Sunshine Bay, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Sunshine Bay NSW is 1,439 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Sunshine Bay is $605 per week ($31,460 per year). Median rent in Sunshine Bay is $370 per week ($1,603 per month). Sunshine Bay has a median age of 56 years, older than the national median of 38. Sunshine Bay has a population density of 1,082 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Sunshine Bay is England. The most common religion is No religion (33.4% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Punjabi. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sunshine Bay is $1,650.

There were 9 recorded offences in Sunshine Bay in 2025-26, a rate of 6 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against person (2 offences).

Population
1,439
Census 2021
Median income
$605/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$370/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
56years
Census 2021

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

Sunshine Bay vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Sunshine Bay is $605 a week, 21% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,729th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $370 a week, $15 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 32.5% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 56, 13 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.
MeasureSunshine BayTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$605/wk$765/wk −21%$766/wk
Household income$1,138/wk$1,704/wk −33%$1,637/wk
Rent$370/wk$385/wk −4%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,650/mo$1,965/mo −16%$1,733/mo
Median age5643 +13 yrs42
Rent share of household income32.5%22.6% +9.9 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 Sunshine Bay, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Sunshine Bay Population

1,439 residents at the 2021 Census.

Sunshine Bay Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$605/wk
$31,460 per year
Ranked 7,015 of 14,663
Median Rent
$370/wk
$1,603 per month
Ranked 2,711 of 14,663
Median Age
56years
18 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,650/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.6 per bedroom

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

Sunshine Bay Rent Prices & Affordability

33% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,138/wk
Median rent $370/wk
Rent to income 32.5%

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

Median rent in Sunshine Bay against your income

About $4,931 a month
Median rent $370/wk
Left after rent $768/wk
Rent share 32.5%

Sunshine Bay Schools

3
schools nearby
2
government
933
avg ICSEA score
1,131
total students
St Bernard's Primary School, Batemans Bay Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 394 students
993
ICSEA
Sunshine Bay Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 203 students
903
ICSEA
Batemans Bay High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 534 students
902
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 Sunshine Bay, with a map

Sunshine Bay Map

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

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.0% (676) Female 53.0% (762)

Population Density

1,082
people per km²
1,439 people · 1.3 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.6
Persons per bedroom
$1,355
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
5.8%
India
1.1%
New Zealand
1.0%
Philippines
1.0%
Germany
0.8%
Scotland
0.8%
South Africa
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

Punjabi
0.8%
Malayalam
0.6%
Italian
0.5%
Croatian
0.4%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.3%
Russian
0.3%
Filipino
0.3%

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

Ancestry

English
43.6%
Australian
39.8%
Irish
13.3%
Scottish
9.8%
Australian Aboriginal
6.7%
German
3.6%
Italian
2.6%
Filipino
1.3%
Croatian
1.2%
Dutch
1.0%
Polish
1.0%

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
33.4%
Catholic
24.0%
Anglican
21.3%
Not stated
7.5%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.8%
Uniting Church
2.4%
Christian (other)
1.9%
Pentecostal
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

7.5%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
48.3% 601
Separated
4.1% 51
Divorced
13.4% 167
Widowed
8.7% 108
Never married
25.5% 318

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
46.1%
Couple: children under 15
26.4%
Couple: no children under 15
10.5%
One parent: children under 15
9.8%
One parent: no children under 15
7.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
32.3%
2 persons
43.9%
3 persons
10.7%
4 persons
7.5%
5 persons
3.3%
6+ persons
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Sunshine Bay

Housing Tenure

Of the 644 occupied private dwellings in Sunshine Bay at the 2021 Census, 24.2% were rented, 50.2% owned outright and 21.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.6% 10 dwellings
Owned outright
50.2% 323 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
21.9% 141 dwellings
Rented
24.2% 156 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.3% 15 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
86.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
7.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
6.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.3%
2 bedrooms
13.6%
3 bedrooms
40.4%
4 bedrooms
37.6%
5 bedrooms
4.5%
6+ bedrooms
0.6%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.2%
$300-$449/mo
3.7%
$450-$599/mo
6.0%
$600-$799/mo
6.7%
$800-$999/mo
2.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
13.4%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
23.9%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
26.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
9.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.0%
1 vehicle
45.5%
2 vehicles
39.0%
3 vehicles
8.7%
4+ vehicles
3.8%

