Old Bar
At 50, Old Bar's median age sits 10 years above the national figure, making its aging trajectory more visible than its population of 5,126 might suggest. Detached homes account for 82.1% of dwellings, while 45.9% are owned outright, supporting a settled coastal pattern. Household income sits at the 23.2 percentile, so affordability matters more than lifestyle branding. Compared with nearby Taree, Old Bar's density of 211.2 people per square kilometre and 11.4% working from home point to a smaller, more residential market, with internal migration adding to demand.
Population
5,126
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,170/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
112
Old Bar suits buyers prioritising detached housing and lower-density living, but the budget case needs testing against income. Separate houses make up 82.1% of dwellings, with 45.6% having 3 bedrooms and 34.3% having 4 or more, so family-sized stock is more common than apartments at 3.1%. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,690, while mortgage costs reach 33.4% of income, higher than rent's 30.6% share. Weekly rent of $358 provides a comparison point, but affordability has worsened from 54.7 in 2011 to 56.8 in 2021. Compared with nearby Taree, inspect each address for insurance, flood exposure and commuting needs before choosing a larger home.
For Buyers
Old Bar suits buyers prioritising detached housing and lower-density living, but the budget case needs testing against income. Separate houses make up 82.1% of dwellings, with 45.6% having 3 bedrooms and 34.3% having 4 or more, so family-sized stock is more common than apartments at 3.1%. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,690, while mortgage costs reach 33.4% of income, higher than rent's 30.6% share. Weekly rent of $358 provides a comparison point, but affordability has worsened from 54.7 in 2011 to 56.8 in 2021. Compared with nearby Taree, inspect each address for insurance, flood exposure and commuting needs before choosing a larger home.
For Investors
Old Bar's investor case rests on tenant demand, but vacancy requires a conservative underwriting approach. Renting households make up 26.7%, weekly rent is $358 and vacancy is 8.6%, so projected income can vary more than a simple rent estimate suggests. Development activity is material, with 112 applications in 12 months, which may expand supply and change competition between older and newer dwellings. Annual growth is forecast at 1.89%, driven by internal migration, while gentrification is scored 52 and labelled Active. Compared with an owner-led market, the rental share is meaningful, but a gross yield calculation still needs a current sale-price benchmark and allowances for maintenance, insurance and vacancy.
Development Activity
Total DAs
621
Last 12 Months
112
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Old Bar
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Old Bar's median age is 50, which is 10 years above the national figure, while 21.3% have university qualifications, 8.8 percentage points below the national comparison. Only 10.4% were born overseas, 11.2 points below the national level, supporting an Anglo-leaning profile: English ancestry counts 2,189 people, followed by Irish at 616 and Scottish at 557. Christianity is recorded for 2,678 people and no religion for 1,959, so belief patterns are more split than a single-faith reading suggests. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below national, consistent with 49.4% of families being couples without children. The 75.4% who stayed at the same address compares with a 24.6% turnover rate, reinforcing residential continuity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.1%
Houses
14.4%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Old Bar's housing stock is detached by a wide margin: separate houses account for 82.1%, far higher than apartments at 3.1%, while semi-detached homes represent 14.4%. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 45.6%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 34.3%, so the stock is better suited to households needing space than to compact apartment living. Tenure is settled, with 45.9% owned outright and 25.3% mortgaged, compared with 26.7% renting and 2.1% in other arrangements. That owner base can limit turnover, but mortgage costs of $1,690 monthly and 33.4% of income are higher than rent's 30.6% share. Household income ranks at the 23.2 percentile, below the midpoint, so price sensitivity remains important.
Mortgage / mo
$1,690
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $358.
