Bateau Bay
Detached housing defines Bateau Bay more than its coastal setting: 79.5% of dwellings are separate houses, with apartments only 9.3%. The suburb has 12,516 residents, a median age of 42, which is 2.0 years above the national benchmark, and a median house price of $1,125,000. Compared with nearby Long Jetty and The Entrance, Bateau Bay reads as more settled and owner-occupier in character because outright ownership is high and household income sits at the 45.8 percentile, slightly below the middle of the national spread.
Population
12,516
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,475/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
95
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are paying for family-scale housing rather than density. The median house price is $1,125,000, and the latest price series reached $1,150,000 in 2025 after a 7.7% rise from 2024. Housing stress is the main watchpoint because mortgage costs are 32.2% of income, higher than rent at 27.1%. The upside is space: 40.9% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 40.0% have 3 bedrooms, so the suburb suits buyers who value detached stock compared with apartment-led coastal markets.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying for family-scale housing rather than density. The median house price is $1,125,000, and the latest price series reached $1,150,000 in 2025 after a 7.7% rise from 2024. Housing stress is the main watchpoint because mortgage costs are 32.2% of income, higher than rent at 27.1%. The upside is space: 40.9% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 40.0% have 3 bedrooms, so the suburb suits buyers who value detached stock compared with apartment-led coastal markets.
For Investors
Bateau Bay has a moderate rental base, with 25.2% of homes rented and a median rent of $400 per week. Vacancy is 6.5%, which is higher than the very tight conditions investors often prefer, so tenant demand needs street-level checking. Development activity is substantial, with 89 applications in the past 12 months, including dual occupancy and alterations, because owners are upgrading sites rather than relying only on new estates. Rent growth of 48.1% adds momentum compared with the stable affordability trend.
Development Activity
Total DAs
589
Last 12 Months
95
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-11.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Bateau Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
The Central Coast Montessori Primary School
K-6 · 66 students
Bateau Bay Public School
K-6 · 614 students
Demographics
The demographic pattern is older, more locally rooted and less migrant-led than the national average. Median age is 42, or 2.0 years above national, while the overseas-born share is 12.4%, which is 9.2 percentage points below national. University attainment is 25.3%, 4.8 points below national, matching an economy with many service and trade roles. English ancestry is the largest group at 5,366 people, followed by Irish at 1,686 and Scottish at 1,307, while Christianity accounts for 6,600 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.5%
Houses
11.0%
Townhouse
9.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Bateau Bay is weighted toward ownership and larger dwellings. Outright owners make up 37.7% of households, mortgage holders 37.1% and renters 25.2%, so ownership is higher than renting by a clear margin. Prices have been rising: the series moved from $1,067,500 in 2024 to $1,150,000 in 2025, with the latest quarter also the peak and 2024 the trough. Separate houses account for 79.5% of dwellings, compared with 11.0% semi-detached and 9.3% apartments, which helps explain the premium for space.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,058
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$719
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
325
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.2% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.6%
Couples, no children
9,847
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy leans into population services. Healthcare is the largest industry at 20.3% and 709 workers, followed by Education at 14.8%, Construction at 14.3%, Public Admin at 7.7% and Retail at 6.3%. Professionals are the biggest occupation group with 1,051 people, ahead of Community and Personal Service at 716. SEIFA is mixed: IEO, IRSD and IRSAD all sit in decile 4, while IER is higher at decile 6, likely because 37.7% outright ownership lifts resources even while household income ranks at the 45.8 percentile.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
11,600
Unemployed
400
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.0%
Part-time
37.2%
Participation
47.7%
Employed
4,595
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.3%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
12.4%
Dwellings
4,669
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented. 91.5% of commuters drive, while public transport use is only 1.2% and walking or cycling is 1.8%, so access works best for households with a vehicle. Schooling is primary-focused, with 2 local schools spanning ICSEA 1029 to 1100: the Independent Central Coast Montessori Primary School has ICSEA 1100 and 66 enrolments, while Government Bateau Bay Public School has ICSEA 1029 and 614 enrolments. IRSAD decile 4 is lower than affluent coastal pockets, but the school range supports family demand.
Drive
91.5%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+74 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is slow and established rather than expansionary. The trend adds 74 people a year, or 0.32%, and the medium series rises from 23,240 in 2026 to 23,610 in 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, averaging 81 net people annually compared with 6 from internal migration, so new arrivals matter more than moves from within Australia. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, despite a Mixed shift trajectory and 48.1% rent growth, because the suburb is changing gradually from an already settled base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+81
Net Internal / yr
+6
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Bateau Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bateau Bay a good suburb to live in?
Yes for buyers wanting space, coastal access and a settled owner-occupier feel. The suburb has 12,516 residents, 79.5% separate houses and a median age of 42, although the 91.5% car-driver share means it suits car-based households best.
What is the median house price in Bateau Bay?
The median house price in Bateau Bay is $1,125,000. The price series moved from $1,067,500 in 2024 to $1,150,000 in 2025, a 7.7% rise, with the latest quarter also marking the peak.
What schools are in Bateau Bay?
Bateau Bay has 2 local primary schools. The Central Coast Montessori Primary School is Independent with ICSEA 1100 and 66 enrolments, while Bateau Bay Public School is Government with ICSEA 1029 and 614 enrolments.
Is Bateau Bay safe?
A current local crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked against recent police and street-level records. For context, Bateau Bay has 12,516 residents and a car-driver commute share of 91.5%.
Is Bateau Bay good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking established coastal housing, but vacancy of 6.5% is a key risk to test. Rentals make up 25.2% of homes, median rent is $400 per week, and 89 development applications indicate active site upgrading.
How is Bateau Bay's population changing?
Population growth is slow. The trend adds 74 people a year, or 0.32%, while the medium forecast path rises from 23,240 in 2026 to 23,610 in 2031. Overseas migration is the main driver at 81 net people annually.
What development is happening in Bateau Bay?
Development activity is active, with 89 applications in the past 12 months. Recent examples include dual occupancy, demolition, alterations, additions and swimming pools, pointing to renewal of existing housing rather than large new estates.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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