entirely driven by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 98.0% of all population increases recently. AreaSearch incorporates ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 regions lacking this coverage, projections from the NSW State Government released in 2022 using 2021 as the baseline are employed. Age-specific expansion rates derived from these datasets are projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these combined SA2 projections, the suburb of Fingal Bay is anticipated to experience demographic growth slightly below the median for non-metropolitan Australia, expanding by 156 persons by 2041, which represents an overall increase of 9.6% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Property development in Fingal Bay is extremely quiet, averaging 3 dwelling approvals per year, with a total of 17 over the last five years. These modest figures reflect the rural character of the suburb, where building activity is generally motivated by specific local housing demands rather than broad market dynamics. Due to such low numbers of approvals, annual growth rates and comparative percentages can fluctuate significantly depending on individual projects. Fingal Bay experiences building activity levels that are substantially lower than the Rest of NSW, and also fall short of national averages.
Recent residential construction is split equally, consisting of 50.0% standalone houses and 50.0% medium and high-density housing options. This shift toward higher-density builds offers more affordable entry points and attracts downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. The presence of 3172 people in the area for every single dwelling approval underscores the quiet and low-key nature of the local construction environment. Looking forward, projections suggest Fingal Bay will add 152 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. With current building rates remaining so low, the supply of new housing may struggle to keep pace with this population growth, which could intensify competition among buyers and support upward pressure on property prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Fingal Bay
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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 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Fingal Bay, worth an estimated $6 million. A further 40 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $2.15 billion. 7 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and tourism. 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
Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and planning schemes have a significant impact on local performance. In total, AreaSearch has identified 6 projects that are expected to influence the area. Notable projects include the 14 Market Street, Fingal Bay Mixed-Use (Shop-top Housing) development, the Engadine Rsl And Fingal Bay Sports Club Development, the Fingal Bay Foreshore Upgrade, and the Nelson Bay Toboggan Hill Park Development Opportunity, with details provided on the most relevant schemes.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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
14 Market Street, Fingal Bay Mixed-Use (Shop-top Housing)
DA-approved shop-top housing: 3 apartments (two 2-bedroom units and one full-floor penthouse) over ground-floor retail with on-grade parking. Site is approximately 200m from Fingal Beach. Property was marketed for sale in 2024 with DA in place and the ground-floor commercial space is currently advertised for lease, indicating no construction commencement as of the latest checks.
Engadine Rsl And Fingal Bay Sports Club Development
Societie Group is seeking development partners for a joint-venture redevelopment opportunity at Engadine RSL and Fingal Bay Sports Club sites to explore a variety of potential end-uses and synergies, future-proofing the clubs.
Fingal Bay Foreshore Upgrade
Improve accessibility and inclusiveness for local residents at Fingal Bay Foreshore with amenities and furniture upgrades, including demolishing existing amenities, constructing a new inclusive, DDA-compliant amenities building, and upgrading pathway connections. The project also included park furniture upgrades and the installation of a playground shade sail.
Nelson Bay Public Domain Plan
A 20-year vision by Port Stephens Council to revitalise the Nelson Bay town centre and foreshore. The plan focuses on upgrading streetscapes, improving pedestrian connectivity, and creating a greener, more attractive environment. Recent works include the Stockton Street stage upgrades and pedestrian wayfinding improvements, supported by smart parking revenue and government grants.
The Belvedere
An eight-storey luxury residential development comprising 56 apartments including two- and three-bedroom residences and penthouses, with rooftop amenities such as a pool, spa, gym, and sauna, along with communal green spaces, an office, and a coffee shop, aimed at addressing housing shortages in Port Stephens.
Nelson Bay Apartments
High-end block of five residential apartments, six storeys, penthouse with pool, ocean views.
d'Albora Marina Nelson Bay Hotel
Demolition of existing on-land structures at Nelson Bay Marina and construction of a four-storey 122-room waterfront hotel across three multi-storey buildings, along with upgraded restaurant and cafe facilities, enhanced retail spaces, a boat maintenance workshop, outdoor and rooftop terraces, a new foreshore public plaza, and multi-level car parking. A State Significant Development application (SSD-77938524) is being prepared for submission to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure following community engagement completed in October 2025.The precinct is owned and operated by d'Albora Marinas (MA Financial).
Kurrara Hill
A 10-storey mixed-use development featuring 48 modern apartments with a mix of one to four-bedroom units, two business premises, one retail space, premium landscaping, and secure on-site parking.
537 residents of Fingal Bay are employed, from a labour force of 563. Unemployment sits at 4.6%, with participation at 38.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,756, about 111% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Fingal Bay is home to a qualified workforce with a strong representation in the tourism and hospitality sectors, recording an unemployment rate of 4.6% and showing stable employment patterns over the past year according to aggregated regional statistics. In March 2026, the employed resident population stood at 537, which corresponds to an unemployment rate 0.5% higher than the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, while workforce participation is notably low at 38.8% compared to 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census records indicate that a moderate 22.0% of local workers operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related lockdowns.
