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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 $1.33m, with units at $875k. House values have moved 4.6% 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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Sales Detail
Fingal Bay has an estimated 1,591 residents, down from 1,635 at the 2021 Census — a change of 44 people, or 2.7%. The population has thinned by an average 0.7% a year over five years, slower than 98% of areas nationally. That puts 166 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 AreaSearch's evaluation of wider ABS regional figures alongside 3 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census, the suburb of Fingal Bay has an estimated resident count of approximately 1,591 as of Aug 2026. This figure indicates a reduction of 44 people (2.7%) from the 1,635 people tallied in the 2021 Census, building upon an Estimated Resident Population of 1,589 established from the ABS June 2025 data release. The local density sits at 165 persons per square kilometer, leaving substantial physical space per resident and ample capacity for future expansion.
Recent demographic gains were overwhelmingly underpinned by net overseas arrivals, which made up around 98.0% of all population additions. Demographic modeling for the suburb of Fingal Bay incorporates 2024 ABS and Geoscience Australia SA2 projections based on 2022 benchmarks, supplemented where necessary by 2022 NSW State Government SA2 series referencing 2021 data. Age-specific momentum across these tiers has likewise been applied from 2032 to 2041. Over the coming years, population expansion is projected to outpace the national non-metropolitan median, with aggregated SA2 estimates indicating an addition of 181 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative increase of 11.2% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Fingal Bay remains subdued, registering an average of 2 approvals annually (totalling 14 dwellings across the five-year period). Modest building volumes of this scale align with non-urban settings where demand is restrained and local infrastructure capacity naturally limits construction. Because total approval numbers are so minor, year-on-year percentages and comparative metrics can exhibit sharp shifts from single projects. Construction output in Fingal Bay tracks noticeably behind Rest of NSW benchmarks and falls well short of nationwide figures. Recent residential development has been split evenly, with 50.0% standalone homes and 50.0% medium and high-density housing.
This substantial proportion of attached dwellings provides accessible entry pricing for downsizers, property investors, and first-home buyers. Reflecting this quiet planning environment, there is an estimated 1586 people in the locality for each approved dwelling. Based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Fingal Bay is projected to add 179 residents leading up to 2041. If the current tempo of dwelling approvals persists, residential additions could lag behind population growth, heightening buyer competition and underpinning capital appreciation across the market.
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 17 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
Community growth and property performance are heavily shaped by civil works, major construction projects, and strategic urban planning. AreaSearch has pinpointed 6 key infrastructure undertakings likely to influence the local area. Notable projects encompass the 14 Market Street, Fingal Bay Mixed-Use (Shop-top Housing), the Engadine Rsl And Fingal Bay Sports Club Development, the Fingal Bay Foreshore Upgrade, alongside the Nelson Bay Toboggan Hill Park Development Opportunity, with details on the most prominent works provided below.
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.
539 residents of Fingal Bay are employed, from a labour force of 566. Unemployment sits at 4.8%, with participation at 38.7%. 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 1,760, 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 supports a capable local workforce shaped by strong representation in tourism and hospitality, displaying an unemployment rate of 4.8% alongside steady job conditions over the previous twelve months according to aggregated statistical district data from AreaSearch. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 539, with local joblessness tracking 0.7% above the 4.1% recorded for Regional NSW, while labour force participation remained comparatively subdued at 38.7% versus 60.6% across Regional NSW. Census records indicated that 22.0% of local workers performed their duties from home, though this metric was likely influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.
Resident employment centers primarily within accommodation & food, construction, and health care & social assistance. Specialization is particularly pronounced in accommodation & food, which commands an employment share 2.2 times the wider regional benchmark. Conversely, health care & social assistance represents 12.0% of local jobs compared to 16.9% regionally. Although local businesses generate positions, comparing Census workplace counts against resident numbers indicates that many workers travel outside the suburb for employment. Aggregated SALM and ABS figures compiled by AreaSearch show that in the year to March 2026, local employment grew by 0.4% while the labour pool shrank by 0.2%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 0.9%, the labour supply contract by 0.4%, and unemployment climb by 0.5 percentage points. Looking forward, national employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide context for local workforce trajectory across five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying across sectors. Applying these industry growth weightings to Fingal Bay's workforce profile points to indicative increases of 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, representing a simple structural extrapolation that excludes localized demographic projections.
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
ATO records for financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch place taxpayer earnings in the suburb of Fingal Bay below the national median. Among local taxpayers, the median income sits at $37,336 and the average income is $53,191, contrasting with Regional NSW benchmarks of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Factoring in a 10.32% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 suggest a median of roughly $41,189 and an average of $58,680. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household income brackets all positioned the suburb between the 8th and 8th percentiles nationally.
