Malua Bay
A median age of 52 stands out immediately in Malua Bay, sitting 12 years above the national figure and signalling a suburb shaped largely by retirees and sea-change arrivals rather than young families. That aging profile connects to two other distinctive numbers: 53.1% of households own their home outright, one of the highest tenure rates in coastal NSW, and only 1.7% use public transport because car dependence at 90.9% is near total. The vacancy rate of 38.7% reveals a large stock of holiday or part-time homes, which is typical for South Coast coastal villages. Median house price sits at $870,000, above many regional NSW markets, driven by lifestyle demand rather than local income, with household income in only the 41.9th percentile nationally.
Population
2,071
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,423/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
60
Median House
$870K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Malua Bay is $870,000, and the price trend is modestly positive, moving from $865,000 in 2024 to $880,000 in 2025, a 1.7% increase over the year. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 96.8%, with apartments and semi-detached dwellings each making up just 1.4%, so competition for entry is concentrated in one format. Larger homes dominate: 48.5% have four or more bedrooms and 40.5% have three, pointing to a buyer pool seeking space rather than compact coastal units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting manageable debt servicing for those who can clear the deposit hurdle against a household income in the 41.9th percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price in Malua Bay is $870,000, and the price trend is modestly positive, moving from $865,000 in 2024 to $880,000 in 2025, a 1.7% increase over the year. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 96.8%, with apartments and semi-detached dwellings each making up just 1.4%, so competition for entry is concentrated in one format. Larger homes dominate: 48.5% have four or more bedrooms and 40.5% have three, pointing to a buyer pool seeking space rather than compact coastal units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting manageable debt servicing for those who can clear the deposit hurdle against a household income in the 41.9th percentile nationally.
For Investors
Investors face a structural challenge in Malua Bay: the vacancy rate of 38.7% is exceptionally high compared to national benchmarks, reflecting the large share of holiday homes and part-time residents rather than a permanent tenant base. Weekly rent is $418 and the renter share is only 18.4%, both lower than typical investment targets. On the positive side, 54 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, a reasonable level of activity for a suburb of 2,071 people, indicating continued building confidence. Price growth of 1.7% annually is modest, so investors should weigh whether capital growth or yield is the target, because at $870,000 median and $418 weekly rent the gross yield is under 2.5%, below most cash-flow strategies.
Development Activity
Total DAs
398
Last 12 Months
60
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national average, which is one of the largest age gaps you will find in coastal NSW. This shapes almost everything: the participation rate of 42.7% is low because a large share of the 2,071 residents are retired, and 795 people are not in the labour force. Overseas-born residents make up 16.1%, which is 5.5 points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (921), Irish (289) and Scottish (268). Couples with no children account for 44.1% of families, the dominant household type consistent with the empty-nester profile. University qualifications reach 25.9%, which is 4.2 points below the national rate, and average household size of 2.3 is slightly below the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.8%
Houses
1.4%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is the defining tenure pattern: 53.1% of dwellings are owned outright, well above national norms, and only 18.4% are rented. The remaining 28.5% carry a mortgage, which is moderate for a coastal market at this price point. The stock is 96.8% separate houses, one of the most detached-dominant profiles you will find in NSW, with virtually no apartments or townhouses. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 48.5% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes for 40.5%, so smaller configurations are rare. Median house price sits at $870,000, reaching $880,000 in 2025 after an increase from $865,000 in 2024. The rent-to-income ratio of 29.4% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, indicating that renters are managing costs rather than comfortably placed.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$418
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$716
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
38.7%
Unoccupied
523
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
44.1%
Couples, no children
1,624
Total families
Economy & Employment
Malua Bay's local workforce is small, with a participation rate of 42.7%, well below the national average, because retirement withdraws a large share of the 2,071 residents from the labour market. Among those who do work, Healthcare leads at 18.9% (108 workers), followed by Construction at 16.0% (91) and Education at 12.8% (73), with Public Admin at 11.2% and Retail at 7.5%. By occupation, Professionals top the list (163), followed by Community/Personal Service (115) and Clerical/Admin (103). The unemployment rate is 4.5% and full-time employment runs at 55.7% of employed people. Household income sits in the 41.9th percentile nationally, below the median, reflecting the heavy weight of fixed-income retirees in the population rather than a low-wage workforce.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.7%
Part-time
39.8%
Participation
42.7%
Employed
714
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.9%
Postgraduate
6.0%
Born Overseas
16.1%
Dwellings
832
Transport to Work
Car access is effectively mandatory in Malua Bay: 90.9% of residents drive to work and only 1.7% use public transport, lower than almost any Sydney or large-regional-city comparison. Walking and cycling account for 1.2%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children must travel to neighbouring areas such as Batemans Bay for schooling. Volunteering runs at 18.7% of residents, higher than many suburban benchmarks, consistent with the retired population base that has time to contribute to community organisations. The need-for-assistance rate of 5.7% (112 people) is notable given the older median age of 52, and is likely to grow as the resident base ages further. The rent-to-income ratio of 29.4% keeps tenants close to the affordability boundary.
Drive
90.9%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Malua Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malua Bay a good suburb to live in?
Malua Bay suits retirees and lifestyle seekers well: 53.1% of households own their home outright, the median age is 52, and 76.5% of residents chose to stay year to year. The main trade-offs are limited public transport (1.7% usage), no recorded schools inside the boundary, and a high vacancy rate of 38.7% that reflects the substantial holiday-home component in the housing stock.
What is the median house price in Malua Bay?
The median house price is $870,000 based on 2024-2025 data, rising from $865,000 in 2024 to $880,000 in 2025, a 1.7% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $418.
What schools are in Malua Bay?
No schools are recorded within the Malua Bay boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children typically travel to nearby Batemans Bay, which has primary and secondary options. Malua Bay's population skews older with a median age of 52, so the lack of local schools has limited impact on the majority of the 2,071 residents.
Is Malua Bay safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Malua Bay in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, 5.7% of residents (112 people) need daily assistance, which is moderate given the older median age of 52. The suburb has a stable population with 76.5% of residents remaining in place, suggesting a settled community environment rather than high turnover.
Is Malua Bay good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. The vacancy rate of 38.7% is high compared to national benchmarks because many dwellings are holiday or part-time homes, limiting permanent rental demand. Weekly rent of $418 against a $870,000 median produces a gross yield under 2.5%. Price growth of 1.7% in the past year is modest. The 54 development applications in 12 months signal continued building confidence in the area.
How is Malua Bay's population changing?
Malua Bay's resident population is 2,071 with a median age of 52, which is 12 years above the national figure. The suburb's identity signals point toward an aging base, with a participation rate of only 42.7% because many residents are retired. The turnover rate of 23.5% is moderate, with 76.5% of residents having stayed in place, suggesting gradual generational change rather than rapid demographic shift.
How much development is happening in Malua Bay?
There were 54 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a solid level for a suburb with only 2,071 residents. Recent applications include subdivision, new dwelling construction and alterations to existing homes. This activity indicates ongoing demand for housing in the area, despite the high 38.7% vacancy rate in the existing stock.
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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