Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Shoal Bay suburb profile
Shoal Bay, NSW · Postcode 2315
This Shoal Bay suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Shoal Bay, NSW (postcode 2315). 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 Shoal Bay with nearby suburbs.
Shoal Bay at a glance
Population
1,815
Median rent
$338/wk
Household income
$1,007/wk
Median age
59
Shoal 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
-3.6% over 10 years
Population
1,815
was 1,864 in 2016
-49 · -2.6%
Median rent
$338/wk
was $300/wk in 2016
+$38 · +12.7%
Household income
$1,007/wk
was $908/wk in 2016
+$99 · +10.9%
Median age
59
was 58 in 2016
+1 · +1.7%
Dig deeper: Shoal Bay population growth · Shoal Bay then and now
Shoal Bay vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Shoal Bay, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-19.5% vs area
- Shoal Bay$338/wk
- Nearby$390/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-45.4% vs area
- Shoal Bay$1,007/wk
- Nearby$1,258/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+47.5% vs area
- Shoal Bay59
- Nearby53
- NSW40
Personal income
-22.9% vs area
- Shoal Bay$623/wk
- Nearby$628/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Shoal Bay compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Shoal Bay sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 3962.6
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 3936.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2938.8
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 4943.4
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Shoal Bay on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Shoal Bay, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Shoal Bay people
- Population
- 1,815
- Median age
- 59
- Born overseas
- 18.5%
- Average household size
- 2.0
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Shoal Bay income
- Median household income
- $1,007/wk
- Median personal income
- $623/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Shoal Bay housing
- Median rent
- $338/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,700/mo
- Separate houses
- 28.6%
- Flats & apartments
- 7.5%
- Owned outright
- 21.1%
- Mortgaged
- 9%
- Rented
- 17.9%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 45.6%
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
Shoal Bay work
- Employment to population
- 37.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 5.8%
- Year 12 or above
- 37.6%
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 2315)
Compare Shoal Bay with nearby suburbs
Shoal Bay in numbers
Shoal Bay had 1,815 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 59, 44% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2 people. 18.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 21.1% own their home outright, 9% are paying a mortgage, 17.9% rent. Separate houses make up 28.6% of dwellings, with 7.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $338/wk, 15% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,007/wk, 44% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 5.8%. 37.6% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 2.6% (from 1,864 to 1,815). Median rent moved from $300/wk to $338/wk (+12.7%).
Shoal Bay suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Shoal Bay, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Shoal Bay was $338/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Shoal Bay, NSW?
- Shoal Bay had 1,815 residents at the 2021 Census, down 2.6% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Shoal Bay?
- Median household income in Shoal Bay was $1,007/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Shoal Bay?
- 17.9% of occupied homes in Shoal Bay were rented, 21.1% were owned outright and 9% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Shoal Bay suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Shoal Bay (NSW). 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