Batehaven
With a median age of 54, Batehaven sits 14 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest resident profiles on the NSW South Coast. The suburb covers just 2.56 km2 yet records a 27.9% vacancy rate, a figure that points to a substantial holiday and seasonal occupancy mix. Household income lands in the 21st percentile nationally, well below average, while 40.1% of households own their home outright, a share higher than most mortgage-belt suburbs. These patterns combine to paint a picture of a coastal retirement zone rather than a commuter or family market.
Population
1,911
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,128/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$642K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Batehaven is $642,500, drawn from 2024 to 2025 price data. Prices peaked at $679,000 in 2024 before easing to $625,000 in 2025, an 8% decline from peak, so buyers today are entering lower than the recent high. Separate houses account for 68.6% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 14.2% and apartments at 16%, giving a typical coastal mix. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 42.3% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,365 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 40.1% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 22.5%, suggesting most of the stock was purchased years ago at much lower prices compared to current levels.
For Buyers
The median house price in Batehaven is $642,500, drawn from 2024 to 2025 price data. Prices peaked at $679,000 in 2024 before easing to $625,000 in 2025, an 8% decline from peak, so buyers today are entering lower than the recent high. Separate houses account for 68.6% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 14.2% and apartments at 16%, giving a typical coastal mix. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 42.3% of stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,365 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 40.1% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 22.5%, suggesting most of the stock was purchased years ago at much lower prices compared to current levels.
For Investors
Batehaven's rental market shows some tension between opportunity and risk. Renters make up 37.4% of households, a meaningful pool, and weekly rent runs $320. Against the $642,500 median, that implies a gross yield of roughly 2.6%, modest but higher than many coastal NSW markets. The 27.9% vacancy rate is the critical caveat: it is well above the 3% threshold typically associated with healthy rental demand, indicating a large proportion of stock sits empty between seasonal bookings or owner use. Development activity stands at 12 applications in the past 12 months, with multi-dwelling and new dwelling house projects present. The 6.3% unemployment rate is above average, which can constrain long-term rental demand from permanent residents compared to owner-occupier coastal towns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
115
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-36.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Batehaven iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Bernard's Primary School, Batemans Bay
K-6 · 394 students
Sunshine Bay Public School
K-6 · 203 students
Batemans Bay High School
7-12 · 534 students
Demographics
Batehaven's median age of 54 is 14 years above the national figure, making it one of the most age-skewed coastal suburbs in NSW. Overseas-born residents account for 17.8% of the population, which is 3.8 points below the national figure, consistent with the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (802), Irish (241) and Scottish (221) are the three leading ancestries among the 1,911 residents. University qualifications reach 19.3%, which is 10.8 points below the national figure, reflecting a trade and service-sector workforce rather than a professional one. The average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, tracking with the high proportion of couples without children: 43.8% of families fall into this category, versus 280 families with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
68.6%
Houses
14.2%
Townhouse
16.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure structure in Batehaven is unusual: 40.1% of households own outright, 22.5% carry a mortgage and 37.4% rent. Outright ownership substantially exceeds the mortgage share, pointing to a resident base that acquired property well before the current price cycle. Separate houses represent 68.6% of the stock, with three-bedroom homes at 42.3% the dominant type. Price history shows a decline from $679,000 in 2024 to $625,000 in 2025, an 8% fall over one year, underperforming the broader NSW coastal market trend. At a household income in the 21st percentile nationally, affordability is still stretched relative to local incomes, even with the price correction. Rent-to-income sits at 28.4%, just below the 30% stress line, meaning renters are close to the margin compared to owners.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,365
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$595
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
27.9%
Unoccupied
315
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.8%
Couples, no children
1,287
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates Batehaven's employed workforce at 24.8% (108 workers), followed by Construction at 11%, Public Administration at 9.9%, Retail at 8.5% and Hospitality at 7.3%. By occupation, Community and Personal Services leads (108), with Professionals (100) and Sales (95) close behind. The participation rate of 40.7% is low compared to national norms, because 819 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a large retired population. Unemployment runs at 6.3%, above the national average. Weekly household income of $1,128 sits in the 21st percentile nationally, reflecting the combination of retirees on fixed income, part-time coastal workers and the relative absence of high-earning professional roles in this location.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.3%
Part-time
34.4%
Participation
40.7%
Employed
642
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
4.8%
Born Overseas
17.8%
Dwellings
802
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high: 84.3% of residents drive to work, which is well above the national average, while only 1.9% use public transport, reflecting the limited bus and rail services typical of NSW South Coast towns. Walking and cycling account for 5.2% of trips, reasonable for a compact 2.56 km2 suburb. No schools are recorded within Batehaven's boundary, so families depend on schools in neighbouring Batemans Bay. The volunteering rate of 15.7% is above many metropolitan benchmarks, signalling an engaged retired community. Assistance needs run at 12.4% (221 residents), higher than many suburban areas, consistent with the older demographic. Housing stress indicators are moderate: rent-to-income at 28.4% and mortgage-to-income at 27.9% both sit below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
84.3%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
5.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Batehaven compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Batehaven a good suburb to live in?
Batehaven suits retirees and those seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle. The suburb has a median age of 54, 14 years above the national figure, and 40.1% of residents own their homes outright. Car dependency is high at 84.3%, and no schools sit within the suburb boundary, making it less suited to families with school-age children.
What is the median house price in Batehaven?
The median house price is $642,500, based on 2024 to 2025 data. Prices peaked at $679,000 in 2024 and eased to $625,000 in 2025, an 8% decline from the peak. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,365.
What schools are in Batehaven?
No schools are recorded within the Batehaven suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Batemans Bay, which is directly adjacent. The suburb's educational profile shows 19.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 10.8 points below the national figure.
Is Batehaven safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Batehaven in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb's housing stress measures are below the stress threshold: mortgage-to-income sits at 27.9% and rent-to-income at 28.4%, both under 30%. The 15.7% volunteering rate also suggests a stable, engaged resident community.
Is Batehaven good for property investment?
The investment picture is mixed. Weekly rent of $320 against a $642,500 median implies a gross yield around 2.6%, below many regional NSW markets. The 27.9% vacancy rate is well above the typical 3% healthy threshold, indicating significant seasonal or holiday vacancy. Development activity is low at 12 applications in 12 months, limiting near-term supply pressure.
How is Batehaven's population changing?
Batehaven has a population of 1,911 across 2.56 km2. The suburb shows a 27.3% turnover rate, meaning more than a quarter of residents moved within the past 5 years. The median age of 54, which is 14 years above national, points to an aging demographic profile with long-run population risk as the resident base reaches older age brackets.
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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