Culburra Beach
At 54, Culburra Beach has a median age 14.0 years above the national figure, making its 2,946 residents older than the typical Australian community. Separate houses account for 88.4% of dwellings, while 40.8% are vacant, a share much higher than the 23.1% renting rate. Household income sits at the 27.6th percentile nationally. Compared with nearby Nowra, Culburra Beach reads as a smaller, more settled coastal market, with 18.4% working from home and an annual forecast trend of -0.12%. The profile suits buyers seeking space and a slower pace, but ageing and vacancy call for careful checks on services and rental demand.
Local council: Shoalhaven
Population
2,946
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,247/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
66
For buyers, Culburra Beach suits households prioritising detached space: 88.4% of homes are separate houses, with 44.1% containing 3 bedrooms and 30.6% containing 4 or more. The ownership base is relatively settled, with 46.0% owned outright, 25.7% under mortgage and 23.1% rented. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,768, while mortgage stress is flagged at 32.7% of household income, higher than the 28.1% rent-to-income figure. Household income is at the 27.6th percentile, so borrowing capacity may be tighter than in higher-income markets. Compared with nearby Nowra, the suburb provides a more detached coastal housing choice, but buyers should test insurance, maintenance and commuting costs alongside the purchase price.
For Buyers
For buyers, Culburra Beach suits households prioritising detached space: 88.4% of homes are separate houses, with 44.1% containing 3 bedrooms and 30.6% containing 4 or more. The ownership base is relatively settled, with 46.0% owned outright, 25.7% under mortgage and 23.1% rented. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,768, while mortgage stress is flagged at 32.7% of household income, higher than the 28.1% rent-to-income figure. Household income is at the 27.6th percentile, so borrowing capacity may be tighter than in higher-income markets. Compared with nearby Nowra, the suburb provides a more detached coastal housing choice, but buyers should test insurance, maintenance and commuting costs alongside the purchase price.
For Investors
Investment conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $350, but the 40.8% vacancy rate is far higher than the 23.1% share of households renting, which may reflect a large non-permanent or holiday-use component and makes advertised demand harder to interpret. Rent growth has reached 50.5%, yet the annual forecast trend is -0.12% and migration is described as Balanced rather than strongly expansionary. Development activity is material at 68 applications over 12 months, including a dwelling house, secondary dwelling and swimming pool, although the examples do not establish 68 new homes. Investors should model vacancy, seasonal income and holding costs rather than rely on headline rent growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
437
Last 12 Months
66
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+11.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Culburra Beach
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Culburra Beach’s median age of 54 is 14.0 years above the national comparison, and its average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below the national figure. The overseas-born share is 12.3%, 9.3 percentage points below national, while university attainment is 24.3%, 5.8 points below national. English ancestry is recorded for 1,348 people, followed by Irish 393 and Scottish 300; Christianity accounts for 1,543 responses and no religion for 1,202. With 79.5% staying at the same address and a 20.5% turnover rate, the population is relatively settled. Compared with nearby Nowra, Culburra Beach has an older, more Anglo-leaning profile, helping explain demand for smaller households, community services and low-turnover housing.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.4%
Houses
9.0%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Culburra Beach is a detached-house market rather than an apartment precinct. Separate houses account for 88.4% of dwellings, compared with 1.4% apartments and 9.0% semi-detached homes; the bedroom mix is led by 3-bedroom dwellings at 44.1%, followed by 4 or more at 30.6%. Tenure is more ownership-oriented than rental-oriented: 46.0% own outright, 25.7% have a mortgage and 23.1% rent. The 40.8% vacancy rate is much higher than the renting share, suggesting that dwelling use is not captured by long-term rental demand alone. Mortgage repayments of $1,768 a month and a 32.7% mortgage-to-income ratio sit above the 28.1% rent-to-income ratio. Compared with nearby Nowra, this is a more low-density coastal housing pattern, with limited apartment supply and greater exposure to detached-home upkeep.
