Fingal Bay
A median age of 63, fully 23 years above the national figure, defines Fingal Bay more than any other single number. The suburb's 1,635 residents are predominantly retired couples: 54.2% of families are couples with no children, and 82.6% had the same address one year prior, one of the stickiest resident bases in coastal NSW. Against a median house price of $1,150,000, household income sits at the 18th percentile nationally, creating real financial pressure for those who did not buy in earlier decades. A 37.3% dwelling vacancy rate, far above typical coastal averages, signals how much of the housing stock functions as holiday or investment property rather than primary residence.
Population
1,635
Median Age
63.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,114/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $1,150,000 in the most recent period, rising 48% from $865,000 in 2024 to $1,280,000 in 2025, an exceptional one-year move that outpaces most NSW coastal markets. Stock is split between separate houses (51.8%) and semi-detached dwellings (45.8%), with apartments at only 1%, so buyers are effectively choosing between those two forms. The 3-bedroom bracket leads at 43.9%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 27.4% and 2-bedroom at 26.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but the mortgage-to-income ratio hits 35.9%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes sit in the 18th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 56.6% reflect long-term resident wealth, but recent buyers face a steep affordability gap compared to local income levels.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,150,000 in the most recent period, rising 48% from $865,000 in 2024 to $1,280,000 in 2025, an exceptional one-year move that outpaces most NSW coastal markets. Stock is split between separate houses (51.8%) and semi-detached dwellings (45.8%), with apartments at only 1%, so buyers are effectively choosing between those two forms. The 3-bedroom bracket leads at 43.9%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 27.4% and 2-bedroom at 26.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but the mortgage-to-income ratio hits 35.9%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes sit in the 18th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 56.6% reflect long-term resident wealth, but recent buyers face a steep affordability gap compared to local income levels.
For Investors
Fingal Bay presents a split picture for investors. Weekly rent of $390 against a $1,150,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.8%, low even by coastal NSW standards. The 37.3% vacancy rate is the most important caution: a significant portion of dwellings sit empty outside peak seasons, compressing rental income for owners relying on permanent tenants. The renter share is modest at 26.4%, compared to a national average closer to 32%, further limiting the permanent rental pool. Development is light at 16 applications in the past 12 months, predominantly alterations and additions rather than new supply, so stock growth is minimal. The 48% price rise from 2024 to 2025 shows the market can move sharply, but the low income base and high vacancy mean capital growth is the primary investment thesis, not yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
124
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 63 is 23 years above the national figure, placing Fingal Bay among the most aged suburbs in NSW. Couples with no children make up 54.2% of families, and the low average household size of 2.1 (0.4 below national) confirms a predominantly empty-nester and retiree profile. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 767 residents, followed by Irish (235) and Scottish (183), and overseas-born residents at 14.4% sit 7.2 points below the national rate. University qualifications reach 20.3%, which is 9.8 points below national, consistent with a cohort that entered the workforce before tertiary credentials became standard. The volunteering rate of 20.9% is notable, likely reflecting a retired population with available time, and 7.9% of residents need daily assistance, a figure that will grow as the population ages further.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
51.8%
Houses
45.8%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tells the core story: 56.6% of dwellings are owned outright, the highest ownership-without-debt share typical of retiree-dominated coastal areas, while only 17% carry a mortgage and 26.4% rent. Semi-detached dwellings account for 45.8% of stock alongside 51.8% separate houses, producing a market almost entirely in those two categories with apartments at just 1%. The 37.3% vacancy rate suggests roughly a third of dwellings are non-primary residences, holiday homes or investment properties sitting empty between lets. Prices rose from $865,000 in 2024 to $1,280,000 in 2025, a 48% gain. Rent at $390 per week creates a 35% rent-to-income ratio for tenants, above the stress threshold, because local wages in the 18th income percentile nationally are low relative to coastal property costs.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$573
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
37.3%
Unoccupied
416
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.0% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
35.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
54.2%
Couples, no children
1,202
Total families
Economy & Employment
Fingal Bay's labour force is small relative to population because 804 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the retirement-age majority. The participation rate of 31.9% is well below the national norm. Healthcare leads employment at 15.3% of local workers, followed by Construction at 13.4%, Education at 12.1% and Hospitality at 10.9%. By occupation, Community and Personal services lead (84 workers), ahead of Professionals (80) and Managers (66). Unemployment sits at 6.2% among those who are actively seeking work, but this is a small denominator of 29 unemployed persons. The household income position in the 18th percentile nationally reflects both the retired base drawing on superannuation rather than wages and a working cohort concentrated in service industries rather than high-pay knowledge sectors.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
47.5%
Part-time
46.3%
Participation
31.9%
Employed
438
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.3%
Postgraduate
4.3%
Born Overseas
14.4%
Dwellings
699
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 87.9% driving to work, which is well above the national average, a product of limited public transport infrastructure in this coastal peninsula setting. Walk and cycle journeys account for 5.1%. No schools are recorded inside the Fingal Bay boundary, so families with children rely on facilities in adjacent Port Stephens suburbs. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. The 20.9% volunteering rate, higher than most suburban areas, reflects an engaged retired community. Housing stress affects both sides of the tenure ledger: mortgage-to-income runs 35.9% and rent-to-income 35%, both above the 30% stress threshold, meaning residents at both ends of the ownership spectrum face above-average financial pressure relative to national benchmarks.
Drive
87.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Fingal Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fingal Bay a good suburb to live in?
Fingal Bay suits retirees and empty-nesters well. The median age is 63, fully 23 years above national, and 54.2% of families are couples with no children. The 20.9% volunteering rate signals a connected community. The main trade-offs are limited local services, no recorded schools, high car dependency at 87.9%, and a median house price of $1,150,000 against household incomes in the 18th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Fingal Bay?
The median house price is approximately $1,150,000, derived from PSI data. The market moved sharply in 2024-2025, rising from $865,000 to $1,280,000, a 48% gain. Weekly rent averages $390 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,733, though the mortgage-to-income ratio of 35.9% exceeds the standard stress threshold.
What schools are in Fingal Bay?
No schools are recorded inside the Fingal Bay boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Port Stephens suburbs. The suburb's population is predominantly retirement-age, with 54.2% couples without children and a median age of 63, so local demand for schools is limited.
Is Fingal Bay safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Fingal Bay in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb has very low population mobility, with 82.6% of residents remaining at the same address year over year, and a strong volunteering rate of 20.9%, both consistent with a stable, low-transience community.
Is Fingal Bay good for property investment?
The investment case is primarily capital growth focused. Rent of $390 per week against a $1,150,000 median produces a gross yield below 1.8%, and the 37.3% vacancy rate signals significant non-permanent occupancy that limits rental income outside peak periods. Prices rose 48% from 2024 to 2025, but the low income base (18th percentile nationally) and high vacancy require careful assessment before committing.
How is Fingal Bay's population changing?
Fingal Bay's 1,635 residents are concentrated in older age groups, with a median age of 63 that is 23 years above national. The 82.6% residential stability suggests very low churn among long-term residents. The 37.3% vacancy rate shows a large share of dwellings serve holiday or investment purposes, making the permanent population base smaller than total housing stock implies.
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.
Explore Fingal Bay on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map