Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Fern Bay suburb profile
Fern Bay, NSW · Postcode 2295
This Fern Bay suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Fern Bay, NSW (postcode 2295). 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 Fern Bay with nearby suburbs.
Fern Bay at a glance
Population
4,046
Median rent
$510/wk
Household income
$1,435/wk
Median age
43
Fern 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
+149% over 10 years
Population
4,046
was 2,763 in 2016
+1,283 · +46.4%
Median rent
$510/wk
was $430/wk in 2016
+$80 · +18.6%
Household income
$1,435/wk
was $1,049/wk in 2016
+$386 · +36.8%
Median age
43
was 53 in 2016
-10 · -18.9%
Dig deeper: Fern Bay population growth · Fern Bay then and now
Fern Bay vs nearby & Greater Sydney
Median Census 2021 figures for Fern Bay, nearby suburbs (8), and the Sydney metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
+4.1% vs area
- Fern Bay$510/wk
- Nearby$415/wk
- Sydney$490/wk
Household income
-32.3% vs area
- Fern Bay$1,435/wk
- Nearby$1,797/wk
- Sydney$2,119.5/wk
Median age
+7.5% vs area
- Fern Bay43
- Nearby36
- Sydney40
Personal income
-18.6% vs area
- Fern Bay$735/wk
- Nearby$922/wk
- Sydney$903.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW. See Sydney rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Fern Bay compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Fern Bay sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 51,009.9
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 61,000.8
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 61,033.3
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 5977
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Fern Bay on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Fern Bay, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Fern Bay people
- Population
- 4,046
- Median age
- 43
- Born overseas
- 11.9%
- Average household size
- 2.4
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Fern Bay income
- Median household income
- $1,435/wk
- Median personal income
- $735/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Fern Bay housing
- Median rent
- $510/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,299/mo
- Separate houses
- 93.2%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.2%
- Owned outright
- 44.1%
- Mortgaged
- 24.7%
- Rented
- 22.6%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 4.6%
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
Fern Bay work
- Employment to population
- 48.4%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.1%
- Year 12 or above
- 44%
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 2295)
Compare Fern Bay with nearby suburbs
Fern Bay in numbers
Fern Bay had 4,046 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 43, 5% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.4 people. 11.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 44.1% own their home outright, 24.7% are paying a mortgage, 22.6% rent. Separate houses make up 93.2% of dwellings, with 0.2% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $510/wk, 28% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,435/wk, 20% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.1%. 44% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 5 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 46.4% (from 2,763 to 4,046). Median rent moved from $430/wk to $510/wk (+18.6%).
Fern Bay suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Fern Bay, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Fern Bay was $510/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Fern Bay, NSW?
- Fern Bay had 4,046 residents at the 2021 Census, up 46.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Fern Bay?
- Median household income in Fern Bay was $1,435/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Fern Bay?
- 22.6% of occupied homes in Fern Bay were rented, 44.1% were owned outright and 24.7% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Fern Bay suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Fern 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 · Richest suburbs in Sydney