Blue Bay
A median age of 52, which is 12 years above the national figure, defines Blue Bay more than any other single fact. Spread across just 0.47 km2 on the Central Coast with a population of 1,060, the suburb is compact, heavily owner-occupied (41.4% own outright) and almost entirely car-dependent at 88.8% of commuters. Household income sits in the 33rd percentile nationally, yet the median house price reached $1,380,000, a gap explained by a resident base of long-established, debt-free owners rather than a wealthy working cohort. A vacancy rate of 26.7% stands well above typical coastal benchmarks, pointing to a sizeable holiday or investment component in the housing stock.
Population
1,060
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,323/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median House
$1.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $1,380,000, the median house price is high relative to household income at the 33rd percentile nationally, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 37.8% sits above the standard 30% stress threshold. Price history shows sharp movement: the median rose 33.3% from $1,200,000 in 2024 to $1,600,000 in 2025, faster than most comparable NSW coastal markets. Separate houses make up 50.8% of dwellings and semi-detached properties a notable 34.2%, with apartments at only 15%. The bedroom mix skews toward three-bedroom homes at 45.3%, with four-plus at 22.4% and two-bedroom at 28.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167. Outright owners at 41.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 20.7%, suggesting the suburb suits buyers who can arrive without large debt rather than first-time purchasers relying on high leverage.
For Buyers
At $1,380,000, the median house price is high relative to household income at the 33rd percentile nationally, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 37.8% sits above the standard 30% stress threshold. Price history shows sharp movement: the median rose 33.3% from $1,200,000 in 2024 to $1,600,000 in 2025, faster than most comparable NSW coastal markets. Separate houses make up 50.8% of dwellings and semi-detached properties a notable 34.2%, with apartments at only 15%. The bedroom mix skews toward three-bedroom homes at 45.3%, with four-plus at 22.4% and two-bedroom at 28.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167. Outright owners at 41.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 20.7%, suggesting the suburb suits buyers who can arrive without large debt rather than first-time purchasers relying on high leverage.
For Investors
Renters account for 37.9% of households and weekly rent sits at $380, but the 26.7% vacancy rate is the dominant risk signal. A vacancy rate this far above typical national levels indicates significant competition among landlords, likely from holiday-let stock competing with long-term rentals across the 0.47 km2 footprint. Against the $1,380,000 median, a $380 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 1.4%, low for the price point. Development activity sits at 20 applications in the past 12 months, including dual occupancy and medium-density housing work, pointing to incremental infill rather than large-scale supply. The aging resident base with 41.4% outright owners limits organic demand growth, so capital appreciation expectations should be weighed carefully against the elevated vacancy environment.
Development Activity
Total DAs
118
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+64.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national average, making Blue Bay one of the older coastal communities in NSW. The age structure is reinforced by household composition: 39.5% of families are couples with no children, and the average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national. Overseas-born residents at 13.2% sit 8.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, led by English (458 residents), Irish (127) and Scottish (124). University qualifications reach 26.9%, which is 3.2 points below national. A volunteering rate of 13.4% and 5.0% needing daily assistance (50 people) are consistent with an older, settled population. The 76.4% who stayed at the same address for five years signals a stable, low-churn community rather than a transient one.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
50.8%
Houses
34.2%
Townhouse
15.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tells a clear story: 41.4% own outright, 20.7% carry a mortgage and 37.9% rent, with outright owners at double the mortgage rate because most of the long-term resident base has paid down debt. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 50.8%, with semi-detached at 34.2% and apartments at only 15.0%. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 45.3%, followed by two-bedroom at 28.7% and four-plus at 22.4%. The median house price moved from $1,200,000 in 2024 to $1,600,000 in 2025, a 33.3% rise over one year, placing the current assessed median at $1,380,000. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,167 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 37.8%, above the stress threshold, because working incomes sit in the 33rd percentile nationally while prices reflect broader Central Coast demand rather than local wage levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$731
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
26.7%
Unoccupied
172
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
37.8% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.5%
Couples, no children
747
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 26.1% of local workers (77 people), followed by Education at 14.2% (42) and Construction at 13.6% (40), with Public Administration at 8.1% and Hospitality at 7.1%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 106 workers, ahead of Community and Personal Services at 73 and Managers at 67. The unemployment rate of 7.5% is elevated compared with typical NSW coastal areas, and the participation rate of 45.5% is low, with 381 residents not in the labour force, a figure consistent with the high median age of 52. Full-time employment runs at 57.9% of those employed. Household income at the 33rd percentile nationally reflects a workforce that leans toward healthcare and community roles rather than finance or technology sectors.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.9%
Part-time
34.6%
Participation
45.5%
Employed
397
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.9%
Postgraduate
7.8%
Born Overseas
13.2%
Dwellings
474
Transport to Work
Car dependence at 88.8% of commuters places Blue Bay well above national reliance on private vehicles, while public transport use is just 1.2%, reflecting limited frequency options relative to inner-city areas. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in neighbouring postcodes within the 2261 area. Detailed crime statistics are not available, but the 33rd percentile household income and 7.5% unemployment sit below national averages. Rent-to-income at 28.7% is near the 30% stress threshold for renters. The vacancy rate of 26.7% means a substantial share of dwellings are unoccupied at any given time, influencing lived density compared with suburbs where most homes are permanently occupied. Walking and cycling account for 5.2% of trips, a modest but notable share for a small coastal suburb.
Drive
88.8%
Public Transport
1.2%
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 Blue Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Bay a good suburb to live in?
Blue Bay suits older residents and established owner-occupiers well. The median age is 52, which is 12 years above the national average, and 41.4% own their home outright. The area is quiet and compact at 0.47 km2, but it is almost entirely car-dependent at 88.8% of commuters, with very limited public transport at 1.2%, and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Blue Bay?
The median house price is $1,380,000, based on PSI-derived data for the 2024 to 2025 period. Prices rose sharply from $1,200,000 in 2024 to $1,600,000 in 2025, a 33.3% increase in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 37.8%, above the standard stress threshold.
What schools are in Blue Bay?
No schools are recorded within the Blue Bay suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb has a population of 1,060 across 0.47 km2, and families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the 2261 postcode area. University qualifications among residents sit at 26.9%, which is 3.2 points below the national figure.
Is Blue Bay safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Blue Bay in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has a household income at the 33rd percentile nationally and an unemployment rate of 7.5%, both below the national average. The low-churn resident base, with 76.4% of residents staying at the same address, is a common feature of settled communities.
Is Blue Bay good for property investment?
The investment case carries notable risks. A vacancy rate of 26.7%, far above typical national levels, signals strong competition among landlords. Weekly rent of $380 against a $1,380,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.4%. The 33.3% price rise from 2024 to 2025 is attractive, but the aging demographic and low participation rate of 45.5% limit organic rental demand growth.
How is Blue Bay's population changing?
Forecast data is not available for Blue Bay, but the current population is 1,060 in a 0.47 km2 footprint, leaving limited room for expansion. The median age of 52 is 12 years above national, and the participation rate of 45.5% suggests a large retired or semi-retired share. Incremental infill development, including 20 applications in the past 12 months, may add modest dwelling numbers over time.
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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