Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Byron Bay suburb profile
Byron Bay, NSW · Postcode 2481
This Byron Bay suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Byron Bay, NSW (postcode 2481). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Byron Bay with nearby suburbs.
Byron Bay at a glance
Population
6,330
Median rent
$600/wk
Household income
$1,561/wk
Median age
39
Byron Bay trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+24.1% over 10 years
Population
6,330
was 5,521 in 2016
+809 · +14.7%
Median rent
$600/wk
was $460/wk in 2016
+$140 · +30.4%
Household income
$1,561/wk
was $1,197/wk in 2016
+$364 · +30.4%
Median age
39
was 42 in 2016
-3 · -7.1%
Dig deeper: Byron Bay population growth · Byron Bay then and now
Byron Bay vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Byron Bay, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+42.9% vs area
- Byron Bay$600/wk
- Nearby$359/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-15.3% vs area
- Byron Bay$1,561/wk
- Nearby$1,336.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
-2.5% vs area
- Byron Bay39
- Nearby41.5
- NSW40
Personal income
-0.4% vs area
- Byron Bay$805/wk
- Nearby$721.5/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Byron Bay compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Byron Bay sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 61,017.7
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 81,037.7
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3969.1
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 91,051.1
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Byron Bay on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Byron Bay, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Byron Bay people
- Population
- 6,330
- Median age
- 39
- Born overseas
- 29.9%
- Average household size
- 2.3
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Byron Bay income
- Median household income
- $1,561/wk
- Median personal income
- $805/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Byron Bay housing
- Median rent
- $600/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,167/mo
- Separate houses
- 39%
- Flats & apartments
- 8.9%
- Owned outright
- 24.6%
- Mortgaged
- 14.1%
- Rented
- 28.2%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 29.9%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Byron Bay work
- Employment to population
- 56.3%
- Unemployment rate
- 5.6%
- Year 12 or above
- 65.9%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2481)
Compare Byron Bay with nearby suburbs
Byron Bay in numbers
Byron Bay had 6,330 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 400th most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 39, 5% below the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.3 people. 29.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 24.6% own their home outright, 14.1% are paying a mortgage, 28.2% rent. Separate houses make up 39% of dwellings, with 8.9% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $600/wk, 50% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,561/wk, 13% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 5.6%. 65.9% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 6 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 14.7% (from 5,521 to 6,330). Median rent moved from $460/wk to $600/wk (+30.4%).
Byron Bay suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Byron Bay, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Byron Bay was $600/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Byron Bay, NSW?
- Byron Bay had 6,330 residents at the 2021 Census, up 14.7% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Byron Bay?
- Median household income in Byron Bay was $1,561/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Byron Bay?
- 28.2% of occupied homes in Byron Bay were rented, 24.6% were owned outright and 14.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Byron Bay suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Byron Bay. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology