Bega, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Bega NSW is 5,013 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Bega is $660 per week ($34,320 per year). Median rent in Bega is $320 per week ($1,387 per month). Bega has a median age of 43 years, older than the national median of 38. Bega has a population density of 161 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Bega is England. The most common religion is No religion (43.8% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Spanish. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bega is $1,408.

There were 139 recorded offences in Bega in 2025-26, a rate of 28 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (33 offences).

Population
5,013
Census 2021
Median income
$660/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$320/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
43years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Bega vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Bega is $660 a week, 14% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,521st of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $320 a week, $65 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 26.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 43, the same age as in the typical NSW suburb.

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBegaTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$660/wk$765/wk −14%$766/wk
Household income$1,196/wk$1,704/wk −30%$1,637/wk
Rent$320/wk$385/wk −17%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,408/mo$1,965/mo −28%$1,733/mo
Median age4343 0 yrs42
Rent share of household income26.8%22.6% +4.2 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Bega, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Bega Population

5,013 residents at the 2021 Census.

Bega Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$660/wk
$34,320 per year
Ranked 6,153 of 14,663
Median Rent
$320/wk
$1,387 per month
Ranked 4,051 of 14,663
Median Age
43years
5 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,408/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Bega Rent Prices & Affordability

27% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: moderate.

Household income $1,196/wk
Median rent $320/wk
Rent to income 26.8%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Bega against your income

About $5,183 a month
Median rent $320/wk
Left after rent $876/wk
Rent share 26.8%

Bega Schools

6
schools nearby
2
government
1002
avg ICSEA score
1,828
total students
Sapphire Coast Anglican College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 454 students
1057
ICSEA
Mumbulla School for Rudolf Steiner Education Independent
Primary · K-6 · 176 students
1056
ICSEA
Thomas More Christian Montessori School Independent
Primary · K-6 · 26 students
1033
ICSEA
St Patrick's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 175 students
977
ICSEA
Bega High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 706 students
973
ICSEA
Bega Valley Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 291 students
917
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Bega, with a map

Bega Map

Bega, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Bega, New South Wales: 36.6858°S, 149.8425°E

Bega Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (6)

People in Bega

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.6% (2,382) Female 52.4% (2,626)

Population Density

161
people per km²
5,013 people · 31.2 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,564
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
2.2%
New Zealand
0.8%
India
0.6%
Germany
0.5%
United States of America
0.4%
Netherlands
0.4%
Thailand
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Spanish
0.5%
Thai
0.4%
Malayalam
0.3%
German
0.3%
Nepali
0.3%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.2%
Filipino
0.2%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
43.3%
English
40.0%
Irish
12.2%
Scottish
8.9%
Australian Aboriginal
6.3%
German
5.4%
Dutch
1.6%
Italian
1.4%
Indian
0.9%
Chinese
0.8%
French
0.6%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
43.8%
Anglican
17.0%
Catholic
16.8%
Not stated
10.0%
Uniting Church
2.2%
Christian (other)
1.5%
Christinty Jehvahs Witnses
1.3%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

6.7%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
39.8% 1,618
Separated
3.8% 153
Divorced
10.5% 425
Widowed
8.2% 334
Never married
37.7% 1,533

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
37.5%
Couple: no children
30.3%
One parent: children under 15
13.4%
Couple: no children under 15
10.2%
One parent: no children under 15
8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
32.5%
2 persons
35.8%
3 persons
13.1%
4 persons
11.1%
5 persons
4.8%
6+ persons
2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Bega

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,982 occupied private dwellings in Bega at the 2021 Census, 32.4% were rented, 36.7% owned outright and 26.8% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.0% 39 dwellings
Owned outright
36.7% 727 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
26.8% 532 dwellings
Rented
32.4% 643 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.4% 48 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
90.9%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
7.9%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.4%
2 bedrooms
18.4%
3 bedrooms
48.1%
4 bedrooms
26.2%
5 bedrooms
3.5%
6+ bedrooms
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.4%
$300-$449/mo
2.4%
$450-$599/mo
2.8%
$600-$799/mo
4.6%
$800-$999/mo
6.4%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
27.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
24.2%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
17.6%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
4.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
8.9%
1 vehicle
39.5%
2 vehicles
35.3%
3 vehicles
11.9%
4+ vehicles
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Bega