Local workers are primarily employed in accommodation & food, construction, and health care & social assistance. The suburb shows a major concentration in accommodation & food services, employing residents at a rate 2.2 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 12.0% of the local workforce, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 16.9%. Although there are local jobs available, the ratio of Census workers to the total local population suggests that a significant number of residents travel to other areas for work. An analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical regions indicates that in the year ending March 2026, local employment numbers expanded by 0.4% while the overall labour force contracted by 0.4%, leading to a decrease in the unemployment rate of 0.7 percentage points. This trend differed from Regional NSW, which saw employment shrink by 0.9%, the labour force decrease by 0.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 provide context for future trends in Fingal Bay. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual industries will grow at very different rates. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the local employment structure suggests that local employment could rise by 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection for comparison that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Fingal Bay is $1,114 a week (about $58,000 a year), with median personal income at $573 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $37,336 a year against an average of $53,191. The average runs 42% 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
The latest postcode-level ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year show that incomes in the suburb of Fingal Bay are below the national average, with a median of $37,336 and an average of $53,191. This is lower than Regional NSW, where the median is $52,390 and the average is $65,215. Incorporating a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be roughly $41,189 for the median and $58,680 for the average. Census data places household, family, and personal incomes in Fingal Bay in the 8th and 8th percentiles nationally.
The largest income bracket is the $800 - 1,499 range, containing 33.1% of residents (525 people), whereas the leading bracket across the region is the $1,500 - 2,999 range at 29.9%. Affordability pressures are high, leaving residents with only 84.8% of their income, which ranks in the 10th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Fingal Bay had 703 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 52% detached houses and 1% apartments. 17% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 57% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $390 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 35.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 35.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the residential housing mix in Fingal Bay consisted of 51.8% standalone houses and 48.2% alternative dwellings such as townhouses, apartments, and other housing types, which contrasts with Regional NSW where standalone houses make up 82.6% and other dwellings comprise 17.4%. Home ownership in the suburb is high at 57.0%, while mortgaged properties account for 16.6% and rented homes make up 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage payment was identical to the Regional NSW average at $1,733, whereas the median weekly rent was $390, compared to regional figures of $1,733 and $330.
Nationally, mortgage repayments in the suburb are below the Australian median of $1,863, while rent costs exceed the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Fingal Bay counted 703 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 14% are couples with children, fewer than in 95% of areas nationally, against 46% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households constitute the majority of homes at 69.1%, which includes 14.4% couples with children, 45.7% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 30.9% of households, with lone person households representing 29.9% and group households making up 1.7% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is lower than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.5% of adults in Fingal Bay hold a university qualification, including 12.9% with a bachelor degree and 3.4% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 76% of areas nationally. A further 32.8% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The region shows lower levels of higher education attainment, with university qualification rates at 18.5% compared to the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation presents an opportunity for targeted educational programs. Among residents with higher qualifications, bachelor degrees are most common at 12.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.4% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Practical and vocational skills are prominent, with 43.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, including 10.8% with advanced diplomas and 32.8% holding certificates. A significant proportion of the local population, totaling 21.9%, is currently enrolled in formal studies.
This enrollment includes 9.3% in primary schooling, 6.0% in secondary education, and 2.9% studying at the tertiary level.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Fingal Bay reaches 25 stops on 17 routes, timetabled for about 360 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.1 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 options include 25 active stops in the suburb of Fingal Bay, which are serviced by bus routes. These stops accommodate 17 different routes, providing 357 passenger trips each week. Transport access is convenient, with residents living an average of 149 meters from the nearest stop. Because this is a residential suburb, most workers commute out of the area, and private cars are the primary mode of travel for 94% of commuters. Average vehicle ownership is 1.1 per household, which is below the regional average. Additionally, 22.0% of residents work from home, based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.
Across all transit routes, service frequency averages 51 runs per day, which translates to approximately 14 weekly services for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
55.3% of residents in Fingal Bay report no long-term health condition. 7.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators are generally positive for the local population, with mortality rates and medical conditions showing results that align with national trends. The occurrence of common illnesses is quite low across the broader community, though higher rates are seen among older, higher-risk groups. Private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 48% of the population (~762 people) covered, compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and heart disease are the most prevalent medical conditions locally, affecting 16.1% and 7.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 55.3% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW.
Health statistics for working-age residents are typical. The population features a high proportion of seniors, with 51.0% of residents aged 65 and over (809 people), which is significantly higher than the Regional NSW figure of 23.4%, though this ranks lower nationally when compared to the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Fingal Bay is largely Australian-born, at 85.6% of residents, with 3.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (36.3%) and Australian (27.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Fingal Bay is below average, with citizens making up 88.9% of the population, 85.6% of residents born in Australia, and 96.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 62.6% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Regarding parent birthplaces, the three largest ancestry groups are English at 36.3% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 30.5%, Australian at 27.9%, and Irish at 11.1%. There are also notable differences in other backgrounds, with Welsh ancestry overrepresented at 1.1% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Russian at 0.4% (compared to 0.2%), and Scottish at 8.7% (compared to 8.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Fingal Bay is 63, older than 99% of areas nationally. 12.8% 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
The median age in the suburb of Fingal Bay is 63 years, which is higher than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, the 65 - 74 age bracket is highly represented at 24.0% locally, while the 35 - 44 age group is underrepresented at 5.9%. The concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 17.1% to 19.0% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group has risen from 5.7% to 7.0%.
In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 8.4% to 6.2%, and the 5 to 14 group decreased from 8.0% to 6.9%. Projections suggest the age profile will change by 2041, led by a 77% growth in the 85+ cohort (adding 98 people) to reach 225 from 126. This aging trend is highlighted by the fact that residents aged 65 and over make up 78% of the projected growth, while declines are expected in the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Fingal Bay
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Nov 2025 9 months ago all 4 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 Nov 2025. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 5 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (1,635 at the 2021 Census → 1,587 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 May 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 (SAL11521). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.