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

Work, income and education in Sunshine Bay

Employment

Employed full-time
22.5% 256 people
Employed part-time
19.5% 222 people
Unemployed
2.1% 24 people
Not in labour force
55.8% 634 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
20.7%
Technicians & Trade Workers
18.0%
Community & Personal Service
16.5%
Clerical & Administrative
13.7%
Labourers
11.9%
Managers
11.6%
Sales Workers
6.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
0.9%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.1%
$150-$299/wk
2.2%
$300-$399/wk
1.4%
$400-$499/wk
7.4%
$500-$649/wk
7.6%
$650-$799/wk
11.5%
$800-$999/wk
11.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
13.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.7%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
7.4%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.3%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
0.7%
$4,000+/wk
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.0%
$1-$149/wk
3.2%
$150-$299/wk
7.2%
$300-$399/wk
8.6%
$400-$499/wk
6.2%
$500-$649/wk
6.6%
$650-$799/wk
11.5%
$800-$999/wk
14.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.9%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
2.9%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.9%
$3,500+/wk
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.4%
Did not go to work
10.7%
Car (passenger)
8.3%
Truck
1.1%
Bus
1.1%
Walked only
0.9%
Other
0.6%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
44.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
37.6%
Year 9 or equivalent
9.8%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.1%

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
47.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.8%
Bachelor Degree
19.1%
Postgraduate Degree
5.7%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.4%
Certificate I/II
2.3%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
23.8%
Society & Culture
16.4%
Engineering
13.4%
Health
12.5%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
9.2%
Architecture & Building
9.2%
Education
6.5%
Information Technology
3.9%
Creative Arts
3.0%
Agriculture & Environment
1.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
0.9%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
23.0%
Secondary: Government
18.4%
Vocational Education
16.3%
Primary: Catholic
12.8%
Pre-school
11.2%
Secondary: Catholic
9.2%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.1%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.1%

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
87.8%
Has need for assistance
7.6%
Need for assistance not stated
4.7%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
155
Arthritis
99
Diabetes
77
Heart disease
68
Asthma
54
Lung condition
42
Cancer
34
Kidney disease
25
Stroke
23
Dementia
3

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.8% 173
Did not provide
85.2% 997

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.3% 191
Not a volunteer
83.7% 981

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
5.3% 62
Never served
94.7% 1,116

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
24.0%
1 child
11.9%
2 children
33.7%
3 children
21.3%
4 children
8.0%
5+ children
1.0%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
19
1951: 1960
24
1961: 1970
59
1971: 1980
33
1981: 1990
20
1991: 2000
23
2001: 2010
25
2011: 2015
12
2016
3
2018
3
2019
9

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

Population Mobility

15.3%
moved in the last year
50.4%
moved in the last 5 years
4.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
44.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,130
Moved from NSW
100
Moved: same area (SA2)
64
Moved from ACT
14
Moved from VIC
9
Moved from SA
5

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
16.7%
5: 14 hours
33.0%
15: 29 hours
15.3%
30+ hours
10.6%
Did not do domestic work
24.4%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
82.7%
Step family: no other children
12.5%
Blended family: no other children
4.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Sunshine Bay Crime Statistics

9 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Person
2
Theft
2
Drug Offences
2
Other Against Property
2
Property Damage
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 Sunshine Bay

The closest suburb to Sunshine Bay is Batehaven, 1.3 km away.

Batehaven
1.3 km away · income $595/wk · rent $320/wk
Surf Beach (NSW)
2.0 km away · income $612/wk · rent $330/wk
Catalina
2.7 km away · income $564/wk · rent $355/wk
Malua Bay
4.9 km away · income $716/wk · rent $418/wk
Surfside
5.6 km away · income $607/wk · rent $350/wk
Batemans Bay
5.9 km away · income $539/wk · rent $285/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Sunshine Bay

What is the population of Sunshine Bay NSW?

The population of Sunshine Bay NSW is 1,439 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,082 people per km². Sunshine Bay is ranked #3,461 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Sunshine Bay?

The median personal income in Sunshine Bay NSW is $605 per week, or $31,460 per year. The median household income is $1,138 per week. Family income is $1,355 per week. Sunshine Bay is ranked #7,015 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Sunshine Bay?

Median rent in Sunshine Bay NSW is $370 per week ($1,603 per month). Rent represents 32.5% of household income, which is considered moderate. Sunshine Bay ranks #2,711 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Sunshine Bay?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sunshine Bay NSW is $1,650. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Sunshine Bay?

The median age in Sunshine Bay NSW is 56 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Sunshine Bay a good suburb to live in?

Sunshine Bay is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,439. The median income is $605/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (32.5% 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: 13710. All dollar figures in AUD.