Fennell Bay
An older, detached-home pocket of 1,780 residents, Fennell Bay has a median age of 45, which is 5.0 years above the national figure. Housing is dominated by separate houses at 88.1%, while 79.5% of residents stayed at the same address, pointing to a settled base rather than rapid turnover. Compared with nearby Toronto, Fennell Bay reads as smaller and more residential. Its average household size of 2.4 is 0.1 below the national comparison, and the 21.9% university share is 8.2 percentage points lower, helping explain its practical, established character.
Local council: Lake Macquarie
Population
1,780
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,375/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Fennell Bay suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, with 88.1% of dwellings recorded as separate houses compared with 5.9% apartments and 6.0% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 48.0% of homes and 4-plus-bedroom dwellings another 32.8%, so larger households have more choice than buyers seeking compact formats. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,734 equals 29.1% of household income, below the common mortgage-stress threshold, while weekly rent is $368. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, the local stock is more space-focused and car dependent.
For Buyers
Fennell Bay suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, with 88.1% of dwellings recorded as separate houses compared with 5.9% apartments and 6.0% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 48.0% of homes and 4-plus-bedroom dwellings another 32.8%, so larger households have more choice than buyers seeking compact formats. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,734 equals 29.1% of household income, below the common mortgage-stress threshold, while weekly rent is $368. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, the local stock is more space-focused and car dependent.
For Investors
The rental market is relatively small, with 24.1% of households renting, below owner occupation when the 40.4% outright and 34.8% mortgage shares are considered together. Weekly rent is $368 and vacancy is 5.3%, a combination that warrants checking the exact property, condition and leasing history rather than assuming uniform returns across the suburb. Sixteen development applications were recorded over 12 months, suggesting ongoing property activity without evidence of a large new dwelling pipeline. Compared with higher-rental precincts, tenant demand may be narrower, while the detached-home base supports family-oriented leasing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
82
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fennell Bay
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Fennell Bay has an established age profile: the median age is 45, or 5.0 years above the national comparison. University attainment is 21.9%, 8.2 percentage points below the national figure, and the overseas-born share is 10.7%, 10.9 points lower, giving the suburb a more Anglo-leaning profile than Australia overall. English ancestry is reported by 780 residents, followed by Scottish at 214 and Irish at 198. Christianity accounts for 857 people and no religion for 733. The average household size of 2.4 is 0.1 below national levels, consistent with 45.8% of families being couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.1%
Houses
6.0%
Townhouse
5.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Fennell Bay is strongly detached and owner-oriented: 88.1% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 5.9% apartments and 6.0% semi-detached homes. Outright ownership is 40.4%, mortgage ownership 34.8% and renting 24.1%, so the combined owner share is higher than the tenant share. The housing mix centres on 3-bedroom dwellings at 48.0% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 32.8%, while only 1.2% have 0 or 1 bedroom. Compared with compact, apartment-heavy suburbs, this pattern supports family occupancy and longer stays, reflected in 79.5% address retention.
Mortgage / mo
$1,734
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $368.
$645
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $660 · units $520
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$700
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
39
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.1%
Couples with children
45.8%
Couples, no children
17.9%
Single parent
504
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest local industry at 21.0%, representing 106 workers, followed by Education at 11.9% and 60 workers, Construction at 11.5% and 58, Professional and Technical services at 7.9% and 40, and Retail at 7.5% and 38. The occupational mix includes 136 Professionals, 121 Trades workers, 119 Community and Personal Service workers, 93 Clerical and Administrative workers, and 84 Labourers. Healthcare employment is higher than Retail employment because the surrounding regional economy has a strong service and care base. Unemployment is 5.1%, participation is 53.4% and full-time employment is 54.2%.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
811
Unemployed
41
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.2%
Part-time
38.3%
Participation
53.4%
Employed
770
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.9%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
10.7%
Dwellings
698
Transport to Work
Fennell Bay is compact at 2.72 square kilometres, but daily mobility is more car based than transit based: 75.7% of residents travel as car drivers, compared with 1.1% using public transport and 1.1% walking or cycling. A further 18.7% work from home, which may reduce commuting for some households while increasing the value of reliable local services. The suburb has 1 listed government primary school, Fennell Bay Public School; families should check enrolment zones and secondary-school travel against the exact address. Compared with transit-oriented neighbourhoods, the low 1.1% public transport share means household vehicle access is more important.
Drive
75.7%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
18.7%
Growth Outlook
Growth conditions appear measured rather than high churn. Fennell Bay has 1,780 residents across 2.72 square kilometres, producing a density of 654.1 people per square kilometre. Sixteen development applications in 12 months include demolition, new structures, earthworks, retaining walls and water recreation works, indicating incremental change rather than a clearly large housing release. Address stability is higher than turnover: 79.5% stayed at the same address compared with a 20.5% turnover rate. That pattern points to a settled resident base, with future change more likely to come through gradual renovations and limited infill than rapid population replacement.
Population trend: Lake Macquarie council area
Fennell Bay sits in the Lake Macquarie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Fennell Bay's.
Residents 2025
224,540
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
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 Fennell Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fennell Bay a good suburb to live in?
Fennell Bay may suit households wanting established, detached housing and a quieter setting. The suburb has 1,780 residents, a median age of 45 and 88.1% separate houses. Compared with denser areas, it is more car dependent, with 75.7% driving and 1.1% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Fennell Bay?
A current median house price should be confirmed from recent sales before budgeting. Housing is 88.1% separate houses, with 48.0% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms and 32.8% containing 4 or more. Compare the exact dwelling type, land size and condition rather than relying on a broad suburb figure.
What schools are in Fennell Bay?
Fennell Bay Public School is the local government primary school listed for the suburb. Families should confirm the current catchment, intake arrangements and secondary-school travel for the exact address. With 1 local primary school, availability and enrolment rules should be checked before committing to a property.
Is Fennell Bay safe?
Safety should be assessed using current incident records for the exact street and nearby Lake Macquarie areas. Fennell Bay has 1,780 residents, so street-level conditions can vary within a small suburb. Compare recent categories, timing and locations rather than relying on a single broad label.
Is Fennell Bay good for property investment?
Fennell Bay can suit an investor targeting detached family rentals, with 24.1% of households renting and weekly rent of $368. Vacancy is 5.3% and 16 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Compared with higher-rental suburbs, tenant demand may be narrower, so property selection and leasing history matter.
How is Fennell Bay's population changing?
The current profile is settled rather than highly mobile: 79.5% of residents stayed at the same address compared with 20.5% turnover. The median age is 45, which is 5.0 years above the national comparison. Change is therefore more likely to be gradual, shaped by household moves, renovations and limited development.
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).
Explore Fennell Bay on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map