Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Malua Bay suburb profile
Malua Bay, NSW · Postcode 2536
This Malua Bay suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Malua Bay, NSW (postcode 2536). 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 Malua Bay with nearby suburbs.
Malua Bay at a glance
Population
2,071
Median rent
$418/wk
Household income
$1,423/wk
Median age
52
Malua 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
+17.6% over 10 years
Population
2,071
was 1,929 in 2016
+142 · +7.4%
Median rent
$418/wk
was $335/wk in 2016
+$83 · +24.8%
Household income
$1,423/wk
was $1,137/wk in 2016
+$286 · +25.2%
Median age
52
was 51 in 2016
+1 · +2%
Dig deeper: Malua Bay population growth · Malua Bay then and now
Malua Bay vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Malua Bay, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-0.5% vs area
- Malua Bay$418/wk
- Nearby$350/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-22.8% vs area
- Malua Bay$1,423/wk
- Nearby$1,134/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+30% vs area
- Malua Bay52
- Nearby53
- NSW40
Personal income
-11.4% vs area
- Malua Bay$716/wk
- Nearby$606/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Malua Bay compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Malua Bay sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 71,033.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6995.9
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 61,030.5
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 6984.7
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Malua Bay on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Malua Bay, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Malua Bay people
- Population
- 2,071
- Median age
- 52
- Born overseas
- 15%
- 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
Malua Bay income
- Median household income
- $1,423/wk
- Median personal income
- $716/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Malua Bay housing
- Median rent
- $418/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,733/mo
- Separate houses
- 59.5%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.9%
- Owned outright
- 31.6%
- Mortgaged
- 16.9%
- Rented
- 10.9%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 38.7%
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
Malua Bay work
- Employment to population
- 46.3%
- Unemployment rate
- 4%
- Year 12 or above
- 48.6%
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 2536)
Compare Malua Bay with nearby suburbs
Malua Bay in numbers
Malua Bay had 2,071 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 52, 27% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.3 people. 15% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 31.6% own their home outright, 16.9% are paying a mortgage, 10.9% rent. Separate houses make up 59.5% of dwellings, with 0.9% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $418/wk, 5% above the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,423/wk, 21% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4%. 48.6% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 7 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 7.4% (from 1,929 to 2,071). Median rent moved from $335/wk to $418/wk (+24.8%).
Malua Bay suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Malua Bay, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Malua Bay was $418/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Malua Bay, NSW?
- Malua Bay had 2,071 residents at the 2021 Census, up 7.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Malua Bay?
- Median household income in Malua Bay was $1,423/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Malua Bay?
- 10.9% of occupied homes in Malua Bay were rented, 31.6% were owned outright and 16.9% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Malua Bay suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Malua 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