Located in New South Wales within the Port Stephens local government area, Shoal Bay is a small locality (postcode 2315). With a population of 1,815, the suburb has a predominantly older resident base with a median age of 59. Households earn a median income of $52K per year, with an average household size of 2 people. Recent annual estimates show population movement staying broadly stable across the broader catchment, with population growth running at +1.3% year-on-year at the LGA level. NSW employment has moved +0.3% year-on-year in the official Jobs and Skills Australia NERO series, which provides the broader jobs backdrop for this suburb. NSW also had 37 Commonwealth-backed major projects under construction, 5 underway, and 75 in planning as at 2 October 2024, which is useful as a broader delivery backdrop rather than a suburb-specific project count. The most common occupations are technicians & trades, professionals, community & personal service. Employment in the area leans toward healthcare and accommodation & food. The top ancestries reported are English, Australian, Irish.
The median house price in Shoal Bay is $1.3 million, having moved higher by 2.9% over the past year. Units have a median price of $823,000 (+13.8% YoY). The current median weekly rent is $650. This gives a gross rental yield of approximately 2.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,700.
Shoal Bay is served by 1 school, including 1 primary. The average ICSEA score is 962, which is around the national average of 1,000. Public transport access includes 16 bus stops. The crime rate in the Port Stephens LGA is below average at 3,152 incidents per 100,000 population.
From an investment perspective, Shoal Bay shows a gross rental yield of approximately 2.7%, rated as low yield. Property prices are near the state median ($1.3M/$1.5M). The price-to-income ratio of 23.9x is considered stretched. House prices have moved +2.9% year-on-year. Population growth of +1.3% year-on-year points to stable demand fundamentals. Building approvals have changed +0% year-on-year, indicating steady development activity.