Malua Bay, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Malua Bay NSW is 2,071 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Malua Bay is $716 per week ($37,232 per year). Median rent in Malua Bay is $418 per week ($1,811 per month). Malua Bay has a median age of 52 years, older than the national median of 38. Malua Bay has a population density of 167 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Malua Bay is England. The most common religion is No religion (41.2% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Croatian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Malua Bay is $1,733.

There were 9 recorded offences in Malua Bay in 2025-26, a rate of 4 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (3 offences).

Population
2,071
Census 2021
Median income
$716/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$418/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
52years
Census 2021

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

Malua Bay vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Malua Bay is $716 a week, 6% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,306th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $418 a week, $33 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 29.4% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 52, 9 years older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureMalua BayTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$716/wk$765/wk −6%$766/wk
Household income$1,423/wk$1,704/wk −16%$1,637/wk
Rent$418/wk$385/wk +9%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,733/mo$1,965/mo −12%$1,733/mo
Median age5243 +9 yrs42
Rent share of household income29.4%22.6% +6.8 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 Malua Bay, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Malua Bay Population

2,071 residents at the 2021 Census.

Malua Bay Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$716/wk
$37,232 per year
Ranked 5,172 of 14,663
Median Rent
$418/wk
$1,811 per month
Ranked 1,647 of 14,663
Median Age
52years
14 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Malua Bay Rent Prices & Affordability

29% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,423/wk
Median rent $418/wk
Rent to income 29.4%

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

Median rent in Malua Bay against your income

About $6,166 a month
Median rent $418/wk
Left after rent $1,005/wk
Rent share 29.4%

Malua Bay Map

Malua Bay, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Malua Bay

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.9% (1,035) Female 50.1% (1,040)

Population Density

167
people per km²
2,071 people · 12.4 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,772
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
4.7%
New Zealand
1.7%
Scotland
1.0%
Croatia
0.9%
South Africa
0.8%
United States of America
0.7%
Philippines
0.6%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Croatian
1.0%
Greek
0.7%
Italian
0.3%
Polish
0.2%
Mandarin
0.2%
French
0.2%
Russian
0.2%

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

Ancestry

English
44.5%
Australian
36.3%
Irish
14.0%
Scottish
12.9%
German
5.0%
Australian Aboriginal
3.9%
Italian
2.9%
Croatian
1.7%
Dutch
1.5%
French
0.9%
Maltese
0.8%

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
41.2%
Catholic
21.4%
Anglican
15.5%
Not stated
8.2%
Christian (other)
2.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.6%
Uniting Church
2.1%
Christinty Jehvahs Witnses
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

3.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
54.3% 952
Separated
4.1% 72
Divorced
10.4% 183
Widowed
6.5% 114
Never married
24.6% 431

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
44.1%
Couple: children under 15
32.0%
Couple: no children under 15
10.2%
One parent: children under 15
7.5%
One parent: no children under 15
6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
23.6%
2 persons
47.3%
3 persons
10.4%
4 persons
12.7%
5 persons
4.3%
6+ persons
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Malua Bay

Housing Tenure

Of the 830 occupied private dwellings in Malua Bay at the 2021 Census, 17.8% were rented, 51.4% owned outright and 27.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.6% 13 dwellings
Owned outright
51.4% 427 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
27.6% 229 dwellings
Rented
17.8% 148 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.2% 18 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
99.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.5%
2 bedrooms
9.5%
3 bedrooms
40.5%
4 bedrooms
37.3%
5 bedrooms
9.2%
6+ bedrooms
2.1%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.4%
$300-$449/mo
1.5%
$450-$599/mo
1.5%
$600-$799/mo
2.5%
$800-$999/mo
4.9%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
15.8%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
26.6%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
14.8%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
7.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
2.8%
1 vehicle
32.4%
2 vehicles
43.5%
3 vehicles
16.0%
4+ vehicles
5.2%

