Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Caves Beach suburb profile
Caves Beach, NSW · Postcode 2281
This Caves Beach suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Caves Beach, NSW (postcode 2281). 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 Caves Beach with nearby suburbs.
Caves Beach at a glance
Population
4,016
Median rent
$420/wk
Household income
$1,628/wk
Median age
49
Caves Beach 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
+1.8% over 10 years
Population
4,016
was 4,054 in 2016
-38 · -0.9%
Median rent
$420/wk
was $360/wk in 2016
+$60 · +16.7%
Household income
$1,628/wk
was $1,407/wk in 2016
+$221 · +15.7%
Median age
49
was 46 in 2016
+3 · +6.5%
Dig deeper: Caves Beach population growth · Caves Beach then and now
Caves Beach vs nearby & Greater Sydney
Median Census 2021 figures for Caves Beach, nearby suburbs (8), and the Sydney metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-14.3% vs area
- Caves Beach$420/wk
- Nearby$395/wk
- Sydney$490/wk
Household income
-23.2% vs area
- Caves Beach$1,628/wk
- Nearby$1,586.5/wk
- Sydney$2,119.5/wk
Median age
+22.5% vs area
- Caves Beach49
- Nearby46
- Sydney40
Personal income
-21.3% vs area
- Caves Beach$711/wk
- Nearby$759/wk
- Sydney$903.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW. See Sydney rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Caves Beach compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Caves Beach sits above average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 61,030
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 71,011.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 61,037.9
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 6988.5
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Caves Beach on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Caves Beach, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Caves Beach people
- Population
- 4,016
- Median age
- 49
- Born overseas
- 11.5%
- Average household size
- 2.6
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Caves Beach income
- Median household income
- $1,628/wk
- Median personal income
- $711/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Caves Beach housing
- Median rent
- $420/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,090/mo
- Separate houses
- 73.5%
- Flats & apartments
- 3.5%
- Owned outright
- 42.3%
- Mortgaged
- 26%
- Rented
- 15.4%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 13.7%
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
Caves Beach work
- Employment to population
- 51.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.6%
- Year 12 or above
- 45.9%
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 2281)
Compare Caves Beach with nearby suburbs
Caves Beach in numbers
Caves Beach had 4,016 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 49, 20% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.6 people. 11.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 42.3% own their home outright, 26% are paying a mortgage, 15.4% rent. Separate houses make up 73.5% of dwellings, with 3.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $420/wk, 5% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,628/wk, 10% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.6%. 45.9% 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 fell 0.9% (from 4,054 to 4,016). Median rent moved from $360/wk to $420/wk (+16.7%).
Caves Beach suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Caves Beach, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Caves Beach was $420/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Caves Beach, NSW?
- Caves Beach had 4,016 residents at the 2021 Census, down 0.9% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Caves Beach?
- Median household income in Caves Beach was $1,628/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Caves Beach?
- 15.4% of occupied homes in Caves Beach were rented, 42.3% were owned outright and 26% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Caves Beach suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Caves Beach. 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 · Richest suburbs in Sydney