$520
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $585 · units $418
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$613
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.6%
Unoccupied
198
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.4% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.1%
Couples with children
49.4%
Couples, no children
18.4%
Single parent
1,426
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Old Bar's industry base at 28.8% and 379 workers, ahead of Education at 16.9% and 223, Construction at 10.8% and 142, Public Administration at 7.4% and 97, and Retail at 6.1% and 80. The concentration in care, education and public services makes employment less dependent on retail alone. Professionals number 445, followed by Community/Personal at 316 and Trades at 274. Participation is 47.7%, unemployment is 5.8%, and full-time work is 53.8%, or 1,018 people, above the 715 working part time. SEIFA spans IEO decile 5, IER 6, IRSD 5 and IRSAD 4. IRSAD below IER indicates broader disadvantage is greater than the household-resources ranking, consistent with income at the 23.2 percentile.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
2,008
Unemployed
117
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.8%
Part-time
37.8%
Participation
47.7%
Employed
1,891
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.3%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
10.4%
Dwellings
2,112
Transport to Work
Daily life in Old Bar is strongly car dependent: 80.4% travel as car drivers, compared with just 0.2% using public transport and 3.9% walking or cycling. The 11.4% working-from-home share can reduce commute pressure, but households without a car face fewer practical options. One local school, Old Bar Public School, provides government primary education; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across the suburb. An IRSAD decile of 4 is below the IER decile of 6, so relative advantage is weaker than the economic-resources position. Safety decisions should use recent NSW Police updates and visits at different times before choosing an address. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, Old Bar rewards access to a car and local services.
Drive
80.4%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
11.4%
Population Forecast
+1.89%/yr
(+254 people/yr)
EstablishedOld Bar's growth outlook is positive but shaped by age. The annual trend is 1.89%, driven primarily by internal migration, while population change across the wider area is 30.6% over 10 years. At the same time, the trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 9.7 percentage points, the young share has fallen 2.7 points and the working share has declined 5.1 points. Rent growth of 44.0% and affordability moving from 54.7 in 2011 to 56.8 in 2021 point to worsening cost pressure. Gentrification is scored 52 and labelled Active, higher than the shift score of 41 labelled Early signs. Compared with a no-growth baseline, the 1.89% annual rate supports continued demand, but new housing and services need to keep pace.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+25
Net Internal / yr
+254
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +36% since 2011, Net internal migration +254/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 26%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Old Bar compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Bar a good suburb to live in?
Old Bar can suit residents who prefer detached housing, a slower pace and established services. The median age is 50, 82.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 80.4% of commuters drive, so it is a better fit for car-oriented households than transit-dependent ones. Check flood, insurance and school-zone details for the exact address.
What is the median house price in Old Bar?
A current median house price requires checking recent Old Bar sales rather than inferring it from rents. Key affordability markers are the $1,690 monthly mortgage figure, $358 weekly rent and household income at the 23.2 percentile. Detached homes account for 82.1%, so compare like-for-like houses rather than mixing unit and house results.
What schools are in Old Bar?
Old Bar Public School is the local government primary school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address, as boundaries can affect access. With 80.4% of commuters driving and only 0.2% using public transport, school travel is more likely to depend on a car than buses or trains.
Is Old Bar safe?
Crime conditions can vary by street and time, so check recent NSW Police information and inspect the address at different hours before deciding. Old Bar has 5,126 residents and 80.4% car-driver commuting, meaning traffic and road conditions may matter as much as property-level security. Ask about lighting, parking and holiday-period activity.
Is Old Bar good for property investment?
Old Bar can be considered for property investment, but returns need conservative assumptions. Weekly rent is $358, vacancy is 8.6% and 26.7% of households rent. Development activity reached 112 applications in 12 months, while annual growth is forecast at 1.89% from internal migration. Compare expected rent with a current purchase price, insurance, maintenance and vacancy allowance before calculating yield.
How is Old Bar's population changing?
Old Bar's population is 5,126 today, while the wider area's 10-year population change is 30.6%. Growth is forecast at 1.89% annually and driven by internal migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 9.7 percentage points and the young share down 2.7 points. Demand may keep rising while services adapt to older households.
What development is occurring in Old Bar?
Development activity is substantial, with 112 applications across the latest 12-month period. Recent examples include a dwelling house, a new structure and a screened balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah. Buyers should check whether nearby approvals add 1 dwelling or alter streetscape, parking and construction timing, especially in an 82.1% separate-house market.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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