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

Work, income and education in Malua Bay

Employment

Employed full-time
25.9% 398 people
Employed part-time
20.5% 314 people
Unemployed
2.0% 30 people
Not in labour force
51.7% 793 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
27.3%
Technicians & Trade Workers
16.7%
Community & Personal Service
14.3%
Managers
13.0%
Clerical & Administrative
12.3%
Labourers
7.8%
Sales Workers
5.9%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.3%
$1-$149/wk
1.6%
$150-$299/wk
1.5%
$300-$399/wk
2.9%
$400-$499/wk
7.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.2%
$650-$799/wk
8.3%
$800-$999/wk
9.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.7%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.0%
$4,000+/wk
8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.1%
$1-$149/wk
5.2%
$150-$299/wk
7.3%
$300-$399/wk
7.1%
$400-$499/wk
4.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.3%
$650-$799/wk
9.6%
$800-$999/wk
11.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.0%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.9%
$3,500+/wk
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.7%
Did not go to work
12.2%
Car (passenger)
5.3%
Truck
1.7%
Bus
1.4%
Walked only
1.0%
Other
0.6%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
54.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
30.7%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.2%
Year 9 or equivalent
6.6%

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
39.1%
Bachelor Degree
24.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
21.1%
Postgraduate Degree
7.4%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.1%
Certificate I/II
3.1%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
20.9%
Society & Culture
14.2%
Health
14.2%
Engineering
12.2%
Architecture & Building
11.7%
Education
11.5%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.1%
Agriculture & Environment
3.4%
Creative Arts
3.1%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.0%
Information Technology
0.7%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
23.5%
Primary: Catholic
14.5%
Secondary: Government
14.1%
Vocational Education
11.6%
Secondary: Catholic
11.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
10.0%
Pre-school
8.7%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
6.1%

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
88.7%
Has need for assistance
5.4%
Need for assistance not stated
6.3%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
220
Arthritis
109
Heart disease
72
Asthma
71
Lung condition
67
Diabetes
49
Cancer
42
Kidney disease
28
Stroke
26
Dementia
6

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.3% 200
Did not provide
87.7% 1,425

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
18.7% 306
Not a volunteer
81.3% 1,327

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
4.9% 80
Never served
95.1% 1,557

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
24.7%
1 child
10.9%
2 children
38.6%
3 children
16.8%
4 children
8.4%
5+ children
0.6%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
7
1951: 1960
42
1961: 1970
77
1971: 1980
59
1981: 1990
38
1991: 2000
28
2001: 2010
16
2011: 2015
17
2017
6
2019
4

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

Population Mobility

16.0%
moved in the last year
48.0%
moved in the last 5 years
3.8%
unemployment rate (Census)
48.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,605
Moved from NSW
142
Moved: same area (SA2)
86
Moved from ACT
43
Moved from VIC
12
Moved from overseas
8
Moved from QLD
7

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.3%
5: 14 hours
33.9%
15: 29 hours
18.4%
30+ hours
12.7%
Did not do domestic work
16.7%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
84.4%
Step family: no other children
9.8%
Blended family: no other children
4.0%
Other couple: children only
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Malua Bay Crime Statistics

9 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Assault
3
Property Damage
3
Weapons
1
Other Against Person
1
Theft
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Malua Bay

The closest suburb to Malua Bay is Surf Beach (NSW), 3.1 km away.

Surf Beach (NSW)
3.1 km away · income $612/wk · rent $330/wk
Tomakin
4.2 km away · income $685/wk · rent $350/wk
Sunshine Bay
4.9 km away · income $605/wk · rent $370/wk
Batehaven
6.1 km away · income $595/wk · rent $320/wk
Catalina
7.0 km away · income $564/wk · rent $355/wk
Broulee
9.0 km away · income $751/wk · rent $380/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Malua Bay

What is the population of Malua Bay NSW?

The population of Malua Bay NSW is 2,071 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 167 people per km². Malua Bay is ranked #2,969 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Malua Bay?

The median personal income in Malua Bay NSW is $716 per week, or $37,232 per year. The median household income is $1,423 per week. Family income is $1,772 per week. Malua Bay is ranked #5,172 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Malua Bay?

Median rent in Malua Bay NSW is $418 per week ($1,811 per month). Rent represents 29.4% of household income, which is considered moderate. Malua Bay ranks #1,647 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Malua Bay?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Malua Bay NSW is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Malua Bay?

The median age in Malua Bay NSW is 52 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Malua Bay a good suburb to live in?

Malua Bay is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 2,071. The median income is $716/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (29.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12471. All dollar figures in AUD.