Tea Gardens, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Tea Gardens NSW is 3,288 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Tea Gardens is $529 per week ($27,508 per year). Median rent in Tea Gardens is $365 per week ($1,582 per month). Tea Gardens has a median age of 69 years, older than the national median of 38. Tea Gardens has a population density of 40 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Tea Gardens is England. The most common religion is Anglican (32.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Tea Gardens is $1,420.

There were 30 recorded offences in Tea Gardens in 2025-26, a rate of 9 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (9 offences).

Population
3,288
Census 2021
Median income
$529/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$365/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
69years
Census 2021

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

Tea Gardens vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Tea Gardens is $529 a week, 31% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,966th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $365 a week, $20 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 36.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 69, 26 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.
MeasureTea GardensTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$529/wk$765/wk −31%$766/wk
Household income$991/wk$1,704/wk −42%$1,637/wk
Rent$365/wk$385/wk −5%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,420/mo$1,965/mo −28%$1,733/mo
Median age6943 +26 yrs42
Rent share of household income36.8%22.6% +14.2 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 Tea Gardens, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Tea Gardens Population

3,288 residents at the 2021 Census.

Tea Gardens Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$529/wk
$27,508 per year
Ranked 7,939 of 14,663
Median Rent
$365/wk
$1,582 per month
Ranked 2,840 of 14,663
Median Age
69years
31 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,420/mo
Avg household size: 1.9 · 0.6 per bedroom

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

Tea Gardens Rent Prices & Affordability

37% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $991/wk
Median rent $365/wk
Rent to income 36.8%

Rent is more than 35% of household income, a level often described as housing stress.

Median rent in Tea Gardens against your income

About $4,294 a month
Median rent $365/wk
Left after rent $626/wk
Rent share 36.8%

Tea Gardens Map

Tea Gardens, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Tea Gardens

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.2% (1,586) Female 51.8% (1,702)

Population Density

40
people per km²
3,288 people · 81.5 km²

Households

1.9
Avg household size
0.6
Persons per bedroom
$1,181
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
6.6%
New Zealand
1.7%
Scotland
0.9%
Germany
0.5%
South Africa
0.5%
Netherlands
0.5%
Philippines
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

German
0.3%
Thai
0.3%
French
0.2%
Polish
0.2%
Greek
0.2%
Urdu
0.2%
Tagalog
0.2%

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

Ancestry

English
49.0%
Australian
35.6%
Irish
14.1%
Scottish
12.8%
German
3.2%
Australian Aboriginal
3.0%
Dutch
1.5%
Italian
1.2%
Welsh
1.0%
French
0.9%
Chinese
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

Anglican
32.1%
No religion
24.5%
Catholic
20.2%
Not stated
8.1%
Uniting Church
5.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
3.3%
Baptist
1.9%
Christian (other)
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

3.6%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
65.2% 2,023
Separated
2.1% 66
Divorced
9.4% 292
Widowed
10.0% 311
Never married
13.2% 409

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
71.6%
Couple: children under 15
13.0%
Couple: no children under 15
7.7%
One parent: children under 15
3.9%
One parent: no children under 15
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
27.4%
2 persons
60.7%
3 persons
6.0%
4 persons
3.1%
5 persons
1.9%
6+ persons
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Tea Gardens

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,541 occupied private dwellings in Tea Gardens at the 2021 Census, 12.4% were rented, 53.4% owned outright and 14.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
18.8% 289 dwellings
Owned outright
53.4% 823 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
14.2% 219 dwellings
Rented
12.4% 191 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.5% 23 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
93.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
3.7%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
0.9%
2 bedrooms
21.9%
3 bedrooms
42.9%
4 bedrooms
30.9%
5 bedrooms
2.9%
6+ bedrooms
0.5%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
15.8%
$300-$449/mo
5.8%
$450-$599/mo
1.6%
$600-$799/mo
2.6%
$800-$999/mo
4.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
17.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
14.2%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
24.2%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
8.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
4.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.7%
1 vehicle
44.5%
2 vehicles
39.1%
3 vehicles
8.9%
4+ vehicles
3.7%

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

Work, income and education in Tea Gardens

Employment

Employed full-time
11.8% 330 people
Employed part-time
12.3% 343 people
Unemployed
1.4% 39 people
Not in labour force
74.6% 2,086 people

