Greenwell Point
At a median age of 58, Greenwell Point's resident base is 18 years older than the national figure, making it one of the most age-skewed coastal communities in NSW. The suburb covers 2.67 km2 on Jervis Bay, with 1,245 residents and a household income sitting in only the 17.4th percentile nationally. Despite low incomes, the median house price reached $760,000 in 2025, so ownership has been locked in over decades rather than acquired recently: 53.5% of dwellings are owned outright, among the higher rates compared to the broader state. A 24.4% vacancy rate points to a significant holiday and second-home contingent that inflates the dwelling count relative to permanent population.
Population
1,245
Median Age
58.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,096/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
14
Median House
$760K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price fell 4.5% from $785,000 in 2024 to $750,000 in 2025, suggesting the post-COVID coastal premium has partially unwound. Separate houses dominate at 89.8% of dwellings, with apartments at 0.9%, so buyers compete almost exclusively in the detached market. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.8% of stock and four-plus bedrooms 27.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,495, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 31.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household income is in only the 17.4th national percentile. The 53.5% outright-ownership rate is high compared to state averages, signalling that most owners bought decades earlier at lower prices.
For Buyers
The median house price fell 4.5% from $785,000 in 2024 to $750,000 in 2025, suggesting the post-COVID coastal premium has partially unwound. Separate houses dominate at 89.8% of dwellings, with apartments at 0.9%, so buyers compete almost exclusively in the detached market. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.8% of stock and four-plus bedrooms 27.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,495, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 31.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household income is in only the 17.4th national percentile. The 53.5% outright-ownership rate is high compared to state averages, signalling that most owners bought decades earlier at lower prices.
For Investors
Rent of $300 a week against a $750,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.1%, below most NSW coastal benchmarks. The 24.4% vacancy rate is the key risk: a large portion of dwellings function as holiday homes rather than permanent rentals, compressing income and increasing competition for long-term tenants. The renting population is only 20.6%, lower than state averages, because owner-occupiers and holiday home holders dominate tenure. Development activity was light at 13 applications over 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal. The 4.5% price decline from 2024 to 2025 means the near-term investment case relies on yield stability rather than capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
103
Last 12 Months
14
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-12.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Greenwell Point iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Greenwell Point Public School
K-6 · 106 students
Demographics
The median age of 58 is 18 years above the national figure, one of the most pronounced age gaps in coastal NSW. Couples without children make up 46.7% of families, driving the average household size down to 2.1, compared to the national 2.5. The overseas-born share is 12.6%, which is 9.0 percentage points below national, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (573 residents), Irish (143) and Scottish (120). University qualifications at 14.5% are 15.6 points below the national rate, consistent with a retired and trade-sector workforce. Some 8.6% of residents need daily assistance, elevated relative to most suburbs and a direct consequence of the aging profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.8%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is skewed toward ownership: 53.5% own outright, 25.9% hold a mortgage and 20.6% rent, a profile more common in established coastal towns than in metropolitan areas. The outright ownership rate is high compared to NSW state averages because long-term residents paid off homes before recent price rises. Separate houses cover 89.8% of stock, with semi-detached at 4.2% and apartments at 0.9%. Bedroom mix leans larger: 43.8% three-bedroom and 27.1% four-plus. The median price declined 4.5% from $785,000 in 2024 to $750,000 in 2025. Mortgage-to-income at 31.5% exceeds the 30% stress level, a tension arising because incomes rank in only the 17.4th national percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,495
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$600
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
24.4%
Unoccupied
180
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.7%
Couples, no children
919
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 17.8% of workers, followed by Public Administration at 12.5%, Construction at 11.4%, Education at 9.8% and Retail at 8.3%. The top occupations are split across Professionals, Clerical/Admin and Labourers at roughly 66 workers each, a mixed-skills base rather than a knowledge-economy concentration. Labour force participation is just 40.4%, well below national averages, because 555 residents are not in the workforce, a direct consequence of the median age of 58. Unemployment sits at 7.6%, higher than most NSW metro benchmarks, and weekly personal income averages $600, placing households in the 17.4th national income percentile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.6%
Part-time
35.8%
Participation
40.4%
Employed
412
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.5%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
12.6%
Dwellings
550
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 87.8% of commuters driving, while 4.3% walk or cycle. Public transport data is unavailable, consistent with a small coastal town beyond the regular bus network. No schools are recorded inside the boundary, so families depend on the Nowra-Shoalhaven area. Crime data is not available at this scale. As indirect indicators: rent-to-income at 27.4% is below the 30% stress threshold, and the 53.5% outright ownership rate is above state averages, both pointing to manageable housing costs for established residents. The 11.7% volunteering rate is reasonable for a community of 1,245.
Drive
87.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Greenwell Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Greenwell Point a good suburb to live in?
Greenwell Point suits retirees and those seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle: 53.5% of residents own their homes outright and the median age is 58. The trade-offs are limited transport links, no recorded local schools, and household income in only the 17.4th national percentile. It works best for those without a mortgage or school-age children.
What is the median house price in Greenwell Point?
The median house price is $750,000 as of 2025, down from $785,000 in 2024, a 4.5% fall. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,495. Weekly rent is $300, implying a gross yield near 2.1% for investors. Household income sits in the 17.4th national percentile, making new entry purchases stretching.
What schools are in Greenwell Point?
No schools are recorded inside the Greenwell Point boundary. Families rely on schools in the broader Nowra and Shoalhaven area. The suburb's median age of 58 and a household composition dominated by couples without children means local schooling demand is lower than in family-oriented suburbs.
Is Greenwell Point safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Greenwell Point at the small-area level. As a context indicator, 53.5% of residents own their homes outright, turnover is low at 16.4% annually, and 83.6% of people stayed at the same address, all consistent with a stable, low-transience community of 1,245 residents.
Is Greenwell Point good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Rent of $300 a week against a $750,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.1%, below most NSW coastal benchmarks. The 24.4% vacancy rate signals a large holiday-home stock competing for long-term tenants. Prices fell 4.5% year-on-year, so recent capital growth is negative.
How is Greenwell Point's population changing?
The permanent population of 1,245 is stable, with 83.6% of residents remaining at the same address over the measured period. The median age of 58 is 18 years above the national figure, indicating ageing-in-place rather than new family formation. Natural population growth is slow given the demographic profile.
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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