Little Bay (NSW)

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According to evaluations of ABS population adjustments for the wider region, alongside updated addresses verified by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Little Bay has an estimated residency of approximately 5,086 individuals as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 269 residents (5.6%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 4,817 people. The variation is deduced from a resident count of 5,081, calculated by Districts using the ABS's most recent ERP release from June 2025 in combination with 126 validated new addresses verified after the Census. This population size results in a density of 2,067 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical figure for national locations analyzed by Districts. Over the past decade, the suburb of Little Bay has shown steady development trends with a 1.6% compound annual growth rate, faster than the surrounding SA3 region. Population gains in the area were mostly fueled by overseas migration, which served as almost the exclusive contributor to demographic growth in recent times.

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The local workforce is highly educated, featuring significant numbers of people in professional services, an unemployment rate of 7.3%, and job growth estimated at 1.4% over the prior year, according to Districts regional aggregations. As of March 2026, 2,575 locals are employed, while the jobless rate is 3.1% higher than the Greater Sydney average of 4.1%, showing room for improvement. Labor force participation is somewhat lower than the metropolitan standard, standing at 64.3% compared to 69.1% for Greater Sydney. Census data indicates that a high proportion of employed residents, 46.4%, performed their roles from home, although this may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

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According to the latest postcode ATO statistics released for financial year 2023, taxpayers in the area have a median income of $72,390 and an average income of $101,416. These figures are extremely high on a national scale, compared to the Greater Sydney median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Applying Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $79,861 for the median and $111,882 for the average as of March 2026. Census findings show that household, family, and individual incomes are all highly ranked, placing between the 86th and 87th national percentiles. Income distribution shows that 28.3% of residents (1,439 individuals) receive weekly incomes between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring the metropolitan pattern where are in this range. The area demonstrates high relative wealth, with of earners making more than weekly, which supports high-end retail and services. Housing expenses consume of earnings, yet strong wages preserve disposable income at the st percentile, placing the area in the th decile for SEIFA income rankings.

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Residential structures in the locality at the time of the latest Census consisted of 29.0% separate houses and 71.0% alternative dwellings, including semi-detached properties, apartments, and other configurations, compared to Sydney metro where separate houses made up 55.9% and alternative dwellings made up 44.1%. The rate of home ownership was consistent with the metropolitan average at 29.1%, with the remaining properties being purchased with a mortgage (29.2%) or occupied by tenants (41.7%). The median monthly home loan repayment was significantly higher than the Sydney metro average at $3,000, while the median weekly rental cost was $590, compared to metropolitan figures of $2,427 and $470. On a national level, home loan repayments are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also well above the national median of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households at 69.5%, consisting of couples with offspring at 31.3%, couples without offspring at 30.4%, and single parents with children at 6.9%. Non-family households represent the remaining 30.5%, with individuals living alone accounting for 28.1% and group households making up 2.4%. The median household size of 2.4 individuals is below the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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Academic qualifications in the area are substantially higher than broader indicators, with 42.6% of residents aged 15 and over possessing university degrees, compared to 30.4% across Australia. This educational pattern positions the local population well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 13.1% and graduate diplomas at 2.8%. Vocational and technical training is also well represented, with 30.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding qualification credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificates at 18.0%.

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Public transport options include 30 active bus stops operating in the area, serviced by 17 different routes that provide 2,484 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 180 meters from their nearest stop. Because of the area's residential focus, the majority of working residents commute to other areas. Private vehicles remain the primary mode of travel at 84%, while buses carry 5% of commuters. Average vehicle ownership is 1.2 per household. A high percentage of residents, 46.4%, worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

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Health indicators demonstrate positive outcomes across the locality, according to Districts evaluations of mortality rates and chronic illnesses. Younger age groups in particular show very low instances of common medical conditions. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, covering approximately 67% of the population (3,402 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

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The locality displays high levels of cultural diversity, with 27.4% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 39.4% born overseas. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 56.6% of the population. The most prominent religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 2.7% of the population compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

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The median age of 42 years in the area is notably higher than the Greater Sydney median of 37 and the national median of 38 years. The 75 to 84 age cohort is highly represented at 8.2% compared to Greater Sydney, while the 25 to 34 age bracket is less common at 12.7%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 15 to 24 age bracket rose from 7.7% to 10.7% of the population. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort decreased from 16.3% to 15.2%, and the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 10.9% to 9.8%. Demographic projections for 2041 suggest major shifts for the area, led by the and over cohort which is expected to expand by ( people) to reach from . The combined cohorts aged and over will make up of the total population growth, showing an aging population profile. In contrast, the cohorts aged to and to are expected to experience population declines.

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Little Bay currently has an estimated 269 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 121 children aged 0-2 and 80 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 8% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 3% by 2041 (to approximately 260 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 372. Birth rates in the area have averaged 8.0 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a low rate (among the bottom 30% of areas assessed nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.