Mortgage / mo
$1,768
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $350.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $610 · units $470
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$633
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
40.8%
Unoccupied
880
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.7% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.8%
Couples with children
54.8%
Couples, no children
15.1%
Single parent
846
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads industry at 19.1%, followed by education 14.0%, construction 13.9%, public administration 10.8% and professional/technical work 6.8%. Occupations include professionals 246, community/personal services 196, trades 187, managers 130 and clerical/admin 129. The labour force is 1,226; unemployment is 5.2%, participation 47.8% and full-time work 53.7%. Weekly household income is $1,247, at the 27.6th percentile, below stronger-income markets. SEIFA deciles are IEO 3, IER 5, IRSD 4 and IRSAD 3. Education and occupation disadvantage is therefore more pronounced than economic-resource disadvantage, while overall advantage remains below the midpoint. This mix supports essential services and trades but limits the depth of high-income employment locally.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
1,226
Unemployed
64
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.7%
Part-time
36.9%
Participation
47.8%
Employed
1,162
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.3%
Postgraduate
6.4%
Born Overseas
12.3%
Dwellings
1,280
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 73.4% of residents drive to work, compared with 4.1% who walk or cycle, while 18.4% work from home. Culburra Public School provides 1 local government primary-school option; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because school access can cross suburb boundaries. The IRSAD score is 950, placing the area in decile 3, below the midpoint, and 10.0% of residents report needing assistance, a factor worth considering when assessing accessible housing and services. Volunteering reaches 17.3%, which supports local connections in a community where 79.5% of residents stayed at the same address. Compared with a larger regional centre such as Nowra, local services are likely to require more deliberate trip planning, so proximity to shops, school and health care should be checked street by street.
Drive
73.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
18.4%
Growth Outlook
Growth is restrained and ageing-led. The annual trend is -0.12%, while migration is Balanced, so demand is not being powered by a single strong inflow. The shift trajectory is Aging: senior share rose 4.4 percentage points, working share fell 2.2 points and population change across the wider area reached 6.6% over 10 years. Rent growth of 50.5% was higher than the 0.3-point decline in the young share, while affordability stayed Stable, moving from 54.5 in 2011 to 53.3 in 2021. The gentrification forecast is score 0, stage Not gentrifying, pointing to incremental change rather than rapid transformation. Development activity still totals 68 applications in 12 months.
Population trend: Shoalhaven council area
Culburra Beach sits in the Shoalhaven council area. These are the council area's residents, not Culburra Beach's.
Residents 2025
111,755
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Culburra Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Culburra Beach a good suburb to live in?
It can suit buyers wanting a quieter coastal setting, detached homes and established neighbours. The median age is 54, 88.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 18.4% of residents work from home. Trade-offs include 73.4% car commuting, a 40.8% vacancy rate and an IRSAD decile of 3, so convenience and service access vary by address.
What is the median house price in Culburra Beach?
Median house prices should be checked against recent settled sales for the exact address because block size, condition and coastal position can vary widely. The housing mix is 88.4% separate houses, with 44.1% 3-bedroom and 30.6% 4-plus-bedroom dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,768, a useful figure when testing affordability.
What schools are in Culburra Beach?
Culburra Public School is the local option, providing 1 government primary school. Families should confirm the intake area and transport arrangements for the exact address, particularly because 73.4% of residents drive to work and only 4.1% walk or cycle. For secondary schooling or other sectors, check current enrolment information in the wider Shoalhaven area.
Is Culburra Beach safe?
A suburb label alone cannot establish safety, so check current NSW crime information and visit the exact street at different times. Also assess coastal weather exposure, road dependence and property vacancy: 73.4% drive to work, 40.8% of dwellings are vacant and 10.0% of residents need assistance. Lighting, parking and access to services matter when comparing properties.
Is Culburra Beach good for property investment?
Investment prospects are mixed rather than automatic. Weekly rent is $350 and rent growth is 50.5%, but vacancy is 40.8%, far higher than the 23.1% renting share. The annual forecast trend is -0.12% with Balanced migration, while 68 development applications in 12 months may add competition or improve stock quality. Stress-test seasonal vacancy, insurance, maintenance and finance costs.
How is Culburra Beach's population changing?
Change is slow and ageing-led. The suburb has 2,946 residents today, the annual forecast trend is -0.12% and migration is Balanced. Across the wider area, population change is 6.6% over 10 years, while the senior share rose 4.4 percentage points and the working share fell 2.2 points. The young share also declined 0.3 points, pointing to older household demand.
What development is happening in Culburra Beach?
Development activity totals 68 applications over 12 months. Examples include a 1-dwelling house, a secondary dwelling and a swimming pool, so the total should not be read as 68 new homes. The pattern points to a mix of new residential work, additions and private amenity projects rather than one large release. With 88.4% separate houses and a forecast trend of -0.12%, change is likely to be incremental.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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