Catalina
With a median age of 53, Catalina sits 13 years above the national figure, making it one of the older suburban communities on the NSW South Coast. Half of all dwellings are owned outright, a proportion far higher than national averages, which points to long-established residents who paid off mortgages rather than a population of active buyers. Household income lands in the 21.1st percentile nationally, well below average, yet the $685,000 median house price reflects the area's lifestyle appeal and coastal proximity rather than local earning power. Only 2,522 people share a 3.84 km2 footprint, giving a density of 656 per km2.
Population
2,522
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,130/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$685K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $685,000 based on recent sales data, with the PSI-derived figure showing $690,000 in 2024 and $675,500 in 2025, a modest 2.1% decline. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,560, and the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.9%, above the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers stretching to enter the market face pressure relative to local incomes. Separate houses dominate at 87.8% of stock, with semi-detached homes at 10.3% and apartments at just 1.9%, so detached-house buyers have a deep supply pool. Three-bedroom homes make up 50.5% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms account for 36.3%, reflecting a family-sized stock built well before densification trends became mainstream. With 50.7% of homes owned outright, properties change hands infrequently, which can limit buyer choice in any given season.
For Buyers
The median house price is $685,000 based on recent sales data, with the PSI-derived figure showing $690,000 in 2024 and $675,500 in 2025, a modest 2.1% decline. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,560, and the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 31.9%, above the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers stretching to enter the market face pressure relative to local incomes. Separate houses dominate at 87.8% of stock, with semi-detached homes at 10.3% and apartments at just 1.9%, so detached-house buyers have a deep supply pool. Three-bedroom homes make up 50.5% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms account for 36.3%, reflecting a family-sized stock built well before densification trends became mainstream. With 50.7% of homes owned outright, properties change hands infrequently, which can limit buyer choice in any given season.
For Investors
Investors face a challenging combination of numbers in Catalina. The vacancy rate sits at 14.2%, well above the 3% threshold typically considered balanced, suggesting significant oversupply in the rental pool relative to tenant demand. Weekly rent averages $355 against a $685,000 median house price, implying a gross yield of roughly 2.7%, below most investor benchmarks. Only 25.1% of residents rent, a low share that limits the overall tenant pool size. Development activity is low at 13 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new dwellings, so supply growth is not the driver of high vacancy. The aging resident base and low participation rate of 37% suggest the vacancy reflects a large cohort of outright owners occupying their homes with limited rental demand from the local workforce. Investors seeking strong yield or rental depth would find stronger fundamentals in higher-density or younger suburbs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
89
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-27.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, placing Catalina firmly among Australia's older coastal communities. The overseas-born share is 14.1%, which is 7.5 percentage points below national, consistent with the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (1,069 residents), Irish (323), and Scottish (273) are the top three ancestries. University qualifications reach just 15.3%, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting both the age profile and the historical employment base in trades and services rather than professional roles. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national average of 2.5. Couples without children represent 38.3% of families, double the share expected for a younger suburb, because older households whose children have left home tend to stay in paid-off properties. Volunteering runs at 14.3% and 12.4% of residents need daily assistance, consistent with an older population base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.8%
Houses
10.3%
Townhouse
1.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership structures here are unusual by national standards: 50.7% of dwellings are owned outright, compared with the national figure of around 31%, and only 24.1% carry a mortgage. This leaves 25.1% renting. The heavy outright-owner majority reflects decades of tenure by residents who bought when prices were far lower, and it suppresses market turnover. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 87.8%, with very little apartment stock at 1.9%. Three-bedroom homes are 50.5% and four-plus bedrooms 36.3%, with smaller homes scarce. Median house price moved from $690,000 in 2024 to $675,500 in 2025, a fall of 2.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,560, and the rent-to-income ratio of 31.4% also flags stress for renters at the current $355 per week rate given household incomes in the 21.1st percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,560
Rent / wk
$355
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$564
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.2%
Unoccupied
158
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.3%
Couples, no children
1,811
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employment sector at 20.9% of workers (101 people), followed by Construction at 13.6% (66), Retail at 11.6% (56), Hospitality at 9.3% (45), and Education at 8.7% (42). This mix reflects a regional service economy oriented toward local community needs rather than export industries. The participation rate is just 37.0%, well below the national rate of around 66%, which is the most striking economic feature: the majority of working-age and older residents are not in the labour force, largely because the median age of 53 means a high proportion of retirees. Unemployment among active participants runs at 6.1%. Household weekly income of $1,130 places the suburb in the 21.1st percentile nationally. By occupation, community and personal service workers (122), labourers (116), and sales workers (111) lead, with professionals at just 79, consistent with a lower formal-qualification base.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.5%
Part-time
42.4%
Participation
37.0%
Employed
734
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.3%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
14.1%
Dwellings
948
Transport to Work
Catalina is almost entirely car-dependent, with 86.8% of residents commuting by car and only 0.6% using public transport, among the lowest public transport usage rates in the state. Walking and cycling accounts for 3.1% of commutes. This reflects the suburb's location within the Batemans Bay area, where destinations are spread out and bus services are limited. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families travel to nearby areas for education. Crime data is not available for Catalina in this dataset. The 12.4% rate of residents needing daily assistance is above the national average, consistent with the older median age of 53. Rent stress (31.4% rent-to-income) and mortgage stress (31.9%) are both above the 30% threshold, indicating financial pressure for both tenants and mortgaged households despite the relatively moderate price point compared with Sydney.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Catalina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catalina a good suburb to live in?
Catalina suits established residents seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle near Batemans Bay. Half of all homes are owned outright, and 75.6% of residents stayed in the area over the reference period, indicating strong community stability. The trade-offs are high car dependence (86.8% drive), limited public transport, and household incomes in the 21.1st percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Catalina?
The median house price is approximately $685,000, with PSI-derived data showing $690,000 in 2024 falling to $675,500 in 2025, a 2.1% decline. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,560. Weekly rent is $355, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 31.4%, above the 30% stress threshold for renters on local incomes.
What schools are in Catalina?
No schools are recorded within the Catalina suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in the broader Batemans Bay area. The local university qualification rate is 15.3%, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the suburb's older age profile and historical trade-and-services workforce.
Is Catalina safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Catalina are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has high residential stability with 75.6% of residents remaining in place over the reference period, and owner-occupiers make up 74.8% of all households (50.7% outright, 24.1% mortgage), factors associated with lower crime rates nationally.
Is Catalina good for property investment?
The investment fundamentals are challenging. The vacancy rate is 14.2%, well above the 3% balanced-market threshold, and weekly rent of $355 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield of roughly 2.7%. The renter share is only 25.1% and development activity is low at 13 applications in 12 months. Prices fell 2.1% from 2024 to 2025.
How is Catalina's population changing?
Formal population forecasts are not in the current dataset, but the structure signals stability rather than growth. The turnover rate is 24.4%, meaning 75.6% of residents stayed put. The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national figure, and the low 37% participation rate reflects a large retired cohort unlikely to be replaced by younger in-migrants at current price and income levels.
What is the typical household in Catalina like?
The typical household is a couple without dependent children, reflecting the 53-year median age and the 38.3% share of couples-only families. Average household size is 2.3, below the national average of 2.5. Most households own their home outright, and the suburb has very little apartment stock, with 87.8% of dwellings being separate houses.
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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