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

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
18.6%
Professionals
18.2%
Community & Personal Service
17.6%
Managers
15.5%
Clerical & Administrative
10.0%
Sales Workers
8.0%
Labourers
7.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.1%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.1%
$1-$149/wk
1.0%
$150-$299/wk
1.5%
$300-$399/wk
3.5%
$400-$499/wk
9.1%
$500-$649/wk
6.8%
$650-$799/wk
15.1%
$800-$999/wk
11.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
11.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.2%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
6.2%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
2.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.5%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
0.7%
$4,000+/wk
3.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.5%
$1-$149/wk
4.9%
$150-$299/wk
9.0%
$300-$399/wk
11.2%
$400-$499/wk
6.5%
$500-$649/wk
7.7%
$650-$799/wk
12.8%
$800-$999/wk
10.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
5.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
4.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.8%
$3,500+/wk
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
68.7%
Did not go to work
18.2%
Walked only
5.1%
Car (passenger)
4.6%
Truck
1.3%
Bicycle
1.3%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.8%

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

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
41.1%
Year 12 or equivalent
39.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
12.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.5%

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
42.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
23.7%
Bachelor Degree
20.3%
Postgraduate Degree
5.9%
Certificate I/II
4.2%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.1%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
19.4%
Management & Commerce
17.4%
Society & Culture
15.1%
Health
13.8%
Architecture & Building
10.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.9%
Education
7.2%
Agriculture & Environment
3.9%
Creative Arts
2.1%
Information Technology
1.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.2%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
31.1%
Secondary: Government
18.3%
Vocational Education
12.8%
Pre-school
11.4%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
9.1%
Secondary: Catholic
6.8%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.5%
Primary: Catholic
5.0%

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
84.5%
Has need for assistance
8.8%
Need for assistance not stated
6.6%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Arthritis
349
Mental health
274
Heart disease
241
Diabetes
195
Lung condition
161
Cancer
156
Asthma
109
Kidney disease
87
Stroke
66
Dementia
22

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.3% 411
Did not provide
85.7% 2,466

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
22.0% 632
Not a volunteer
78.0% 2,242

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.1% 3
Previously served
7.6% 220
Never served
92.3% 2,662

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
18.3%
1 child
10.8%
2 children
36.9%
3 children
24.0%
4 children
8.8%
5+ children
1.2%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
39
1951: 1960
62
1961: 1970
146
1971: 1980
89
1981: 1990
77
1991: 2000
31
2001: 2010
37
2011: 2015
21
2016
7
2017
4
2018
6

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

Population Mobility

10.4%
moved in the last year
40.8%
moved in the last 5 years
5.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
25.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,710
Moved from NSW
182
Moved: same area (SA2)
114
Moved from QLD
12
Moved from VIC
6
Moved from ACT
6
Moved from overseas
4

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
14.2%
5: 14 hours
30.8%
15: 29 hours
18.5%
30+ hours
13.0%
Did not do domestic work
23.4%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
80.4%
Step family: no other children
10.9%
Intact family: other children present
5.1%
Blended family: no other children
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Tea Gardens Crime Statistics

30 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
9
Property Damage
5
Other Against Property
5
Assault
4
Other Against Person
3
Drug Offences
3
Sexual Offences
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 Tea Gardens

The closest suburb to Tea Gardens is Hawks Nest, 8.2 km away.

Hawks Nest
8.2 km away · income $617/wk · rent $330/wk
Shoal Bay (NSW)
11.1 km away · income $623/wk · rent $338/wk
Corlette
11.7 km away · income $674/wk · rent $445/wk
Soldiers Point
12.4 km away · income $719/wk · rent $400/wk
Nelson Bay (NSW)
12.5 km away · income $689/wk · rent $380/wk
Salamander Bay
13.1 km away · income $600/wk · rent $380/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Tea Gardens

What is the population of Tea Gardens NSW?

The population of Tea Gardens NSW is 3,288 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 40 people per km². Tea Gardens is ranked #2,235 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Tea Gardens?

The median personal income in Tea Gardens NSW is $529 per week, or $27,508 per year. The median household income is $991 per week. Family income is $1,181 per week. Tea Gardens is ranked #7,939 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Tea Gardens?

Median rent in Tea Gardens NSW is $365 per week ($1,582 per month). Rent represents 36.8% of household income, which is considered stressed. Tea Gardens ranks #2,840 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Tea Gardens?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Tea Gardens NSW is $1,420. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Tea Gardens?

The median age in Tea Gardens NSW is 69 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Tea Gardens a good suburb to live in?

Tea Gardens is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,288. The median income is $529/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as stressed (36.8% 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: 13794. All dollar figures in AUD.