Fennell Bay (NSW)

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According to census updates from the ABS for the region and subsequent evaluations of new properties by Districts, the resident count of Fennell Bay is calculated to stand at 1,860 for May 2026. This indicates that 80 individuals were added to the community, reflecting a 4.5% rise from the 2021 Census when 1,780 people were documented. The figure is derived from a resident base of 1,859, calculated by Districts using the ABS release of ERP statistics from June 2025 alongside 9 validated new addresses registered since the census. The current demographic size produces a density of 683 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical levels observed in other locations analyzed by Districts. Throughout the past ten years, Fennell Bay has shown steady expansion with a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%, surpassing the Rest of NSW. The main driver of this expansion was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 85.0% of the overall population rise in recent times.

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Fennell Bay possesses a skilled workforce where the building sector is notably prominent, alongside an unemployment rate of 6.5% compiled from regional statistical data. By March 2026, there were 848 local workers employed, and the jobless rate was 2.4% higher than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, while workforce participation stood slightly below the norm at 58.6% compared to Regional NSW's 60.6%. Census files show that a modest 18.4% of workers operated from home, though this may have been influenced by pandemic-related lockdowns.

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Based on Districts aggregations of individual taxpayer records from the ATO for financial year 2023, the suburb of Fennell Bay recorded a median taxpayer income of $50,603 and an average of $65,885. These statistics are slightly beneath the national standard, comparing to regional figures of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average) across Regional NSW. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 are approximately $55,825 for the median and $72,684 for the average. Census records show that household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb are modest, placing between the 26th and 28th percentiles. Looking at the brackets, the $1,500 - 2,999 income range is the most common, accounting for 31.3% of residents (582 people), similar to the regional average of 29.9%. Housing cost pressures are significant, leaving residents with only of their income, which ranks in the th percentile.

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At the time of the most recent Census, the housing inventory in Fennell Bay consisted of 88.1% separate houses and 11.9% other dwelling formats such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative structures, compared to Regional NSW's breakdown of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. The home ownership rate stood at 41.3%, matching the regional benchmark, with the remaining houses being paid off via mortgages (34.8%) or occupied by tenants (24.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,734, slightly above the Regional NSW median of $1,733, whereas the median weekly rent was recorded at $368, compared to $330 regionally. On a national level, monthly mortgage costs in the area are below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

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Families make up 70.8% of all households in the area, consisting of 24.4% couples with children, 31.6% couples without children, and 12.7% single parent households. The remaining 29.2% are non-family households, with single-person households at 27.2% and group shared houses representing 2.4% of the total. The median household occupancy is 2.4 individuals, matching the Regional NSW standard.

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Educational statistics show room for improvement, with university graduation rates at 17.7%, well below the NSW benchmark of 32.2%. This difference highlights a need and an opportunity for focused local educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common tertiary qualification at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 3.1% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational and technical skills are common, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (32.5%).

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Transport analysis shows there are 15 active transit stops in Fennell Bay, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 45 different routes, offering a total of 558 passenger journeys each week. Accessibility is excellent, with residents living an average of 181 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, resulting in most residents commuting out of the area, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice for 96% of commuters. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.6 cars per dwelling. About 18.4% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

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Health indicators demonstrate notable difficulties in Fennell Bay, according to Districts evaluations of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses across both younger and older demographics, while the share of the population with private health insurance is just ahead of the average SA2 region at approximately 53%, representing about 985 people.

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Fennell Bay displays lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 90.2% of the population, 89.3% of residents born in Australia, and 95.3% of people speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 52.3% of the community. However, the most pronounced disproportion is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of the population compared to 0.1% in Regional NSW.

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The median age of 44 years in Fennell Bay is similar to the Regional NSW average of 43 years, and sits well above the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, the area has a larger share of residents aged 25 - 34 (12.9%) but a smaller proportion of seniors aged 85+ (1.2%). A shift toward a younger demographic has occurred since the 2021 Census, with the median age dropping from 45 to 44 years. In particular, the 35 to 44 age cohort increased from 10.9% to 13.4% of the population, and the 0 to 4 group grew from 4.9% to 6.5%. On the other hand, the 55 to 64 bracket fell from to , and the to group declined from to . By the age structure is projected to change, with the to age cohort expected to grow by people (), rising from to while the to group is projected to see a minor rise of , adding residents.

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Fennell Bay currently has an estimated 120 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 74 children aged 0-2 and 50 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 38% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 38% by 2041 (to approximately 166 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 178. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 12.9 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 20% of areas assessed nationally.