Employment

Employed full-time
30.4% 1,086 people
Employed part-time
23.0% 822 people
Unemployed
2.2% 79 people
Not in labour force
44.3% 1,580 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
27.1%
Community & Personal Service
17.6%
Technicians & Trade Workers
16.2%
Labourers
11.3%
Clerical & Administrative
10.3%
Managers
8.6%
Sales Workers
4.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.3%
$1-$149/wk
0.9%
$150-$299/wk
2.1%
$300-$399/wk
3.3%
$400-$499/wk
9.6%
$500-$649/wk
6.2%
$650-$799/wk
9.7%
$800-$999/wk
8.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.5%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.1%
$4,000+/wk
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.8%
$1-$149/wk
4.7%
$150-$299/wk
7.4%
$300-$399/wk
5.9%
$400-$499/wk
5.1%
$500-$649/wk
5.4%
$650-$799/wk
12.0%
$800-$999/wk
12.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.8%
$3,500+/wk
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.6%
Did not go to work
12.5%
Walked only
8.8%
Car (passenger)
5.7%
Truck
1.0%
Bicycle
1.0%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.5%
Bus
0.4%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.3%
Other
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
45.1%
Year 10 or equivalent
35.5%
Year 11 or equivalent
10.5%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.9%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
46.6%
Bachelor Degree
23.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.5%
Postgraduate Degree
6.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.1%
Certificate I/II
3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Health
17.9%
Management & Commerce
17.1%
Society & Culture
15.8%
Engineering
13.9%
Education
9.5%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.4%
Architecture & Building
7.3%
Agriculture & Environment
3.9%
Creative Arts
3.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.8%
Information Technology
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
24.3%
Secondary: Government
22.7%
Vocational Education
12.2%
Primary: Catholic
10.9%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
10.8%
Pre-school
9.5%
Secondary: Catholic
4.8%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
83.3%
Has need for assistance
8.0%
Need for assistance not stated
8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
613
Arthritis
224
Asthma
212
Lung condition
161
Heart disease
155
Diabetes
118
Kidney disease
97
Cancer
83
Stroke
61
Dementia
10

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.7% 580
Did not provide
84.3% 3,106

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
18.6% 689
Not a volunteer
81.4% 3,015

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
2.9% 109
Never served
97.1% 3,601

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
27.0%
1 child
13.2%
2 children
28.2%
3 children
19.4%
4 children
9.0%
5+ children
3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
18
1951: 1960
36
1961: 1970
54
1971: 1980
57
1981: 1990
48
1991: 2000
34
2001: 2010
60
2011: 2015
46
2016
26
2017
27
2018
8
2019
10
2020
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

15.6%
moved in the last year
43.0%
moved in the last 5 years
3.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
52.5%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,814
Moved: same area (SA2)
330
Moved from NSW
262
Moved from ACT
32
Moved from VIC
23
Moved from overseas
14
Moved from QLD
14
Moved from TAS
9
Moved from WA
6
Moved from NT
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.0%
5: 14 hours
28.6%
15: 29 hours
14.7%
30+ hours
11.4%
Did not do domestic work
25.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
79.0%
Step family: no other children
12.5%
Blended family: no other children
6.5%
Other couple: children only
1.1%
Intact family: other children present
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Bega Crime Statistics

139 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
33
Other Against Property
31
Property Damage
23
Assault
22
Other Against Person
13
Drug Offences
7
Sexual Offences
5
Weapons
5

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Bolton Point
Income: $623/wk Rent: $267/wk $53/wk less rent
Molong
Income: $727/wk Rent: $270/wk $50/wk less rent
Denman
Income: $721/wk Rent: $280/wk $40/wk less rent
Boggabri
Income: $695/wk Rent: $300/wk $20/wk less rent
Hamilton South
Income: $770/wk Rent: $162/wk $158/wk less rent
Darlington Point
Income: $736/wk Rent: $200/wk $120/wk less rent
Narrandera
Income: $626/wk Rent: $210/wk $110/wk less rent
Culcairn
Income: $623/wk Rent: $220/wk $100/wk less rent

Suburbs near Bega

The closest suburb to Bega is Tathra, 12.5 km away.

Tathra
12.5 km away · income $746/wk · rent $320/wk

Compare Bega

Frequently Asked Questions About Bega

What is the population of Bega NSW?

The population of Bega NSW is 5,013 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 161 people per km². Bega is ranked #1,563 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Bega?

The median personal income in Bega NSW is $660 per week, or $34,320 per year. The median household income is $1,196 per week. Family income is $1,564 per week. Bega is ranked #6,153 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Bega?

Median rent in Bega NSW is $320 per week ($1,387 per month). Rent represents 26.8% of household income, which is considered moderate. Bega ranks #4,051 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Bega?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bega NSW is $1,408. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Bega?

The median age in Bega NSW is 43 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Bega a good suburb to live in?

Bega is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 5,013. The median income is $660/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (26.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10253. All dollar figures in AUD.