The predominant weekly income bracket encompasses 33.1% of residents earning $800 - 1,499 (526 residents), differing from the broader regional profile where the $1,500 - 2,999 band leads at 29.9%. Household balance sheets face considerable strain, with only 84.8% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area at 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
Census records indicate that Fingal Bay's housing stock is distributed between 51.8% detached houses and 48.2% alternative residential formats such as apartments, semi-detached properties, and other dwellings, contrasting with the 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings seen across Regional NSW. Fully owned properties account for a significant 57.0% of tenures, surpassing regional levels, while mortgaged homes comprise 16.6% and rented premises represent 26.4%. Median monthly mortgage costs of $1,733 match the Regional NSW average of $1,733, whereas median weekly rents of $390 exceed the regional level of $330. In the national context, local mortgage servicing sits below the Australian benchmark of $1,863, while rental rates track higher than the national median 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
Families make up 69.1% of all local domestic arrangements, comprising couples without children at 45.7%, couples with children at 14.4%, and single parent families at 8.3%. Non-family setups constitute the remaining 30.9%, consisting primarily of single-person households at 29.9% and group residences at 1.7%. Typical occupancy stands at a median of 2.1 persons per household, below 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
Educational attainment in the area reflects lower tertiary completion, with university-level qualifications held by 18.5% of residents compared to the NSW benchmark of 32.2%. Among higher education credentials, bachelor degrees account for 12.9%, postgraduate degrees 3.4%, and graduate diplomas 2.2%. Vocational education is strongly represented, with 43.6% of residents aged 15 and over possessing technical qualifications, consisting of 10.8% with advanced diplomas and 32.8% holding certificates. A total of 21.9% of the local population is enrolled in structured education courses. This cohort is divided across primary schooling at 9.3%, secondary institutions at 6.0%, and higher tertiary study at 2.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Fingal Bay reaches 25 stops on 17 routes, timetabled for about 350 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 transit coverage in Fingal Bay includes 25 active stops supporting bus services. A network of 17 separate routes operates across these stops to deliver 353 weekly passenger journeys. Local connectivity is strong, with residents living an average of 149 meters from the closest stop. Given the suburban nature of the locality, private vehicles serve as the primary means of travel for 94% of commuters, while household vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.1 cars, slightly below regional norms. In addition, 22.0% of the workforce operated from home at the 2021 Census, subject to potential COVID-19 influences.
Public transport operations provide an average frequency of 50 trips daily across the broader network, which translates to roughly 14 weekly services per bus 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 for Fingal Bay present generally sound outcomes, with AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and morbidity aligning broadly with countrywide standards. While common medical conditions remain infrequent across the wider population, incidence rates rise above national averages within older demographics. Private health insurance participation is low, encompassing roughly 48% of the community (~764 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national benchmark of 55.7%. Arthritis and heart disease represent the most prevalent health conditions locally, diagnosed in 16.1 and 7.0% of the community respectively, while 55.3% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW.
Working-age residents experience typical wellness outcomes, while seniors aged 65 and over comprise 51.6% of the population (820 people), substantially exceeding the 23.3% share in Regional NSW, though their health standings track lower on a national scale than the broader community.
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
Fingal Bay exhibits a relatively homogenous demographic background, with Australian citizenship held by 88.9% of residents, 85.6% born domestically, and 96.9% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity is the dominant religious faith, practiced by 62.6% of residents, which is higher than the 55.9% recorded across Regional NSW. Ancestral backgrounds across Fingal Bay are led by English heritage at 36.3% of the community (higher than the regional benchmark of 30.5%), followed by Australian ancestry at 27.9% and Irish ancestry at 11.1%. Divergences from regional trends are also evident among other backgrounds, with Scottish heritage representing 8.7% (compared to 8.0% regionally), Welsh ancestry comprising 1.1% (versus 0.5%), and Russian lineage accounting for 0.4% (versus 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Fingal Bay is 63, older than 99% of areas nationally. 12.9% 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
The demographic profile of Fingal Bay is predominantly older, with updated August 2026 figures showing that 51.6% of residents belong to retiree and senior cohorts aged 65 and above, well above the 23.3% mark across Regional NSW. Meanwhile, youth and younger demographics aged 0 to 24 make up 16.6%, trailing the wider region's 29.3%. This produces a median age of 63, unchanged since the 2021 Census, which sits 20 years above the Regional NSW median of 43 and above the Australian Census figure of 38. The most prominent shift since the 2021 Census has been the expansion of senior age groups, growing from 46.8% to 51.6% of the population.
Looking toward 2041, retirees and elderly residents will account for the bulk of population gains, increasing by 151 people (18%) to reach a total of 972, while younger age brackets are projected to decline.
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 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 | Nov 2025 11 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 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 (1,635 at the 2021 Census → 1,591 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 (SAL11521). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.